How Do We Make Good Men Better?

Brother Paul Jerome has started a new Facebook page for Masons to discuss why some lodges cannot open for lack of members, some cannot get enough officers out to put on a degree, and how "We Make Good Men Better." 

This will be a good place to discuss and search for solutions to lodge problems with attendance problems that can improve regular attendance and participation.

And best of all, this site will give all a chance to comment on how we make good men better.

All are invited to join the discussion on Brother Paul's Page.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/317043281755187/

how can I make may life better I am not freemasonry I want to be freemasonry so as I can make wonderful thing in the world b'se I have may own ambitions

Z111 wrote: FoF wrote: I do not have a FB page to participate nor am I a mason but I have several friends who talk about the old guard keeping the lodge down because they will not let younger men give the lodge a shot in the arm it needs. It may be too late and the GM for the state should look to merge the lodges in question. However, if the WM of the lodge is open minded then he should let the younger men set up an advertising committee to attract others who might be interested in joining but are too nervous to do so. My journey started by visiting the local web page of the lodge in my town and saw they had an open house. My friend who is a MM accompanied me there which took the edge off my nerves and it was an overall fun experience. Fellowship activities with the public such as hot dogs, sausage and pepper cookouts etc could drum up people who had no idea your building was even there. Case in point: The local lodge I'm interacting with is one traffic light from my house in the downtown area and I did not know it was there for 3 years until my father-in-law, who knew I wanted to become a mason, pointed it out one day. My prospective lodge has the advantage of being in an old downtown setting and has plenty of foot traffic to do adverts right on the sidewalk if they so choose. If foot traffic outside the lodge is an issue, maybe look to get permits to set up shop somewhere and have pamphlets available. Not necessarily recruiting but making your lodge known so those interested can ask one to be one or at the minimum get some reading material and speak to those in the know.   And just who are you to be passing judgement?

Lodges that cannot open or put on degrees due to poor attendance usually do not suffer from "not bringing in enough new members" but not engaging the ones they have.

Being new to the organization, I can say that whatever comes out of my mind (and onto the keyboard) should be taken with a molecule of salt. I recognize being new and not knowing anything. Sometimes I get a little antsy and find out that something I thought was really tiny (inspection) was actually the most massive event ever seen (same inspection).

There are, of course, cliques all over; they can't be avoided, and in some respects, they can be healthy. Its when a clique controls  the organization and stifles or obstructs others that I object. Many times I hear such members lament that one becomes a Master Mason and we never see him again. I think, well no wonder why- did this person feel accepted? Did we give him a chance to be part of the group and allow him to make a contribution and grow? Does the Lodge have activities, whether charitable, social or otherwise, compatible with our values, that will make a man feel that it is worthwhile to be active?  Many times the answer is no.

I agree that charity work needs to be altruistic and not just for the publicity. If it is just for the publicity, people will soon see through that and it will fail. But, IMHO, there is nothing wrong with hoping for and getting new members through our works. If our works promote our values and that attracts men having those values, what is wrong with that?

I also understand why some might want a new member or aspiring member to "get their feet wet" before speaking out, but I think its more in the way they say it and approach it. If someone comes in like a bull in a china shop and says you guys are dead need to do this and that... yes, I'd probably tell them to go take a hike. But if they are sincere and earnestly want to contribute, I say fine, what does it matter if they are new or not a member? Like I said before, you never know when you'll hit pay dirt. Their ideas may not be new to us, but may be new to their lodge. We don't know.

I agree with FoF even though he isn't a Mason yet. I think we need to know what keeps the public interest. We are making many Masons in my lodge 10-12 a year but many only come a few meetings or here and there or not at all. I think a viewpoint to some extend outside of Masonry should be welcomed.

wawoooh that is option opinion of your success big brother I need that one thing and that if I will get no rules of any country will deverge in my decision mmmh give me the chance

easttowesttoeast wrote: ... It is our duty to give them the tools, but not ours to work on their ashlar. We have our own ashlars to worry about for the builder.

easttowesttoeast wrote: coach wrote: easttowesttoeast wrote: ... It is our duty to give them the tools, but not ours to work on their ashlar. We have our own ashlars to worry about for the builder. I disagree with your wording.    It is our duty to SHOW them what Working Tools exist and what they can do to make a good man better WHEN USED.    It is up to them to find 'em, pick 'em up and then use 'em 'til the Work is done.   The problem is most Brothers only know what the Working Tools are.  Very few Brothers know how to use them, what they actually do and what Transformations that can be expected when used properly. I usually feel that my head is about to be bitten off by anyone who replies. I was pleasantly surprised.   I can say that my post was indeed wrong. I received instruction, however, I can do whatever I want with them (including never having or using them to begin with).

clamman wrote: Pardon me if I'm wrong, but why are non masons posting in this thread?

It's in both General Discussions and MM Tyled. I don't recall reading anything that should make it in the tyled area but it's up to an administrator.

post removed.

