



I seem to be shouting out to old friends this week – maybe that's just the natural byproduct of being in the fraternity almost 20 years.





The Grand Lodge of New Jersey has had its share of internal troubles and disputes in the past, but they seem to have truly turned things around in the last couple of years. This year, my old friend MW Roger B. Quintana has been elected as Grand Master of New Jersey, and knowing him over the years, I had a sneaking suspicion he would shake things up when he got to the Grand East.





Indeed he has.





Roger was just installed a month ago. Since then he has accomplished the following:

New Jersey can now open and do business on the EA and FC degree.

Lowered the number to constitute a new lodge from 50 to 25.

Allowed the ritual to be translated to other languages for approval.

Allowed the Chamber of Reflection as a tool to lodges that want it.

Re-recognized Cuba.

Made Senator Robert Menedez a Mason on sight.

Established on the Grand Lodge level a RW Grand Education Officer and RW Disrict Education Officer, separate from Ritual Instructors.

from Ritual Instructors. Established a RW Grand Almoner.

Establishing four new affinity lodges.

That was just his first month. And he promises more coming soon.





Any time I get a chance to chat with men on their way to being grand master in their jurisdiction, I always beg them to use their superpowers for Good, not Evil. Pass laws, adopt rules, and issue edicts that get out of the way, that encourage improving the lodge experience, and that help lodges to demand greatness of themselves.



