Complexity
Have we made our value proposition too complex?
Men become Masons for a myriad of reasons. We hope that they become Masons for good reasons, but whatever the reason might be for each man, it probably isn’t the same as the next guy.
And that’s all fine and good.
But we tend, I think, to discuss Freemasonry through the specific and unique lens through which we see it. We talk about some part of it, instead of the whole of it. And if we like lots of parts of it, well, when we talk about it, things get really complicated really quickly.
To the point that I’ve heard plenty of Grand Masters talk about the need for us to all develop and have at hand an ‘elevator speech’ in case we are asked about Masonry, lest we get tongue tied.
Heck, as I’ve written before, I have a hard time with this myself. To me our Craft is so vast and complex and wonderful that I find that I can’t really properly explain it to someone who asks. If we are together, I let my wife field those questions, she’s much better at it than me.
But, I’ve got to wonder, have we made all of this far to complex?
At its very core is not what Freemasonry offers simply an opportunity for fellowship with good men from all stations of life?
And if so, is that not the most powerful thing that our Craft has to offer a man?
That if he becomes a Freemason, he will be given the opportunity for fellowship with good men from all stations of life?
Certainly there are other, very powerful aspects to our Craft. Brotherhood, leadership training and opportunity, esoteric study, historical study, ritual, an important process of initiation, charity, philanthropy, service, philosophical discussion, friends, travel… The list can go on and on.
But aren’t all of those things just an extension of the opportunity for fellowship with good men from all stations of life?
And if so, is that not our best answer to anti-masonic propaganda? (If we choose to answer it.)
‘No, we are not XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX, rather Freemasonry is an opportunity for fellowship with good men from all stations of life.’
Simple, plain, understandable.
Even if the conspiracy nut will still say that we just aren’t of high enough rank to be told of the evil. 😎
And if so, might not that point out what our most important duty is as Freemasons?
The duty to protect the West Gate, so that our Lodge is only composed of good men? Because we can’t properly share fellowship with good men if there are ungood1 men hanging around.
Does it not also remind us that our Lodges are properly composed of men from all stations of life?
I think we might do well by simplifying how we explain the Craft to others, and indeed how we explain it to ourselves. At least sometimes when it comes to ourselves.
If you want some more, I’ve got a handful of recent favorites collected for you over on my LinkTree.
Or if you want to follow along as I go through my Pretend Cowboy phase, you can do that right here. Fun and funny stuff, I promise!
The nasty spell checker here claims that ungood is not a word. Has it never heard of Orwell’s Newspeak? Me and Augie Dog, we’re sticking with ungood!
As the prospect manager in my district, I've wrestled with this topic for quite some time. My elevator pitch goes something like this:
"We're the world's oldest self-help group. We're here to help you become the best version of yourself that you can be, with the idea that you will share that light with the community around you."
I tent to ramble on a bit from there, but I do always mention the fact that as a Mason, I have access to a wealth of knowledge about any topic, interest, and occupation. And that he men with that knowledge are excited to share it with another Brother.
I think this is very well said, and I think I shall start adopting it as my "elevator pitch." I think it also is relevant to our discussion last night re: whether a topic is "masonic." Does it build fellowship among good men from all stations of life? If yes, then yes.