Some of our recent conversations here on Emeth have focused on the future of our Craft. One point I hear often made, and that I agree with, is that in the future Lodges will be more focused and specialized. That instead of trying to be everything for everyone, they will be smaller and composed of Masons who share a similar interest. Whatever that interest might be.
But that begs a question…
How does an individual Mason find those Masons who hold interests that mirror his own?
Especially if those interests are more esoteric in nature than most?
Most Freemasons are loathe to be seen by their Brothers as somehow odd, so in most Lodges, I think, Brothers openly and loudly announcing their interest in esoteric practices does not occur. Given that most are reticent to express these interests, how does the Freemason who holds them find other Masons of like mind?
A comment made to my post yesterday by a great friend and Brother, VW Mike Priddy pointed out a great way for like minded Brothers in the Jurisdiction of Washington to do just that. He commented that Brothers with these interests could find each other simply by attending the Esoterica In Freemasonry Conference in Seattle. It’s a perfect solution.
But what if one doesn’t live in a place where a conference like that exists?
How does that Mason, who is unable to ever attend an esoteric conference, find other Masons in his area who are interested in esoteric study and practice?
I think that it is an important question for a large number of Masons, and I base that statement on the fact that during my extremely extensive Masonic travels over the past few years, I’ve had a number of younger Masons come up to me and ask me that very question. These Masons have, on their own, been unable to find those of like mind. Likely because they were too shy to bring their interests up to other Masons.
Hopefully as we travel around our District, we recognize the different “flavors” of each of its Lodges. Once we have become familiar with the characteristics of each Lodge, I would hope that we would steer potential candidates toward a Lodge that would fit their interests. This is critical for our survival as placing a candidate into a Lodge that does not align with his expectations will ensure that he will eventually fall by the wayside. This means we need to be honest with ourselves, and during the investigation process, determine if he is a good fit for our Lodges, or be better suited visiting a different Lodge that better suits his desires. This means we may have to send a potential candidate to a different Lodge than ours, we must do right by the candidate and assist him along his journey, thus increasing his likelihood of success within the Fraternity.
I agree, this is vital to our future. It makes no sense for a Lodge to take a potential candidate for itself, if it knows that a neighboring Lodge would better suit his needs. We absolutely must, as you say, direct candidates to a Lodge where they will best 'fit.'
I also believe that this idea can be expanded further. If we see, through is attendance or whatever, that a newer Mason is going to go inactive, we do well to help him find a new Lodge that will better suit his needs.
Much better that our Lodge lose a Mason, than the Craft as a whole lose him.
Aug 16, 2023·edited Aug 16, 2023Liked by Cameron M. Bailey
Looking internally to determine your capabilities is the first step. Do you have the time and resources that may be needed to attend a gathering, or participate in a group or lodge outside your local area? If your lodge is not teaching / discussing Masonic topics that interest you, networking and finding the members and Lodges which do is paramount. Most Brothers who have esoteric discussion groups, Facebook sites, conferences, Masonicon, Grand Masonic Day (BC), etc are passionate about their interest and are willing to share information and contacts. Call them. Yes, call them - have a conversation rather than an instant message or email. You would be amazed at the connections that you can make once you focus your efforts on the quality you seek.
I agree with our Grand Lodge (Washington) that we do not have a membership problem - we have a retention issue. Brothers join with the belief that beyond the three degrees, there will be teaching at lodge meetings about that subject matter. When that does not happen, Brothers leave with the false impression that Masonry does not offer what they are seeking. That is incorrect - they are in the wrong Lodge for their needs.
Networking with likeminded Brothers in your area is the first step forward.
Consider gathering data about what interests you perhaps start with:
>>>we do not have a membership problem - we have a retention issue. Brothers join with the >>>belief that beyond the three degrees, there will be teaching at lodge meetings about that >>>subject matter. When that does not happen, Brothers leave with the false impression that >>>Masonry does not offer what they are seeking.
