Here We Go

Brothers, I hope the summer was enjoyable for everyone. Once again, it's been several months since my last writing and I apologize for that.

As one ages it seems that a longing for certain things of the past becomes more and more evident.

This is a special time of the year for the lodges in our area....election time and installation time. I remember the days of having hundreds of people attend open installations of officers for the local Masonic lodges.

Yes, "open" installations, it was a time of celebration and a chance for the lodges to demonstrate to their family and friends a little flavor of what actually goes on in a lodge. First, the memorization work performed by the Grand Installing Officer and their suite is always mesmerizing to the average person attending an installation for the first time. Secondly, the amount of cars in the parking lot surely stood out to passers by who normally only saw a few cars there at any given time. It was an outward sign to the community at large that there really was something going on in the building, and those family and friends on the inside could feel the bustle of the occasion and the fellowship displayed.

Today, it seems that there are far more closed installations than of days gone by. A couple of reasons is that there are so many recycled Worshipful Masters being installed for another time,.and one of the other reasons....a sad one....is that some poor brother was voted into the position without enough time to plan for an open installation, therefore a closed installation is far easier to "throw together" on short notice.

Both of the instances mentioned above are sad reflections on the current state of the craft. I truly believe that we are taking in a fair number of new brothers we are doing a sub-par job of getting them engaged and giving them a sense of belonging.

This leads into another thing that I long for.....the days of actually having to work one's way through the chairs one station at a time and enjoying all of the rich learning experiences each station provides. From actually having to serve a couple of years as steward and learning what the JW does behind the scenes, to escorting the SD and the candidate around the lodge room as that man is beginning his Masonic journey, then moving to JD and observing the whole scene and listening intently to the Wardens as they do their work, and the most rewarding job in lodge....Senior Deacon, truly a learning station in the lodge preparing one for the south, west and east.

Another observation after a few years in this craft, is the woefully unpreparedness of the line officers, not all but many. There is another longing of mine, to visit a lodge at this time of the year and have the line officers...in particular, the wardens be so proficient in their work that everything moves with clockwork accuracy......not just knowing their ritual part, but owning it. Seldom does this occur in the current Masonic times we are living.

The above situations offer up some illustrations of the rebuilding pains that the lodges are currently encountering. We seem to be taking in many new brothers. In talking with the majority of these new brothers they are curious and begging for more information about the craft, it's beliefs and mysteries. When I speak of officers being unprepared, I'm referencing many aspects; the ritual, running an efficient business meeting, having the majority of the upcoming year planned out, facilitating learning for the new brothers, encouraging fellowship among the brothers, ensuring that mentoring is taking place, getting involved in the community, keeping in touch with the members, taking care of the widows of the lodge by letting them know they are not forgotten, raising funds to pay the bills, ensuring that the building is in good repair and displays a nice appearance to the community, and the list goes on and on.

Yet too many times WMs are elected in a moments notice and don't have the time necessary for a successful term, so they fly by the seat of their pants......and the new brothers coming in are not a focus because the Master is playing catch-up to keep up with the demands of his office.

As I've said many, many times the fraternity is currently at a pivotal point. The challenges facing all lodges can at times be daunting. Freemasonry is so much larger than any one man or one lodge or one Grand Lodge......but the fraternity could be stronger and more viable with leadership, communication, and education. To lead, communicate, and educate requires planning and action....being engaged and delegating the tasks required for the job.

To do any of the above requires commitment and action. We can talk until the cows come home but nothing will transpire until there is movement and action. Throwing together the leadership of a lodge at the last minute will not do justice to any of us or the fraternity at large. It's tough getting old and longing for the things of yesterday....but I'm convinced that the greatest days are ahead of us, the new brothers of today are thirsty and yes....longing, to learn more of the tenets, history, and mystery of our fraternal history and are fascinated by it's prospective future.