The Western Conference of Grand Masters (Alaska, British Columbia and Yukon, Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, Hawaii, Baja California Mexico, York Mexico) has ended. The North American Conference begins today, which includes the Grand Lodges of Canada, the United States, and Mexico, plus visiting Grand Lodges from around the world.
We have had a great many discussions and presentations so far, covering a vast array of topics, including a major presentation by our own RW Jimmy Norton, explaining our focus on Improving the Lodge Experience and how to do that.
One small thing however has really stuck out in my mind, so I thought it would be good for us to discuss here.
A Deputy Grand Master from one of our sister jurisdictions said that:
“The era of standing up in the East and telling people to turn off their cellular phones is over.”
His point, as I understood it, is that these devices are now so fully integrated into the lives of our youngest Masons that they are unwilling to be disconnected, and it is unreasonable for us to ask that they be.
His further point, as I understood it, is that it doesn’t matter what we (us older guys) think about it anyway. That if we have an issue with it, that is because the world has moved beyond us, and those devices will be utilized in Lodge whether we like it or not.
I think that our Brother is right.
I also think that while it is a small thing in the scheme of things, it isn’t a small thing to those who have grown up with these devices.
Lastly, I think that it points out a pressing need in our Fraternity. That those Lodges that have yet to embrace technology (Wi Fi in the Lodge Room, Emailed Minutes and Communications, virtual Speakers, Instagram, &c.) need to get on it, and get on it quickly, if they are going to remain relevant.
So, let’s chat about it…
What do you think about technology and devices in Lodge?
I have been taking copious notes of things of interest that are being discussed here, and will do my best to bring all of those things back to Emeth over the coming weeks so that we can all pick up on them together. There is much to learn.
I must also say that it has been nice and sunny ever since we arrived here. I’ve got a great view of Lake Michigan from my hotel room, and the sunrises have been spectacular. That said, it is friggin cold here! Holy Smokes! Us Seattle folks are used to gettin damp, but this cold, it’ll kill ya! Walked to a restaurant about a half a mile away for dinner, was pretty sure that they might have had to chip my corpse out of the ice next spring. Gave up yesterday and bought the world’s ugliest hat, with ear flaps.
I agree that technology is fully integrated into our lives, many of our newest member come to us through or due to their carriers so telling them to “turn off” their devices is unreasonable. This question has come up many times not only in lodge but in our DeMolay Chapters, Rainbow Assemblies, and Jobe’s Daughters Bethels “Do we allow Mobil devices in the room?” What we have done in our youth organizations and in a less “Directive way” is to have 101 class on device etiquette. During this class we explain that it is okay to have your device on but it is in silent mode, during degree work or solemn ceremonies we strongly suggest that they be put i. Do not disturb. And now We open every meeting by reminding all present to put their devices in a silent mode.
The positives are that everyone has early access to calendars, during education research can be done on the fly which allows for very deep and thoughtful discussion. And our members still feel connected.
Oh, how I could write an essay on your question. My short answer is that if a brother believes he needs to be connected to his phone while in lodge, we have failed to instruct him in what it means to be in lodge. Lodge should be sanctuary from the outside world. A place for contemplation, thought, and connection to the ideals of Masonry.
If what happens inside your lodge room doesn't provide an atmosphere that supports a meaningful experience, then you have caused brothers to look to their phones for one.
We explain to EAs that we divested them of all metallic substances so they will not bring anything offensive (disruptive) into the lodge. Yet, cellphones are OK because, well, young men need them on and with them all the time?
I'm an old guy, a fan and user of technology. I have a smartphone, I maintain the lodge website, I recently setup Microsoft Teams for our officer communication, and look for ways other technoloogy can improve Masonry. The world has not gone past me, but I don't want Masonry to "go by" a young man.
In the Ancient Charges it says a Master is not to take an apprentice unless he has sufficient employment for him. It also says that apprentices should receive proper instruction "to prevent spoiling the materials for want of judgement."
If brothers believe they need their cell phones in lodge, maybe there is not sufficient employment. Provide proper and sufficient employment, so the need for cell phones won't contribute to spoiling the materials of Masonry.
I am in what is often called the lost generation between gen x and millennial. Those born between 1975 and 1982. We entered school before computers were part of the curriculum but home computers became affordable to the average household before we graduated. The usefulness of a handheld computer is not lost on me and the most valuable aspect of my smartphone in lodge is the presence of my calendar. How can I plan an event or schedule a visit or volunteer for a fundraiser if I don't know my schedule. I don't have it written in a book. Also, if a question comes up referencing some bit of obscure knowledge, the presence of an internet search to learn some background to that knowledge is great. But social media, ringing phones, alerts and notifications are a distraction and should be silenced during lodge. That is my take.
It depends on how the phone is being used. The brothers shouldn't be sending memes, watching videos, or scrolling through facebook during the meeting.