This is 100% spot on. One can simply look at our membership numbers to see the truth of it. If we retained the Masons we make, we would have a growing Craft.
Every Worshipful Master in this Jurisdiction, and I presume in others as well, has taken an Obligation to 'provide good and wholesome instruction to the Craft.' At every meeting, every time.
Yet we see Lodges where this instruction takes place very rarely if ever.
I sometimes wonder if we need to get to a place of removing the Charters of those Lodges that consistently refuse to provide Masonic education. For surely Lodges like that harm our Fraternity. They harm our Fraternity because they take candidates, initiate them, and then drive them just as quickly out of Freemasonry as they came into it.
Ultimately, we do have Lodges in this Jurisdiction, including yours, that are thriving, growing, and showing us all a positive path forward. With a bit of travel, one can see just how well a Lodge that fulfills the promises of Freemasonry can succeed.
Aug 16, 2023·edited Aug 16, 2023Liked by Cameron M. Bailey
Q: How does an individual Mason find those Masons who hold interests that mirror his own?
A: Join an appendant body.
Those seeking a Key to higher esoteric knowledge are better served in the Scottish Rite. Those who desire to become a ‘Mason’s Mason’ should look into the York Rite. Those who just want to play golf and raise money for charity should join the Shrine. Widow’s Sons, Youth Programs, Grotto… Guys, we already addressed this issue.
A Blue Lodge’s primary mission is to make Masons through proper investigation and quality instruction. Further, to create an environment that brings men of different backgrounds and interests together in Harmony.
The education of a Blue Lodge should be properly balanced, more like a monthly Ted Talk than anything else. Inspiring men to consider educational pursuits outside their own interests and creating friendships outside their normal social groups. If you don’t juggle interests and just hold onto one, you’ll lose all the others.
Entertaining, diverse, and engaging. A Mason’s Lodge meeting should be the highlight of his month, re-inspiring him in the Craft and giving him something new to consider. Esoterica is interesting, but ‘doth butter no parsnips’ when it comes to career growth, family development, or any number of areas that men are (or should be) concerned with.
While I can't disagree with your thoughts about what makes a great Lodge, and drives people to attend Lodge, I'm not sure that our appendant bodies are effective ways of meeting like minded Masons.
Or maybe, in some cases at least, we discourage them from being so.
Just looking at a couple you mention: The Scottish Rite does claim to be the University of Freemasonry, and I've certainly found their Masonic education programs to be quite superb. I've never regretted my membership, and have benefited a great deal of what the SR has to offer. Additionally, as you point out, there is esoteric content within the Degrees. But, at the local Valley level, I've not seen much difference in the average Valley meeting from the average Craft Lodge meeting. One might have a better chance of meeting an esoterically inclined Mason at a Scottish Rite meeting, but not all that much better. At least in my admittedly limited experience.
The Shrine is, I think, a different situation. I've heard the Shrine claim to be the world's greatest philanthropy. And I think that is a fair argument for the Shrine to make. But I do, from time to time, wonder why every other Masonic organization feels the need to compete with the Shrine when it comes to charitable endeavors. I've wondered if we wouldn't, as a group, be better off devoting our collective charity energies into the Shrine, instead of breaking those energies up with each group having a charitable endeavor of its own. But yes, ultimately, I agree. Masons who want to meet lots of Masons who are committed to charitable work have a great opportunity to do so in the Shrine.
I think the pandemic did us a huge favor in this regard. Bear in mind I came to the fraternity during the pandemic so I'm not sure how things were before it, but from my perspective, I see the following:
First, there are many online resources for finding each other, Emeth being a prime example. But we have tons of blogs, YouTube channels, reddit subs, Discord servers, etc. where we can meet up in cyberspace and find likeminded brothers and we can share resources.
