Which Way Do We Want It ?

One of the great philosophical questions of the ages....is the glass half-empty or half-full?

My last post was on January 22, a Tuesday. The following Saturday January 26, King Solomon's Club of Ancient District 20 held their annual election/installation of officers. Attendance was a little light this year because of scheduling conflicts, but still a good showing.

Toward the end of the evening the President of the club opened up the floor for announcements. Of course we had the breakfast, supper, and fund raising events announced. Following the knife and fork announcements came the degree announcements. This went on for several minutes, everything from Entered Apprentice degrees to Fellowcraft degrees and Master Mason degrees were announced. These were not restricted to one particular area of the county, they came from east, west, north, and south, and went on for quite a long time.

When things seemed to be completed, I arose and brought greetings from the Grand Lodge of Michigan and spoke to the recent good news that for the first time since 1959 the Masonic fraternity in Michigan experienced positive growth in membership numbers. I thought I was going to have the last word and we could end on some exciting positive news.........not.

True to our profession of yesteryear a seasoned Past Master stood up and said, speaking of the decline of the fraternity.....paraphrasing some but not much......speaking of the decline of the fraternity....hmmmmm

So....is the glass nearly half empty or well over half full ??????

We have to overcome this defeatist attitude.

A large portion of our growth is coming via the internet. Many of the young men joining the fraternity are grandsons of Masons. Our fraternity actually skipped well over a generation of young men who wanted nothing to do with what their fathers were doing. Now their sons are intrigued by the Masonic fraternity and in many cases their grandfathers were Masons but did not talk about it, although very proud, they didn't discuss it.

That guarded secrecy of the fraternity did two things. First, it helped deter a whole generation from seeking membership. In the late sixties and through the seventies the age of open minds, free flowing information, and sharing all things....the young men of the time did not "dig" being kept in the dark and excluded from the secrecy going on in those lodges. Second, now we fast forward to present day and the young men today are intrigued by the fraternity because their grandfathers were very proud members and when they ask their fathers what the fraternity is the dads can't answer...because they don't know.

I can picture the conversation going something like this.....hey dad, gramps was a Mason and very proud right....yeah he really enjoyed his lodge....dad, what is a Mason and what do they do......well, I can't answer that because I don't know, gramps never really talked about what went on there, when I asked he told me I would have to join to find out, but he never asked me to join, I never understood that......wow, sounds kind of secretive, I wonder what he did and I wonder what they still do.....well son maybe you should google it and see what you can find out....thanks dad.

So are going to moan and complain about the decline......or..........be excited by our first positive growth in over 50+ years.

If we are not positive and ready to meet the needs of these new young brothers....then the glass will empty out quickly my brothers. We have been hoping, praying, and working toward this goal....now we have reached this goal.....what do we do to respond????

By keeping the same mind-set the glass will quickly empty.......by embracing the changes and rejoice in one each others prosperity we can continue to grow this great fraternity which is bigger and stronger than any of us individually.