Thanks for sharing this. I long contemplated how to gracefully endure while dealing with declining membership and revenue. I too pin the culprit on societal shifts in family, as well as business, priorities. The fact remains, my commitment to my health club in time and treasury exceeds my commitment to my lodge twenty-fold. I must grapple with my reasons for this dramatic shift in my personal priorities.
Bro. Rob's final essay mentioned what he calls Ark Lodges. Lodges that will likely survive as they are bucking the trend. And I certainly think that we do have those.
One of our Seattle Lodges is hosting a competing event to Emeth's BBQ this weekend. They consistently have more potential candidates for the Degrees than they believe they can properly handle. Indeed they had a quite lengthy discussion recently about how to deal with this. More men want to join them than they feel they can accept.
Likewise the Lodge where I'm having the BBQ. They are really looking forward to hosting the event this weekend so that they can show off all of the great things that are happening there.
One of these Lodges is as urban as can be imagined, the other as rural as one can get in the US.
There are others like that here too. Some are bucking the trend, but not many.
Very good reading and I went down the rabbit hole and continued reading his work. Gives one things to think about in Masonry as well in our daily lives.
MW Brother, I find people generally look for ways to be a part of something, this is in part human nature, as we are social creatures by design.
When people fail to find positive versions of it they eventually turn to what remains. Unfortunately this has proven to be a detriment to society, community, and those who willingly participate in these negative behaviors and systems. Choosing the best of the worst in the various aspects of life. Like searching for the least rotten produce in a poorly stocked commissary, rather than starve completely.
Racing to the bottom of the barrel for the past few decades seems to be the name of the game. Until people stop buying into negative patterns, they will continue to grow in influence. The question is will we collectively see it before it is to late, and will we work towards something better. Or continue to accept what is, knowing it will only worsen our conditions...
Our Lodges are no different. If we willingly accept any candidate or Brother, knowing them to be ineligible by our obligations and requirements, are we saving our Lodges, or dooming them? If we are unable to put in the work needed to correct course, should we continue to degrade the Craft we have inherited, further tarnishing its legacy?
Do we not have an obligation to hold and be held accountable to our Brethren, and fellow man? To work to improve our collective situations through gentle counsel and honest conversations?
If we desire better, we must first work to create a version of community and society that those who share our vision or aspirations would be willingly partake in. Showing others that there is a better way, by setting the example.
We have to become the change we wish to see, if we desire to experience it.
Excellent post and thank you for sharing some excellently written pieces.
Great series Cameron, thank you. We love to discuss many of these articles in Lodge meetings.
Thank you VW Brother. That series is a really solid body of work from Bro. Rob, and important for us to consider I believe.
Thanks for sharing this. I long contemplated how to gracefully endure while dealing with declining membership and revenue. I too pin the culprit on societal shifts in family, as well as business, priorities. The fact remains, my commitment to my health club in time and treasury exceeds my commitment to my lodge twenty-fold. I must grapple with my reasons for this dramatic shift in my personal priorities.
Bro. Rob's final essay mentioned what he calls Ark Lodges. Lodges that will likely survive as they are bucking the trend. And I certainly think that we do have those.
One of our Seattle Lodges is hosting a competing event to Emeth's BBQ this weekend. They consistently have more potential candidates for the Degrees than they believe they can properly handle. Indeed they had a quite lengthy discussion recently about how to deal with this. More men want to join them than they feel they can accept.
Likewise the Lodge where I'm having the BBQ. They are really looking forward to hosting the event this weekend so that they can show off all of the great things that are happening there.
One of these Lodges is as urban as can be imagined, the other as rural as one can get in the US.
There are others like that here too. Some are bucking the trend, but not many.
It's so hard for me to figure out now what is important and what isn't.
Our world does seem to be upside down right now.
I believe, I believe
Very good reading and I went down the rabbit hole and continued reading his work. Gives one things to think about in Masonry as well in our daily lives.
I agree. I found this series of essays, quite compelling, and have enjoyed our Brother's other work as well.
MW Brother, I find people generally look for ways to be a part of something, this is in part human nature, as we are social creatures by design.
When people fail to find positive versions of it they eventually turn to what remains. Unfortunately this has proven to be a detriment to society, community, and those who willingly participate in these negative behaviors and systems. Choosing the best of the worst in the various aspects of life. Like searching for the least rotten produce in a poorly stocked commissary, rather than starve completely.
Racing to the bottom of the barrel for the past few decades seems to be the name of the game. Until people stop buying into negative patterns, they will continue to grow in influence. The question is will we collectively see it before it is to late, and will we work towards something better. Or continue to accept what is, knowing it will only worsen our conditions...
Our Lodges are no different. If we willingly accept any candidate or Brother, knowing them to be ineligible by our obligations and requirements, are we saving our Lodges, or dooming them? If we are unable to put in the work needed to correct course, should we continue to degrade the Craft we have inherited, further tarnishing its legacy?
Do we not have an obligation to hold and be held accountable to our Brethren, and fellow man? To work to improve our collective situations through gentle counsel and honest conversations?
If we desire better, we must first work to create a version of community and society that those who share our vision or aspirations would be willingly partake in. Showing others that there is a better way, by setting the example.
We have to become the change we wish to see, if we desire to experience it.
Excellent post and thank you for sharing some excellently written pieces.
Thank you for this. I can't disagree with anything that you've written here.