Second, online Masonic education, while not the lodge experience, is readily available and accessible, again through things like YouTube, podcasts, Zoom meetings, etc. Heck, I just received all 32 degrees (minus the first 3) of the Scottish Rite SJ via the Internet a couple of weekends ago. I've attended lodge online (CIVL), watched lectures (Rubicon Society), and there's an endless amount of reading on sites like this one. And, perhaps most importantly to this conversation, you'll find like-minded brothers participating in all of these things.
My story of entry into the fraternity is the perfect example of how things can work with what I'm talking about: I was interested in Masonry and realizing how much I needed community because of the pandemic so I was talking to a long-time friend who happens to be a brother and mentioned to him I was curious. He turned me on to the Whence Came You podcast, which I started listening to. After a few episodes, I was really hooked but had concerns so I reached out to brother RJ (the show's creator if you're unaware) with a question and he graciously answered me but, more importantly, he put me in touch with a likeminded brother a couple hours from my home who, in turn, put me in touch with a likeminded lodge 10 minutes from my home. I got lucky with where my lodge is but that chain of communication could happen to anyone talking to like-minded brothers on the Internet.
Thank you for sharing this perspective as someone who came to Freemasonry during the pandemic. That is outside of the experience for most of us.
I certainly agree that the volume of online resources is tremendous now, and especially with regards to Masonic education we are met with riches.
I still think though that for a lot of Masons (maybe this is a time in Masonry thing that will change when those of us who have been around for a long time slowly fade away) in person fellowship and discussion is considered the ideal. Online resources can facilitate that as well as you point out.
I agree with you whole-heartedly about in person fellowship being ideal, don't get me wrong. I just think that if we're smart about it we definitely can use these Internet resources to get us there. As a further example, I've sat in lodges with brothers specifically because I met them online and we traveled to meet one another in person.
This is, I think, a crucial question to the survival of the Craft. I wish there was an easy answer, but to date I have not found it. I am a Mason who came to the Craft looking for the esoteric and in over 40 years have yet to find a reliable way to find brethren who are similarly aligned. There are several problems I have encountered.
First, the idea that ‘esoteric’ means one thing. It does not. The word applies equally to the mundane study of Masonic symbols and ritual as it does to the practice of Hermeticism in pursuit of Masonic enlightenment, to conspiracy theories that would make the History Channel programmers blush.
Second, the esoteric sphere is a hierarchical space, and like our degree system, a person progresses as they practice. We do not have a structure in Masonry, at this time, that provides advanced students a place to work. As a friend of mine once said, “it often manifests into a lodge of the perpetual first degree.” This is related to your comment of being loathed to discuss the esoteric, and I would add especially at higher levels. The more you progress, the more isolated you become.
Third, there is still stigma attached to the esoteric. In a very real-world example, I had some work done in my home by a contractor. That contractor noticed my library and its occult nature. He told a friend of his, who is a brother in my Lodge. That brother is very much NOT into the esoteric, and holds it as evil. That brother also felt comfortable talking about it in Lodge, and I had to deal with the ramifications. I bring this up, not to discourage the pursuit of the esoteric, but to warn our younger brothers on this path that its not all sunshine and rainbows.
As a Mason in the hinterlands of our jurisdiction, I can tell you that it is hard. I have found a few very good brethren who are on this path, and cherish their friendship. I think I would describe finding them as equal parts luck and courage, risking a conversation that could have gone badly.
So, what do I think we can do. 1. The esoteric conference is a good start, and a way to make connections. I know everyone cannot attend, but just one brother from a Lodge can be a point of contact for that whole Lodge. 2. I would like to see something organized evolve from that conference, that is not just related to the Lodge that hosts it. A group of men who could offer mentoring and training, both online and in person. Just as we have DDGMs in each district we could have an esotericist in each district as a POC. While many Lodges would NOT host a deeper esoteric discussion, regional meetings might attract enough men to make it worthwhile. Certainly, at the annual communication a parallel meeting of the esoteric minded could be arranged. It would be great if Grand Lodge would acknowledge the esoteric with a Grand Esotericist , but I think that is a long way off. Perhaps a College of the Esoteric could be formed in our jurisdiction?
