Aug 12, 2022·edited Aug 12, 2022Liked by Cameron M. Bailey
This is a tragic series of circumstances indeed. As I read this, I found myself wondering how these Mason's arrived at the place of diminished regard for the grandeur of these beautiful furnishings and signs. Did this result from incompetence, apathy, disdain for the Craft? The bigger question is did these Mason's always have such a lack of concern for our work? Is this a West Gate issue? Or, has something happened in the meantime to foster this negativity or disenchantment for our institution?
These are the most important questions that we all must ask.
Could these things happen in my Lodge?
I say that yes, they can if we are not careful and do not remain engaged with the health and happiness of our Lodges or allow ourselves to blindly trust those we have entrusted with our assets and property.
I knew the history behind the chair before I wrote this post. In my view, it was lost due to apathy. Members of the Lodge just didn't care anymore. I'm not sure how a group of Masons can get to that point, but that certainly seemed to be where they were at.
I now know a bit of history behind the signs. They were lost, it seems, because a Mason passed away without leaving clear instructions for his heirs about what to do with the Masonic items he possessed. I think that this happens quite a lot, and that we would all do well to, if nothing else, leave a page of instructions for our kids to follow regarding our Masonic things after we pass.
This gets to the heart of a larger problem. Many Lodges have libraries and artifacts that are collecting dust and not being used. I know of two Lodges that have materials in an environment that I would generously call fire traps. Somewhere, somehow, the Masonic Library at Grand Lodge should figure out a program to rescue some of these things to keep them from being tossed out or winding up in thrift stores. I've seen wonderful original copies of Masonic History that I know are more than 100 years old and was always afraid to touch them because they are so fragile. I've also seen hundreds of old photographs that tell about our history in this jurisdiction carelessly stashed in old bookcases. The unfortunate crime here is that most brethren don't know these things exist and no one is willing to tell them about it, let alone trying to curate it.
I would suggest that a few folks start scrounging around in their own buildings looking for those lost/forgotten jewels moldering in a dusty corner or dank basement. You would be surprised at what you would find, as you mention. A brother rescued a wonderful cavalry sword that was sitting in a puddle of water in the basement, rusting away. It's been cleaned up and is now showcased in our tyler's room. I had found a wonderful photo album of past masters in our records that hadn't been updated since 1994, but obviously someone took great pains making it originally.
Some of these old lodge buildings have tons of nooks and crannies with stuff crammed in them to be rediscovered by someone someday. Hopefully.
I think we need to consider new Masons when thinking about preserving, displaying, and utilizing our historic objects.
It is often stated by seasoned Masons that a new Mason needs to be 'given a job' right away. Good advice or bad, I'm not sure, but in practice, it isn't good. This is because in practice it too often results in a brand new Mason being pushed into the progressive line, regardless of if he is ready for that, or even desires that.
But what about asking the new Mason to help the Lodge by organizing, preserving, and if appropriate, displaying some of a Lodge's historic treasures?
By the very nature of being new, new Masons come to Freemasonry as blank slates, eager to absorb lessons from men more seasoned in Freemasonry. We can, and should, instill within these men feelings about the importance of our history, and what these objects represent. Over time, with multiple men, we can create a culture of preservation within our Lodge.
Again Most Worshipful, You've hit the nail right squarely on the head. I feel this extends beyond Masonry. When I see I.O.O.F, EOS, Or any fraternal artifacts I try to rescue them and explain why these things aren't "kitschy hipster collectables". They have real meaning and historical value.
I think part of the willingness to just "walk away" stems from the cancer of apathy. Nobody showing up, the core that do get frustrated and loose their zeal and passion. Eventually folks just walk away without a care. That kind of attitude turns my stomach. I don't understand it, and it really upsets me deeply.
As always a great piece sir. Thank you for your kind thoughts.
“I think part of the willingness to just "walk away" stems from the cancer of apathy. Nobody showing up, the core that do get frustrated and lose their zeal and passion. Eventually folks just walk away without a care. That kind of attitude turns my stomach. I don't understand it, and it really upsets me deeply.”
And it is a cancer of sorts. It can also be contagious, if left unchecked. But I’ve seen a case where a young Brother come to a Lodge from another Lodge due to a job move, and he turned that Zombie Lodge around. He had the type of charisma to wake up even the staunchest curmudgeon. But then he suddenly passed due to an error in a routine surgery. It was a horrible tragedy, since the Brother was only in his 30’s. The Lodge never recovered. The curmudgeons took over, the others were just too tired to take up the deceased Brother’s ambition. It was a real tragedy all around.
