On Emeth

A report on our progress

Emeth was founded on the last day of February 2021.

It was founded with a single subscriber, my daughter Amber. I asked her to subscribe so that I could make sure that everything worked.

A little less than two years later, a little more than two days ago, we reached our 1,000th subscriber.

I created Emeth because I believe that our world would be a much darker place if Freemasonry didn’t exist. I believed, and still believe, that through Emeth, we can find the tools we need to improve the Lodge Experience for ourselves, and our Brothers. I believed, and still believe that we can create a truly Legendary Freemasonry, and that by doing so, we can ensure a bright and thriving future for our Ancient Craft. A future just as illustrious as our storied past.

Live the Legend

I believed, and I continue to believe that through our interactions here we can learn from each other, and take what we learn back to our Lodges. That by doing so, we can slowly have a positive impact on our Lodges, and ultimately our Grand Lodges. I also believe that we can, by transmitting what we learn here to our newest Masons, help them find that which Freemasonry promises.

Finally, I hoped that those who participated here would find inspiration that would help them on their personal Masonic journeys. Just as I find inspiration from my interactions with all who participate in one way or another with Emeth.

So, how are we doing, almost two years in?

As I mentioned, we surpassed the 1,000 subscriber mark this past week. As of today, over 1,000 Masons receive multiple posts per week from Emeth, right into their email boxes.

Subscribers are what Emeth needs. To thrive it needs people to subscribe because that is the only sure way to get the essays, questions, and other postings out to everyone consistently. Those who read Emeth on social media may or may not encounter most of the posts, because on social media Emeth is reliant on the algorithm, and frankly, the algorithm is designed to limit the reach of the kinds of content provided here. Social media platforms get rich by building emotion and outrage, so such things are hyped. Emeth provides nothing of the sort, so is downplayed in social media feeds.

If you haven’t yet subscribed, relying instead on reading Emeth on social media, will you consider subscribing now? You can do so by clicking the button below, opting for either a free or a paid subscription.

But, even with the limitations imposed by social media, Emeth still makes a significant impact there. On a single day in the last week of January, over 3,300 people followed a social media link to read an essay I’d posted here. That was our largest traffic day thus far, but those numbers have grown steadily over the past two years. Additionally most of Emeth’s content is evergreen. Any given post continues to be read weeks and months after it comes out. Popular posts end up being read thousands of times.

Give or take a little, there are roughly 10,000 Masons in my Jurisdiction. Unfortunately only 10 to 15 percent of those are active, so it is safe to say that there are 1000 to 1500 active Masons in my Jurisdiction. There just aren’t all that many of us out there. But Emeth can reach over 3,300 Masons in a single day, over 3,300 Masons in a day will click a link on social media and come to read something here on Emeth. Those kinds of numbers can have an influence, and can make a positive difference inside our gentle Craft. Especially when we remember that it is not a one off thing. Emeth reaches numbers, every single day of the year.

As of today, Emeth has subscribers in every State of the Union except North Dakota. A few weeks ago there were a couple more States without subscribers, but I mentioned it on Facebook and Masons in those States stepped up. Emeth has subscribers in 68 countries around the world. We have, on our Sunday night zoom calls had subscribers join us from India, Australia, Vietnam, the Philippines, and our neighbor to the north, Canada.

Emeth began as a text only platform, but has expanded to include video, and tomorrow the first audio post will go out. Our discussion threads are lively, this week a single thread received 51 comments, and I believe that some more will be on the way for that post.

The largest feature expansion took place a little less than a week ago with the addition of Emeth Chat. Our own little private social media space, available to Emeth subscribers only. Emeth’s own version of Facebook or Twitter without the outrage and the jerks that cause it. In less than a week 214 comments have been made on Emeth Chat.

If you would like to join Emeth Chat, it is available through the Substack app for iOS and Android. You can get it at the link below.

Emeth has reach. It has engagement. It is filled with information and perspectives that can be put to use to improve our own personal Masonic journeys, and the Lodge experience. But, the more Masons it reaches every day, the larger the impact it will have. For that reason, I try to put a share button in every post so that you can easily send it to your Lodge Brothers, or put it up on your social media timelines. I ask that you hit that share button every time you find value in something here on Emeth. By doing so, you expose it to your own personal Masonic network, and that in turn will find you allies in our shared quest to create truly Legendary Freemasonry. Just hit the button and share the posts you enjoy.

Almost every Sunday Evening (we have missed a very small number) we host a gathering over Zoom, open to all those who hold a paid subscription to Emeth. It takes place at 7:30 Pacific, and I hope to see you there. The numbers that join us are never large, but our discussions are always interesting and we have built true fellowship and friendships there over the past couple of years. I hope that you will be able to join us! I also hope to be able to expand this offering on nights other than Sundays on an irregular basis. Stay tuned for that.

Emeth is made possible by its paid subscribers. None of this would be possible without the financial support of those who chose to purchase a monthly or an annual subscription. Almost exactly 10 percent of Emeth’s total subscribers are paid subscribers. Emeth is the most impactful way I can imagine for me to have a positive and lasting impact on our Ancient Craft, but I need the help of my paid subscribers to do it, and I give my profound Thank You to each and every one of you.

Your support has pulled Emeth through these first two years, and it will pull us through the next two as we continue to grow and expand our offerings. I could never have done any of this without you. But, I know that you share my passion for Freemasonry, and that you’ve joined with me to help improve the experience in our Lodges, and create a better Freemasonry. Together we are doing it, and we will continue to do it. Again, Thank You.

If you have been enjoying Emeth and finding value in what you find here, but don’t yet hold a paid subscription, will you consider upgrading to support the work? If you are able to do so, you can by clicking the button below.

Thank you for taking the time to read this report on Emeth’s progress, almost two years in. I greatly appreciate the time you devote to reading my words and your participation here.

Oh, yes, before I go, I guess it is appropriate to say once again that last month Emeth crossed the line into bestseller status here on Substack. A rare distinction. Thank You!