Investigation Committees
What are the essentials?
I’ve been writing about the importance of Guarding the West Gate here on Emeth since the very start. This one’s from way back in the spring of 2021:
Guard Our West Gate
If we hope to see Freemasonry survive and thrive, then we must always use great care when deciding who we let pass through our West Gate. Freemasonry is designed to be an elite institution, it has never been for every man, and it is not suitable for every man.
But, while it is good to talk about why it is important for us to carefully select the men we make Masons, it is also good for us to share the most impactful ways we can do just that.
And of course our Investigation Committees are one of our most important safeguards for the protection of our Lodge.
So, I thought we should discuss just that today.
If we are appointed to a committee tasked with investigating a man who has Petitioned our Lodge, what are the most important things we can do in order to find the information we need to make a good solid decision?
While serving on that committee, what are the most important questions that we can ask a man who has petitioned our Lodge, in order to garner the information we need to make a good decision for our Lodge?
When I look back over my entire Masonic career, there are only a couple of things that I really regret doing.
One of those things was doing an improper investigation, of cutting corners in that investigation even though I knew better. Had I done the investigation properly, my Lodge wouldn’t have Initiated a man unsuitable for Freemasonry.
But, I didn’t. We cut corners, and I went along with it. I didn’t do my duty to Guard the West Gate.
And ultimately that comes down to integrity. My Lodge trusted me to protect it and I failed to do so. In that instance, my integrity was lacking, and it remains an action that still haunts me, all these years later.
That story, my story, my regret is why I think it is important for us to discuss the two questions above today.
So that we can learn best practices from each other, in order to protect our Lodges.
What say you?
If we are appointed to a committee tasked with investigating a man who has Petitioned our Lodge, what are the most important things we can do in order to find the information we need to make a good solid decision?
While serving on that committee, what are the most important questions that we can ask a man who has petitioned our Lodge, in order to garner the information we need to make a good decision for our Lodge?
Let’s chat about it…
My own thoughts, for your consideration:
In my view, the most important thing is for the committee to meet the Petitioner in his home.
I am aware of three (undoubtedly there are a great many more, but I know a lot about three) investigations that went so horribly wrong that eventually the Grand Lodge had to get involved. The men who were given glowing recommendations from the committees in question were just that bad.
In two out of three of those cases, the committees would not have made the extraordinary errors that they did had they simply insisted on meeting the man in his home. The men's problems would have been instantly obvious.
So, that's what I think is most important. Meeting him in his home.
And indeed, in my Jurisdiction anyway, our procedures call for just that. It's written out in black and white that at least one member of the committee should be going over to the fellow's home.
But, this is ignored far too often. It was ignored in the botched investigation that I was a part of all those years ago. We've got to stop meeting in the Lodge building, or a coffee shop for convenience, and instead meet men (and their families) where they live.
In order of importance, "Do you believe in God" and "Why do you want to become a mason?" Those two questions, if properly discussed, should take an hour of interview time. Bonus question: "If your petition is approved, how do you see yourself participating in our lodge?"