WB, we’ve talked about things like this. We’ve had old-timers tell us that we don’t really know, since we’re not in our 70’s and 80’s. Well, that’s crap, plain and simple. Centralia Lodge has a really active Brother who is 90. The Worshipful Master is in his mid-80’s and doesn’t say things like that. My father will be 76 this fall and he has plenty of ambition, although he knows his limits because he’s not 30 anymore. And when my riding partner and I do our bicycle training rides, I’ve been passed by men and women in their mid-70’s. It is indeed an attitude thing, and since we don’t have that attitude, that’s why it's so upsetting. But as we also know, if there’s enough of us that buck that contagious attitude, we can turn things around. Just like that young Brother who turned things around in the Zombie Lodge before he died did.
Thank you for your very kind words Brother. I appreciate it. Like you, I try to make it a point to buy Masonic artifacts whenever I come across them, but I've not been able to extend that much beyond Craft Masonry. The costs would just become too great I fear.
That said, I have, through the years been given IOOF and some other Fraternal items from people who know that I collect Masonic things. To a non-fraternal person, it seems all the same. I have preserved these things in the same way I've preserved the Masonic things I have.
It is my sincere hope that these artifacts will be preserved, within our Fraternity, long after I'm gone.
American Pickers had an early episode where they found a bunch of fraternal items, I think it was the Odd Fellows that time. I can't remember which fraternity, it was years ago I saw the episode. A friend was traveling through colorado and saw some masonic furniture in an antique store window. He took a picture and sent it to me. It was our two pillars with globes attached.
For the Shrine items, maybe there's a perfectly good explanation for their current whereabouts? Perhaps they updated their signage, and had no use for the older antiquated materials? I'd email the secretary of that club and ask before I spent my own money recovering something they may not want back. Perhaps they had lost their building, and had no place to store the stuff. Paying for a storage locker for furniture you're never going to use again is a waste of money. By the time you would use whatever it was, you could have used the money to buy a new sign (or whatever). I get the historical significance of items, but I'd assume that perhaps some good reasoning was made prior to their divestiture.
I think that I can't buy the 'perfectly good explanation' idea, although I understand exactly what you are saying.
Certainly you are right, especially with something like Shrine signs, they could have been decommissioned. (Now that I've investigated a bit, I know that these were not, but I agree, they could have been.)
Where I diverge from that line of thought though is that I don't see decommissioning to a junk store as a proper course of action.
Let's say I'm the Shrine Guy. My group has elected to not use these signs anymore, and to do away with them. The most I could possibly get for them (my estimate here) is maybe, if I'm really lucky, $30 each from a shop owner. So, let's be super inflationary and say I got $60.
But now they can end up sold to anyone. The guy who makes lunatic You Tube videos claiming that Freemasons eat babies can use them as props in his videos. Add a few junk store Shrine Fezs and the porn guy can make his pornhub video, 'Old Shriner Guys with Barely Legal Teen.' (I have seen a porn video shot in a location that was made to look like a Masonic Lodge room, staring supposed Masons.)
The risk that this kind of stuff can happen is just too great for the perhaps, if one was really lucky, $60 the signs would have sold for. It is a potential PR nightmare.
If we decommission our stuff, and I agree there is good reason to decommission some things, we must I think destroy it. Not offer it to a junk reseller where all control will be lost.
This is sad to hear. Similar to the story in the mid west avout the family who bought a multi story masonic hall with almost a century of history because the lodge sold it to build another facility. They left the antique glass, the third floor lodge entirely intact including the altar if I remember correctly and most of the library. They purchased all of this history for less then $100,000. They turned the secretary’s office into a bedroom. Its painful to watch but I understand what they are doing to make it a home. My question is for the brothers.
In Ellensburg lodge we have managed to retain the final check stub when we paid off the original building less than 3 months before it burned to the ground in 1889. These valuable histories will always be with us.
As I'm a little bit familiar with Ellensburg Lodge, and your truly wonderful Masonic Temple, I'd just like to commend you, and all the Brothers of Ellensburg for preserving your long history so well, and for everything you are doing to ensure that your Temple stands as a fine example for at least the next one hundred years. I hope that other Lodges that own historically significant buildings will follow your fine example.
Yes! It's the Lodge's money and the Lodge's stuff. Clearly it's irresponsible to mismanage these tangible assets.