All that may seem a lot, but I would offer that its doable with just the brethren here who have expressed an interest. Masonic Clubs can be formed without anyone’s approval, and that can evolve into something new, quickly. The details of how one becomes a member of such a club, and what the nature and structure of that club would be is an excellent topic for discussion, in my opinion.
Your issues with a brother objecting to the esoteric nature of the craft is unfortunately very common within the brethren. There are a lot of brothers that have been brainwashed in whatever religion, social media, hollywood, history channel garbage that seems to think that a pentagram, for example, references devil worship. It doesn't help that organizations like the church of satan have co-opted lots of masonic symbolism as their own. As I've pointed out before, even the simple skull, which has very basic masonic symbolism, has been deemed inappropriate to our craft by the ignorant and profane. It's tiresome to fight against such forces, and almost impossible to overcome. You'd think that it's just the older ignorant generations, but nope, this can infect the younger ones as well. They have watched just as many horror movies as anyone else.
VW Mike tells us about an awful experience he had when a Mason who objects to esotericism learned of his pursuits.
You and I have both experienced people objecting to the Chamber of Reflection.
I have witnessed one of the brightest Masons I know, on two separate occasions, self-censor himself when talking in a small group of Masons, for fear that his esoteric beliefs would cause objection by others.
Worst of all, in my mind, a Lodge in this Jurisdiction, for quite a few years suffered discrimination as Masons from every rank up to and including MWGM worked against them, and openly rooted for their failure, simply because the Lodge embraced the esoteric side of Freemasonry. Luckily that has largely come to an end, and even more importantly, that Lodge survived and has truly thrived.
So it seems, undoubtedly, that there is legitimate fear about expressing these interests, based on negative reactions, by some Masons, in the past.
But, I think that such things can be overcome.
Where I live is a super conservative place, and I'd say that my hometown Lodge is a super conservative Lodge. But, we've occasionally brought in esoterically minded speakers via zoom, at our Lodge meetings from across the country and outside of it. On the whole, I think those speakers were enjoyed, and those experiences helped move some Brothers beyond the fears they may have had. Of course, as W. Will mentions above, such things shouldn't be a continual focus of a Lodge (unless that is determined to be the focus of the Lodge) but occasional programs like that can go a long way towards making Brothers comfortable.
I also can't help but notice that I've now been asked to provide my in depth talk about Masonic philosophy as it is illustrated by the Tarot to two Lodges recently, neither of which I'm a regular part of. One quite conservative, the other quite liberal and open. I think that both talks were very well received.
In both these examples, I think the trick has been to just show the Brothers that it isn't scary stuff. That it has a long history within our Craft, and was embraced by Brothers historically famous within Freemasonry. It is, I think, the unknown that breeds fear.
Of the ideas you mention, I think that the easiest first step, and likely the most effective first step for esoterically inclined Masons would be to arrange an event during the Annual Communication.
For as long as I've been a Mason, my home District has always arranged a social event during the AC. I've not been able to attend for the past few years due to my Grand Lodge responsibilities, but I always attended prior to that, and it was always one of the highlights of the trip for me. Next year I'll be unencumbered once again, and would be pleased to help arrange something like that if there is interest. From a gathering like that, I think something could grow.
Masonic Clubs have always been of interest to me. I know that they were quite common in the past, but have largely faded away. It seems, just based on the resolution proposed at our Grand Lodge this past year, that interest in them might be on the upswing again. I agree, it's a good topic for us to discuss here.
This is a very important question. But most of the dificulties today is that most lodges do not think that freemasonry goes beyond what is written in the rituals. They may explore the first layer and thats it.
Before joining freemasonry I was already studying and reading a lot about gnosticism, occultism and other related things. So it was kind of a let down when I find out that I knew more about the esoteric aspects of freemasonry than those Brothers.
