If your Lodge is fortunate enough to receive a number of candidates at a time (this has happened with many Washington Lodges as we were unable to do Degree work for well over a year due to the Pandemic) does the Lodge or its members worry that those new voting Masons might significantly change the Lodge by exercising those votes?
If that is considered, is it considered to be a negative thing?
Or is the influx of candidates considered a wholly good thing?
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I’m sure there are those brothers who worry about such things every time new candidates are initiated into their lodge. My experience has been that by the time a candidate is raised and enjoys voting privileges he has been “indoctrinated” into his lodge’s culture. It’s a rare thing to have a discussion prior to voting on an issue that only includes those three or four older brothers let alone to have a brother vote in opposition on a matter. I think it’s the Master’s responsibility to bring newer brothers into conversations and out of their comfort zone of sitting quietly on the sidelines. I wonder though if most of our lodges wouldn’t benefit from a “coup d’etat” to save us from some of our out dated cultures. I remember making the decision when I was Master that it was more important for a brother to come to lodge than for him to wear a tie. It was a hill I wasn’t willing to die on. I wonder how many brothers have not returned to lodge because they couldn’t always make it home from work to change and were chastised by an older brother for not being “properly clothed”.
I think it's the responsibility of the entire lodge to engage with the new candidates and help educate them in the craft and encourage them to present ideas good for the order. As to culture change it's the new members that will make the change's which many Lodges really need.
If your lodges are guarding the West Gate, and investigating committee are being fourth right with everyone. 3 or 4 new members shouldn't control any of the votes. If proper education is on going for not only new members but the lodges as a whole everything should be just fine. Most importantly dont ever forget to guard the East.
The two worst reasons for doing anything are 1) We've *always* done it that way, and 2) We've never done it that way before. New blood, new ideas! Who knows, the new Brother might just have an idea that we've not seen before, and Lo! and Behold! it WORKS! I am always ready to entertain new ideas, while reserving the right to dispute and discuss them. In my limited experience, NOTHING happens in our lodges with overnight results. Getting a new way of doing things instilled is like turning a super-tanker in the Sinclair Inlet. Far too many of our younger Brothers are firmly told by the Old Guard to sit down and be silent. How about "sit up, listen, and offer your opinion?" Just my thoughts...
I’m sure there are those brothers who worry about such things every time new candidates are initiated into their lodge. My experience has been that by the time a candidate is raised and enjoys voting privileges he has been “indoctrinated” into his lodge’s culture. It’s a rare thing to have a discussion prior to voting on an issue that only includes those three or four older brothers let alone to have a brother vote in opposition on a matter. I think it’s the Master’s responsibility to bring newer brothers into conversations and out of their comfort zone of sitting quietly on the sidelines. I wonder though if most of our lodges wouldn’t benefit from a “coup d’etat” to save us from some of our out dated cultures. I remember making the decision when I was Master that it was more important for a brother to come to lodge than for him to wear a tie. It was a hill I wasn’t willing to die on. I wonder how many brothers have not returned to lodge because they couldn’t always make it home from work to change and were chastised by an older brother for not being “properly clothed”.
I think it's the responsibility of the entire lodge to engage with the new candidates and help educate them in the craft and encourage them to present ideas good for the order. As to culture change it's the new members that will make the change's which many Lodges really need.
If your lodges are guarding the West Gate, and investigating committee are being fourth right with everyone. 3 or 4 new members shouldn't control any of the votes. If proper education is on going for not only new members but the lodges as a whole everything should be just fine. Most importantly dont ever forget to guard the East.
The two worst reasons for doing anything are 1) We've *always* done it that way, and 2) We've never done it that way before. New blood, new ideas! Who knows, the new Brother might just have an idea that we've not seen before, and Lo! and Behold! it WORKS! I am always ready to entertain new ideas, while reserving the right to dispute and discuss them. In my limited experience, NOTHING happens in our lodges with overnight results. Getting a new way of doing things instilled is like turning a super-tanker in the Sinclair Inlet. Far too many of our younger Brothers are firmly told by the Old Guard to sit down and be silent. How about "sit up, listen, and offer your opinion?" Just my thoughts...