But what about the intangible assets? Is the mismanagement of furniture merely a symptom of a bigger problem? Do enough Masons really care about Masonry?
Let me toss this out here. “Is the mismanagement of furniture merely a symptom of a bigger problem? Do enough Masons really care about Masonry?”
In a case like what MW Cameron is talking about, the answer could be:
“I’m tired. I’ve been a member of this Lodge for over 50 years. I can’t remember my ritual as well as I used to. I can’t hear the Worshipful Master anymore because these hearing aids don’t work worth a damn. It’s getting more and more difficult to drive at night. Nobody else seems to give a rip anymore, why should I? Ah, to hell with it. I’ll vote yes for the damn merger. I probably won’t be attending the new Lodge anyway, so what?”
While no one particular Mason would say all of these things, many would say one or more of the above sentences. And that’s all it takes, if the majority of the “active” Brethren are consistently harping with these complaints. The younger Masons will simply stay away; they have no need to take time to go to Lodge to hear this stuff, and if we as a Fraternity are lucky, they’ll transfer to another Lodge.
But when the old grumbling Brothers throw in the towel, the furniture and records could follow right along. I had one Worshipful Master from a Puget Sound Lodge call these Lodges “Zombie Lodges.” I bet most of the Lodge paraphernalia you find in thrift stores, etc. are probably from Lodges that were “Zombie Lodges” towards the end.
My thought is that I agree with you; you've articulated the symptoms. Now on to the root cause ... could it be because too many Lodges don't present substantive programs. Rich history aside, who cares about the WMs chair if all he ever did was forget the ritual and ask for the minutes to be read.
I made a presentation concerning the topic of Astronomy at a “Zombie Lodge”, about 6 years before it threw in the towel. Not only is it a fun subject for me, it’s also one of the 7 Liberal Arts and Sciences in our 2nd degree lecture. I made sure to make this point at the beginning of the presentation. Many of those present thought it was a good presentation, but one of the Past Masters of that Lodge, a few weeks later said in a conversation, “we don’t need presentations about Astronomy, we need presentations about MASONRY!” It was difficult for me to keep my cool, as one of the most involved members of the Zombie Lodge discounted an educational presentation on one of the subjects in our Masonic Ritual – you can’t get much more Masonic than that! And there were a handful of Brothers who were in earshot of that comment. That certainly didn’t help matters. The Lodges that have education succeed. The ones that don’t probably won’t succeed in the end. The Lodges that shoo away education are totally doomed, as this Lodge was.
I know this thread started on the topic of tangible assets, so apologies to all for this now lengthening tangent.
When it comes to Masonic education, that thing that's supposed to help us become better men, we're too often very lazy (and I say that in the most friendly manner). Of course, we should all learn about the procedures, protocols and etiquette suitable for Masonic gatherings but that's a long way from the Masonic education we should pursue. I think I'm on solid ground when I say that no Mason actually became a better man by learning about our floorwork.
Presentations about Masonry should involve the scientific and spiritual principles that our founding Brothers embraced, illustrate the way our ritual reinforces those principles, and provide a bridge to how they improve our lives and relationships outside of the Lodge. If someplace along the way you learn not to cross the invisible line between the WM and the Volume of Sacred Law then So Mote it Be. And if you put that all together maybe you'll show an interest in preserving that altar where the Volume of Sacred Law is placed. (See how I did that ... I bent the tangent right back to the original topic).
I think the trouble is (to use Clayton's term) in Zombie Lodges, the members who are now apathetic do nothing but complain, perform ritual poorly, and as you mention, have the minutes read.
That drives away the non-apathetic Masons who really do care about Masonry.
The ones who remain, may try to introduce things like quality education, but if the apathetic Masons complain about that too, even more good Masons are driven away.
It creates, I think, a vicious cycle, until the Lodge finally closes.
But, on the other hand, a virtuous cycle can also be created. Excited, non-apathetic Masons can create programs, work on their own education and self-improvement, simply ignoring any complaints that come their way. Eventually, they will even probably turn the other guys away from their apathy.
While I agree with this post in theory it is truly not feasible. 5 Lodges have, over the years, merged into the lodge that I am current WM of. June 1st of this year another Lodge merged with us. We have put out the word to Subordinate Lodges within the state that we have Oriental chairs, alters, alters and pedestals available to any lodge that needs them. We cannot afford to store these items forever and let them rot. We are required to keep and store the minutes and records of these Lodges and have spent a large chunk of money to purchase a Conex container for that propose. Some of these Lodges had concordant bodies with them that have merged into our Star Chapter also. These records must also be stored.
