Let’s have a meeting of the Emeth Tiny Book Club! Let’s read something short, but of interest to Masons, and let’s discuss it here. It’ll be fun, and perhaps educational, I promise!
Pretty good article, covers a lot of ground that other authors have written about.
Masonic Education is my #1 pet peeve with today's lodges. Lodges offer almost no compelling reason to visit, unless you like to be bored to tears talking about bills, reading minutes, letters from GL, or other brothers asking you to come visit their lodge. The only good part is usually the meal beforehand, and some lodges, well, need to step up their game.
The fraternity had a massive growth spurt in the 60s and 70s, when joining some sort of fraternal organization was all the rage. In that time, the west gate was thrown wide open, and anyone/everyone was welcome to join. There was a waiting list to go through the chairs. But this also meant that a lot of men who otherwise wouldn't have gotten into the fraternity made their way into leadership roles of the lodge, and like a cancer, slowly destroyed them from within. I know a lot of brothers left due to caustic leadership within lodges in our district. A lot of times, it's fatal to the lodge.
Then things went the other way. Now, a lot of lodges have a line of officers almost exclusively made up with PMs. Anyone that comes into the door gets handed a petition, goes though the degrees, and gets thrust into a chair that they may or may not want to take. This can also lead to poor leadership.
The six steps to initiation was a good effort to correct these problems, but it is also not a measuring stick for whether a candidate will stick around in the long run. I joined a few years before the six steps program got started. When I walked into the lodge for the first time, I was handed a petition. Seven months later I'm raised as a MM, did my 3rd degree proficiency a few months later, and took a chair the month after that (Sr Steward). I'm now a PM of my home lodge. Others that have been through the six steps may make it through the degrees, but after a few months of meetings, they tend to not show up anymore. In other words, we can get men in, but the trick is keeping them.
Good quality masonic education in the lodge. Good meals and fellowship. Focus on proper ritual. Degree proficiency (posting lectures) done in open lodge. Require PILM before a MM takes a pillared chair (preferably while SD). Stop line progression, and vote for the best person, not someone just because it's their turn. Engage the brothers outside of lodge. Become involved as a group in community events to remind people we're still around. Keep in mind that masonic growth is a two way street, the new brother has an obligation to learn and grow, it's also the lodge's responsibility to provide that mentorship and training.
I find myself in agreement with everything you say.
One thing I specifically want to point out is your statement: "Stop line progression, and vote for the best person, not someone just because it's their turn."
I can't fathom why Masonic Lodges ever created this concept of the progressive line, or why they continue to use it. It isn't required or codified, it's just something that is done for no reason other than tradition I guess.
The thing is, by a Lodge adopting the progressive line, the Lodge is making a decision to not have the best or most qualified man lead the Lodge. That just seems absurd to me.
Why don't our Lodges seek, each and every year, to have the man best suited to lead the Lodge, leading the Lodge?
In a way, the progressive line concept seems like nothing more than a Lodge suicide pact.
The only argument I can make for a progressive line is that it does expose the new MMs the duties of each chair, and prepares them for more and more responsibilities as they progress. In order to combat the ills of a progressive line, care must be given when selecting, say, the junior deacon position, or the Stewards. We've had issues in the past that the requirements either aren't fully explained to the brother when they accept those positions, or they simply didn't fathom just what each chair entails.
to me, the most difficult chair in the lodge (at least our lodge) is the SD chair. They have the most to digest as far as ritual work of any chair in the lodge. This is usually where you separate the men from the boys, so to speak. In our lodge, not only does the SD need to know all of the circumambulations, but they also have to confer the first degree, know how to open and close lodge, and do the SD role in the 3rd degree drama. That is a mighty big chunk of ritual work to learn. Ideally, when a new MM takes a chair in the line, they begin learning the hardest parts, like the 3rd degree circumambulation (for example). As a JD, you have your entire year to learn your parts. You never know, the first month after being installed as a SD, you might need to do the MM degree, you can't expect to get seated in the SD role and begin learning your parts.
