Thank you for sharing this information, Most Worshipful. In addition to these preventive steps, I encourage all the brethren to do their best to conceal their Masonic identities on the web. I don’t know how common it is anymore, but there have been Masonic websites of lodges and larger bodies that featured the names and addresses of officers and others. Madness.
In physical security, if the unthinkable occurs, everyone in the building should know where every exit is located, and the best ways to reach them. Person or persons should be tasked with sounding the alarm, whether it’s a 911 call or even pulling the fire alarm.
Masons who are active or retired law enforcement should be encouraged to attend meetings (by whatever enticements necessary).
Thank you. I'm glad that you found some value in the post. I agree that electronic security and privacy is something that must be considered as well. It is a difficult balance between privacy and accessibility, but we can preserve the latter by using Masonic office addresses instead of our own I think.
Maybe one thing Lodges could offer for members which would make attending more attractive, would be lesson in English stick fighting (like in the Sherlock Holmes movies), and maybe even a group membership to a local Krav Maga (Israeli hand-to-hand street fighting) class for both Masons and their families?
Thank you. I'm glad that you found some value in the post.
I think that for some Masons, keeping a low profile is actually doable. Alas though, in the US, most Masons are quite open about their involvement, everything from rings to baseball caps are extraordinarily common here. Even license plates on our cars.
I'd add that some lodges may have been built 100 years ago, in what was once considered the central part of town, and now reside in less than ideal areas where crime is rising. Cameras definitely should be employed when possible, not just during meetings, but 24/7.
Agreed. Many of our Temples suffer from the degradation of the urban areas surrounding them. I'm aware of one truly spectacular Temple, filled with wonderful Brothers, that is now in what seems almost a war zone.
A very good article MW. If I may add a couple of things. The lodge/Temple should make sure there is adequate outside lighting and to remove anything on the property where someone could hide and attack from. Lastly, something I’ve told people for years, if you have windows on the ground floor, plant roses or some other type of thorny bush under the windows. They can be both decorative and keep someone from entering your Temple or home.
Our building is very near to our downtown, so crime in general is something we've had to think more about over the past few decades. A few ideas that work well with the above:
- Consider adding a secure access panel to exterior doors. You can only gain access to our building with a personal keycard (that we issue to any member who asks), and the door is not able to be left unlocked.
- Many camera systems will report motion and sound to a cell phone. We use Wyze cameras in our building, and can see most of the interior (with the exception of lodge rooms/bathrooms/etc), and all of the exterior. In addition, if someone comes into the building, the camera on the door notifies me right away.
- Consider updating the lighting in your building to smart lights, that can be programmed to turn on/off at random times so the building appears occupied. It also helps when people forget to turn the lights off...
- With lighting, exterior solar sensing flood lights are a huge help. If you approach our building after dark, it's bright enough that everyone can see you. (Of course, take your neighbors into account)
- Most importantly, we have a strict rule that you are NEVER at the lodge alone after dark, and for the Star and youth groups they are never alone at the building period. No point in making yourself an easy target.
Thank you for adding these suggestions. I appreciate them all.
You mention OES and our Youth Groups. While writing my post, I thought about those groups as well. Given the nature of their membership, they are certainly more vulnerable to a violent attack, and I imagine less likely to think about ways such a thing can be protected against. I shared this post with the OES in my State, but I think that as Masons, we do well to look to assisting or advising about security for these Concordant organizations.
We in the UK do not seem to have the same level of crime against Manson's as you do it the USA.
YOU said about having a Tyler on the outside of the door to the Temple with his sword we do this at every meeting in the UK as part of our ritual. If he was there to keep the bad guys out as it were no one would want to do the job also all the Temple are locked from the inside also as part of our ritual. I can not got my head around may be having a few brothers with guns in the Temple . As far as guns go the UK and the USA are world's apart.
Having a Tyler, armed with a sword is also a part of our ritual. But, in many Lodges, it has become the practice that a 'ghost' is the Tyler. This is of course bad Masonic practice and a violation of our ritual. A bad habit that must be done away with.
Locking the building is not a part of our ritual, not historically done here. In every Lodge that I have ever been involved with the entire building was unlocked for the duration of all our meetings. Indeed for long periods of time prior to and following those meetings as cooking and cleanup are done.
Does the Tyler in your ritual not knock on the outside of the temple door to give a report to the inner guard who then reports to the JW OR WM. You could as you said keep the main door to the out side of the building locked
There must be a way of keeping your guys safe while they attend a meeting night ? Could you not hire a armed guard for the main door to the building? That way you would all feel safe
Very expensive, and most lodges, at least in our jurisdiction, are struggling to keep the lights on. As part of our american heritage, our 2nd amendment rights is ingrained into our culture, as much as some want to take them away. I've known WMs that would take their pistols and put them inside the lectern during meetings. The only ones that seem to have a problem with it are the women in the various groups like the Rainbow Girls or the OES.
Also, our lodge buildings normally fairly large, with multiple entrances and exits. In my lodge, the lodge room itself can be entered through four different doors. Designed, I guess in a time where crime wasn't a consideration.
Thank you for sharing this information, Most Worshipful. In addition to these preventive steps, I encourage all the brethren to do their best to conceal their Masonic identities on the web. I don’t know how common it is anymore, but there have been Masonic websites of lodges and larger bodies that featured the names and addresses of officers and others. Madness.
In physical security, if the unthinkable occurs, everyone in the building should know where every exit is located, and the best ways to reach them. Person or persons should be tasked with sounding the alarm, whether it’s a 911 call or even pulling the fire alarm.
