Traditionally here in lower Michigan lodges tend to go "dark" during the summer months of July and August. Some lodges in northern Michigan go "dark" in the winter months of January and February. Just a little background which has little to do with my thoughts for this entry. As I often tell my girlfriend I am full of useless information.
So as the lodges are now wrapping up for the upcoming summer months, it's refreshing to see many of the lodges scurrying to tie up some of their loose ends concerning degree work. After a couple years of uncertainty and not being able to meet and conduct degrees, we are now somewhat back to normal with lots of "work" to do.
There is absolutely no doubt that the pandemic had a detrimental effect on the fraternity and it's current members. What is odd is that it seemed to have an almost opposite affect on the aspirant, not in all lodges but it seems to be the case in the majority of lodges.
By now I think everyone who reads this blog has a pretty good idea of my philosophy concerning quality vs. quantity when it comes to candidates for the fraternity. Now I feel the need to point out how degree work can become so enjoyable when the number of brothers seems to be a little light, stretched, and even could be referred to as a skelton crew.
The basis for these thoughts has evolved over a few visits to a couple of the smaller lodges in the area. One being Millington Lodge and the other Otisville Lodge. It seems that both of these lodges have existed and continued to work, but for what ever reason don't put a large number of candidates through.
Admittedly Millington is a little busier than Otisville but both are smalltown lodges with very loyal members and some of the Past Masters have a number of notches on their aprons for years in the East.
Back when the snow was blowing and temperatures were dropping, Millington made it known that they had a father and son duo who had petitioned the lodge and were being initiated in the Craft. I ventured out after work to find a warm meal, warm fellowship, and two eager candidates.
The EA degree was well attended in spite of the weather and was conferred in fine fashion as well as the Fellowcraft degree a few weeks later. Again the FC degree was nicely attended and conferred in fine fashion.
Now it's time for the father and son duo to undergo one of the most trying scenes that human nature has ever endured......that's right, it's time for the Master Mason degree. The weather was much nicer and warmer, the meal was great but the attendance was shall we say a little slim.
We ventured up to the blue room for the degree. I was even able to do second base for the second time in my short 39 years. Most of us doubled up on different parts and just a handful gave the lectures....the surprising thing was it was without a doubt one of the most enjoyable MM degrees I have ever been involved in or witnessed. It was just a great amount of fun and truly an enjoyable evening.
I'm not advocating that degree workers should be stretched so thin...but in the above case even with very few in attendance and all the multi-tasking, the brothers received a mighty fine Master Mason degree and those of us who were there got to take part in an almost magical degree.
My hat is off to WB Gary Watt and the leadership of Millington Lodge for really knowing these two brothers before they received any degree. In fact I learned that they had been working with the brothers at the lodge before, during, and after their degrees. The Grand Lodge of Michigan's six-step program in action.....brothers it pays huge dividends to the lodges that embrace it.
Another great night was last night at Otisville #401. Their candidate had been patiently waiting for at least 6 months if not longer to join, the hangup was his residence in the state, he finally got his 12 months in residing in the state of Michigan.
Again my hat is off to WB Joe Norton and WB Dale Thomas for keeping this young man interested while he put in his time to get to 12 months of residence. The young man was at their Installation of Officers and would come out and socialize with the brothers before they had their regular stated meetings.
The turnout was mighty slim for an Entered Apprentice degree, in fact we had a grand total of 8, including myself. As the night proceeded there was nuch doubling up and multi-tasking and again the brother received an awesome degree.
Too often we take for granted 30-40 brothers showing up for a degree. While that is great there is something different about an intimate setting , everyone is involved out of necessity and they tend to really step up to accomplish the degree.
Let me be perfectly clear, I am NOT advocating light attendance. To have the sidelines full, and a full compliment of officers is a clear demonstrable sign of honor and respect to the candidate and the fraternity as a whole.
Sometimes a more intimate setting can also be very powerful, whether it be a small number of committed brothers, or a Fellowcraft degree by candle-light, when the chips are down and the brothers are determined to get the degree accomplished despite the challenges, special things happen.
How good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together as Masons.
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