Grand Reception of RW Michael Holt, Grand Orator...LAFAYETTE LODGE NO. 27 F.& A. M. 1550 Irving Street, Rahway, New Jersey 07065 1 MASONIC MOMENTS A Lafayette Lodge No. 27 Periodical

LAFAYETTE LODGE NO. 27 F. & A. M. 1550 Irving Street, Rahway, New Jersey 07065

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MASONIC MOMENTS A Lafayette Lodge No. 27 Periodical

Volume 2, Issue 3 – March 2020 Lodge Historian: RW Arjit “Artie” Mahal

Grand Reception of RW Michael Holt, Grand Orator

By RW Arjit Mahal, Grand Chaplain

On Tuesday, January 7th, 2020, an open Reception, presided over by the Most Worshipful Grand Master

and his staff, in honor of his Grand Officers of 6th, 8th and 10th Masonic Districts was held at Mayfair Farms, West

Orange, New Jersey. It was attended by about 345 Masons and their guests. Two of our Lafayette Lodge Brothers

were honored: RW Michael Holt, Grand Orator; and RW Arjit Mahal, Grand Chaplain. This issue is dedicated

to RW Michael Holt. (Next issue will cover RW Arjit Mahal’s Reception).

Note: The speeches of the presenter and the honoree are included in this periodical. Except for minor cosmetic edits, these speeches are not edited for grammar, or sentence structure, since these were written by the speakers--as their own talking points.

Most Worshipful Gregory J. Scott

Grand Master of Masons of the State of New Jersey

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Honorees RW Holt and RW Mahal, and Worshipful Master Bryan S. Passione were present

Presenter’s Speech: RW Gary Olsten, Junior Grand Warden

Worshipful Master, Most Worshipful Grand Master, Right Worshipful Deputy Grand Master, Right

Worshipful District Deputy Grand Master, Distinguished East, Friends and Family of Freemasonry, good evening.

When Mike Holt asked me to present him this evening, I asked myself, "WHY ME?" Out of all the Brothers

throughout our grand jurisdiction that know Mike and respect Mike, why did Mike choose me to present him?

And I pondered this question for days. Then it dawned on me, Mike picked me because he wanted a good friend

and confidant to present him. Someone who truly knew the man we Know as Mike Holt. Someone who is good

looking, admired, respected and eloquent when he speaks. Mike only wanted the best. Ok, Mike I gotta tell ya, I

was having a terrible time reading your handwriting so, I made up that last part. But I thought it sounded good so

I added it. In all seriousness though, I know exactly why Mike chose me to present him. Not only are we close

friends, but I have been on Grand Staff with Mike for almost a decade and that time has afforded me the

opportunity to have a front row seat to observe and get to know the incredible man and mason that we know Mike

Holt to be. I can tell you from firsthand experience that there is no one, no one who embodies Freemasonry more

than he does.

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I'm not just talking about Ritual, and Protocol, and the like, I'm talking about his willingness and his un-

wavering resolve to do what is good for his Brothers and to do what is good for our Fraternity. I have witnessed

firsthand, His leadership style and extensive, experience his innate ability to taking the "Bull by the horns" and

not being afraid of doing the heavy lifting to not only get the job done, but to get the job done right.

In this fraternity, much like any other organization, we seek out our leaders, our "GO TO GUYS", and

we put them to the test time after time. And my God has Mike Holt been tested. It was by NO mistake that Mike

Holt was appointed as District Deputy Grand Master of the 10th Masonic District not once, not twice, not three

times, but six times, six consecutive years.

And it was not by mistake that our Grand Master, Most Worshipful Brother Gregory Scott, recognized

that there was no other choice, no other man that could do the job of Grand Orator, like Right Worshipful Michael

Holt. He knew that if you needed someone to get things done, he's your man. And I thank you Grand Master for

making such a wise choice. Mike Holt is certainly a leader, but most importantly, he is a friend and a Brother to

me, to this District, and to this Fraternity. And since we all know how much of family man Mike is and that his

family knows how important this fraternity is to him, I want to thank his wife Maureen, his daughter Maddie and

his son, Tommy for sharing this great man with us. Whether Mike is with his family or with his Brothers, he

always exudes the values and principles of our beloved Craft and quite frankly there are many, many more really

nice things that I could say, but I just wanted hit the high points so that Mike would start bringing me my drinks

at receptions.

