Grand Lodge Officers

Grand Master’s Message

Brethren,

As I humbly assume the responsibilities of this high office, I have chosen as the guiding theme for this Masonic year the Latin phrase:

Magis Quam Verbis – “More Than Words.”

It is a simple expression, yet profound in its depth. For we, as Freemasons, understand better than most that truth, virtue, and light are not merely spoken – they are lived.

Freemasonry is a system of morality, veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols. But why symbols? Why have generations of Masons chosen to convey great truths through the trowel and compass, the pillars, the plumb, and the point within a circle?

Because symbols transcend the boundaries of language. They speak not only to the mind, but to the heart. They are understood across cultures and centuries. They are Magis Quam Verbis – more than words.

The obligations we take – not once, but three times – upon bended knee, are far more than ceremonial phrases. They are not empty utterances designed to gain entry into a club. They are solemn covenants of character – made before God and our Brethren – pledging the kind of lives we will strive to lead: upright, faithful, compassionate. They are Magis Quam Verbis – more than words.

So too are our actions in the world. Our behavior in civil society speaks louder than any speech or statement. In our workplaces, our communities, and our homes, we reveal the kind of men we are. The ideals we embrace. The honor we embody.

Even if we were struck mute by some cruel twist of fortune, the world would still know us – not by what we said, but by what we did. For character is Magis Quam Verbis – more than words.

And what of our ritual? Those carefully memorized phrases, once passed only from mouth to ear, preserved through generations – they are more than tradition. They are teaching tools. They are spiritual blueprints. They are the living heartbeat of our Craft. We commit them to memory not merely for the sake of preservation, but to transmit the Light to those who come after us, unimpaired. Our ritual is Magis Quam Verbis – more than words.

So let this be the year in which each of us examines how our Masonry is expressed – not just in our speech, but in our deeds. Let our lives themselves become the language of the Craft.

Let our charity, our integrity, and our Brotherly love be the living proof that Freemasonry remains not only relevant, but essential, in a weary world that needs light now more than ever.

Because we are, and must always be, Magis Quam Verbis –  more than words.

Fraternally and faithfully,

Roger Nelson, Jr.

Grand Master of Washington