In the 19th century The Odd-Fellows, a very old fraternal organization, membership outnumbered the Masons by quite a large number. Today there are 1,000 Odd-Fellows state wide. Through study of these faltering fraternities it was found that they all had reduced their standards.
- Standards to become a member.
- Standards to stay a member.
- Standards to become a leader.
- Standards to train the leaders.
This really speaks to our most recent post. Many of the new "younger members" want a return to a more
strict and traditional form of the craft.
Too often when a candidate receives his EA degree we hear congratulations from the officers in attendance and they always mostly without exception tell the newly made brother that he will get out what he puts in to the fraternity. All too often these same officers are the ones who are studying their ritual while the candidate is being escorted on his journey around the lodge.
It is neither the time nor place to study one's part in the midst of the degree.....remember you get out what you put in......this is just a shining example of the relaxing of standards. WB Ray also mentioned that too often one or more of the principle officers leave the lodge room during the lectures.....again relaxing of standards.....apparently they are unable to give any of the lectures which allows them to leave.....they should be there watching and listening attentively along with the new brother. By vacating the lodge room during the lectures it demonstrates to the candidate that the lecture is not that important or you've heard it so many times that it's not worth listening to again.........again relaxing our standards......and I've done this......sometimes to get ready to do some of the lecture or take a break......we need to be aware of our conduct and it's consequences.....not only for the government of our conduct while in the lodge.......we all remember that part of the lecture I'm sure.
Change is inevitable......we have to change to keep up with the times.....in my opinion we also need to change our acceptance of relaxed standards.....we need to "change back" to higher standards across the fraternity....remember my brothers.......perception is reality
1 comment:
After commenting on the last post and reading this post, I have a thought. Let's get the brothers of AD20 to start changing. Instead of making it easier to become a member and stay a member, lets make it harder. I feel perhaps this may spark the curiosity of other men to petition. Instead of just posting on it, lets actually make a change and do something! I am afraid that if we start becoming more relaxed the craft of yesteryear will be lost.
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