Bro. Samuel Clemens once said "it's great to talk about the future because nobody can call you a liar." I offer some aspirational thoughts rather than predictive ones. First, our fraternity will grow. The current downturn is just a blip. Social polarization in society will see more people coming to us as a safe harbor to be real and to seek ways of personal growth. Much of this will come from our youth organizations, Some people will get angry at this next one, but if you are mad at me, get in line. Women Masons. It's already happening in the UK. The things we teach are not gender specific and women have the same needs as men. Everything old is new again. There will be a resurgent interest in Masonic education and history. People are disgusted by what is no longer taught in public schools. Public education is one dimensional. Masonic education is multi-faceted and is food for the soul. In the future, you and I will be dead and you can point out to me in that place not made with human hands how utterly wrong my predictions are. The end.
I had a friend who was a meteorologist, and he told me the best indicator of tomorrow’s weather, is today’s weather. I think that applies to human affairs as well. Ten years from now, the trends we see today are likely to be the same as now. Declining memberships, and smaller Lodges and I suspect we will start seeing some Grand Lodges in crisis. As we enter this phase of the Craft, desperation will open the possibility of evolution, and I suspect we will see what biologists call “speciation”, the creation of new and distinct ‘species’ of Freemasonry. We already see Lodges that focus on particular aspects of the Craft, and some that are based on common interests or employment of its members. One Lodge may be very focused on charity, one on social issues and yet another might focus on the mystical. We may see women enter some jurisdictions, and other reject those jurisdictions over that issue. Depending on how society at large is behaving, becoming more or less divided, these differences, and others I have not mentioned, may well move from ‘local culture’ to divides that are institutional. I can imagine Lodges in one jurisdiction choosing to affiliate with a Grand Lodge in another state over alignment issues. In general, I think alignment issues and how they are handled by Grand Lodges will, after the declining memberships and the impacts of that, be the issues of the next 10 years.
All of what I said above is dependent on the outside world maintaining its current status. Issues of political divisiveness, economic issues, energy issues, environmental issues, epidemiological issues, all forces that will exacerbate issues we already have. We often talk about how Freemasonry affects the world, but the world affects us too. WWII and the flood of veterans after the war expanded our Lodges and today we are sorting out the passing of that generation and the infrastructure we built to accommodate them. We are still sorting out the impact of COVID19 and I have seen the political divisiveness demonstrated by the population-at-large manifest in Lodges, in a destructive way.
As we deal with all of these stresses, I believe individual Masons will ‘hunker down’ around their core Masonic interests. If this is true, the best outcome is Lodges within a jurisdiction being formed and operated around that interest and alignment, and Grand Lodges allowing the space for Lodges to explore those interests within the broader context of Masonry. If however, Grand Lodges double down on limiting these adaptations, then speciation will likely occur around particular Masonic interests and the interest of particular Masons, and the Grand jurisdictions might be at risk.
Aug 11, 2023·edited Aug 11, 2023Liked by Cameron M. Bailey
Yogi Berra said, "It's difficult to make predictions, especially about the future". The ideas already posted are fine ideas with only one problem: the only ideas offered here are from Masons. I think one our greatest weaknesses, especially when it comes to plotting a course for the future, is that we do a great job of talking to ourselves, which at times is little more than the sound of one hand clapping.
What are we doing right now, what habits and traditions to do we cling to, that a high school junior would find off-putting? What needs will today's high school junior have in ten years that we don't address? Yeah, I don't know either. But until we embrace that the future will probably look much like the present, just with fewer Masons.
Since we move at the speed of Masonry we're already behind schedule to figure this out.
I wish I could be optimistic, but in my heart I see Masonry going the way of Odd Fellows, Grange and other originations that relie on members with open minds.
The old adage of "those that forget history are bound to repeat it ". The one that is to me is the one that will undo everything that has been taken for granted is free speech and a open media that gives both sides of a topic. In my 80 plus years I have watch our core values slowly devalued.
At this point you may be asking what does that have to do with Masonry. Let me walk you through some of what I see as a loss. In the 50s if one listened to a speech or debate their wasn't "a talking head" telling us what we just heard. Today we are being influenced what to think rather than making up our own mind. If you are patriotic and listen to the media you will think you are in the minority, but I still think we are still the majority. My children and grandchildren didn't get the basic education about how government is supposed to work, i.e.: legislative, executive, and judicial. Could be why we see that not working at the present time.
Do we address any of these issues in our lodges or grand judication's? If and I seriously dough they ever will be, Masonry as we know it is domed. I truly hope that I am wrong, but fear I may not be.
The reason the fraternity has "ancient landmarks" is to keep the craft on the same course that it started out on. Sailors know that they can count on "waymarks" to stay on course and not end up stranded on a hidden reef. Our "landmarks" are no different. They keep the craft off the latest and best and exciting "reef" that could sink our craft. If I might be transported back in time 100 or 200 years ago, I would want to recognize the opening and closing ritual, the grips, words, and signs of then just as of today. Any "innovations" that distract from that is straying from the "landmarks."
Continued decrease in deaths as wave of older members age out and average age drops, probably to around 50 or lower;
Lodge mergers become rare; many new, smaller Lodges begin work;
More interjurisdictional activities, particularly research Lodges and societies;
More exploration of other Lodge models (daytime, tavern, themed);
Increased interest in recognizing Women's jurisdictions and Co-Masonry;
Slow re-envisioning of Youth groups, but probably will continue to decline;
More discussion about Title IX issues to open campuses to Masonic activities;
Augmented-reality lectures, but not common;
Prince Hall mutual recognition and visitation improves further;
Possible clarification or retraction of admonitions by Catholic Church;
White Christian Nationalist elements in American Lodges whisper of schism but nothing comes of it;
Increase in Observant Masonry, fewer Communications, higher dues, etc..