Even after careful explanation of what's expected of them, I've seen a number of brothers drop out of the line because they just couldn't hack the work. We make allowances as best we can, such as having someone open and close lodge for that SD's first degree conferral, but they have to learn how to do it eventually. That's why I think the PILM needs to be completed by the SD before moving onto a pillared chair.
Very good article, RW Cameron. I especially like the idea of more activities and fellowship outside the Lodge, such as the MasonicCon mentioned. I feel one of the success’ of Silverdale Lodge No. 311 is the fellowships we do for birthdays, celebrations, holidays, ritual practice in the garage or just a few drinks of single malt with good conversation among Brothers. It’s these non stated meeting fellowships that truly help spread the cement and keeps friendships and brotherhood alive and well. Thank you for sharing, RW Sir.
I watch Facebook, and I see just how active Silverdale Lodge is, outside of the Lodge. You are certainly correct that the way to build fellowship is with all of those outside the Lodge activities, and Silverdale sets a superb example for other Lodges to follow.
I think a MasonicCon would be superb, if a Lodge decided to take on such an effort. Silverdale is certainly a large enough and strong enough Lodge to pull it off if you were so inclined!
To me the main problem is not knowing the reason why we are losing members. It is very hard to fix a problem if we don't know what the problem is. Thinking we know what the problem is is not enough in my opinion.
One of the plans I have for my year in the East is to do a Roll Call of ALL the "Active" members before the Minutes of the last meeting are read. This is usually the first order of business.
After finding out who are not answering "present", divide those names, addresses and phone numbers of those Brothers among those present with the "assignment" of calling those Brothers and offering a ride to the next Stated meeting. This eliminates reason number 1 for not coming to Lodge. Reasons 2 through 10 are soon to follow.
Brothers should make notes on the reasons given for not attending Lodge and make a report of their findings at the next meeting so we can address a solution for each one as a group.
The second thing I am planning to do is part of the SW's ritual. Just before the closing charge address each member with praise (wages) for work well done and ask the simple question, "Are you satisfied?" If the answer is not in the affirmative inquire as to what improvements he would like to see in future meetings. Again this addresses not being able to fix a problem without knowing what the problem is.
I think your idea to call the Brothers who aren't in attendance is a very good one, and is certainly worth a try. If nothing else, it will remind them that they are missed, and I think that people always want to feel that they are valued when they are with us, and missed when they are not. I look forward to hearing how it works out!
I also think your idea of paying wages at the appropriate time in the ritual is a great one. I've seen similar done, and it seems to be wholly positive. It's always good to let folks know that they are appreciated.
I just always hope that Lodges stop reading old, previously approved minutes. Such should be posted for the review of anyone who is interested, but reading them in Lodge is one of the meaningless and dull things that drive men away.
RW Cameron, I thought the article was very thorough and shared a great time-line of the rise and decline of our fraternity. After WW2, those returning from war were looking for camaraderie and joined every club/activity they could find. The downside, which we have experienced, was fathers were never home and sons and daughters went wanting so their decision was to not be a part of anything but family. Both paths led to unbalanced lives. I found several simple take aways from the article starting with the members standing up and speaking in front of the lodge. That is something that is both simple and difficult at the same time. I was fortunate to have worked in a profession that demanded I be able to speak to complete strangers in a positive manner. I see speaking in lodge as the foundation of building trust and camaraderie with the brothers. I’ve also shared with the brothers that being the Master of the Lodge doesn’t make me the chair of the entertainment committee. I continue to encourage the brothers to research that which interests them and give a presentation on it, Masonic or not. That “Masonic Education” can be anything. Sure, a program on Masonic history, or the Templars connection to masonry are always a topics that are important. Finding different religious leaders to speak to Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Rosicrucianism, etc can be difficult but not impossible and maybe could be organized on the District level.