And is frustating when we want to share some of that knowledge and the rest, instead of listening with curiosity, they just discard right away.
My advise will be to create a space online, that those masons with real interest in the deepest esoteric aspects of Freemasonry can enter and share and learn.
I share your view that a good way to look at Freemasonry is through layers, or veils. As we pull back each veil or dig through each layer we can discover more.
Certainly Freemasonry has attracted the best men with the brightest minds for hundreds of years. Those men and minds would have not remained engaged if only that which is most superficial was all that there was to one's Masonic journey. But that isn't all that there is. Indeed Freemasonry is a quest, one of the oldest quests known to man, that of knowing himself.
Hopefully as we travel around our District, we recognize the different “flavors” of each of its Lodges. Once we have become familiar with the characteristics of each Lodge, I would hope that we would steer potential candidates toward a Lodge that would fit their interests. This is critical for our survival as placing a candidate into a Lodge that does not align with his expectations will ensure that he will eventually fall by the wayside. This means we need to be honest with ourselves, and during the investigation process, determine if he is a good fit for our Lodges, or be better suited visiting a different Lodge that better suits his desires. This means we may have to send a potential candidate to a different Lodge than ours, we must do right by the candidate and assist him along his journey, thus increasing his likelihood of success within the Fraternity.
I agree, this is vital to our future. It makes no sense for a Lodge to take a potential candidate for itself, if it knows that a neighboring Lodge would better suit his needs. We absolutely must, as you say, direct candidates to a Lodge where they will best 'fit.'
I also believe that this idea can be expanded further. If we see, through is attendance or whatever, that a newer Mason is going to go inactive, we do well to help him find a new Lodge that will better suit his needs.
Much better that our Lodge lose a Mason, than the Craft as a whole lose him.
Looking internally to determine your capabilities is the first step. Do you have the time and resources that may be needed to attend a gathering, or participate in a group or lodge outside your local area? If your lodge is not teaching / discussing Masonic topics that interest you, networking and finding the members and Lodges which do is paramount. Most Brothers who have esoteric discussion groups, Facebook sites, conferences, Masonicon, Grand Masonic Day (BC), etc are passionate about their interest and are willing to share information and contacts. Call them. Yes, call them - have a conversation rather than an instant message or email. You would be amazed at the connections that you can make once you focus your efforts on the quality you seek.
I agree with our Grand Lodge (Washington) that we do not have a membership problem - we have a retention issue. Brothers join with the belief that beyond the three degrees, there will be teaching at lodge meetings about that subject matter. When that does not happen, Brothers leave with the false impression that Masonry does not offer what they are seeking. That is incorrect - they are in the wrong Lodge for their needs.
Networking with likeminded Brothers in your area is the first step forward.
Consider gathering data about what interests you perhaps start with:
www.masonicconferences.com/
www.EsotericMasonry.com
www.scholomance.ca/podcasts/episode-17
https://rubiconmasonicsociety.com/
>>>we do not have a membership problem - we have a retention issue. Brothers join with the >>>belief that beyond the three degrees, there will be teaching at lodge meetings about that >>>subject matter. When that does not happen, Brothers leave with the false impression that >>>Masonry does not offer what they are seeking.
This is 100% spot on. One can simply look at our membership numbers to see the truth of it. If we retained the Masons we make, we would have a growing Craft.
Every Worshipful Master in this Jurisdiction, and I presume in others as well, has taken an Obligation to 'provide good and wholesome instruction to the Craft.' At every meeting, every time.
Yet we see Lodges where this instruction takes place very rarely if ever.
I sometimes wonder if we need to get to a place of removing the Charters of those Lodges that consistently refuse to provide Masonic education. For surely Lodges like that harm our Fraternity. They harm our Fraternity because they take candidates, initiate them, and then drive them just as quickly out of Freemasonry as they came into it.