Edited by Stormriderjd - April/16/2013 at 11:33am

Introspection is the best word I can use to describe how Freemasonry makes "Good Men" better.

Brethern This is an ongoing problem with a lot of lodges  ! In my expericence visiting Lodges It has to do with personal feelings that is a lot of members do not like a officer or officers that have been installed, and instead of addressing the problem to that officer or officers they rather opt not to come to meetings because of the situation! Remember it is all about Harmony in the Lodge and that is what we as free Masons strive for !

GrimoireA3 wrote: Regarding Lodge Attendance Problems.  I am a 'newbie' here, I am not a Mason, and so far I have never stepped foot in a Mason Lodge.  But I have some experience with 'consolidation'.   In the Church I frequent, the Bishop is in charge of 125 Episcopal Churches (I am a Roman Catholic by the way) and is plagued by low attendance.  In a meeting I attended the Bishop has to close five churches, sell them off, and distribute the money.  His basis of closure is lack of activity.  Essentially the same thing has happened decades ago at my university (UMass) where the basis of decision was lack of activity.   I hate to make this suggestion, but if a Masonic Lodge is unproductive or inactive, is it time to close and consolidate?  Is that a viable option within the Freemason community?   Just a thought.

In many GLs (mine included), the 'Lodge' and its members are the one responsible for the Lodge finances and expense to build & maintain the lodge building.   As long as 7 members desire to keep the Lodge open and functioning, they may do so.     So a 'inactive lodge' has to be one of tw0 situations: (1st)  ... the Charter has been suspended; (2nd) ... lodge membership has fallen to less than the required number (7 & may be different (more than 7 required) for some GLs) to keep it open.

So the Lodge property reverted to the GL where the Lodge owns the property 'free & clear'; or else the property reverts to the Leaser or Grantor.

The point is:  where the Lodge does not maintain minimum operating requirements the GL will suspended the Charter.  Otherwise, it is the members choice to close or consolidate the Lodge.

My friend, I have no idea to what you are referring. 

I agree that we need to make lodge meetings more interesting to bring in more young members. At the rate that brothers are dieing off if we don't start attracting new members we're in big trouble.

Ozzie wrote:   ... A few months ago, after the lodge was closed I took a new EA in and showed him some of the inner aspects of the temple.  I mentioned that the genuine secrets were thought to be lost and he said that immediately he felt a sinking feeling in his stomach. So I assured him that while Grand Lodges did not even look for the genuine secrets, they are still to be found by the worthy and diligent brother. But I think his reaction is at the core of our problems.  Candidates come to find the secrets and mysteries of ancient freemasonry, and then discover that no one knows anything about them. Why should they remain?  Who will teach them the secrets and mysteries?  Better to move on than waste time.

Basically, I agree.     ... But, this is also a failure of the Investigating Committee to ascertain the Petitioner's true motives for joining Freemasonry.      This petitioner (& many others) have a belief that magical, spiritual, and Biblical 'secrete' knowledge exist and only obtainable thru Freemasonry.  They were not interested in belonging to a 'Brotherhood' and failed to understand its benefits.    ... A Black Cube should have been cast.

For other new EAs, Masonic education and good Mentors will help set the EA & FC on the correct path.

You bastardized my comment by leaving out why the Black cube should be cast.   ... My point was those petitioners were looking for something that do not exist in Freemasonry.  Therefore, their reason to join Freemasonry was not good.   ... This was my echo and comment to your situation of the EA described above that had the 'sinking feeling' when told the "genuine secrets" were lost.

Next, it would be well that you define what you mean as "secrets and mysteries of ancient freemasonry".   ... These are not lost!   There were and still are construction methods, mathematics, logic, and other 'arts & sciences' covered in our lectures.     ... But many individuals believe these to include 'magical, spiritual, & supernatural" secrets.

You said "Sad then that there is no one to teach them."    But there are!  Maybe not in your Lodge.   It is a matter of where to look. 

The path to discovering a Masonic Secret is itself a Mystery.

Ozzie, when you say "mysteries" and "secrets" are you talking about what is commonly called "Esoteric Masonry?" That would be the study of Masonry from the point of view that it is one of the so-called "Mystery Schools." I agree that there is that aspect to Masonry, but if a newly raised Mason attempts to delve into that, to me, that would be like attempting to study for a doctorate degree before completing elementary school. 

Edited by droche - October/02/2014 at 3:31pm

Ozzie,

Edited by droche - October/03/2014 at 6:58pm

Yea, that isn't a question I'm familiar with either from PHA in Florida, or A.F&A.M in Maine.

Ozzie wrote: >This is not a question used in our ritual or as a 'test question". I sometimes wonder whether rituals should be edited by brethren who admit to not having the genuine secrets. ...

So you are saying that 'Emulation' style Lodges should return to the Ancient style rituals used before the 1813 unification?