Beyond Ancient Craft Masonry
Thoughts about other 'Masonic' organizations
Here in the United States we have a plethora of groups related to Freemasonry, all of them competing for our time, energy, and resources.
My thoughts about all of these groups have always been complicated. I understand that they are not truly a part of Ancient Craft Masonry. I know that many of their active members are Masons who have not sat in their Lodge for years or even decades. I know that in some instances they do pull time, energy, and resources from the Lodges.
That said, I think that on the whole, they are good for Freemasonry.
It seems to me that when we make a man a Mason, we have a very brief period of time in which to interest him enough to turn him into a lifelong active member of the Fraternity. Perhaps we have as little as the three to six months it takes for him to make it through his Degrees.
We must, I think, face the fact that the Lodge is not going to ultimately interest every single man who becomes a Mason. Even if we are providing a truly superb Lodge experience, some men just aren’t going to be interested.
This I think is where the other groups come in.
Perhaps he is interested in an experience similar to the Lodge, but that is co-ed. In that case, the Order of the Eastern Star might be perfect for him. Perhaps he is interested in self study of a large Masonic system, if that is what suits him the Scottish Rite SJ has some superb offerings. Maybe he is interested in a uniquely American system of Degrees, so will be drawn towards the York Rite. Maybe charity or fun are most important to him, so the Shrine would be a great fit.
Over this past week at the Shriner’s Imperial Session I met quite a few Washington Freemasons whom I’ve never seen in Lodge. We shouldn’t though view those who are not active in the Lodges, but are active in another group as having somehow abandoned the Lodge. Rather they found something related to Freemasonry that more closely matched their interest. These men are still members of their Lodge, still contributing to it financially, but they have found what they are seeking in a side organization.
That is, I think, OK. And we should view it as OK.
If Brother Bob becomes a Freemason, discovers the Lodge is not for him, so becomes inactive within it, but joins and becomes active in the Shrine, that doesn’t harm the Lodge. As his Lodge Brothers we may miss him, and we may wish that he were in Lodge with us, but he hasn’t done the Lodge any harm. In fact, he supports the Lodge a bit each year with his annual dues.
All of this is I guess a long way of saying that while I share the sadness expressed by many about Masons who leave the Lodge for another group, I don’t think we should be bitter about this when it happens. The Mason who does it didn’t find what he was seeking within our Lodge. We would not have held him anyway. It is better that we have retained him within the Fraternity through some other group than to have lost him altogether.
I also think, when this happens, that we should view it as a time for self reflection about the state of our Lodge.
Our Lodges can offer top notch Masonic Education. We can create great events that involve our wives and children. We can create opportunities for great fun and fellowship. We can build a culture of philanthropy.
If we do these things, we will hold Masons much more firmly to the Lodge. We will retain more men, and those men will be active. We won’t lose so many to other groups, or worse yet, lose them entirely.
Let’s explore this just a bit.
In my few days surrounded by thousands of Shriners (to be clear, I am not a member of the Shrine) I saw a few things.
I saw the members of individual Shrine Temples all dressed alike, in kind of goofy, but fun embroidered shirts. Some of their ladies were wearing matching shirts. Well, our Lodges could certainly design shirts like this to wear for events outside of Lodge meetings. It would be fun, and it would build fellowship. Our Lodge at Skykomish does this.
I saw a parade. Well, golly, every little town and big city in this state has at least one parade each year, and the Shrine is certainly famous for going through them. Well what’s to say that a Lodge couldn’t get a bunch of funny little cars or mini bikes and do the same? It would certainly call attention to the Lodge, and once again it would be a lot of fun.
I saw live music and dancing. It seems to me that our Lodge buildings are just about perfect places to have parties. Live music isn’t all that expensive, and DJ music is even less. Our Lodge can easily hold parties, bring in the ladies, dance the evening away. How much fun would we have doing that, just as importantly, how much fun would our wives have? Our Lodge at Centralia used to do this.
I saw, quite literally, millions of dollars donated. Our Lodges can build a charitable program that Lodge members are so proud of that they stretch financially to make it possible, and that has a major impact on the community. Our tiny Little Falls Lodge does this.
