Emeth

The who, what, why, when, and how of it

Over the past two weeks, the number of people receiving this newsletter has drastically increased. Given that, I thought that I’d better post a bit about it for everyone who hasn’t been with us since the beginning.

This past week I was extremely gratified to see, with my own eyes, Emeth produce good fruit in one of our Lodges. Some time ago we had a discussion about books here on Emeth, and part of that discussion resulted in us deciding that Lodges should buy copies of basic books about Freemasonry to lend to inquirers. Books like, for example, Freemasons For Dummies.

As the discussion continued, it was suggested that by lending books, we would not only be giving those who are inquiring some good knowledge about what to expect from Masonry, but that we would be helping to guard our own West Gate as well. Because if a man didn’t return a borrowed book, well, that would tell the Lodge something about his character. The cost of a book could be a small price to pay to learn something important about a man.

I was thrilled on Friday evening, as I was sitting in a Lodge, to hear one of Emeth’s readers stand up and suggest that the Lodge purchase a number of copies of Freemasons For Dummies, just so that they can be lent to the men inquiring about membership. I was even more thrilled to see the Lodge vote to do just that.

This is a wonderful example of exactly what I have hoped that Emeth could become. A resource for Masons and their Lodges, an online space that can serve to strengthen our wonderful Fraternity.

It showed me that Emeth can work, and is working.

That said, for all who might not know, let me try to explain this thing…

Who?

Emeth is my own personal project. I’m Cameron Bailey, and I’m currently the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Washington. Emeth is not however a project of my Grand Lodge, and everything written here is my own personal opinion. I am not speaking for my Grand Lodge here, only for myself. I have other ways of communicating official Grand Lodge policy.

I also do not believe that everyone does, or should share my views. Freemasonry encourages all men to think for themselves, and I hope that everyone who reads what I write will judge it on its merits, and reject that which they may find disagreement with.

Beyond Ancient Craft Masonry, I’m also a proud Scottish Rite Mason, and a member along with my wife and Daughters of the Order of the Eastern Star.

What?

While it is available on the web, Emeth is designed to be an electronic newsletter. It is my hope that everyone who enjoys reading it on the web will sign up to receive the emails.

Technically it functions through two well known companies. Substack is the company that provides the interface and maintains the mailing list. Stripe is the company that handles the financial aspects of it. Both companies are paid for the services that they provide.

For anyone who might be wondering, I do not receive or hold any personal information about any subscriber. All I receive from either company is the email address to which Emeth is sent. Please rest assured that the email list will never be shared by me.

Why?

I mentioned it briefly earlier, but I’d like to expand on it here.

I created Emeth because while Freemasonry seems to be all over Social Media, I do not see much at all in the way of quality information or discussion posted on those platforms. I think that I used to see much more, but as Social Media companies have grown, they seem to have tweekend their algorithms so hard that we largely only see that which is designed to create an emotional response within us. Posts that keep us scrolling like zombies.

Social Media is also filled with incivility and division. Two things that are anathema to Freemasonry.

I believed that we could do better. That an online space could be created that would provide quality Masonic commentary, and quality Masonic discussion. I think that with Emeth, we have proven that to be true.

It is my sincere hope that Emeth can serve as a resource for our Lodges and our Masons. That it can bolster Masonic education and discussion, and that through its influence, all of us who participate here can help to strengthen our gentle Craft.

I believe that Emeth is already having that influence, and I believe that as it continues to grow, so will its influence. I hope that in time it can grow into a strong force within Masonry.

When?

It is my goal to post a significant Masonic essay every Sunday morning, and a Masonic discussion topic every weekday morning. This schedule must however be aspirational, for as mentioned above, Emeth is a one person project.

I don’t believe that I’ve ever missed a weekday discussion topic in the months that Emeth has been in operation, but I have missed two Sunday essays. Once because I simply got confused as to what I needed to be doing, and once because I wasn’t feeling well. I will do my very best to hold to the schedule, but it would be impossible to never have a miss, so my apologies for any misses in advance.

I also travel. During times of travel, if I can’t write, I’ll repost some favorite essays, as is often done on television and radio opinion shows. I don’t imagine that will happen often though, it hasn’t happened yet, and Emeth has been going for quite awhile now.

In addition to the regular schedule, I also try to offer a gathering via zoom called Rummer & Grapes each Sunday evening, and a Live Open Thread each Thursday for those with a paid subscription to Emeth.

Finally, it is my intention to hold an in person gathering for those with a paid subscription to Emeth, once per year, starting in 2022.

How?

It’s pretty simple, Emeth is made possible by those who have paid for a subscription to it. It could not exist without those Masons who are financially supporting it. That’s the simple fact of it.

I owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to each and every person who has signed up for a paid subscription, and I think about that every day when I post here, for each of you make my doing so possible.

What else?

Well, two things come to mind. They are explained on the ‘What Is Emeth?’ page, but I think they are important enough to be explained in this post as well. I hope that everyone will take advantage of them both.

Emeth can help your Lodge…

Masonic education should be a part of every single regular Lodge meeting. I would argue that it should be the largest component of every meeting. If your Lodge is in need of an educational program, Emeth can supply that program.

Simply go through the Discussions, find one that you considered to be interesting, and present that question to your Lodge. Have the Lodge discuss it, Round Robin style, with each man giving his own answer to it, or view of it, in turn. Make sure that everyone participates.

You will find that this will result in a Masonic education program that your Lodge will enjoy.

If you want to add additional perspective to the question, the discussion that took place here on Emeth offers a treasure trove of perspective, and some very well thought out answers.

Masonic education need not be hard or complicated, Emeth makes it easy.

Emeth can help your candidates and your new Masons…

When we Initiate a new man, it is extremely important that we mentor and coach him well. Doing so is one of the keys to retention.

Another key to retention is broad based Masonic education. Exactly what Emeth is designed to provide.

Those going through the Degrees, and our new Master Masons would greatly benefit from the perspective and the experience offered by all of those who participate here. These men can learn a great deal from the posts and other discussions Emeth provides.

The full Emeth experience is open to them, even our paid subscriber benefits, all without any cost, here’s how:

If you are a paid subscriber to Emeth, and your Lodge has a new Mason, or you know a new Mason, send me his name and email address. I will provide him with a complimentary paid subscription to Emeth, for one year. This will get him the full experience and all of the benefits of Emeth, completely free of charge. It will give him the Masonic education that so many of our new Masons are craving, yet so few actually receive.

Before you send me his name and email address, please be sure that you tell him about Emeth, and to expect emails from me, so that he isn’t suddenly bombarded with a bunch of emails that he has no idea where they are coming from, or why he is receiving them.

I am sorry to have to limit this to paying subscribers, but I fear that it would quickly grow unmanageable if there were no limitation in place.

I think that is about all I can relate about Emeth. I sincerely hope that you enjoy it, and that it is valuable to you on your personal Masonic journey.