Lodge-related business gets a pass on phone usage. The phones will come out to log in calendar dates, relay messages from absent brethren, read off summary reports, or pictures after a degree.
All I ask is to silence your phones. We all refer to our calenders, add dates of events when Brothers stand and give them. So, all for technology, just need to convince the rest of the Brothers to get WiFi. I use my phone as a hotspot for blended meetings for Zoom. Maybe a certain Grand Master could send a suggestion letter stating maybe it's time to join the 21st century...just saying.....
Telling them to turn them off might push some younger ones out. Putting them on Vibrate in most Lodges I have been in is the best way. Due to some of the jobs our Brothers have, i.e. Medical and First responders, they are on call, in some places, 24/7. In northern States, during the winter you can add plow truck drivers. Those people NEED to be able to be contacted when they are needed most. As of myself, being retired, I do not even take my phone to lodge unless I KNOW a loved one is ill or am waiting on word that I am going to a grandfather again. So it depends on the situation, but EVERYONE should be respectful enough to use vibrate when in Lodge.
I’m going to tell two stories on this topic, and then give the short version of my thoughts on it.
When I was Junior Warden, the Brother serving as Worshipful Master declared that there would be no cell phone use within the lodge at any time by any one for any reason. He was in his late 60s, everyone in line behind him was under 50. Many of us approached him separately to discuss various potential exceptions to his decree, for most of us the key one was our calendars are on our phones. He informed us that we should keep a pocket calendar as he had done for the past 40 years and it would be fine, no amount of discussion would move him from his course. So the year began and we all obeyed the dictate of no cell phones out for any reason (we did secure an exception for people who were on emergency call out for their job to have their phone on silent and out and visible to them). About the 4th time the Master gave me a date that was not a stated meeting and asked me to do something for that date and I told him I would get back with him and confirm after lodge (when I could check my calendar) he began to see that maybe there was a gray area there. We ended up with an agreement that during a specific period at the end of the meeting when discussing upcoming events all of us could get our “damnable pocket organizers” out for it.
The year I was Master I decided to take advantage of the fact that everyone in the lodge had a phone in their pocket. At our first stated meeting of the month (we met twice a month) after the opening I would put the Lodge at refreshment for ~10 minutes and pass out cards I had made with the contact information for every lodge member to everyone present and we would call those Brothers simply to say hello, see how they were doing, and check their contact info. I cannot overstate the benefit to the lodge in new connections that were made, in old connections that were renewed, and in the sense of community that grew out of it.
Technology is a tool, it is what we make of it for good or ill. There are times when cell phone use should not be present, as noted the Lodge is a blessed sanctuary away from the world, but there are other times when their use is a benefit to the members of the Lodge and to the Lodge itself. Each Lodge must determine what the bounds of that benefit are and tailor their rules to fit within those due bounds.
All we need to do is set the phone to either silent or vibrate these days. Many Brothers use these phones as their calendars to organize their work, family and lodge schedules.
Also there are Brothers that are in an "On-Call" availability for work. The vantage these days is that the on call folks are not tied to a hard wired phone in their homes.
Would we have told our Brothers that were Doctors, Firemen, Police, and military that they needed to turn their pagers off 30 years ago to sit in our Lodge Rooms? I wasn't there, but I sure hope we didn't. I've seen many a Doctor get up from a pew in a church and hurry out.
If we limit our thoughts to technology and devices we're focusing on the symptom and not the broader issue. How technology and devices are used in Masonry is only one part of the larger discussion of how Masonry remains relevant as society changes. We're confused about technology and many Masons still believe it's not secure, but if used properly it's more secure than any lodge room I've even been in. We use teaching methods that became obsolete decades ago, continuing to insist on memory, even though reasoning replaced memory as a teaching method before many of the incoming generation of Masons were born. And we're bound by many rules that are rules for the sake of rules. That worked many decades ago when we all lived in a culture of obedience. Now we live in a society of empowerment.
Technology and devices definitely have a place in Masonry. We need a framework that helps Masons communicate and learn effectively. And some day we may even be able to establish rules of technology etiquette as long as they're not confused with a bunch of other empty and unnecessary rules.
Beyond this…our lodges are stuck in the 19th century. Hand written minutes? Really? Can’t take credit cards to pay dues? Really? Can’t send out emails for important communications? Really? This fraternity needs to get with the times.
I don’t have a check book. Most people send money via electronic methods. I can send money via PayPal or a dozen different ways. Why are lodges refusing to get with the times?
First, operative masonry (...) demonstrates that a fund of science and industry is implanted in man, for the best, most salutary, and beneficent purposes. We of all people should be supporters of science & technology, understanding this from our fellow craft instruction. The discussion can never be about whether to allow technology -- it must be about how to ensure that it is used for the best, most salutary, and beneficent purposes. And there are plenty of those with modern mobile phones!