Bro. Samuel Clemens once said "it's great to talk about the future because nobody can call you a liar." I offer some aspirational thoughts rather than predictive ones. First, our fraternity will grow. The current downturn is just a blip. Social polarization in society will see more people coming to us as a safe harbor to be real and to seek ways of personal growth. Much of this will come from our youth organizations, Some people will get angry at this next one, but if you are mad at me, get in line. Women Masons. It's already happening in the UK. The things we teach are not gender specific and women have the same needs as men. Everything old is new again. There will be a resurgent interest in Masonic education and history. People are disgusted by what is no longer taught in public schools. Public education is one dimensional. Masonic education is multi-faceted and is food for the soul. In the future, you and I will be dead and you can point out to me in that place not made with human hands how utterly wrong my predictions are. The end.
I had a friend who was a meteorologist, and he told me the best indicator of tomorrow’s weather, is today’s weather. I think that applies to human affairs as well. Ten years from now, the trends we see today are likely to be the same as now. Declining memberships, and smaller Lodges and I suspect we will start seeing some Grand Lodges in crisis. As we enter this phase of the Craft, desperation will open the possibility of evolution, and I suspect we will see what biologists call “speciation”, the creation of new and distinct ‘species’ of Freemasonry. We already see Lodges that focus on particular aspects of the Craft, and some that are based on common interests or employment of its members. One Lodge may be very focused on charity, one on social issues and yet another might focus on the mystical. We may see women enter some jurisdictions, and other reject those jurisdictions over that issue. Depending on how society at large is behaving, becoming more or less divided, these differences, and others I have not mentioned, may well move from ‘local culture’ to divides that are institutional. I can imagine Lodges in one jurisdiction choosing to affiliate with a Grand Lodge in another state over alignment issues. In general, I think alignment issues and how they are handled by Grand Lodges will, after the declining memberships and the impacts of that, be the issues of the next 10 years.
All of what I said above is dependent on the outside world maintaining its current status. Issues of political divisiveness, economic issues, energy issues, environmental issues, epidemiological issues, all forces that will exacerbate issues we already have. We often talk about how Freemasonry affects the world, but the world affects us too. WWII and the flood of veterans after the war expanded our Lodges and today we are sorting out the passing of that generation and the infrastructure we built to accommodate them. We are still sorting out the impact of COVID19 and I have seen the political divisiveness demonstrated by the population-at-large manifest in Lodges, in a destructive way.
As we deal with all of these stresses, I believe individual Masons will ‘hunker down’ around their core Masonic interests. If this is true, the best outcome is Lodges within a jurisdiction being formed and operated around that interest and alignment, and Grand Lodges allowing the space for Lodges to explore those interests within the broader context of Masonry. If however, Grand Lodges double down on limiting these adaptations, then speciation will likely occur around particular Masonic interests and the interest of particular Masons, and the Grand jurisdictions might be at risk.
Yogi Berra said, "It's difficult to make predictions, especially about the future". The ideas already posted are fine ideas with only one problem: the only ideas offered here are from Masons. I think one our greatest weaknesses, especially when it comes to plotting a course for the future, is that we do a great job of talking to ourselves, which at times is little more than the sound of one hand clapping.
What are we doing right now, what habits and traditions to do we cling to, that a high school junior would find off-putting? What needs will today's high school junior have in ten years that we don't address? Yeah, I don't know either. But until we embrace that the future will probably look much like the present, just with fewer Masons.
Since we move at the speed of Masonry we're already behind schedule to figure this out.
I wish I could be optimistic, but in my heart I see Masonry going the way of Odd Fellows, Grange and other originations that relie on members with open minds.
The old adage of "those that forget history are bound to repeat it ". The one that is to me is the one that will undo everything that has been taken for granted is free speech and a open media that gives both sides of a topic. In my 80 plus years I have watch our core values slowly devalued.
At this point you may be asking what does that have to do with Masonry. Let me walk you through some of what I see as a loss. In the 50s if one listened to a speech or debate their wasn't "a talking head" telling us what we just heard. Today we are being influenced what to think rather than making up our own mind. If you are patriotic and listen to the media you will think you are in the minority, but I still think we are still the majority. My children and grandchildren didn't get the basic education about how government is supposed to work, i.e.: legislative, executive, and judicial. Could be why we see that not working at the present time.
Do we address any of these issues in our lodges or grand judication's? If and I seriously dough they ever will be, Masonry as we know it is domed. I truly hope that I am wrong, but fear I may not be.
"so mote it be"
The reason the fraternity has "ancient landmarks" is to keep the craft on the same course that it started out on. Sailors know that they can count on "waymarks" to stay on course and not end up stranded on a hidden reef. Our "landmarks" are no different. They keep the craft off the latest and best and exciting "reef" that could sink our craft. If I might be transported back in time 100 or 200 years ago, I would want to recognize the opening and closing ritual, the grips, words, and signs of then just as of today. Any "innovations" that distract from that is straying from the "landmarks."
Regarding the GL of Washington-
An increase of Lodge consolidations, particularly in Eastern and Central Washington.
Puget Sound Lodges are facing retrofit and improvement issues which will force a new way of thinking, regarding the business side of the Fraternity.
50 years from now, I see Grand Lodge moving to Seattle and occupying a space in a property once the 100-year lease expires.