Ultimately, we do have Lodges in this Jurisdiction, including yours, that are thriving, growing, and showing us all a positive path forward. With a bit of travel, one can see just how well a Lodge that fulfills the promises of Freemasonry can succeed.
Q: How does an individual Mason find those Masons who hold interests that mirror his own?
A: Join an appendant body.
Those seeking a Key to higher esoteric knowledge are better served in the Scottish Rite. Those who desire to become a ‘Mason’s Mason’ should look into the York Rite. Those who just want to play golf and raise money for charity should join the Shrine. Widow’s Sons, Youth Programs, Grotto… Guys, we already addressed this issue.
A Blue Lodge’s primary mission is to make Masons through proper investigation and quality instruction. Further, to create an environment that brings men of different backgrounds and interests together in Harmony.
The education of a Blue Lodge should be properly balanced, more like a monthly Ted Talk than anything else. Inspiring men to consider educational pursuits outside their own interests and creating friendships outside their normal social groups. If you don’t juggle interests and just hold onto one, you’ll lose all the others.
Entertaining, diverse, and engaging. A Mason’s Lodge meeting should be the highlight of his month, re-inspiring him in the Craft and giving him something new to consider. Esoterica is interesting, but ‘doth butter no parsnips’ when it comes to career growth, family development, or any number of areas that men are (or should be) concerned with.
While I can't disagree with your thoughts about what makes a great Lodge, and drives people to attend Lodge, I'm not sure that our appendant bodies are effective ways of meeting like minded Masons.
Or maybe, in some cases at least, we discourage them from being so.
Just looking at a couple you mention: The Scottish Rite does claim to be the University of Freemasonry, and I've certainly found their Masonic education programs to be quite superb. I've never regretted my membership, and have benefited a great deal of what the SR has to offer. Additionally, as you point out, there is esoteric content within the Degrees. But, at the local Valley level, I've not seen much difference in the average Valley meeting from the average Craft Lodge meeting. One might have a better chance of meeting an esoterically inclined Mason at a Scottish Rite meeting, but not all that much better. At least in my admittedly limited experience.
The Shrine is, I think, a different situation. I've heard the Shrine claim to be the world's greatest philanthropy. And I think that is a fair argument for the Shrine to make. But I do, from time to time, wonder why every other Masonic organization feels the need to compete with the Shrine when it comes to charitable endeavors. I've wondered if we wouldn't, as a group, be better off devoting our collective charity energies into the Shrine, instead of breaking those energies up with each group having a charitable endeavor of its own. But yes, ultimately, I agree. Masons who want to meet lots of Masons who are committed to charitable work have a great opportunity to do so in the Shrine.
I think the pandemic did us a huge favor in this regard. Bear in mind I came to the fraternity during the pandemic so I'm not sure how things were before it, but from my perspective, I see the following:
First, there are many online resources for finding each other, Emeth being a prime example. But we have tons of blogs, YouTube channels, reddit subs, Discord servers, etc. where we can meet up in cyberspace and find likeminded brothers and we can share resources.
Second, online Masonic education, while not the lodge experience, is readily available and accessible, again through things like YouTube, podcasts, Zoom meetings, etc. Heck, I just received all 32 degrees (minus the first 3) of the Scottish Rite SJ via the Internet a couple of weekends ago. I've attended lodge online (CIVL), watched lectures (Rubicon Society), and there's an endless amount of reading on sites like this one. And, perhaps most importantly to this conversation, you'll find like-minded brothers participating in all of these things.
My story of entry into the fraternity is the perfect example of how things can work with what I'm talking about: I was interested in Masonry and realizing how much I needed community because of the pandemic so I was talking to a long-time friend who happens to be a brother and mentioned to him I was curious. He turned me on to the Whence Came You podcast, which I started listening to. After a few episodes, I was really hooked but had concerns so I reached out to brother RJ (the show's creator if you're unaware) with a question and he graciously answered me but, more importantly, he put me in touch with a likeminded brother a couple hours from my home who, in turn, put me in touch with a likeminded lodge 10 minutes from my home. I got lucky with where my lodge is but that chain of communication could happen to anyone talking to like-minded brothers on the Internet.