I would love for these items to go to a Lodge that could use and love them but we are getting close to releasing them to the public or any brother that will love and care for them. We are in Idaho and if any Lodge, in any Jurisdiction, could use these items please contact me. John Bonnett WM Paul #77 A.F. & A.M. of Idaho. (208)212-5327
Off the top of my head, I remember Brothers saying there are Lodges in other areas in the world that are looking to obtain Masonic furniture. Now, to be totally fair, there is the challenge of getting that heavy furniture overseas, but something tells me there’s an entity of some sort out that would assist in the transfer of the furniture.
I know what you mean, as one of my Lodges had multiple Lodges merge into it, and while many of the Lodges in Southwest Washington did inherit a lot of the furniture, props and other items, my Lodge still has many duplicate items. My home Lodge was one of the recipients of the updated furniture. (I am a member of both of the Lodges I’m referencing here.) What happened to the old items my old Lodge had? Well, in one case, it was dishes that my Lodge had lost, and the other was the globes. My Lodge inherited true “Ohio Art” type globes, while the old busted painted globes were discarded, although they had no Masonic markings on them.
I wish I could help you with further details, but it was either a conversation I overheard at a Grand Lodge event, or a speech that someone made at a Lodge meeting.
I certainly invite anyone out there who can expound on this!
I understand, and don't want to discount the difficulty you are facing with so many mergers. A Lodge near where I live has had at least 5 Lodges merge into it. Perhaps more that I don't know about. I understand the struggle with too much stuff as I've watched them deal with the same issue.
I do have a handful of ideas that might be helpful to you.
One of our Washington Lodges decided to turn itself into what it calls a 'working museum.' They took all of the old awesome stuff they have (actually they acquired more stuff) got it cleaned up and well displayed. It has resulted in quite an awesome Lodge room/hallways/dining room and the like. Indeed I'd say that it is quite a lot more interesting than our Grand Lodge museum.
I am aware of and personally know two Masons who rescue discarded Masonic things, and sell them to Masons. Both of them are active doing this on Facebook, one of them I think sells only through Facebook. Perhaps Masons can be found on that platform who would be interested in purchasing items that the Lodge doesn't need, but that should stay within the Fraternity.
My Lodge has the big officer chairs, altar, pedestals and all the rest. But they are plain, fairly ugly, and importantly don't have any Masonic carvings and the like. The furniture that I wrote of that was abandoned was intricate, beautiful, and had our symbols carved into it. The Lodge that, like mine, has plain furniture could sell that stuff with no harm whatsoever coming to the fraternity, because it isn't Masonic furniture, it's just big furniture. Then it could replace it with specific Masonic carved pieces, thus preserving them well into the future.
The very first Masonic stuff I ever received was gifted to me by my home Lodge when I was a brand spankin' new Mason. They got it from guys who had passed away, and through a merger. Whenever they would get things like this, instead of just putting them in the attic or whatever, they would give them to the newest Masons who wanted them. In like manner, it is my intention that when I pass, I want my personal Masonic property to go to new active Masons. Instead of a pawn shop.
Another way to do the above is to 'loan' instead of give valuable things. I'm thinking of the big neon sign I received from one Lodge and provided to another. It's going up on the new Lodge, but to my mind, it is my sign (it was given to me) and if that Lodge ever sells its building (unlikely because it is a very active and thriving Lodge) I'm taking it back so that it can go to a third Lodge. What I'm trying to say here is that I think a Lodge can 'loan' nice Masonic things that it does not need to Brothers with the understanding that if the Brother ever doesn't want it anymore, it returns to the Lodge.
The records you mention are certainly another challenge. My building has two Lodges meeting in it, three York Rite bodies, and two OES Chapters. It's so filled with old paper that we are lucky it doesn't collapse under the weight. I think that the solution is to digitize all of this stuff. This could be done by any Lodge, at some expense, but I think that there are other solutions as well. For example, my Lodge's history closely mirrors the history of the area. I imagine it is the same for most Lodges. We have a college in our little city. I'm hopeful that at some future point we can gift our Lodge records to the college, with the understanding that they be available to us digitally into the future, just as they will be available to researchers at the college. I haven't explored that yet, but I do know that at least one Masonic Lodge has done it.
In any event, I do understand the issues caused by mergers, and how all the stuff can be overwhelming. Perhaps one of the ideas mentioned above could help.
