Attributing Failure
A bit of Rosicrucian wisdom
We’ve all heard lots of proposed reasons for why fewer men seek to become Masons today, and why fewer are retained. Heck, I’ve probably given a few myself.
Family and domestic responsibilities are more evenly divided in the home today.
Work schedules, with commutes, leave little free time.
Greatly improved entertainment options, streaming television, video games, podcasts, and all the rest.
These three are just scattered examples. I’m sure that you’ve heard others.
But, by thinking them up, and propagating them, are we preventing ourselves from deeply reflecting on our Ancient Craft? From reflecting with an eye towards improving what must be improved in order to make it more valuable to men in 2025?
Recently I read the following quote from H. Spencer Lewis, the man who founded the Rosicrucian order AMORC in 1915:
“The moment we attribute our failure in securing anything in life to the exterior influences which we imagine exist, we shut the door against self analysis and fail to learn a very valuable lesson.”
Is Mr. Lewis right? I think so. I think it quite likely that when pondering our current membership realities, we give far too much credit to the imagined powers of family and work commitments.
We may work hard today, in our vocations and our homes, but people always did so. My grandfather started his working life with an alternating weekly schedule. One week he worked six days, the next he put in the full six with a half day added on Sunday.
It is true that we have vast entertainments available, but surely Freemasonry can offer a more valuable experience than a television show or video game.
I also believe Mr. Lewis to be correct in his claim that when we accept reasons, or excuses, like those listed above, our doing so prevents us from looking at Freemasonry, and the Masonic experience with care, to see where it can be made more suitable for the man of today.
As we consider our Lodge, we do very well to do so with his warning in mind:
“The moment we attribute our failure in securing anything in life to the exterior influences which we imagine exist, we shut the door against self analysis and fail to learn a very valuable lesson.”
This post has me thinking heavily about a follow up conversation with a prospect after a meet and greet up in Seattle on Saturday. He had some questions about Masonry as it exists today, compared to the Masonry his Grandfather experienced. We spent a couple hours talking about his search and what was important to him.
He is interested in an intentional Masonic education, like most of the prospects were, yet he feels uncertain on how to choose a Lodge because he cannot experience some of these parts of the Craft before joining. He wants to make the “right” choice, with only the word of our Brothers to guide him. Having to blindly trust that what we share exhibits our core values, Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth. That we are offering a candid and honest perspective of our Lodges, and what they will experience once behind the veil.
He asked how to make sure a Lodge partakes in meaningful ritual, not just repetition for its sake, without ever experiencing it. He asked how to find a Lodge that seeks to elevate the Craft at large, rather than just an individual Lodge experience, without witnessing their efforts. He asked why Lodges seemed to be isolated, competing or opposing each other’s approaches, rather than acting as a network of deeply connected and supportive Brethren he once heard about. He asked how to find a Lodge that embodies the kind of Masonry his Grandfather experienced. All of these were questions he left the meeting with after hearing what each of the Lodges had to offer. Many of the same concerns and questions that I had when I started my journey. Some I still share.
I told him the only thing he could do is make sure to ask questions that would reveal those answers. Try to find a Lodge that felt right to him, like another home. Find Brothers who would make themselves available to him. To recognize that all Lodges have their strengths and weaknesses, and we each have areas of the Craft that we excel in, and areas we can improve.
I think unless we candidly look at the kind of Craft we practice, we do ourselves and our candidates a disservice. Your point is an excellent one. How can we improve if we only look to our environment, rather than our actions for the challenges we experience?
Great post MWB!
Can you point me toward where I can find this quote? I’d like to know more :)