10 Planks of Lodge-Building, by WB William A. Isabelle

Brothers,

A lot of people right now are complaining about what Freemasonry isn't to them. I submit that if the following initiatives were put into practice, things would improve dramatically and quickly.

1. We need to immediately start taking ourselves much more seriously than we currently are.

There is nothing more noble and valuable to this Craft, fraternity, culture and society of Freemasons than taking pride in ourselves as Freemasons and bringing honor to our institution will follow accordingly.

2. Don't walk, but rather run to your Blue Lodge and start giving a damn about the kind of Masons we bring into our midst!

Immediately cease the flow of the unprepared into offices of power that wield consequence to the detriment of all those in their care.

3. If your Lodge is broken and beyond repair, don't waste any more of your precious time listening to stupid, childish, nonsensical bluster and fuss over nothing.

Take charge of your own Masonic experience and go start your own Lodge with a group of like-minded and equally motivated Masons. You will be amazed at the social-alchemy that will be wrought amongst those who work together, to achieve a SHARED VISION.

4. Make Masonic Charity mean Masonic Charity!!!

Stop shoveling money to the administrative fees of faceless charities that don't need your money. Instead, go visit a widow of one of your departed Lodge Brothers and see if her home is in disrepair. Find out if her yard is in need of attention, or even go to lengths to see if she is eating cat food because she is in financial peril and too proud to say so.

If one finds such a situation in their midst, then fix it and stop writing checks to organizations that are endowed beyond this lifetime. Masonic Charity should look after its own house first, and then worry about those beyond our existing responsibilities and obligations.

5. Set an example.

Stand up in Lodge and show the new members that they too can stand up and voice their opinions or offer their individual expertise to benefit the Lodge. Read your Lodge By-Laws and identify the things that must change to adapt to the world we live in today, and vote it so. Read your Grand Lodge Constitution and By-Laws and identify what needs to be changed to adapt to the world we live in today, and write a Resolution or Amendment to that effect.

6. Nobody, and I do mean nobody, has any right to push anyone around in this organization and fraternity of enlightened souls!

If you see someone taking advantage of whatever pitiful authority they think they have, that has convinced them that it's OK to push around the new guy or an Entered Apprentice that doesn't know any better, then it's your immediate and imperative responsibility to step in and correct the situation!!!

7. Bring an immediate end to the promotion and acceptance of incompetence and arrogance!!!

To do so is despicable and patently un-Masonic. I don't know when or where the tenets of Masonry became trifling and petty favors to be bestowed upon the undeserving.

8. Make sure that every man who passes the West Gate of your Lodge has a solid and deepest understanding of how honored he should feel to have been accepted into your Lodge and that he realizes that it is he who owes his Lodge and not the other way around.

9. Past every other trifling concern and non-priority, ensure beyond all else that the ritual which your Lodge represents to its members and to its initiates is deserving of being labeled Masonic and enlightening.

Be ever watchful and ever-ready to provide resources for additional Masonic education to the occasional bright-eyed and overly-interested newly-minted Master Mason.

10. Call your Brothers, go for a beer or a Scotch!

Hang out with your Brethren, get to know each other and start building on the relationships that will define the necessary development of the Masonic community that you will ever be proud of , honored by and grateful for, to have the opportunity to support for the rest of your years.


If we start with this list, I guarantee that the resulting positives to the Craft and your individual journey will be swift and priceless and more than that, you will be on the road you were looking for when you first petitioned the Lodge.

Sincerely & Fraternally,

WB William A. Isabelle

Masonry & Fish Fries, by Bro. Ronald D. Martin

Question: What are most young men looking for in Masonry?

I agree that what most young Masonic applicants are seeking is Light! Let’s just analyze it from a realistic stance; from the outsiders’ view, the profane-the uninitiated; he that seeks admission through the West gate. There aren’t thousands of books written about Masonic picnics, nor Masonic fish fries, nor first Sunday breakfasts, nor Kazoo bands for entertainment, nor “yawn,” stated business meetings! However; there are thousands and thousands of books that have been written about Masonic History. There are thousands and thousands of books that have been written about Masonic Philosophy. There are thousands and thousands of books that have been written about Masonic Esoterica. What do these books offer a man in search for that which was lost? Hope, answers, a way to view and engage life for the betterment of himself, those around him, and the world at large!