Thank you for sharing this perspective as someone who came to Freemasonry during the pandemic. That is outside of the experience for most of us.
I certainly agree that the volume of online resources is tremendous now, and especially with regards to Masonic education we are met with riches.
I still think though that for a lot of Masons (maybe this is a time in Masonry thing that will change when those of us who have been around for a long time slowly fade away) in person fellowship and discussion is considered the ideal. Online resources can facilitate that as well as you point out.
I agree with you whole-heartedly about in person fellowship being ideal, don't get me wrong. I just think that if we're smart about it we definitely can use these Internet resources to get us there. As a further example, I've sat in lodges with brothers specifically because I met them online and we traveled to meet one another in person.
You do make a good point. It is a way we can meet at a distance and then transition to face to face.
This is, I think, a crucial question to the survival of the Craft. I wish there was an easy answer, but to date I have not found it. I am a Mason who came to the Craft looking for the esoteric and in over 40 years have yet to find a reliable way to find brethren who are similarly aligned. There are several problems I have encountered.
First, the idea that ‘esoteric’ means one thing. It does not. The word applies equally to the mundane study of Masonic symbols and ritual as it does to the practice of Hermeticism in pursuit of Masonic enlightenment, to conspiracy theories that would make the History Channel programmers blush.
Second, the esoteric sphere is a hierarchical space, and like our degree system, a person progresses as they practice. We do not have a structure in Masonry, at this time, that provides advanced students a place to work. As a friend of mine once said, “it often manifests into a lodge of the perpetual first degree.” This is related to your comment of being loathed to discuss the esoteric, and I would add especially at higher levels. The more you progress, the more isolated you become.
Third, there is still stigma attached to the esoteric. In a very real-world example, I had some work done in my home by a contractor. That contractor noticed my library and its occult nature. He told a friend of his, who is a brother in my Lodge. That brother is very much NOT into the esoteric, and holds it as evil. That brother also felt comfortable talking about it in Lodge, and I had to deal with the ramifications. I bring this up, not to discourage the pursuit of the esoteric, but to warn our younger brothers on this path that its not all sunshine and rainbows.
As a Mason in the hinterlands of our jurisdiction, I can tell you that it is hard. I have found a few very good brethren who are on this path, and cherish their friendship. I think I would describe finding them as equal parts luck and courage, risking a conversation that could have gone badly.
So, what do I think we can do. 1. The esoteric conference is a good start, and a way to make connections. I know everyone cannot attend, but just one brother from a Lodge can be a point of contact for that whole Lodge. 2. I would like to see something organized evolve from that conference, that is not just related to the Lodge that hosts it. A group of men who could offer mentoring and training, both online and in person. Just as we have DDGMs in each district we could have an esotericist in each district as a POC. While many Lodges would NOT host a deeper esoteric discussion, regional meetings might attract enough men to make it worthwhile. Certainly, at the annual communication a parallel meeting of the esoteric minded could be arranged. It would be great if Grand Lodge would acknowledge the esoteric with a Grand Esotericist , but I think that is a long way off. Perhaps a College of the Esoteric could be formed in our jurisdiction?
All that may seem a lot, but I would offer that its doable with just the brethren here who have expressed an interest. Masonic Clubs can be formed without anyone’s approval, and that can evolve into something new, quickly. The details of how one becomes a member of such a club, and what the nature and structure of that club would be is an excellent topic for discussion, in my opinion.
