Today, A Mason Asked Me...
Bringing positive change to a Lodge
I’m going to paraphrase the question, because it was sent to me privately, but today a Mason asked me:
I’m a fairly new Mason, but I’m going to stand up at our next meeting and suggest that our Lodge start including a brief period of educational Masonic discussion at each of our meetings.
I’d like to see us get more out of our meetings than just the fellowship that we enjoy, by taking the ritual and Craft seriously as a means of self improvement.
Do you know of any Masonic educational resources we might be able to use for these discussions?
I sent our Brother some ideas about resources he could use to put together easy but enjoyable discussions.
But, it brings up some questions to my mind, that I think we would do well to discuss.
Let’s say that we are a new Mason. And we want to see an improvement in some part of our Lodge or Lodge activity. How best can we bring our ideas up so that they aren’t shot down by the guys with more years in the Craft?
Let’s say that we are one of those guys with a lot of years in the Craft. How can we best support the newer Mason when he brings his ideas forward?
What if whatever idea it is can’t be done for some reason. How do we let the newer Mason know that, without leading him to believe that all of his ideas will be shot down?
If we are the Master of the Lodge, how can we encourage new Masons to bring their ideas forward? How can we be proactive instead of reactive?
I’m hopeful that we can discuss this, because I believe that the proper answers to these questions are vital for retention of new Masons.
Let’s chat about it in the comments below…
As a member of a Tradional Observance lodge, masonic education is not lacking in our lodge. But that is not really what is at stake in this question. You have a new mason not getting meaning out of his lodge membership. He will stand up in lodge and make his request. The elders will shoot it down by reciting all the other times the lodge tried (insert idea de jour) and it failed. The new mason will feel dejected and start running in to reasons to miss the next Stated. Over time his participation will diminish and all those elders holding officer positions in the lodge will ask, why can't we maintain new members long enough to replace us?
Leadership is the answer. When a lodge has a strong leader, brothers are heard, actions happen and feeling don't get hurt. Successful lodges should by teaching leadership as brothers progress through the chairs so that, by the time a master is elected, he is capable of managing this brother's question without upsetting the lodge.
BTW, I agree with the young brother. If a lodge does not incorporate education into their meetings, it's just a boys club with perhaps a charitable arm. That is something a young man can find anywhere...
What is essential to pitching Masonic education, but that always goes ignored, is having a specific plan.
When a young Mason speaks for a need for education in the lodge, there is a real risk of different brethren responding with their personal interests. The new Mason might want to know more about the Four Cardinal Virtues, but instead may have to endure yawps on alchemy, Templars, and the like.
Not all education is equal.
For an introduction to a wonderfully wholistic plan for Masonic education, click here:
https://themagpiemason.blogspot.com/2020/08/haywoods-outline-for-masonic-education.html?m=0
Jay