From The Most Worshipful
The Grand Master of Masons in Nova Scotia,
Acceptance Address

Most Worshipful Past Grand Masters, Eminent Brethren from other Grand Jurisdictions, Brethren all and distinguished guests and family, let me begin by expressing my most sincere appreciation to the Brethren who have been so supportive over the past four years and who have had such confidence in my abilities that they elected me to this most honourable and admirable position within this Grand Lodge of Nova Scotia. I promise that I will do my utmost to ensure that this display of confidence and trust is honoured as I will endeavour to fulfill my duties and responsibilities as your Grand Master in such a manner that you may be proud of my efforts and accomplishments, and I worthy of your continued confidence and respect. However, these are mere words and my future actions will permit you to judge whether I have truly been successful as your Grand Master.

Secondly I want to sincerely express my appreciation to Most Worshipful Past Grand Master Ian Scott-Robb and his installation team for their usual excellent orchestration of our annual Installation of Officers again this year. I am always amazed by Bro. Robb's wonderful memory and the sincerity of purpose he demonstrates during this auspicious ceremony. Congratulations for a job well done, Bro. Robb! It is truly appreciated by all Brethren and Guests present here this afternoon!

On the evening of this very date, 24 years ago, in St. Margaret's Lodge No. 118, in a most solemn and highly dignified ceremony, along with six other brothers, I was passed to the degree of Fellowcraft. That evening, I believe that it was Rt. Wor. Bro. Brian Loughnan who presented the Middle Chamber Lecture, with such excellence and dignity, that it has served as a standard to which I have always tried to emulate whenever I am doing any form of memory work for the Craft. However, as with most of us when we are first introduced to this wonderful fraternity, it also left me with a feeling of being totally overwhelmed. So much information, so much to learn! What indeed did I get myself into? Did I make the right decision when I inquired of my good friend and mentor Bro. Lawrin Armstrong, who I believe was a Rt. Wor. Bro. at the time, about possibly joining Freemasonry. Bro. Armstrong patiently encouraged me to continue that, "yes there is a great deal to learn, in fact a lifetime of learning, but that it would become easier and much more fulfilling and rewarding, as I progressed within this time honoured profession." There you have it Brethren, you can blame Most Worshipful Past Grand Master Armstrong for what is happening to-day! It is definitely all his fault. My most sincere thank you Bro. Armstrong for not only being a dear friend for all of these years but for your encouragement and total support, not only at the beginning of my Masonic Career but throughout my Masonic journey up to and including to-day.

Thanks to Bro. Armstrong's council, I continued on, becoming a Master Mason on October 6, 1983. At that time I did not even know what a Grand Master was let alone thinking that I would be graced and honoured by being elected to this most revered station within our wonderful Craft.

However, true to Bro. Armstrong's exposition, this has most certainly been a fulfilling and rewarding journey. Freemasonry has definitely had a profound and positive effect on my daily life as a husband, father, friend and brother of the Craft.

Each degree instilled a certain curiosity to learn more about Freemasonry and the more I read and tried to learn, the more I discovered that there was more to learn. Brethren, I pledge that I will continue to strive to learn as much about our venerable profession as I possibly can and work industriously to become a better man, Mason and Grand Master through the knowledge I attain in my continued study of Freemasonry. I pledge that I will continue to do what ever I can to keep the Craft alive and well during my life time. After that, Brethren, It will be up to you.

During this past two years, Most Worshipful Past Grand Masters, Simeon Hardy and Roger Eisner focused on keeping our fraternity alive by becoming stronger within and by ensuring that we are more visible within our communities. The work of these two past Grand Masters along with the theme of Past Grand Master Earl MacDonald of returning Freemasonry to its rightful place in society must be continued. We must continue to be extremely visible within our communities. We must demonstrate to our neighbours, friends and all community members that as Masons we are good men who follow and live our obligations to the fullest! That we are dedicated to the general relief of those who are more-needy and commit ourselves through daily investment and personal sacrifice to the betterment of our society for all.

However, brethren we must not only put Freemasonry back to its rightful place in society, we must first and foremost put "Freemasonry back into its rightful place within our hearts and souls".

It is only by keeping our Fraternity strong within our hearts and souls that we can become stronger. Brethren it is by diligently studying those obligations we have solemnly taken at our sacred altar, in a concerted effort to fully understand what they mean to our daily lives and by actively, consciously, living those obligations, presenting ourselves, in our everyday lives, as good men and Masons that we can demonstrate both within and without, our valued profession, the true worth and value of being a member of this oldest, most wonderful, and greatest fraternity in the world.

That my Brethren will be my theme throughout my term as your Grand Master!

"Return Masonry to its rightful place in our hearts and souls!"

Through self actualization and personal renewal we will continue to develop and strengthen our most honourable profession! I sincerely believe that we will become much stronger within our Craft and throughout our communities!

From time immemorial, our ancient brethren, worked diligently, industriously, and faithfully through temperance, fortitude, prudence and Justice to bring Freemasonry to such a high standard of moral virtue that we have Brethren who have supported this esteemed and respected craft for 50, 60, 70 and yes Brethren even 80 plus years. I know of no other fraternal organization that can boast of such dedication and commitment.

Brethren we cannot let our ancient Brethren down. I charge each and every one of us to take up their torch and continue to work industriously and unwaveringly to ensure that Masonry is definitely the greatest fraternal organization in the world. One, which men within our communities will want to join because he has observed, first hand, the quality of its members. Members of our Craft such as you who have demonstratively expounded their exuberance for life, their willing sacrifice for the good of society and their total involvement and active participation ensuring that the principal tenets of Freemasonry, Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth continue to thrive for the betterment of ourselves, our communities, our country and yes my Brethren the world.

In closing my Brethren, once again I wish to extend my deepest feelings of appreciation to each and every one of you for demonstrating your confidence in my abilities by electing me as your Grand Master. I also want to take this time to especially thank my wonderful family, and all of my friends for their marvellous support over the years of my Masonic travels.

But most of all I wish to thank my lovely lady DiAnne for her wonderful support and encouragement, for her sacrifice in staying home alone many evenings and days, over the past almost three years of our new marriage, while I was off cavorting with those wonderful gentlemen whom she only knew as my Masonic Brethren, trying to learn how to become a better man and Mason!

Thank you My Brethren and Guests all, for your wonderful support to-day making this installation an auspicious occasion which will pleasantly remain in the depths of my heart and memories forever.

Daniel G. Campbell,
Grand Master.