The second take -- a funny story from a visit to a recent research lodge. The speaker noted (too late, last minute) the lodge room didn't have a projector, so he was late 10 minutes to his own talk, because he was rushing to target to buy a budget projector and set it up in the lodge room. This provoked discussion - should they have already had one? Should such things be banned? One wit said this: "Brothers you've got it all wrong. The real error was when we let electricity into the lodges in the first place. We were meant to do the work by candlelight, not these bulbs. Then came the HVAC systems. God intended us to sweat through the summers in wool jackets, like Real Men, not to be comfortable". I hasten to add he was *kidding* but the point is where to draw the line. Obviously electricity and HVAC are good things, innovated long since the establishment of Freemasonry. Folks can look on them suspiciously if they want, but they are modern facts of life.
All the same is true of mobile phones and the Internet.
If you would like to ensure that your building is never used for any purpose outside of masonic ritual, by all means - please ensure that it does not have free wifi, and this will actively dissuade the community from using your facilities.
I agree that technology is fully integrated into our lives, many of our newest member come to us through or due to their carriers so telling them to “turn off” their devices is unreasonable. This question has come up many times not only in lodge but in our DeMolay Chapters, Rainbow Assemblies, and Jobe’s Daughters Bethels “Do we allow Mobil devices in the room?” What we have done in our youth organizations and in a less “Directive way” is to have 101 class on device etiquette. During this class we explain that it is okay to have your device on but it is in silent mode, during degree work or solemn ceremonies we strongly suggest that they be put i. Do not disturb. And now We open every meeting by reminding all present to put their devices in a silent mode.
The positives are that everyone has early access to calendars, during education research can be done on the fly which allows for very deep and thoughtful discussion. And our members still feel connected.
Oh, how I could write an essay on your question. My short answer is that if a brother believes he needs to be connected to his phone while in lodge, we have failed to instruct him in what it means to be in lodge. Lodge should be sanctuary from the outside world. A place for contemplation, thought, and connection to the ideals of Masonry.
If what happens inside your lodge room doesn't provide an atmosphere that supports a meaningful experience, then you have caused brothers to look to their phones for one.
We explain to EAs that we divested them of all metallic substances so they will not bring anything offensive (disruptive) into the lodge. Yet, cellphones are OK because, well, young men need them on and with them all the time?
I'm an old guy, a fan and user of technology. I have a smartphone, I maintain the lodge website, I recently setup Microsoft Teams for our officer communication, and look for ways other technoloogy can improve Masonry. The world has not gone past me, but I don't want Masonry to "go by" a young man.
In the Ancient Charges it says a Master is not to take an apprentice unless he has sufficient employment for him. It also says that apprentices should receive proper instruction "to prevent spoiling the materials for want of judgement."
If brothers believe they need their cell phones in lodge, maybe there is not sufficient employment. Provide proper and sufficient employment, so the need for cell phones won't contribute to spoiling the materials of Masonry.
I am in what is often called the lost generation between gen x and millennial. Those born between 1975 and 1982. We entered school before computers were part of the curriculum but home computers became affordable to the average household before we graduated. The usefulness of a handheld computer is not lost on me and the most valuable aspect of my smartphone in lodge is the presence of my calendar. How can I plan an event or schedule a visit or volunteer for a fundraiser if I don't know my schedule. I don't have it written in a book. Also, if a question comes up referencing some bit of obscure knowledge, the presence of an internet search to learn some background to that knowledge is great. But social media, ringing phones, alerts and notifications are a distraction and should be silenced during lodge. That is my take.
It depends on how the phone is being used. The brothers shouldn't be sending memes, watching videos, or scrolling through facebook during the meeting.
Lodge-related business gets a pass on phone usage. The phones will come out to log in calendar dates, relay messages from absent brethren, read off summary reports, or pictures after a degree.
All I ask is to silence your phones. We all refer to our calenders, add dates of events when Brothers stand and give them. So, all for technology, just need to convince the rest of the Brothers to get WiFi. I use my phone as a hotspot for blended meetings for Zoom. Maybe a certain Grand Master could send a suggestion letter stating maybe it's time to join the 21st century...just saying.....
Telling them to turn them off might push some younger ones out. Putting them on Vibrate in most Lodges I have been in is the best way. Due to some of the jobs our Brothers have, i.e. Medical and First responders, they are on call, in some places, 24/7. In northern States, during the winter you can add plow truck drivers. Those people NEED to be able to be contacted when they are needed most. As of myself, being retired, I do not even take my phone to lodge unless I KNOW a loved one is ill or am waiting on word that I am going to a grandfather again. So it depends on the situation, but EVERYONE should be respectful enough to use vibrate when in Lodge.