I think something we have also done is we have retreated into our buildings. We rely on the Shriners to show us in a good light to our communities by being in parades and putting on clinics etc. Why can’t masons be in a parade, whether walking or riding in a trailer/float, wearing aprons and being seen? After I had been a Mason for a few years and had joined the Shrine, my wife asked a question one evening, “Why are the masons so stuffy and the Shriners so fun, aren’t they all the same people?” I didn’t really have an answer for her.
One area that might be explored is adding a class at the Leadership Retreat on mentoring. A mentor is so much more than the person who helps a new brother learn the cypher/posting lecture or the alternate proficiency. He’s the first guide a new brother has in a fantastic journey. Our mentors should be the best of us and we should continually be checking in with them to see how they’re doing.
In the end, we’re only limited by our own imaginations on how to be “more” to the brethren.
Great post. I was going to touch on your first subject, but found my post rambled even more than it did. You'd be surprised how many men I've run across whose fathers were masons, and the sons had no desire to join. One I knew even resented the fact his parents were always gone at some masonic/eastern star function or another. I think this did have an effect on declining memberships. It's like we're skipping a generation.
I started having our lodge march in the local parade about six years ago. The most brothers we ever got to march was about 10 I think. The last time we marched, it was just myself and one other brother. Out of a lodge of 140+ masons. Not exactly the community presence I was hoping for.
WB Glen, please join Silverdale Lodge No. 311 for the upcoming Whaling Days Parade in July which we do annually. We always get a good showing of Brethren.
We march in the parade wearing barong’s (formal attire from the Philippines) with our aprons, rods and jewels carrying our Lodge banner. Due to covid we didn’t get to do this in 2020, so I’m really looking forward to this years Whaling Days Parade in July!
I agree that having candidates stand up and talk in the Lodge is a great takeaway from the article. I remember the almost debilitating fear of public speaking when I first ran for public office. With enough doing it though, that fear went away. If that is one of the things our Lodges can do for the men who join, that is a tremendous service.
I'm not sure why we ever made the retreat into our buildings that you mention. Certainly almost all of my own tremendous Masonic experiences have been outside of the Lodge. Other activities that we did together as Lodge Brothers.
Another thing that has been great though, at least in my experience, is holding the Lodge, well outside of the Masonic Temple. Charters can be moved, and charters should be moved on occasion.
My Lodge once did a Master Mason Degree outside, on the Puget Sound, in the dark. We do the Torchlight Fellowcraft Degree, along with other Lodges, on a bi-annual basis. A public installation of officers at the County fairgrounds. There is no reason that these things can't be done in creative ways, even creative places, and those are experiences that are not easily forgotten.
One of our Lewis County Brothers owns a quite large and perfectly private chunk of woods. That would be a superb place to hold a Degree, or even a special meeting.
The LLR does have a class on Mentoring. We've had to cancel the last two LLR's due to Covid of course, but I taught it the year before that. I'm going to be completely honest here and say that I was mentored better than I've been able to mentor, so when I taught the class I did my best to explain how I was mentored, in the hopes that others might be able to emulate it. I only taught it at that single LLR, so I'm not sure what form it had before then.
I would also quickly post that I personally think that the book "Observing the Craft" by brother Andrew Hammer should be required reading for every single MM.
Agreed. One of the most valuable books we have. I've got a dog eared paperback copy that I've just about worn out from re-reading, and a nice hard cover to show when recommending it to others.
Here's a couple things I took away from the article:
Roughly 90% of surveyed Masons feel that Masonic Education is important or very important, but 65% of surveyed Masons say that there Lodge provides very little or none of it. That is a huge disconnect that will have to be addressed if we are to retain members.
Roughly 90% of surveyed Masons consider themselves to be spiritual. We need to, as the article suggests, stop implying that we are just a charitable endeavor without Masonic Secrets.
That was just some misguided PR thing from a few decades ago. Pushed in some effort to keep conspiracy nuts at bay.
We need to, as recommended, embrace the fact that we are a society with a rich tradition, meaningful symbolism, and depth, a modern version of the Mysteries of old.
