Despite some differences in ritual and traditions, I do imagine that Freemasonry faces many of the same challenges and concerns everywhere. For that reason, I think that we can all learn from each other, which to me, is one of the most amazing things about our Craft.
If we are true to our principles which are given to use by our three obligations, we would be admired by all, and everyone wants to associate with a good person , not a mediocre person
The Tyler's Register may also only tell us what schedule conflicts exists outside the Lodge. I think this is especially true with a Saturday Daylight Lodge. Much of these conflicts are beyond our control and just make us aware that they are there.
Decisions require data. But humans don't like data because it almost always conflicts with their assumptions and unexamined guesses. And even with the data, some will insist on a course whose trajectory is known to be unbeneficial. But YES, we should be doing this.
In fact, I wish we could work it into the membership system used by Lodges and Grand Lodges.
I'd even suggest we make membership software open source and modular, but that's a whole other discussion.
When I was the WM of POJPJ, I had used the tyler's register to determine attendance information from year to year, showing an 18% increase from the previous year. Used that information for my district meeting presentation to the GM.
The tyler's register is also useful to counter secretary's arguments that we need to do introductions so that it can be recorded in the minutes. After all, the secretary usually says "members and visitors according to the tyler's register" while reading his minutes before closing. People seem to forget that the tyler's register is an official record as important as the minutes. It's also important (as far as any record keeping is in masonry) to make sure it reflects who sat in what chair during the meeting. Needed a last minute JD? Remind them to annotate that in the book. Just add "pro temp" after his signature.
Even since I can remember, we’ve referred to the register in the Tyler’s room as the “Tyler’s register,” but in our Jurisdiction (Washington State for those in other Jurisdictions,) it’s actually called the Attendance Register, and it’s under the care of the Secretary!
“The Secretary shall keep the following books:” C. “An attendance Register, to be kept in the Tyler’s Room, in which all members shall record their names, and all visitors shall record their names along with the names, numbers and locations of their respective Lodges, before entering the Lodge,” I cannot find anywhere in our Code of the Tyler being directly responsible for the Attendance Register, or to the Attendance Register being called the “Tyler’s Register.” (I did find it in the Lodge Officer’s handbook, but that is a handbook, not the Constitutions or Standard Work.) I do find it interesting that the name of the Register, and the shift in responsibility of it being filled out properly, had crept from one Lodge officer to another over the decades without any formal changes in our Constitutions or Standard Work. But as you note, “People seem to forget that the Tyler’s register is an official record as important as the minutes.” And you’re right! And both are also under the supervision of the same Lodge officer. The Secretary. And for the reasons you state, this makes perfect sense.
Yeah, it’s an incorrect designation, much like how everyone calls an incoming WM elect the “worthy brother” when no where in the WMC does it list a title “worthy brother”. But everyone does it anyway.
Also, after the reading of the minutes, the WM should not say “the minutes stand approved as read” if the secretary did not read them word for word. It should be declared “as written”. Just a little Masonic training for the day.
This is true on the worthy brother “title.” “I am satisfied, Worshipful Sir (conducting the new Master-Elect in front of the East), and I now present to you our worthy Brother _____ to be installed as the Worshipful Master of ______ Lodge, No. ___.” Noting that the word worthy is not capitalized, but Brother is. “worthy” in this case is an adjective, just like it is at the beginning of the Standard Work.
I like your point on the WM approving the minutes, that’s a good catch. I’ll have to listen for it in future meetings.
Being a data driven decision maker, I can appreciate the use of the Tyler's Register.
As with any data source human scrutiny must be employed. In order to discern whether schedule conflicts are negatively impacting attendance, or is it because of lodge education or lack thereof? What about time of the year. How many new EA's are getting on board and staying engaged? Does an EA's attendance fall off after they become a FC? Is the age demographic a factor, especially at certain times of the year?
All of this information is in there, but requires some coaxing for the register to let go of its secrets.
The data is raw, and we can only learn from it by studying it. And sometimes those studies can let us see interesting things.
When I was Grand Master and publishing Emeth, I discovered that if I jumped into one of these comment strings as they were developing, it would largely stop the conversation. Not a good thing, but I suppose that no one wanted to tell as sitting GM that he was full of s**t. Now that I'm out of the East I am able to jump in and the conversation continues.
But if I didn't watch what was happening on the dashboard, over long time periods, I never would have known that.
It is, I think, much the same with our Tyler's Register.
It seems to me that in general, Masons strive to be extremely polite towards each other. Oftentimes a Mason will stop attending Lodge, and if asked, declare it to be a scheduling conflict, when in fact it is a disagreement with something happening in the Lodge. It is I think rare that someone will express actual conflict, most often they will just find a reason to not attend.
Most especially if the Worshipful Master, or other officers are not willing to hear concerns with grace, and act upon those that are found to be legitimate.
A lot of the points you talk about are the same in the UK
Despite some differences in ritual and traditions, I do imagine that Freemasonry faces many of the same challenges and concerns everywhere. For that reason, I think that we can all learn from each other, which to me, is one of the most amazing things about our Craft.