We already know that many men did not become interested in Masonry in the past couple of decades because their fathers and grandfathers didn’t talk to them about Masonry. We already know that the local men of our union shops, our mills, the power company, the County and State workers no longer think they have an advantage at work by becoming a Freemason. We already know that a man simply interested in charity can give to any of a thousand plus good organizations without having to leave his home.

So who do we think would be interested in “us,” Freemasons that is? Well; maybe the guy who is seeking light! Maybe the guy who has read some of those thousands of books on Masonic History, Masonic Philosophy, and Masonic Esoterica! Why are we always so shocked with that Correlating Equation? Well I could tell you; however, I think you already know the answer!

Some would argue that these are men who don’t have a nuclear family; however, I would argue based on many Brothers responses that that simply isn’t true. Many of these men have families and young children; what they don’t have is time to waste. That means time to waste on Masonic picnics, nor Masonic fish fries, nor first Sunday breakfasts, nor Kazoo bands for entertainment, nor “yawn,” stated business meetings! That is because they already do picnics, fish fries, Sunday breakfast, entertainment, and meetings with their family and business associates.

What they have time for is something meaningful. They have time for something that provides them with the tools to make themselves better men; time for something that provokes thought, understanding, and makes them ask one more question about life’s mysteries. Asking a question of course requires someone to provide an answer. (I would interject here and say, “if we provide the answers then we might become part of their family and thus picnics, fish fries, Sunday breakfast, and entertainment.”)

Well; historically, intrinsic in the attributes of a College are answers for those who have questions. There are also some other intrinsic attributes; a well planned program, an appropriate time allotted for learning, an inherent mentorship, a fellowship, and a sense of something gained at a cost of both time and finance.

Now, if we provide those intrinsic attributes of what we claim to be, “the College of Freemasonry,” how does that play out with our long time members?

Well; some of the brightest and most knowledgeable men I know relative to the teachings of the Craft are guess what? Freemasons! Many of them have been members of our Craft for 50+ years. Surprising, some might say, but think about it; who wrote all those Masonic books in the last 50+ years on Masonic History, Masonic Philosophy, and Masonic Esoterica?

Then there are all those Masons who didn’t write any books. Some of them were the mentors for all those young initiates during the past 50+ years. Then there are those 50+ year Masons who wanted to learn more about the History, Philosophy, and Esoterica of the Craft during that time period; but Masonry didn’t fulfill its promise. Then there are those men that joined during that time period; but they didn’t join for the educational reasons, however, they did join for the right reasons in their mind, and that was to be amongst other good men and do the best they could as men with their own lives. Some of these men may not know much about Freemasonry relative to our History, Philosophy, and Esoterica; but, these men did what their Masonic leaders told them. These men took care of our buildings, they made dinner, they performed in the degrees, they did “whatever” was asked of them. Those men are no less a Mason than any of us, and in many cases showed greater Masonry than any of us will ever have the chance to display.

Many of these men helped change the world whereby other countries and its peoples were liberated. These men accomplished what many people thought was too lofty of a pursuit. And when finished on foreign soil, these men didn’t leave their ideals, devotion, and good works on the sands of some far away beach; these men came home and became Freemasons. Each one of these Brothers are men of great character! Each one of them personally knows the cost of Freedom. These are men who are use to giving when asked, and I would suggest if we ask properly, these men will give of themselves, too us, once again!

There is no doubt that the majority of men who seek admission into our “Gentle Craft,” today, are seeking that College education; however, not all of our caretakers of the Craft are College professors. (I might add here: and thank God!).

You see, the issue we face today has two faces due to the way in which we have framed it. The young man; who’s mirror tells him that he is strong, on a quest, and without question will quench his thirst for knowledge. Then there is the old man; who’s mirror tells him that he is not quite as strong as he once was, much of his quest is behind him, and much of his thirst for knowledge has already turned into a gain of wisdom.

If each would only stand side by side in the mirror; I believe that each would then see a complete Master Mason.