This is a tragic series of circumstances indeed. As I read this, I found myself wondering how these Mason's arrived at the place of diminished regard for the grandeur of these beautiful furnishings and signs. Did this result from incompetence, apathy, disdain for the Craft? The bigger question is did these Mason's always have such a lack of concern for our work? Is this a West Gate issue? Or, has something happened in the meantime to foster this negativity or disenchantment for our institution?
These are the most important questions that we all must ask.
Could these things happen in my Lodge?
I say that yes, they can if we are not careful and do not remain engaged with the health and happiness of our Lodges or allow ourselves to blindly trust those we have entrusted with our assets and property.
I knew the history behind the chair before I wrote this post. In my view, it was lost due to apathy. Members of the Lodge just didn't care anymore. I'm not sure how a group of Masons can get to that point, but that certainly seemed to be where they were at.
I now know a bit of history behind the signs. They were lost, it seems, because a Mason passed away without leaving clear instructions for his heirs about what to do with the Masonic items he possessed. I think that this happens quite a lot, and that we would all do well to, if nothing else, leave a page of instructions for our kids to follow regarding our Masonic things after we pass.
This gets to the heart of a larger problem. Many Lodges have libraries and artifacts that are collecting dust and not being used. I know of two Lodges that have materials in an environment that I would generously call fire traps. Somewhere, somehow, the Masonic Library at Grand Lodge should figure out a program to rescue some of these things to keep them from being tossed out or winding up in thrift stores. I've seen wonderful original copies of Masonic History that I know are more than 100 years old and was always afraid to touch them because they are so fragile. I've also seen hundreds of old photographs that tell about our history in this jurisdiction carelessly stashed in old bookcases. The unfortunate crime here is that most brethren don't know these things exist and no one is willing to tell them about it, let alone trying to curate it.
I would suggest that a few folks start scrounging around in their own buildings looking for those lost/forgotten jewels moldering in a dusty corner or dank basement. You would be surprised at what you would find, as you mention. A brother rescued a wonderful cavalry sword that was sitting in a puddle of water in the basement, rusting away. It's been cleaned up and is now showcased in our tyler's room. I had found a wonderful photo album of past masters in our records that hadn't been updated since 1994, but obviously someone took great pains making it originally.
Some of these old lodge buildings have tons of nooks and crannies with stuff crammed in them to be rediscovered by someone someday. Hopefully.
I think we need to consider new Masons when thinking about preserving, displaying, and utilizing our historic objects.
It is often stated by seasoned Masons that a new Mason needs to be 'given a job' right away. Good advice or bad, I'm not sure, but in practice, it isn't good. This is because in practice it too often results in a brand new Mason being pushed into the progressive line, regardless of if he is ready for that, or even desires that.
But what about asking the new Mason to help the Lodge by organizing, preserving, and if appropriate, displaying some of a Lodge's historic treasures?
By the very nature of being new, new Masons come to Freemasonry as blank slates, eager to absorb lessons from men more seasoned in Freemasonry. We can, and should, instill within these men feelings about the importance of our history, and what these objects represent. Over time, with multiple men, we can create a culture of preservation within our Lodge.
Again Most Worshipful, You've hit the nail right squarely on the head. I feel this extends beyond Masonry. When I see I.O.O.F, EOS, Or any fraternal artifacts I try to rescue them and explain why these things aren't "kitschy hipster collectables". They have real meaning and historical value.
I think part of the willingness to just "walk away" stems from the cancer of apathy. Nobody showing up, the core that do get frustrated and loose their zeal and passion. Eventually folks just walk away without a care. That kind of attitude turns my stomach. I don't understand it, and it really upsets me deeply.
As always a great piece sir. Thank you for your kind thoughts.
“I think part of the willingness to just "walk away" stems from the cancer of apathy. Nobody showing up, the core that do get frustrated and lose their zeal and passion. Eventually folks just walk away without a care. That kind of attitude turns my stomach. I don't understand it, and it really upsets me deeply.”
And it is a cancer of sorts. It can also be contagious, if left unchecked. But I’ve seen a case where a young Brother come to a Lodge from another Lodge due to a job move, and he turned that Zombie Lodge around. He had the type of charisma to wake up even the staunchest curmudgeon. But then he suddenly passed due to an error in a routine surgery. It was a horrible tragedy, since the Brother was only in his 30’s. The Lodge never recovered. The curmudgeons took over, the others were just too tired to take up the deceased Brother’s ambition. It was a real tragedy all around.
