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'm jumping off topic a bit here, but since you mentioned it, I think we would serve our Fraternity well by adapting dress codes to not only reflect the men of today, but also the community in which our Lodges reside.
A 'uniform' for Lodge can build an important and strong bond between men, but it need not be something traditional. The dark suit and tie, or the grey slacks, blue jacket, and tie.
One of our Lodges for example wears embroidered 'Cowboy' shirts that they have deemed to be 'Rail Road' shirts. They are cool looking, and wearing them strengthens the Lodge.
Down in my area, in my Lodge, I don't think that we had any active members who wore suits to Lodge, so suits were often being worn rather like a costume. For a time, we switched those out for 'Logger' shirts, and I think that was very well received while it lasted.
Other Lodges do exceptionally well adopting the tuxedo as a uniform.
In my view, to best work, the uniform needs to reflect the men wearing it, and their community.
All of that said, I agree with you 100% that it is immeasurably better to have a man sit in Lodge with us, then to exclude him because he is unable to dress to some particular 'standard.' Lots of guys are time crunched getting from work to Lodge, and we should never make a Brother feel less than welcome because he didn't have time to go home and change.
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.
I strongly agree with your view that many of our Lodges would benefit from culture change. If it is to survive and thrive, our Fraternity must reflect the needs of today's men. And it is the younger, newer members who will lead culture change.
I know that some feel that Freemasonry should never change, but it certainly has changed and evolved. We no longer meet in taverns, with our symbols drawn with chalk on the floor, and our ritual no longer consists of only catechism. So to hold the view that Lodges have never changed or should never change is to forget our history.
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.
While we must make every effort to Guard the West, we must also make tremendous effort to Guard the East. A single unsuitable WM can do harm to a lodge that will last for years and years.
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 think you are certainly correct in pointing out that results are slow in coming. I'm a member of a Lodge that went from a quite sorry state to a superb state, but it took years to make that happen. Years of WM's and Brothers working hard to improve things, seemingly one baby step at a time. It worked, but it did take a long time. Expecting instant results will just result in frustration as they don't materialize quickly.
On the other hand, a Lodge can go from excellence to that sorry state much quicker. An unsuitable WM or two can unravel the work of years.
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'm jumping off topic a bit here, but since you mentioned it, I think we would serve our Fraternity well by adapting dress codes to not only reflect the men of today, but also the community in which our Lodges reside.
A 'uniform' for Lodge can build an important and strong bond between men, but it need not be something traditional. The dark suit and tie, or the grey slacks, blue jacket, and tie.
One of our Lodges for example wears embroidered 'Cowboy' shirts that they have deemed to be 'Rail Road' shirts. They are cool looking, and wearing them strengthens the Lodge.
Down in my area, in my Lodge, I don't think that we had any active members who wore suits to Lodge, so suits were often being worn rather like a costume. For a time, we switched those out for 'Logger' shirts, and I think that was very well received while it lasted.
Other Lodges do exceptionally well adopting the tuxedo as a uniform.
In my view, to best work, the uniform needs to reflect the men wearing it, and their community.
All of that said, I agree with you 100% that it is immeasurably better to have a man sit in Lodge with us, then to exclude him because he is unable to dress to some particular 'standard.' Lots of guys are time crunched getting from work to Lodge, and we should never make a Brother feel less than welcome because he didn't have time to go home and change.
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.
I strongly agree with your view that many of our Lodges would benefit from culture change. If it is to survive and thrive, our Fraternity must reflect the needs of today's men. And it is the younger, newer members who will lead culture change.
I know that some feel that Freemasonry should never change, but it certainly has changed and evolved. We no longer meet in taverns, with our symbols drawn with chalk on the floor, and our ritual no longer consists of only catechism. So to hold the view that Lodges have never changed or should never change is to forget our history.
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.
You make a vital point.
While we must make every effort to Guard the West, we must also make tremendous effort to Guard the East. A single unsuitable WM can do harm to a lodge that will last for years and years.
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 think you are certainly correct in pointing out that results are slow in coming. I'm a member of a Lodge that went from a quite sorry state to a superb state, but it took years to make that happen. Years of WM's and Brothers working hard to improve things, seemingly one baby step at a time. It worked, but it did take a long time. Expecting instant results will just result in frustration as they don't materialize quickly.
On the other hand, a Lodge can go from excellence to that sorry state much quicker. An unsuitable WM or two can unravel the work of years.