I’m going to tell two stories on this topic, and then give the short version of my thoughts on it.
When I was Junior Warden, the Brother serving as Worshipful Master declared that there would be no cell phone use within the lodge at any time by any one for any reason. He was in his late 60s, everyone in line behind him was under 50. Many of us approached him separately to discuss various potential exceptions to his decree, for most of us the key one was our calendars are on our phones. He informed us that we should keep a pocket calendar as he had done for the past 40 years and it would be fine, no amount of discussion would move him from his course. So the year began and we all obeyed the dictate of no cell phones out for any reason (we did secure an exception for people who were on emergency call out for their job to have their phone on silent and out and visible to them). About the 4th time the Master gave me a date that was not a stated meeting and asked me to do something for that date and I told him I would get back with him and confirm after lodge (when I could check my calendar) he began to see that maybe there was a gray area there. We ended up with an agreement that during a specific period at the end of the meeting when discussing upcoming events all of us could get our “damnable pocket organizers” out for it.
The year I was Master I decided to take advantage of the fact that everyone in the lodge had a phone in their pocket. At our first stated meeting of the month (we met twice a month) after the opening I would put the Lodge at refreshment for ~10 minutes and pass out cards I had made with the contact information for every lodge member to everyone present and we would call those Brothers simply to say hello, see how they were doing, and check their contact info. I cannot overstate the benefit to the lodge in new connections that were made, in old connections that were renewed, and in the sense of community that grew out of it.
Technology is a tool, it is what we make of it for good or ill. There are times when cell phone use should not be present, as noted the Lodge is a blessed sanctuary away from the world, but there are other times when their use is a benefit to the members of the Lodge and to the Lodge itself. Each Lodge must determine what the bounds of that benefit are and tailor their rules to fit within those due bounds.
All we need to do is set the phone to either silent or vibrate these days. Many Brothers use these phones as their calendars to organize their work, family and lodge schedules.
Also there are Brothers that are in an "On-Call" availability for work. The vantage these days is that the on call folks are not tied to a hard wired phone in their homes.
Would we have told our Brothers that were Doctors, Firemen, Police, and military that they needed to turn their pagers off 30 years ago to sit in our Lodge Rooms? I wasn't there, but I sure hope we didn't. I've seen many a Doctor get up from a pew in a church and hurry out.
If we limit our thoughts to technology and devices we're focusing on the symptom and not the broader issue. How technology and devices are used in Masonry is only one part of the larger discussion of how Masonry remains relevant as society changes. We're confused about technology and many Masons still believe it's not secure, but if used properly it's more secure than any lodge room I've even been in. We use teaching methods that became obsolete decades ago, continuing to insist on memory, even though reasoning replaced memory as a teaching method before many of the incoming generation of Masons were born. And we're bound by many rules that are rules for the sake of rules. That worked many decades ago when we all lived in a culture of obedience. Now we live in a society of empowerment.
Technology and devices definitely have a place in Masonry. We need a framework that helps Masons communicate and learn effectively. And some day we may even be able to establish rules of technology etiquette as long as they're not confused with a bunch of other empty and unnecessary rules.
Beyond this…our lodges are stuck in the 19th century. Hand written minutes? Really? Can’t take credit cards to pay dues? Really? Can’t send out emails for important communications? Really? This fraternity needs to get with the times.
I don’t have a check book. Most people send money via electronic methods. I can send money via PayPal or a dozen different ways. Why are lodges refusing to get with the times?
I think 2 things about technology & Masonry.
First, operative masonry (...) demonstrates that a fund of science and industry is implanted in man, for the best, most salutary, and beneficent purposes. We of all people should be supporters of science & technology, understanding this from our fellow craft instruction. The discussion can never be about whether to allow technology -- it must be about how to ensure that it is used for the best, most salutary, and beneficent purposes. And there are plenty of those with modern mobile phones!
The second take -- a funny story from a visit to a recent research lodge. The speaker noted (too late, last minute) the lodge room didn't have a projector, so he was late 10 minutes to his own talk, because he was rushing to target to buy a budget projector and set it up in the lodge room. This provoked discussion - should they have already had one? Should such things be banned? One wit said this: "Brothers you've got it all wrong. The real error was when we let electricity into the lodges in the first place. We were meant to do the work by candlelight, not these bulbs. Then came the HVAC systems. God intended us to sweat through the summers in wool jackets, like Real Men, not to be comfortable". I hasten to add he was *kidding* but the point is where to draw the line. Obviously electricity and HVAC are good things, innovated long since the establishment of Freemasonry. Folks can look on them suspiciously if they want, but they are modern facts of life.
All the same is true of mobile phones and the Internet.
If you would like to ensure that your building is never used for any purpose outside of masonic ritual, by all means - please ensure that it does not have free wifi, and this will actively dissuade the community from using your facilities.