It is not them against us; it is the Master Mason against himself! Certainly we can find a way to accomplish that which we desire without splitting the Master Mason. Change must occur; as the true seeker for that which was lost understands. The true Master of the Royal Secret is the Architect of his own life; no where is it written that he is the Architect of melancholy of the spirit.

Our change must be Decisive! It must be Powerful! It must lead to Light!

A halfway attempt will not fill the needs of the new young Seeker of the Truth; and a halfway attempt will not fill the needs of the old Master of the Royal Secret! We will loose both; and then what will become of our “Gentle Craft?”

Let us be Architects, steadfast in our purpose, one working with the other!

used by permission of the author

Guest Commentator: How To Make A Mason, by WB William A. Isabelle

I am here to talk to you about how to make a Mason.

I am as active as I am in our Fraternity not because I am retired or wealthy, or because I am foregoing other commitments so that I may participate in Masonic activities. This is not the case at all.

I am as active as I am because I am the product of very involved Mentoring on the part of my Degree Coach, the Worshipful Master who conferred my degrees and my mother Lodge, all who supported me in my journey to become a Master Mason. When I was contacted with instructions of when to appear at the Lodge for my 1st Degree, I didn’t sleep the night before. I was absolutely elated that I had been accepted into the Lodge.

As soon as I had finished my Entered Apprentice lecture, I was re-conducted to the East and told to learn the Working Tools of the Entered Apprentice Mason, and be ready to present them in a week. I went home and spent another sleepless night pondering Masonry.

The following week I proved up on my Entered Apprentice Degree proficiency examination, acted as a supernumerary by helping to conduct a candidate for the Degrees of Masonry as a Junior Steward, and then presented the “Working Tools” to the initiate, as they had been given to me a week prior.

The point of this story is that I became involved in the Lodge and Masonry by being given an expectation of immediate participation, essentially I didn’t have a chance to become apathetic, melancholy or lethargic about my Lodge attendance because I had been given a responsibility to perform a function in Lodge. I certainly did not want to let myself down, and I certainly didn’t want to disappoint the new friends I had made who now called me brother.

In this same vein, I made a commitment to certain responsibilities within this Fraternity that I must follow through on because I agreed to do so when I was obligated as an Entered Apprentice Mason. To say that I don’t have time, or that coming to Lodge isn’t convenient, just is not acceptable. Why take on any responsibility that you are not fully prepared to live up to?

The members of my Mother Lodge, made such an indelible impression on me Masonicly, that I felt compelled to spread the word if you will. As a result of the very favorable opinion that I was left with after becoming a Master Mason, I brought 7 of my closest friends into my Lodge.

Brethren, it was because I had no idea what to expect from my first entrance into the Lodge, that I accordingly assumed that all Masons felt as I did about their initiation, that I was truly welcomed into an esteemed and vaunted ancient secret society, a sacred band of friends and brothers.

It was because of my ignorance that my Lodge was able to aptly mine and exploit my energy and participation in Lodge activities, besides how would I know any different? My Lodge set a very high standard for participation in ritual work, degree work, and friendship.

Brothers, our fraternity is not a secret society, it is a society with secrets, and even those can be easily gleaned at the library next door to us. It is more than acceptable to talk to non-Masons about your Masonic experiences and share with them some of the insights that you may have gained since you became a Mason.

Each of you has at least one male friend who is of age, who meets all of our minimum requirements and is eligible to become a Freemason, and I challenge each of you to make a commitment to ensure that this friend of yours becomes a Freemason in the next year.

Alright, I know what you’re thinking, “we’ve heard all of this before, and we will most assuredly hear it all again, with some new spin…” Well… that may be the case, but what have you done about it since the first time you heard this speech?

Brothers, there is one thing different about this speech, because you have never heard it from me. I am a new Mason, I am generation X, and when the 1 and a half million Freemasons that we have in North America right now, shrink to less than 500,000 in the next 7 years, I will no longer be the future of Freemasonry, I will be it’s present.

Since we all acknowledge that mortality is an ever-present looming shadow for each of us and that we only have so much time left, what are we doing to reinforce the fraternity right now?

Are we each individually doing our part?