I saw social interaction lubricated with spirits, and on some of the younger ladies dresses designed to draw attention. I saw men, women, and families by the hundreds enjoying the company of Masons in the sun, around the swimming pools. I saw thousands of people, from all over the United States and Mexico, from different backgrounds and holding different beliefs, all united in a common purpose, all getting along perfectly. Our Lodges can do all of these things, and be stronger for them.
I think that instead of being bothered by the fact that some men do stop attending Lodge, and become active in another organization, we should learn from all of those organizations.
We should try to figure out what it is about an organization that some men find much more compelling than our Lodge, and once we have it figured out, see if the Lodge can provide it as well, or at least something similar to it.
But we shouldn’t get upset with our Brother.
If all our Lodge does is meet to pay the bills, and read the minutes, it is no wonder he became inactive. If we instead provide a quality Lodge experience, we will find that a great many more Masons will remain active and involved with the Lodge, for life.
Just in case you missed them:
Like every Sunday we will have a zoom gathering for those with a paid subscription to Emeth tonight at 7:30 PM, Pacific time. The zoom invitation will go out at 3:00 PM this afternoon. I hope that you will be able to join us!
Here’s the problem. The Blue Lodge experience must be a holistic one, giving good and wholesome instruction not only to ancient craft Masonry but to include learnings found in all the organizations MW Cameron has mentioned. It must live the vision and values articulated by the great lights of our craft. And it must demonstrate all of this to outsiders as an enticement to explore Masonic membership. But alas, too many Lodges spend their time dithering over non-reports and minutiae that no one cares about. Instead, lodges need to look at the character of their membership and the character of the communities they serve. Much has been upended because of the pandemic. Now, with everything returning to what has been, opportunities abound. I’ve always promoted the idea that this is a great time for a community block party. Not only invite our appendant organizations but the community-at-large. Fun and teaching are not bad words. They are portals upon which we can build solid foundations for members and prospective members, no matter which organization interests them the most. Shame on us if we don’t live our values and vision.
What a great post! I've seen this topic come up many times through the various Masonic Podcasts, blogs, and magazines I'm subscribed to. Often times the discuss is about membership numbers within the Blue Lodge, retention rates, budgets, and all of that. But I think those issues, and the theme of the article touches on, are more related expectations of what a Candidate (and the Brothers) expect from the Fraternity as a whole and the Lodge in particular.
I remember hearing that back in the 1950s and 1960s Freemasonry had a surge in members and that the AASR, York Rite, Shriners, and OES saw increases in members as well. There was a Masonic event to attend almost every night. It became a social club because that's what the members wanted it to be. Sure, there were those who saw deeper meaning in the symbols, the ancient work, the esoteric nature of our Craft, but...in the end...it became a social club that donated to local charities.
I also remember a talk from the Whence Came You Podcast (I can't remember the episode number) where the guest discussed the concept that Freemasonry (as a Blue Lodge) needs to find it's identity and cater to it. The Shrine knows its purpose, has their culture and identity in place, and is super successful at raising funds and meeting its members expectations. The Scottish Rite does this as well. The Blue Lodge seems to be in a quagmire though. There are some that join for the Mystery School Traditions, some for the notable charity work in the community, some for the Historical significance, and others because they have a family member who was a member. All of these are great reasons to join the Fraternity, but are we living up the expectation laid before us.
I think we can take a look at what these other Bodies are doing and see where we, in the Blue Lodge, can improve our experiences. We can look at new ways to use the lodges (dance party, poker night, meditation classes, or charity events). These are smart and prudent things to do regardless of how well things may or may not be going, but there is a critical part that needs to happen first...and it starts at the West Gate.
Ask the candidate why they are petition the fraternity. See if there are other motivations that are not on the surface (these may clue us into the other bodies that may be of interest). Find them a good mentor early in the process and make sure we are meeting their expectations (within reason of course).
Apologies for the long winded rant...looking forward to any comments.
Cheers.