Pretty good article, covers a lot of ground that other authors have written about.
Masonic Education is my #1 pet peeve with today's lodges. Lodges offer almost no compelling reason to visit, unless you like to be bored to tears talking about bills, reading minutes, letters from GL, or other brothers asking you to come visit their lodge. The only good part is usually the meal beforehand, and some lodges, well, need to step up their game.
The fraternity had a massive growth spurt in the 60s and 70s, when joining some sort of fraternal organization was all the rage. In that time, the west gate was thrown wide open, and anyone/everyone was welcome to join. There was a waiting list to go through the chairs. But this also meant that a lot of men who otherwise wouldn't have gotten into the fraternity made their way into leadership roles of the lodge, and like a cancer, slowly destroyed them from within. I know a lot of brothers left due to caustic leadership within lodges in our district. A lot of times, it's fatal to the lodge.
Then things went the other way. Now, a lot of lodges have a line of officers almost exclusively made up with PMs. Anyone that comes into the door gets handed a petition, goes though the degrees, and gets thrust into a chair that they may or may not want to take. This can also lead to poor leadership.
The six steps to initiation was a good effort to correct these problems, but it is also not a measuring stick for whether a candidate will stick around in the long run. I joined a few years before the six steps program got started. When I walked into the lodge for the first time, I was handed a petition. Seven months later I'm raised as a MM, did my 3rd degree proficiency a few months later, and took a chair the month after that (Sr Steward). I'm now a PM of my home lodge. Others that have been through the six steps may make it through the degrees, but after a few months of meetings, they tend to not show up anymore. In other words, we can get men in, but the trick is keeping them.
Good quality masonic education in the lodge. Good meals and fellowship. Focus on proper ritual. Degree proficiency (posting lectures) done in open lodge. Require PILM before a MM takes a pillared chair (preferably while SD). Stop line progression, and vote for the best person, not someone just because it's their turn. Engage the brothers outside of lodge. Become involved as a group in community events to remind people we're still around. Keep in mind that masonic growth is a two way street, the new brother has an obligation to learn and grow, it's also the lodge's responsibility to provide that mentorship and training.
Sorry, rambling again.
I find myself in agreement with everything you say.
One thing I specifically want to point out is your statement: "Stop line progression, and vote for the best person, not someone just because it's their turn."
I can't fathom why Masonic Lodges ever created this concept of the progressive line, or why they continue to use it. It isn't required or codified, it's just something that is done for no reason other than tradition I guess.
The thing is, by a Lodge adopting the progressive line, the Lodge is making a decision to not have the best or most qualified man lead the Lodge. That just seems absurd to me.
Why don't our Lodges seek, each and every year, to have the man best suited to lead the Lodge, leading the Lodge?
In a way, the progressive line concept seems like nothing more than a Lodge suicide pact.
The only argument I can make for a progressive line is that it does expose the new MMs the duties of each chair, and prepares them for more and more responsibilities as they progress. In order to combat the ills of a progressive line, care must be given when selecting, say, the junior deacon position, or the Stewards. We've had issues in the past that the requirements either aren't fully explained to the brother when they accept those positions, or they simply didn't fathom just what each chair entails.
to me, the most difficult chair in the lodge (at least our lodge) is the SD chair. They have the most to digest as far as ritual work of any chair in the lodge. This is usually where you separate the men from the boys, so to speak. In our lodge, not only does the SD need to know all of the circumambulations, but they also have to confer the first degree, know how to open and close lodge, and do the SD role in the 3rd degree drama. That is a mighty big chunk of ritual work to learn. Ideally, when a new MM takes a chair in the line, they begin learning the hardest parts, like the 3rd degree circumambulation (for example). As a JD, you have your entire year to learn your parts. You never know, the first month after being installed as a SD, you might need to do the MM degree, you can't expect to get seated in the SD role and begin learning your parts.