WB, we’ve talked about things like this. We’ve had old-timers tell us that we don’t really know, since we’re not in our 70’s and 80’s. Well, that’s crap, plain and simple. Centralia Lodge has a really active Brother who is 90. The Worshipful Master is in his mid-80’s and doesn’t say things like that. My father will be 76 this fall and he has plenty of ambition, although he knows his limits because he’s not 30 anymore. And when my riding partner and I do our bicycle training rides, I’ve been passed by men and women in their mid-70’s. It is indeed an attitude thing, and since we don’t have that attitude, that’s why it's so upsetting. But as we also know, if there’s enough of us that buck that contagious attitude, we can turn things around. Just like that young Brother who turned things around in the Zombie Lodge before he died did.
Thank you for your very kind words Brother. I appreciate it. Like you, I try to make it a point to buy Masonic artifacts whenever I come across them, but I've not been able to extend that much beyond Craft Masonry. The costs would just become too great I fear.
That said, I have, through the years been given IOOF and some other Fraternal items from people who know that I collect Masonic things. To a non-fraternal person, it seems all the same. I have preserved these things in the same way I've preserved the Masonic things I have.
It is my sincere hope that these artifacts will be preserved, within our Fraternity, long after I'm gone.
American Pickers had an early episode where they found a bunch of fraternal items, I think it was the Odd Fellows that time. I can't remember which fraternity, it was years ago I saw the episode. A friend was traveling through colorado and saw some masonic furniture in an antique store window. He took a picture and sent it to me. It was our two pillars with globes attached.
For the Shrine items, maybe there's a perfectly good explanation for their current whereabouts? Perhaps they updated their signage, and had no use for the older antiquated materials? I'd email the secretary of that club and ask before I spent my own money recovering something they may not want back. Perhaps they had lost their building, and had no place to store the stuff. Paying for a storage locker for furniture you're never going to use again is a waste of money. By the time you would use whatever it was, you could have used the money to buy a new sign (or whatever). I get the historical significance of items, but I'd assume that perhaps some good reasoning was made prior to their divestiture.
I think that I can't buy the 'perfectly good explanation' idea, although I understand exactly what you are saying.
Certainly you are right, especially with something like Shrine signs, they could have been decommissioned. (Now that I've investigated a bit, I know that these were not, but I agree, they could have been.)
Where I diverge from that line of thought though is that I don't see decommissioning to a junk store as a proper course of action.
Let's say I'm the Shrine Guy. My group has elected to not use these signs anymore, and to do away with them. The most I could possibly get for them (my estimate here) is maybe, if I'm really lucky, $30 each from a shop owner. So, let's be super inflationary and say I got $60.
But now they can end up sold to anyone. The guy who makes lunatic You Tube videos claiming that Freemasons eat babies can use them as props in his videos. Add a few junk store Shrine Fezs and the porn guy can make his pornhub video, 'Old Shriner Guys with Barely Legal Teen.' (I have seen a porn video shot in a location that was made to look like a Masonic Lodge room, staring supposed Masons.)
The risk that this kind of stuff can happen is just too great for the perhaps, if one was really lucky, $60 the signs would have sold for. It is a potential PR nightmare.
If we decommission our stuff, and I agree there is good reason to decommission some things, we must I think destroy it. Not offer it to a junk reseller where all control will be lost.
This is sad to hear. Similar to the story in the mid west avout the family who bought a multi story masonic hall with almost a century of history because the lodge sold it to build another facility. They left the antique glass, the third floor lodge entirely intact including the altar if I remember correctly and most of the library. They purchased all of this history for less then $100,000. They turned the secretary’s office into a bedroom. Its painful to watch but I understand what they are doing to make it a home. My question is for the brothers.
In Ellensburg lodge we have managed to retain the final check stub when we paid off the original building less than 3 months before it burned to the ground in 1889. These valuable histories will always be with us.
As I'm a little bit familiar with Ellensburg Lodge, and your truly wonderful Masonic Temple, I'd just like to commend you, and all the Brothers of Ellensburg for preserving your long history so well, and for everything you are doing to ensure that your Temple stands as a fine example for at least the next one hundred years. I hope that other Lodges that own historically significant buildings will follow your fine example.
Yes! It's the Lodge's money and the Lodge's stuff. Clearly it's irresponsible to mismanage these tangible assets.
But what about the intangible assets? Is the mismanagement of furniture merely a symptom of a bigger problem? Do enough Masons really care about Masonry?
