So, I Found This Outfit
The Westerners!
Reading the introduction to a book recently, the author mentioned that he was inspired by a meeting he had attended of a group he called The Westerners. I’d never heard of it, so asked my old friend Google.
As always, that Google fellow was able to point me in the right direction. There is indeed a group called The Westerners. And it seems that they’ve got lots of chapters (what they call Corrals) throughout the Western States.
Honestly, I’m pretty much speechless.
They’ve got all the good stuff! Fancy boots and big ol’ hats. Turquoise jewelry, huge belt buckles, and snazzy bolo ties. What more could a guy, or even a gal want?
I figure that I could fit right in!
So, what are these Westerners all about?
They can tell you better than I. Their website is here, and they’ve got a brochure here. Ultimately, near as I can tell, it’s a celebration of the American West, and to my way of thinking that’s a hell of a good thing to celebrate.
Plus, you know, they sell a mighty fine lookin’ bolo tie.
I’d like to go check out a meeting someday, but alas, there is only one local group here in Washington, and it’s located too darn far from Bailey’s Squirrel Ranch.
But, all of this brings me to Masonic Clubs.
Masonic Clubs seem to be having a bit of a resurgence here in my Jurisdiction. They are popping up in various places, for Masons with a passion for something. Anything could be the basis of a club really, and from what I’ve seen the Masons participating in their Clubs seem to be having a great time with it.
And I have to believe that is a very good sign for the future of Freemasonry. Clubs can attract men to our Craft, and keep Masons interested and involved with it.
I seem to recall that Masonic Clubs are growing at a quick enough pace in my Jurisdiction that a resolution was proposed some years ago to provide some level of Grand Lodge regulation to them. If memory serves, that resolution wasn’t actually considered, because it was determined that Masonic Clubs exist outside of our Grand Lodge’s proper sphere.
And that’s a good thing. Excessive regulation does nothing but hamper growth, and properly followed, our Masonic Obligations are enough.
Personally, I love the idea of Masonic Clubs.
But, I’m curious about what everyone else thinks.
Are you a member of one, or more? Tell us about it!
Do you think that such things are a help or a hindrance to Freemasonry?
Would you consider banding together with other Masons who share some specialized passion with you, in order to start a Club where that interest can be shared?
What about Club based, Club themed ritual teams?
Let’s chat about it in the comments below…
Interested in some more from me? You can find everything I wrote last week at my LinkTree, or a small group of recent personal favorites here.
In some cases, Masonic clubs are not just a good idea, they are essential. For example, in Southeast Alaska, our Lodge in Ketchikan was forced to surrender its charter several years ago due to declining membership. The remaining brothers of that Lodge were given life memberships in the Lodge in Juneau. Down south, that would be fine, and the brethren could just participate in their new Lodge and maintain their Masonic ties with the brethren of their new Lodge.
Unfortunately Ketchikan is a one hour jet flight or a two day ferry trip from Juneau - not a 45 minute drive. So, the orphaned brothers in Ketchikan started a Masonic club to maintain their fraternal connections. The First City Masonic Club meets monthly for breakfast at one of the local restaurants. I plan on joining them if I can make it to Ketchikan at the right time.
Your thoughts on Masonic clubs immediately brought to mind two questions that MWB Dwight Smith asked in his essay "Whither Are We Traveling?" He was addressing the current problems of Freemasonry in the early 1960’s and asked ten questions. The two I refer to are these:
1. What can we expect when we have permitted Freemasonry to become subdivided into a score of organizations?
2. Are there not too many well-meaning Brethren who are working overtime to make Freemasonry something other than Freemasonry?
In the first question, MWB Smith was referring to the many subordinate organizations relying on Masonic membership to join. He observed that many joined Masonry because it was a requirement to belong to something else. He said, “We have spread ourselves thin, and Ancient Craft Masonry is the loser.” In my opinion, Masonic clubs would draw attention and effort away from the real purposes of a Masonic lodge.
MWB Smith explained the second question this way, “It was an unhappy day when some eager beaver conceived the idea that our Craft should adopt the methods of the service Club, or the luncheon group, or the civic league, or the Playboy outfit. Whoever the eager beaver was, he lost sight of the fact that one of the reasons our Fraternity is prized so highly is that it does not operate like other organizations.”
Using an interest group to attract men to join your lodge suggests to me that your lodge has not yet developed a message that clearly explains Masonry to a prospective member. You should be able to express that Masonry improves the individual man morally, spiritually, intellectually, and socially. This type of message is more indicative of our ancient and honored past than “Hey, join our lodge, we have a great club that is interested in _____________(fill in the blank with something unrelated to Masonry).
I believe the fraternity has spent far too much time trying to attract as many men as possible, when it should be focusing on those seeking transformation to a moral way of life and on providing the methods that accomplish that.
MWB Smith concluded his essay with these words, “I come to the conclusion of this series of exploratory articles with my faith in the basic worth of our ancient Craft unshaken, convinced that the solution to Freemasonry's problems is Freemasonry. Why do we not try it?”