Masons who are active or retired law enforcement should be encouraged to attend meetings (by whatever enticements necessary).
C&F,
Jay
Thank you. I'm glad that you found some value in the post. I agree that electronic security and privacy is something that must be considered as well. It is a difficult balance between privacy and accessibility, but we can preserve the latter by using Masonic office addresses instead of our own I think.
Maybe one thing Lodges could offer for members which would make attending more attractive, would be lesson in English stick fighting (like in the Sherlock Holmes movies), and maybe even a group membership to a local Krav Maga (Israeli hand-to-hand street fighting) class for both Masons and their families?
I think that could certainly be interesting, if there is a local instructor able to teach those who are, shall we say, not in peak physical condition.
Here is such a class being taught in a retirement home:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Vxb8R7iBSA
And here is a good deal of historic information:
https://lacannevigny.wordpress.com/
Perfectly explained. Another thing that I want to address is that "campaign" of I am a mason. Please stay as low profile as possible.
Besides one of the first things we learn is not to say I am a mason. Just let brothers recognize you .
Thank you. I'm glad that you found some value in the post.
I think that for some Masons, keeping a low profile is actually doable. Alas though, in the US, most Masons are quite open about their involvement, everything from rings to baseball caps are extraordinarily common here. Even license plates on our cars.
I'd add that some lodges may have been built 100 years ago, in what was once considered the central part of town, and now reside in less than ideal areas where crime is rising. Cameras definitely should be employed when possible, not just during meetings, but 24/7.
Agreed. Many of our Temples suffer from the degradation of the urban areas surrounding them. I'm aware of one truly spectacular Temple, filled with wonderful Brothers, that is now in what seems almost a war zone.
A very good article MW. If I may add a couple of things. The lodge/Temple should make sure there is adequate outside lighting and to remove anything on the property where someone could hide and attack from. Lastly, something I’ve told people for years, if you have windows on the ground floor, plant roses or some other type of thorny bush under the windows. They can be both decorative and keep someone from entering your Temple or home.
Thank you for these suggestions W. Brother. I appreciate them both, and can see their importance.
Our building is very near to our downtown, so crime in general is something we've had to think more about over the past few decades. A few ideas that work well with the above:
- Consider adding a secure access panel to exterior doors. You can only gain access to our building with a personal keycard (that we issue to any member who asks), and the door is not able to be left unlocked.
- Many camera systems will report motion and sound to a cell phone. We use Wyze cameras in our building, and can see most of the interior (with the exception of lodge rooms/bathrooms/etc), and all of the exterior. In addition, if someone comes into the building, the camera on the door notifies me right away.
- Consider updating the lighting in your building to smart lights, that can be programmed to turn on/off at random times so the building appears occupied. It also helps when people forget to turn the lights off...
- With lighting, exterior solar sensing flood lights are a huge help. If you approach our building after dark, it's bright enough that everyone can see you. (Of course, take your neighbors into account)
- Most importantly, we have a strict rule that you are NEVER at the lodge alone after dark, and for the Star and youth groups they are never alone at the building period. No point in making yourself an easy target.
Thank you for adding these suggestions. I appreciate them all.
You mention OES and our Youth Groups. While writing my post, I thought about those groups as well. Given the nature of their membership, they are certainly more vulnerable to a violent attack, and I imagine less likely to think about ways such a thing can be protected against. I shared this post with the OES in my State, but I think that as Masons, we do well to look to assisting or advising about security for these Concordant organizations.
We in the UK do not seem to have the same level of crime against Manson's as you do it the USA.
YOU said about having a Tyler on the outside of the door to the Temple with his sword we do this at every meeting in the UK as part of our ritual. If he was there to keep the bad guys out as it were no one would want to do the job also all the Temple are locked from the inside also as part of our ritual. I can not got my head around may be having a few brothers with guns in the Temple . As far as guns go the UK and the USA are world's apart.
Having a Tyler, armed with a sword is also a part of our ritual. But, in many Lodges, it has become the practice that a 'ghost' is the Tyler. This is of course bad Masonic practice and a violation of our ritual. A bad habit that must be done away with.
Locking the building is not a part of our ritual, not historically done here. In every Lodge that I have ever been involved with the entire building was unlocked for the duration of all our meetings. Indeed for long periods of time prior to and following those meetings as cooking and cleanup are done.
Does the Tyler in your ritual not knock on the outside of the temple door to give a report to the inner guard who then reports to the JW OR WM. You could as you said keep the main door to the out side of the building locked
Yes, in effect. But opposite. Our Junior Deacon (like your IG) does the knocking then directs the Tyler.
There must be a way of keeping your guys safe while they attend a meeting night ? Could you not hire a armed guard for the main door to the building? That way you would all feel safe
Very expensive, and most lodges, at least in our jurisdiction, are struggling to keep the lights on. As part of our american heritage, our 2nd amendment rights is ingrained into our culture, as much as some want to take them away. I've known WMs that would take their pistols and put them inside the lectern during meetings. The only ones that seem to have a problem with it are the women in the various groups like the Rainbow Girls or the OES.
Also, our lodge buildings normally fairly large, with multiple entrances and exits. In my lodge, the lodge room itself can be entered through four different doors. Designed, I guess in a time where crime wasn't a consideration.
I attended lodge in LA for a few years and that is exactly what we did, the Eastern Star chapter also. I never felt safe there one way or the other.