I would like to express my thanks to W\M\ Armando S\, to P\W\M\ Mario P\, and to all the Brothers of the Lodge “Europa” No.1165 from Cagliari for having welcomed us to this superb meeting.

Our “European” journey started in 2008, when our beloved Brother, Luigi L\, W\M\ of the Lodge Europa No.765 from Riccione had the idea of uniting all the lodges from the continent which bear the name Europe in one assembly. The theme of our first symposium was: “Why we are called Europe?”

In 2009 my Lodge, Europa Unită No.27 from Bucharest had the privilege to organize the second Symposium of the “Europe” Lodges. We chose the theme: Freemasonry and the Idea of Europe.

Here we are now, in 2010, to the Third International Symposium of the Europe Lodges, discussing about Freemasonry and the Unity of European People. Being the third reunion, we can affirm that our Symposium has become a tradition and I hope we will all be together to the celebration of the jubilee meeting.

As far as I could find out, there are now 17 European Europe lodges, located in England, France, Italy, Spain, Serbia, Austria, Portugal and Romania. Only 7 of them have joined our assembly, and one of our targets is to bring more in the near future.

Speaking of our targets, I want to point out the necessity of going further with precise steps. Right now we have an annual assembly and many events of opportunity, mainly generated by celebrations. These are true expressions of Masonic life. In doing them, we are acting exactly as Masons, and everyone can feel it in his heart. For we meet Brothers, we visit places, we work together, we share experience and knowledge, we enjoy friendship and brotherhood. But in order to keep things going well, we must keep on organizing; and in order to perform, which is a basic characteristic of Masonic life, we must begin to set up high goals. Our ancestors said: Aquila non captat muscam. We definitely must aim to greatness.

I propose you to devise means of enlarging our assembly and to start building a public relations operation. We can bring more Europe lodges by personal effort and through the help of our Masonic bodies. But we must explain our Brothers why we are asking them to join us. The reason is to develop a major European binding of souls and minds, to rediscover the European destiny and vocation of our Fraternity. I believe that now we must build as many bridges between people in Europe, as possible.  
 
United Europe is a Masonic Ideal and like any Ideal it isn’t easy to realize. We see this even in the fact that less than half Europe lodges have attended our assembly.

Therefore I think that it is the time to start a public relations operation, at least inside our Fraternity. Maybe we shall think of inviting more great personalities at our Symposium, developing it into a highlight of debates. And maybe we shall raise the ambitions of our yearly-published book, in order to change it into an object of high interest for the European culture.

Let me add and stress out that, while meditating at all these, we must not lose the great joy of our meetings, the real gladness of being together. This joy, which is the outer expression of our deep fraternal love, represents the wisdom, the force and the beauty through which Masonry unites.

 Dear Brethren, Public Authority, Guests All

Today you will hear many lectures about the relation between Masonry and the union of European peoples. It is in the nature of Masonry to produce union, it is one of its reasons to exist. Just look around, and you will find out that even this meeting expresses such a relation. Gnothi seauton, know thyself – every time when Masons from different lands meet together, they fulfill this great requirement of the Royal Art.

Vladimir D\
Executive Secretary
Past W\M \of "Europa Unita" Lodge no. 27, Bucharest