VWB John:
Let me toss this out here. “Is the mismanagement of furniture merely a symptom of a bigger problem? Do enough Masons really care about Masonry?”
In a case like what MW Cameron is talking about, the answer could be:
“I’m tired. I’ve been a member of this Lodge for over 50 years. I can’t remember my ritual as well as I used to. I can’t hear the Worshipful Master anymore because these hearing aids don’t work worth a damn. It’s getting more and more difficult to drive at night. Nobody else seems to give a rip anymore, why should I? Ah, to hell with it. I’ll vote yes for the damn merger. I probably won’t be attending the new Lodge anyway, so what?”
While no one particular Mason would say all of these things, many would say one or more of the above sentences. And that’s all it takes, if the majority of the “active” Brethren are consistently harping with these complaints. The younger Masons will simply stay away; they have no need to take time to go to Lodge to hear this stuff, and if we as a Fraternity are lucky, they’ll transfer to another Lodge.
But when the old grumbling Brothers throw in the towel, the furniture and records could follow right along. I had one Worshipful Master from a Puget Sound Lodge call these Lodges “Zombie Lodges.” I bet most of the Lodge paraphernalia you find in thrift stores, etc. are probably from Lodges that were “Zombie Lodges” towards the end.
Thoughts?
My thought is that I agree with you; you've articulated the symptoms. Now on to the root cause ... could it be because too many Lodges don't present substantive programs. Rich history aside, who cares about the WMs chair if all he ever did was forget the ritual and ask for the minutes to be read.
Good call… maybe I can make an example.
I made a presentation concerning the topic of Astronomy at a “Zombie Lodge”, about 6 years before it threw in the towel. Not only is it a fun subject for me, it’s also one of the 7 Liberal Arts and Sciences in our 2nd degree lecture. I made sure to make this point at the beginning of the presentation. Many of those present thought it was a good presentation, but one of the Past Masters of that Lodge, a few weeks later said in a conversation, “we don’t need presentations about Astronomy, we need presentations about MASONRY!” It was difficult for me to keep my cool, as one of the most involved members of the Zombie Lodge discounted an educational presentation on one of the subjects in our Masonic Ritual – you can’t get much more Masonic than that! And there were a handful of Brothers who were in earshot of that comment. That certainly didn’t help matters. The Lodges that have education succeed. The ones that don’t probably won’t succeed in the end. The Lodges that shoo away education are totally doomed, as this Lodge was.
I know this thread started on the topic of tangible assets, so apologies to all for this now lengthening tangent.
When it comes to Masonic education, that thing that's supposed to help us become better men, we're too often very lazy (and I say that in the most friendly manner). Of course, we should all learn about the procedures, protocols and etiquette suitable for Masonic gatherings but that's a long way from the Masonic education we should pursue. I think I'm on solid ground when I say that no Mason actually became a better man by learning about our floorwork.
Presentations about Masonry should involve the scientific and spiritual principles that our founding Brothers embraced, illustrate the way our ritual reinforces those principles, and provide a bridge to how they improve our lives and relationships outside of the Lodge. If someplace along the way you learn not to cross the invisible line between the WM and the Volume of Sacred Law then So Mote it Be. And if you put that all together maybe you'll show an interest in preserving that altar where the Volume of Sacred Law is placed. (See how I did that ... I bent the tangent right back to the original topic).
I appreciate the tangent.
>>>Do enough Masons really care about Masonry?
Yes. I think so.
I think the trouble is (to use Clayton's term) in Zombie Lodges, the members who are now apathetic do nothing but complain, perform ritual poorly, and as you mention, have the minutes read.
That drives away the non-apathetic Masons who really do care about Masonry.
The ones who remain, may try to introduce things like quality education, but if the apathetic Masons complain about that too, even more good Masons are driven away.
It creates, I think, a vicious cycle, until the Lodge finally closes.
But, on the other hand, a virtuous cycle can also be created. Excited, non-apathetic Masons can create programs, work on their own education and self-improvement, simply ignoring any complaints that come their way. Eventually, they will even probably turn the other guys away from their apathy.
While I agree with this post in theory it is truly not feasible. 5 Lodges have, over the years, merged into the lodge that I am current WM of. June 1st of this year another Lodge merged with us. We have put out the word to Subordinate Lodges within the state that we have Oriental chairs, alters, alters and pedestals available to any lodge that needs them. We cannot afford to store these items forever and let them rot. We are required to keep and store the minutes and records of these Lodges and have spent a large chunk of money to purchase a Conex container for that propose. Some of these Lodges had concordant bodies with them that have merged into our Star Chapter also. These records must also be stored.