If we are true to our principles which are given to use by our three obligations, we would be admired by all, and everyone wants to associate with a good person , not a mediocre person
I agree. 100%. And I think that is one of the reasons we have to be extremely vigilant when Guarding Our West Gate.
The Tyler's Register may also only tell us what schedule conflicts exists outside the Lodge. I think this is especially true with a Saturday Daylight Lodge. Much of these conflicts are beyond our control and just make us aware that they are there.
Decisions require data. But humans don't like data because it almost always conflicts with their assumptions and unexamined guesses. And even with the data, some will insist on a course whose trajectory is known to be unbeneficial. But YES, we should be doing this.
In fact, I wish we could work it into the membership system used by Lodges and Grand Lodges.
I'd even suggest we make membership software open source and modular, but that's a whole other discussion.
I had never thought of it, but you are right, it would be great if this information could be worked into our membership system!
When I was the WM of POJPJ, I had used the tyler's register to determine attendance information from year to year, showing an 18% increase from the previous year. Used that information for my district meeting presentation to the GM.
The tyler's register is also useful to counter secretary's arguments that we need to do introductions so that it can be recorded in the minutes. After all, the secretary usually says "members and visitors according to the tyler's register" while reading his minutes before closing. People seem to forget that the tyler's register is an official record as important as the minutes. It's also important (as far as any record keeping is in masonry) to make sure it reflects who sat in what chair during the meeting. Needed a last minute JD? Remind them to annotate that in the book. Just add "pro temp" after his signature.
I’d like to add on to this, WB Glenn.
Even since I can remember, we’ve referred to the register in the Tyler’s room as the “Tyler’s register,” but in our Jurisdiction (Washington State for those in other Jurisdictions,) it’s actually called the Attendance Register, and it’s under the care of the Secretary!
“The Secretary shall keep the following books:” C. “An attendance Register, to be kept in the Tyler’s Room, in which all members shall record their names, and all visitors shall record their names along with the names, numbers and locations of their respective Lodges, before entering the Lodge,” I cannot find anywhere in our Code of the Tyler being directly responsible for the Attendance Register, or to the Attendance Register being called the “Tyler’s Register.” (I did find it in the Lodge Officer’s handbook, but that is a handbook, not the Constitutions or Standard Work.) I do find it interesting that the name of the Register, and the shift in responsibility of it being filled out properly, had crept from one Lodge officer to another over the decades without any formal changes in our Constitutions or Standard Work. But as you note, “People seem to forget that the Tyler’s register is an official record as important as the minutes.” And you’re right! And both are also under the supervision of the same Lodge officer. The Secretary. And for the reasons you state, this makes perfect sense.
Yeah, it’s an incorrect designation, much like how everyone calls an incoming WM elect the “worthy brother” when no where in the WMC does it list a title “worthy brother”. But everyone does it anyway.
Also, after the reading of the minutes, the WM should not say “the minutes stand approved as read” if the secretary did not read them word for word. It should be declared “as written”. Just a little Masonic training for the day.
This is true on the worthy brother “title.” “I am satisfied, Worshipful Sir (conducting the new Master-Elect in front of the East), and I now present to you our worthy Brother _____ to be installed as the Worshipful Master of ______ Lodge, No. ___.” Noting that the word worthy is not capitalized, but Brother is. “worthy” in this case is an adjective, just like it is at the beginning of the Standard Work.
I like your point on the WM approving the minutes, that’s a good catch. I’ll have to listen for it in future meetings.
Being a data driven decision maker, I can appreciate the use of the Tyler's Register.
As with any data source human scrutiny must be employed. In order to discern whether schedule conflicts are negatively impacting attendance, or is it because of lodge education or lack thereof? What about time of the year. How many new EA's are getting on board and staying engaged? Does an EA's attendance fall off after they become a FC? Is the age demographic a factor, especially at certain times of the year?
All of this information is in there, but requires some coaxing for the register to let go of its secrets.
Agreed.
The data is raw, and we can only learn from it by studying it. And sometimes those studies can let us see interesting things.
When I was Grand Master and publishing Emeth, I discovered that if I jumped into one of these comment strings as they were developing, it would largely stop the conversation. Not a good thing, but I suppose that no one wanted to tell as sitting GM that he was full of s**t. Now that I'm out of the East I am able to jump in and the conversation continues.
But if I didn't watch what was happening on the dashboard, over long time periods, I never would have known that.
It is, I think, much the same with our Tyler's Register.
Re: Scheduling conflicts
It seems to me that in general, Masons strive to be extremely polite towards each other. Oftentimes a Mason will stop attending Lodge, and if asked, declare it to be a scheduling conflict, when in fact it is a disagreement with something happening in the Lodge. It is I think rare that someone will express actual conflict, most often they will just find a reason to not attend.
Most especially if the Worshipful Master, or other officers are not willing to hear concerns with grace, and act upon those that are found to be legitimate.