At the invitation of the National Grand Lodge of France (GLNF – Grande Loge Nationale Française), the Most Worshipful Grand Master of the RGLS, Bro. Ranko Vujačić, attended, from 4 to 6 December, the Annual Assembly of the GLNF and the re-installation of the Grand Master.
The presence of foreign delegations at this excellently organized ceremony was impressive. Indeed, Brethren from 58 Grand Lodges from abroad came to the Annual Assembly of the GLNF. About a third of the foreign delegations were represented by Brethren from African countries, which confirms that the historical ties between France and Africa are still being successfully maintained.
The Grand Master of the National Grand Lodge of France, Most Worshipful Brother Jean-Pierre Servel, was re-elected with 98% of the votes to the office of Grand Master for the next three years. Very Worshipful Brother Jean-Pierre Rollet was elected his deputy. The installation of the Grand Master was performed by the Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England (Pro Grand Master of the UGLE, Peter G. Lowndes), the representative of the Grand Lodge that founded the GLNF.
This ceremony, an integral part of the Annual Assembly, was attended by around 2,500 Brethren from France and other parts of the world. The organization of the entire programme was impeccable, thanks to the enormous effort and participation of a great many Brethren of the GLNF.
The Grand Master of the RGLS renewed many earlier acquaintances and established new contacts, such as with the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of China (Most Worshipful Brother Philip C. Liang, Grand Lodge of China F.&A.M., Taipei, Taiwan), with the new Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Portugal (Most Worshipful Brother Júlio Meirinhos), as well as with many others. At all the meetings with the French Brethren, and particularly with the Grand Master of the GLNF and his Deputy, the Grand Master of the RGLS further strengthened the very strong mutual ties that had already existed. One also gained the impression that the French Brethren have particular respect and affection for the RGLS and Serbia. This could be noticed at every turn in numerous informal encounters.
On the margins of this gathering, the members of the Board of the World Conference of Regular Masonic Grand Lodges (of which the Grand Master of the RGLS is a member) met to consider various topics and possible cooperation regarding the next World Conference, which will be held in Madagascar in 2017, following the successfully held World Conference last month in San Francisco.
The Grand Master of the RGLS held meetings with the current and previous Grand Masters of Turkey, as well as with the Grand Secretary of Turkey, on the development of Freemasonry in the southern part of our region, as well as on possible solutions to certain issues. The delegation of Turkey, as well as the Grand Lodge of Turkey, continue to give us their full support for all our initiatives.
During the Annual Assembly in Paris, the Grand Master of the RGLS also met, among others, with the Grand Chancellor of the UGLE (Very Worshipful Brother Derek Dinsmore) and discussed the development of Freemasonry in Europe, with particular reference to Western Europe. On that occasion, joint activities of the RGLS and the UGLE were agreed — two Grand Lodges that have already cooperated successfully for the benefit of European Freemasonry.