I would love for these items to go to a Lodge that could use and love them but we are getting close to releasing them to the public or any brother that will love and care for them. We are in Idaho and if any Lodge, in any Jurisdiction, could use these items please contact me. John Bonnett WM Paul #77 A.F. & A.M. of Idaho. (208)212-5327
Off the top of my head, I remember Brothers saying there are Lodges in other areas in the world that are looking to obtain Masonic furniture. Now, to be totally fair, there is the challenge of getting that heavy furniture overseas, but something tells me there’s an entity of some sort out that would assist in the transfer of the furniture.
I know what you mean, as one of my Lodges had multiple Lodges merge into it, and while many of the Lodges in Southwest Washington did inherit a lot of the furniture, props and other items, my Lodge still has many duplicate items. My home Lodge was one of the recipients of the updated furniture. (I am a member of both of the Lodges I’m referencing here.) What happened to the old items my old Lodge had? Well, in one case, it was dishes that my Lodge had lost, and the other was the globes. My Lodge inherited true “Ohio Art” type globes, while the old busted painted globes were discarded, although they had no Masonic markings on them.
I wish I could help you with further details, but it was either a conversation I overheard at a Grand Lodge event, or a speech that someone made at a Lodge meeting.
I certainly invite anyone out there who can expound on this!
Worshipful Brother:
I understand, and don't want to discount the difficulty you are facing with so many mergers. A Lodge near where I live has had at least 5 Lodges merge into it. Perhaps more that I don't know about. I understand the struggle with too much stuff as I've watched them deal with the same issue.
I do have a handful of ideas that might be helpful to you.
One of our Washington Lodges decided to turn itself into what it calls a 'working museum.' They took all of the old awesome stuff they have (actually they acquired more stuff) got it cleaned up and well displayed. It has resulted in quite an awesome Lodge room/hallways/dining room and the like. Indeed I'd say that it is quite a lot more interesting than our Grand Lodge museum.
I am aware of and personally know two Masons who rescue discarded Masonic things, and sell them to Masons. Both of them are active doing this on Facebook, one of them I think sells only through Facebook. Perhaps Masons can be found on that platform who would be interested in purchasing items that the Lodge doesn't need, but that should stay within the Fraternity.
My Lodge has the big officer chairs, altar, pedestals and all the rest. But they are plain, fairly ugly, and importantly don't have any Masonic carvings and the like. The furniture that I wrote of that was abandoned was intricate, beautiful, and had our symbols carved into it. The Lodge that, like mine, has plain furniture could sell that stuff with no harm whatsoever coming to the fraternity, because it isn't Masonic furniture, it's just big furniture. Then it could replace it with specific Masonic carved pieces, thus preserving them well into the future.
The very first Masonic stuff I ever received was gifted to me by my home Lodge when I was a brand spankin' new Mason. They got it from guys who had passed away, and through a merger. Whenever they would get things like this, instead of just putting them in the attic or whatever, they would give them to the newest Masons who wanted them. In like manner, it is my intention that when I pass, I want my personal Masonic property to go to new active Masons. Instead of a pawn shop.
Another way to do the above is to 'loan' instead of give valuable things. I'm thinking of the big neon sign I received from one Lodge and provided to another. It's going up on the new Lodge, but to my mind, it is my sign (it was given to me) and if that Lodge ever sells its building (unlikely because it is a very active and thriving Lodge) I'm taking it back so that it can go to a third Lodge. What I'm trying to say here is that I think a Lodge can 'loan' nice Masonic things that it does not need to Brothers with the understanding that if the Brother ever doesn't want it anymore, it returns to the Lodge.
The records you mention are certainly another challenge. My building has two Lodges meeting in it, three York Rite bodies, and two OES Chapters. It's so filled with old paper that we are lucky it doesn't collapse under the weight. I think that the solution is to digitize all of this stuff. This could be done by any Lodge, at some expense, but I think that there are other solutions as well. For example, my Lodge's history closely mirrors the history of the area. I imagine it is the same for most Lodges. We have a college in our little city. I'm hopeful that at some future point we can gift our Lodge records to the college, with the understanding that they be available to us digitally into the future, just as they will be available to researchers at the college. I haven't explored that yet, but I do know that at least one Masonic Lodge has done it.
In any event, I do understand the issues caused by mergers, and how all the stuff can be overwhelming. Perhaps one of the ideas mentioned above could help.