Your issues with a brother objecting to the esoteric nature of the craft is unfortunately very common within the brethren. There are a lot of brothers that have been brainwashed in whatever religion, social media, hollywood, history channel garbage that seems to think that a pentagram, for example, references devil worship. It doesn't help that organizations like the church of satan have co-opted lots of masonic symbolism as their own. As I've pointed out before, even the simple skull, which has very basic masonic symbolism, has been deemed inappropriate to our craft by the ignorant and profane. It's tiresome to fight against such forces, and almost impossible to overcome. You'd think that it's just the older ignorant generations, but nope, this can infect the younger ones as well. They have watched just as many horror movies as anyone else.
VW Mike tells us about an awful experience he had when a Mason who objects to esotericism learned of his pursuits.
You and I have both experienced people objecting to the Chamber of Reflection.
I have witnessed one of the brightest Masons I know, on two separate occasions, self-censor himself when talking in a small group of Masons, for fear that his esoteric beliefs would cause objection by others.
Worst of all, in my mind, a Lodge in this Jurisdiction, for quite a few years suffered discrimination as Masons from every rank up to and including MWGM worked against them, and openly rooted for their failure, simply because the Lodge embraced the esoteric side of Freemasonry. Luckily that has largely come to an end, and even more importantly, that Lodge survived and has truly thrived.
So it seems, undoubtedly, that there is legitimate fear about expressing these interests, based on negative reactions, by some Masons, in the past.
But, I think that such things can be overcome.
Where I live is a super conservative place, and I'd say that my hometown Lodge is a super conservative Lodge. But, we've occasionally brought in esoterically minded speakers via zoom, at our Lodge meetings from across the country and outside of it. On the whole, I think those speakers were enjoyed, and those experiences helped move some Brothers beyond the fears they may have had. Of course, as W. Will mentions above, such things shouldn't be a continual focus of a Lodge (unless that is determined to be the focus of the Lodge) but occasional programs like that can go a long way towards making Brothers comfortable.
I also can't help but notice that I've now been asked to provide my in depth talk about Masonic philosophy as it is illustrated by the Tarot to two Lodges recently, neither of which I'm a regular part of. One quite conservative, the other quite liberal and open. I think that both talks were very well received.
In both these examples, I think the trick has been to just show the Brothers that it isn't scary stuff. That it has a long history within our Craft, and was embraced by Brothers historically famous within Freemasonry. It is, I think, the unknown that breeds fear.
Of the ideas you mention, I think that the easiest first step, and likely the most effective first step for esoterically inclined Masons would be to arrange an event during the Annual Communication.
For as long as I've been a Mason, my home District has always arranged a social event during the AC. I've not been able to attend for the past few years due to my Grand Lodge responsibilities, but I always attended prior to that, and it was always one of the highlights of the trip for me. Next year I'll be unencumbered once again, and would be pleased to help arrange something like that if there is interest. From a gathering like that, I think something could grow.
Masonic Clubs have always been of interest to me. I know that they were quite common in the past, but have largely faded away. It seems, just based on the resolution proposed at our Grand Lodge this past year, that interest in them might be on the upswing again. I agree, it's a good topic for us to discuss here.
This is a very important question. But most of the dificulties today is that most lodges do not think that freemasonry goes beyond what is written in the rituals. They may explore the first layer and thats it.
Before joining freemasonry I was already studying and reading a lot about gnosticism, occultism and other related things. So it was kind of a let down when I find out that I knew more about the esoteric aspects of freemasonry than those Brothers.
And is frustating when we want to share some of that knowledge and the rest, instead of listening with curiosity, they just discard right away.
My advise will be to create a space online, that those masons with real interest in the deepest esoteric aspects of Freemasonry can enter and share and learn.
I share your view that a good way to look at Freemasonry is through layers, or veils. As we pull back each veil or dig through each layer we can discover more.
Certainly Freemasonry has attracted the best men with the brightest minds for hundreds of years. Those men and minds would have not remained engaged if only that which is most superficial was all that there was to one's Masonic journey. But that isn't all that there is. Indeed Freemasonry is a quest, one of the oldest quests known to man, that of knowing himself.