by Senior Midnight Freemason Contributor
WB Gregory J. Knott
I don’t know about you, but returning to meetings for the blue lodge and other groups has been harder than I thought. After basically a year of not attending meetings in person, I’ve come to see I have a different perspective on the necessity of my attendance. I haven’t had as much free time as I did in the last year since I was very young and I have very much enjoyed not going to as many meetings.
As we get back into full speed, I have personally made the determination that I am going to attend meetings I wish to attend, not because I have to attend. My days of going to mindless business meetings that really serve no purpose other than to plan the next mindless business meeting or talk about who is behind on paying dues are going to be limited.
This isn’t to imply that I am down on Freemasonry, because I am not. However, for me, Freemasonry isn’t reading the minutes, talking about a roof for months on end or complaining about the same guys who don’t pay their dues on time year after year. Freemasonry to me should be educational opportunities, fellowship, service to others, and work within the community all with a purpose of individual self-improvement.
What are your thoughts on returning to the lodge? Do you look at things differently? Are you satisfied with the way things were going before the pandemic and hope they return? I am curious about your thoughts and perspectives. Please leave them here in the comments or on our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/midnightfreemasons
~GJK
WB Gregory J. Knott is a founding member and Senior Contributor of the Midnight Freemasons blog. He is a Past Master of St. Joseph Lodge No. 970 in St. Joseph (IL) and a plural member of Ogden Lodge No. 754 (IL), Homer Lodge No. 199 (IL) and Naval Lodge No. 4 in Washington, DC. He’s a member of the Scottish Rite, the York Rite, Eastern Star and is the Charter Secretary of the Illini High Twelve Club No. 768 in Champaign-Urbana. He is also a member of ANSAR Shrine (IL) and the Eastern Illinois Council No. 356 Allied Masonic Degrees. Greg serves on the Board of Directors of The Masonic Society and is a member of the Scottish Rite Research Society and The Philathes Society. He is a charter member of a new Illinois Royal Arch Chapter, Admiration Chapter U.D. and serves as its Secretary. Greg is very involved in Boy Scouts—an Eagle Scout himself, he is a member of the National Association of Masonic Scouters. You can contact him at gknott63@gmail.com
I guess the reason for returning to Lodge Meetings after the pandemic could be different for many of us. To some who are in advanced age group and had been members for long, would return to Lodge for different reasons. The have a bond with brethren and earlier awaited the day of the Meetings. Comparatively younger Masons may attend the Meeting depending on their busy schedules. These Masons need many more reasons to attend it. No doubt, Pandemic have put a fear of unexpected and not the desirable events that it could disrupt the life. This fear would take time to go away. People would like to be with family and near and dears.
ReplyDeleteWholeheartedly agree! Just turned 73 and have presided in at least 8 Masonic bodies since being raised in 1989. Lots of nights and weekends out in a tux. I love the Craft but have enjoyed the lack of looming schedules this past year. I will be more selective going forward.
ReplyDeleteEXACTLY how I feel. It's time to demand value in being there, and that will improve both Lodge and one's personal life.
ReplyDeleteThis. Is. It.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Greg!
This argues for efficiency & action over socialability. We permitted guys to argue over the minutes & dimes instead of get it done & move on. None of us agonize like this in business because time is money.
ReplyDeleteNow we recognize the more important truth that time is valuable & we have not done a good job with our 24" gage in Masonic Meetings! If you allow meetings to be wasted time you're showing you haven't learned the EA lessons. Help the Secretary & Officers to be effective & efficient, which is Masonic Education in itself, logic, rhetoric, & arithmetic. Then get on to the other lessons!