Even after careful explanation of what's expected of them, I've seen a number of brothers drop out of the line because they just couldn't hack the work. We make allowances as best we can, such as having someone open and close lodge for that SD's first degree conferral, but they have to learn how to do it eventually. That's why I think the PILM needs to be completed by the SD before moving onto a pillared chair.
Very good article, RW Cameron. I especially like the idea of more activities and fellowship outside the Lodge, such as the MasonicCon mentioned. I feel one of the success’ of Silverdale Lodge No. 311 is the fellowships we do for birthdays, celebrations, holidays, ritual practice in the garage or just a few drinks of single malt with good conversation among Brothers. It’s these non stated meeting fellowships that truly help spread the cement and keeps friendships and brotherhood alive and well. Thank you for sharing, RW Sir.
I watch Facebook, and I see just how active Silverdale Lodge is, outside of the Lodge. You are certainly correct that the way to build fellowship is with all of those outside the Lodge activities, and Silverdale sets a superb example for other Lodges to follow.
I think a MasonicCon would be superb, if a Lodge decided to take on such an effort. Silverdale is certainly a large enough and strong enough Lodge to pull it off if you were so inclined!
To me the main problem is not knowing the reason why we are losing members. It is very hard to fix a problem if we don't know what the problem is. Thinking we know what the problem is is not enough in my opinion.
One of the plans I have for my year in the East is to do a Roll Call of ALL the "Active" members before the Minutes of the last meeting are read. This is usually the first order of business.
After finding out who are not answering "present", divide those names, addresses and phone numbers of those Brothers among those present with the "assignment" of calling those Brothers and offering a ride to the next Stated meeting. This eliminates reason number 1 for not coming to Lodge. Reasons 2 through 10 are soon to follow.
Brothers should make notes on the reasons given for not attending Lodge and make a report of their findings at the next meeting so we can address a solution for each one as a group.
The second thing I am planning to do is part of the SW's ritual. Just before the closing charge address each member with praise (wages) for work well done and ask the simple question, "Are you satisfied?" If the answer is not in the affirmative inquire as to what improvements he would like to see in future meetings. Again this addresses not being able to fix a problem without knowing what the problem is.
I think your idea to call the Brothers who aren't in attendance is a very good one, and is certainly worth a try. If nothing else, it will remind them that they are missed, and I think that people always want to feel that they are valued when they are with us, and missed when they are not. I look forward to hearing how it works out!
I also think your idea of paying wages at the appropriate time in the ritual is a great one. I've seen similar done, and it seems to be wholly positive. It's always good to let folks know that they are appreciated.
I just always hope that Lodges stop reading old, previously approved minutes. Such should be posted for the review of anyone who is interested, but reading them in Lodge is one of the meaningless and dull things that drive men away.
"Minutes of the previous meeting are on the secretary's desk if you would like to review them".
RW Cameron, I thought the article was very thorough and shared a great time-line of the rise and decline of our fraternity. After WW2, those returning from war were looking for camaraderie and joined every club/activity they could find. The downside, which we have experienced, was fathers were never home and sons and daughters went wanting so their decision was to not be a part of anything but family. Both paths led to unbalanced lives. I found several simple take aways from the article starting with the members standing up and speaking in front of the lodge. That is something that is both simple and difficult at the same time. I was fortunate to have worked in a profession that demanded I be able to speak to complete strangers in a positive manner. I see speaking in lodge as the foundation of building trust and camaraderie with the brothers. I’ve also shared with the brothers that being the Master of the Lodge doesn’t make me the chair of the entertainment committee. I continue to encourage the brothers to research that which interests them and give a presentation on it, Masonic or not. That “Masonic Education” can be anything. Sure, a program on Masonic history, or the Templars connection to masonry are always a topics that are important. Finding different religious leaders to speak to Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Rosicrucianism, etc can be difficult but not impossible and maybe could be organized on the District level.
