Let's Discuss Masonic Education
Within the Lodge
Would you be more or less likely to attend the next Stated Meeting of your Lodge if you knew that the Worshipful Master was either going to provide or arrange a 10 to 30 minute Masonic educational presentation as a part of the evening?
Why?
Would you be more or less likely to attend the next Stated Meeting of your Lodge if you knew that the Worshipful Master was going to include a 10 to 30 minute open, round robin style discussion about Masonic philosophy, symbolism, or meaning?
Why?
I have always tried to push Masonic education as the most important part of any Stated Meeting. (And unfortunately the most frequently neglected part.) But I admit that I might not be right about everything, so I felt it important to ask what all of you who read Emeth think.
Let’s chat about it…
During my 2 years as Master of Renaissance, I included education as a part of our stated meeting. Renaissance is a table lodge so we have the opportunity to "double dip".
I would choose an educational topic for discussion, from the lectures or rituals for discussion in lodge.
After the lodge is closed, we retire to a dining area to enjoy the festive board portion of the meeting. Good food, wine, and fellowship.
Because the lodge meets in a public venue for the festive board, our education or discussion topics need to be on topics that are not part of the secrets we promise conceal and never to reveal.
We have had many great philosophical discussions on morality, friendship, doing good, being a better man, etc. Many first time visitors, enjoy this aspect so. much, they return for more and many of them petition for plural membership.
Neither my in-lodge education, nor the festive board topics, are one-sided. I set the stage, present the topic, and then engage everyone in conversation.
In my humble opinion, if we do not include Masonic education as part of our meetings, we are not serving our members as we should.
When I was Lodge Education Officer of my lodge, I always ensured that the presentation was delivered in the socratic method. I had listened to too many lodge presentations where the presenter read a piece he had written as the brothers sat glassy-eyed wondering what he was talking about. A brother who can facilitate engaging dialogue among the brothers will hold their interest, and serves to better educate them. I too, believe that education is the purpose of a stated Masonic gathering.