Friendship, Fellowship, and Follow-Through are the three factors I want to focus on in this presentation regarding membership development and Masonic education.

How many of you speak to friends of yours who are non-Masons about Freemasonry? If they know you are a Freemason, then they no doubt have at least one or two questions about what you do at Lodge.

How many of you here tonight have obeyed your first obligation to the Fraternity by immediately replacing yourselves in your Lodge twice over?

How many of you brothers are or have been Mentoring Coaches for an initiate?

How many of you have brought your friends to the beauty and light of our Craft?

How many of you have brought the beauty and light of our Craft into the lives of your friends?

What are you brothers going to do today to make sure that I have co-workers to labor next to me in the quarries of our Craft tomorrow?

Brothers, what I am asking you is this, have you identified your successor, are you training your prodigy to be at least as competent as yourself, so that his contribution will be a reflection of your effective Mentoring and the wisdom of your experiences will be a base for his decision making process in the future?

I am gravely concerned, enough so to want to speak to each of you tonight, concerned enough to ask each of you if you are absolutely sure that there isn’t at least one man you know who should be a Freemason.

Brothers we can no longer afford to wait for the new guys to show up in the next wave of candidates. We must focus on being ever so much more proactive in our membership development efforts, but first we must educate ourselves so that we may share a cohesive understanding of what our organization is and is not in the world of today.

Brothers, I would like to share with you some insights from different conversations I have had with the 15 candidates that I have been the top-line signer, and proficiency coach for while they completed the Degrees of Freemasonry. Getting new members in the door is only one step; it is not the sum total of your obligation to your Lodge either.

Once you bring a man into the Lodge and he becomes a Mason, you are his Mentor Coach and friend for life. You must make even more effort to guide this new Mason to endeavors that will benefit him, the Lodge, and the Craft, in that order. Fellowship is the key component to maintaining Masonic relationships with your Candidate and developing new friendships with Masons whom you have known for years.

How many of you socialize with men outside of Lodge who are not Masons?

How many of you socialize with brothers from your Lodge or others Lodges in the area, outside of Lodge?

How many of you have called on a brother after a Lodge meeting when he was absent from the meeting?

How many of you have called on a brother before Lodge to see if you could give him a ride to the meeting?

How many of you regularly visit the other Lodges in your area?

How many of you brothers leave immediately after the stated business meeting, and forego the opportunity to have fellowship with your brethren?

How many of you brothers currently know of brothers who have not completed their Degree work?

The answers to these questions are your own, but as such you should use them to consider if there isn’t perhaps the opportunity to create new fellowship experiences within your Lodge, as well as setting an example to any Mason that you impact with your participation and visitation.
Follow through brothers, follow through is the key, you must stay in regular contact with your candidates as they progress in the Craft, if you don’t follow through, then both you and your candidate lose out on each other’s perspectives, activities and ultimately your developing friendship.

If the activities that you steer him toward do not benefit him as a man and as a Mason, then he is not going to make a concerted effort to follow through on his end because he has not realized a positive return for his expended energies.

· Ensure that your candidate has the means to get to Lodge

· Meet with your candidate twice a week to ensure his progression in the degrees

· Make sure that you have the right information to share with your candidate for the moment that he asks for more light

· Dedicate time outside of Lodge for your own Masonic education

· Get a schedule of the Lodge meetings in the area, and go visit other Lodges with your candidate

· Present your candidate with a Masonic book or other reference material

Brothers we must identify current examples of successful Masons and Masonry, we must stop relying on past glory and the deeds of others to tell the story of the beauty of the Craft to its newest initiates. Who are the leaders of modern society, who are the explorers, scientists, poets, actors, politicians, businessmen, teachers, athletes, philanthropists, and doers-of-good deeds in our society today, and how many of them are Masons?

If we don’t know, then we should collectively make it our business to find out, because those are the examples that we should be using today to shape the minds of the Masons who will ultimately govern our Fraternity tomorrow.

Brethren it is our responsibility today to actively seek out those among us who should be Masons for the future. It is our job, our obligation to give back to our Lodges by providing for the future in the Masons that we make and keep today.

Used by permission of the author.