We are frequently reminded to keep these introduction speeches short, or at least I am reminded to keep

my remarks short. So, in order to accomplish this, it was impossible to talk about even a quarter of what this man

has done for this fraternity. So, Mike, I can tell you without a shadow of doubt, we know, your Brothers know

what you have done and what you will continue to do for New Jersey Freemasonry. And we thank you, for you!

So, without any further ado, it is my honor and privilege to introduce a man who really needs no introduction at

all, my friend, my Brother, Right Worshipful Michael Holt, Grand Orator of the Grand Lodge.

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RW Mike Holt receiving his Certificate of Appreciation from the Grand Master

Honoree’s Speech: RW Michael Holt, Grand Orator

WM, MWGM, RWDGM, RWDDGM, DE, RW, W, BA, Ladies, Friends, every morning I look in the

mirror and ask myself. "if today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?"

Whenever the answer to that question is no for several days in a row, I myself change something in my life. There

has never been a no in Freemasonry, Freemasonry truly is an adventure. This evening we recognize the many

accomplishments of the 7 other men up here, who have made a difference, men who have selflessly served, for

many years. These men, for different reasons caught the attention of our Grand Master. I know from experience

that what was recognized, is only a small part of their being, is only a small piece of what they have done for

Freemasonry and society. These men are the living definition of Freemasonry, they possess Wisdom, Strength,

and in some cases beauty. Here I am, when a man gives you a job to do, and you do it well, He usually gives you

that job again. MW Grand Master, I thank you for the opportunity to serve as your Grand Orator this year, it is

an honor, and privilege to be part of your staff. Right Worshipful Brother Gary Olsen, Thank you for the kind

introduction.

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Masonic Resume

R.W. Michael Holt, Grand Orator Lafayette Lodge No. 27

Raised October 1989, Lafayette Lodge No. 27 Worshipful Master Lafayette Lodge No. 27 – 2001, 2003 and 2020

Dual Member – Atlas Pythagoras Lodge No. 10, Loyalty Lodge No. 33, and Britannia Lodge No. 1166 (GLNY), Honorary Member – AzureMasada Lodge No. 22

Memberships & Affiliations

Grand Lodge: Grand Orator – 2017, District Deputy Grand Master, 10th District – 2011-2016, Grand Chaplain – 2007, Grand Lodge Daniel Coxe Award – 2018, Grand Lodge Meritorious Service Award –

2015, Masonic Service Association Distinguished Service Award – 2009, New Jersey Grand Representative to the Grand Lodge of Mississippi

Numerous Committees, including Strategic Planning, State of the Craft, Constitution and Laws, Masonic Education, Blood Program (Chair), Wreaths Across America (Chair), Officers Spring Symposium (Chair),

Masonic Sustainability Framework (Creator), and Teen Suicide Awareness

10th District: President District Masters and Wardens Association (2008-2010), President District Scholarship Committee (2010-2012), President Central Jersey Masonic Association (2011-2015)

Appendant Bodies: Scottish Rite (NNJ), Lafayette Chapter No. 26 RAM, Adoniram Council No. 9 R&SM, St.

John’s Commandery No. 9 KT, Voorhis Council No. 260 AMD (Sovereign Master 2012), Royal Order of Scotland, Crescent Shrine, Red Cross of Constantine, Atlas Eastern Star

Other: MSA State Coordinator for the Veterans Visitation Program – 2009-2011, MSA Representative to Menlo

Park Veterans Home – 2001-2011, Masonic Liaison to the ARC of Union County – 2011-Present, Children’s Dyslexia Learning Center Board of Governors of the Scotch Plains Campus – 2011-Present, George

Washington Masonic National Memorial Association, Architect & Builder of Lommel D-Day Monument – Burlington, Knight Masons, Society of Sts. John, Masonic Kilties of NJ

Historian’s Note: To enrich this Periodical, the Lodge would like to have brethren contribute their Freemasonry related history, experiences and stories. Contact RW Arjit “Artie” Mahal. [email protected], Tel 908-824-2862; or the Worshipful Master, RW Michael Holt; and/or WB Bryan S. Passione [email protected].