I think something we have also done is we have retreated into our buildings. We rely on the Shriners to show us in a good light to our communities by being in parades and putting on clinics etc. Why can’t masons be in a parade, whether walking or riding in a trailer/float, wearing aprons and being seen? After I had been a Mason for a few years and had joined the Shrine, my wife asked a question one evening, “Why are the masons so stuffy and the Shriners so fun, aren’t they all the same people?” I didn’t really have an answer for her.
One area that might be explored is adding a class at the Leadership Retreat on mentoring. A mentor is so much more than the person who helps a new brother learn the cypher/posting lecture or the alternate proficiency. He’s the first guide a new brother has in a fantastic journey. Our mentors should be the best of us and we should continually be checking in with them to see how they’re doing.
In the end, we’re only limited by our own imaginations on how to be “more” to the brethren.
Great post. I was going to touch on your first subject, but found my post rambled even more than it did. You'd be surprised how many men I've run across whose fathers were masons, and the sons had no desire to join. One I knew even resented the fact his parents were always gone at some masonic/eastern star function or another. I think this did have an effect on declining memberships. It's like we're skipping a generation.
I started having our lodge march in the local parade about six years ago. The most brothers we ever got to march was about 10 I think. The last time we marched, it was just myself and one other brother. Out of a lodge of 140+ masons. Not exactly the community presence I was hoping for.
WB Glen, please join Silverdale Lodge No. 311 for the upcoming Whaling Days Parade in July which we do annually. We always get a good showing of Brethren.
We march in the parade wearing barong’s (formal attire from the Philippines) with our aprons, rods and jewels carrying our Lodge banner. Due to covid we didn’t get to do this in 2020, so I’m really looking forward to this years Whaling Days Parade in July!
I agree that having candidates stand up and talk in the Lodge is a great takeaway from the article. I remember the almost debilitating fear of public speaking when I first ran for public office. With enough doing it though, that fear went away. If that is one of the things our Lodges can do for the men who join, that is a tremendous service.
I'm not sure why we ever made the retreat into our buildings that you mention. Certainly almost all of my own tremendous Masonic experiences have been outside of the Lodge. Other activities that we did together as Lodge Brothers.
Another thing that has been great though, at least in my experience, is holding the Lodge, well outside of the Masonic Temple. Charters can be moved, and charters should be moved on occasion.
My Lodge once did a Master Mason Degree outside, on the Puget Sound, in the dark. We do the Torchlight Fellowcraft Degree, along with other Lodges, on a bi-annual basis. A public installation of officers at the County fairgrounds. There is no reason that these things can't be done in creative ways, even creative places, and those are experiences that are not easily forgotten.
One of our Lewis County Brothers owns a quite large and perfectly private chunk of woods. That would be a superb place to hold a Degree, or even a special meeting.
The LLR does have a class on Mentoring. We've had to cancel the last two LLR's due to Covid of course, but I taught it the year before that. I'm going to be completely honest here and say that I was mentored better than I've been able to mentor, so when I taught the class I did my best to explain how I was mentored, in the hopes that others might be able to emulate it. I only taught it at that single LLR, so I'm not sure what form it had before then.
I would also quickly post that I personally think that the book "Observing the Craft" by brother Andrew Hammer should be required reading for every single MM.
Agreed. One of the most valuable books we have. I've got a dog eared paperback copy that I've just about worn out from re-reading, and a nice hard cover to show when recommending it to others.
A new book to add to my list.
http://mindhivebooks.com/MB5110.html
For a signed copy.
Here's a couple things I took away from the article:
Roughly 90% of surveyed Masons feel that Masonic Education is important or very important, but 65% of surveyed Masons say that there Lodge provides very little or none of it. That is a huge disconnect that will have to be addressed if we are to retain members.
Roughly 90% of surveyed Masons consider themselves to be spiritual. We need to, as the article suggests, stop implying that we are just a charitable endeavor without Masonic Secrets.
That was just some misguided PR thing from a few decades ago. Pushed in some effort to keep conspiracy nuts at bay.
We need to, as recommended, embrace the fact that we are a society with a rich tradition, meaningful symbolism, and depth, a modern version of the Mysteries of old.