Message from RW Bro Afeef A. Lazarus

Past District Grand Master for Jamaica & the Cayman Islands

I welcome you to the new web site of the District Grand Lodge of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands.

In particular, I would like to welcome those visitors who are not Freemasons with the assurance that they can feel free to surf our sites and all our links. We have nothing to hide and are happy to accommodate all those with a genuine and healthy curiosity to discover more about the Craft.

What is Freemasonry?
Freemasonry, as is practised by us, is an ancient and honourable fraternity of men who believe that all men are brothers, being children of the same Divine Father, and who seek the upliftment of the human race through its teachings. Its ceremonies are designed to instil in the hearts and minds of its members the principles of brotherly love, relief and truth, or, put another way, love and respect for all mankind, charity for those less fortunate than ourselves, and truth in our lives and actions. In other words, it may be seen as an oasis of peace to be shared by men of all faiths, colours, creeds and political persuasions in an increasingly troubled world.

Freemasonry encourages its members to be supportive of their respective faiths and, at the same time, to respect the faiths of others. It is not a religion nor does it make any claim to be one. It encourages its members to be law-abiding citizens, to be honourable in all their actions and to respect the rights and opinions of others.

What a splendid opportunity we have to be able to share our philosophy with all who care to listen through the additional medium of the internet. We can now share and exchange ideas and experiences with each other through the many means now available to us to such an extent that, wherever we are in the world, we need no longer "remain at a perpetual distance" from each other.

If Freemasonry is to continue to grow and be relevant, this generation of Freemasons must ensure that the fraternity keeps pace with an ever changing world and must take advantage of all that it has to offer without for one moment surrendering those principles and tenets which constitute its Landmarks.

We hope you enjoy your visit with us.