To Reinvest Or Start Anew?

by Midnight Freemason Contributor 

Robert H. Johnson

Today's article is not an article really, it's a question. I hope you all decide to voice your insights either below in the comments or on social media. Over the years we've heard countless folks talk about the benefits of an active lodge, but how do we get there? Many times lodges are in bad shape, financially and often times worse, with active membership. This can lead a man to view his membership with the specific lodge as unfulfilling, boring or even disdain.

Now, consider yourself the active member who still wants Freemasonry in his life. The question is put to us, what do we do when we decide that we still want to be active? We still want to enjoy those things that [our brand] of Masonry offers, whether it be a focus on some aspect of community, charity, education or perhaps fellowship. But where are we going to get it?

We have a few options. First, we can look for a lodge that exists which is doing what we want. This sounds easy, but maybe it isn't. Survey the lodges around you, are they really everything you want and nothing you don't? Maybe they are, and if so, you're done reading this article.

Our second option is the reinvention model. You're going to start a new lodge. Alright, well maybe not yet. It's been suggested by many that instead of getting everything together and chartering a new lodge, that we should instead look for a lodge that is in the dumps and take it over. Reinvigorate it, reinvent it. Is this for you? Will it work? Maybe the existing members will welcome this and it will work out perfectly... Or, it could be messy. We'll have a lot to clean up. Is this too much work for us? Maybe we love a challenge.

Of course the third option is to just start a new lodge. Write some bylaws, get some guys together, figure out where you will meet, get certified on ritual  and fill out the paperwork. Sounds easy enough but don't forget all the other hard work here. Gathering furniture, administrative work and red tape.

What's the best option?

I recently had a chance to ask a Grand Secretary about what he thought about new lodges, and if there is an impact for the better in terms of membership numbers and his answer surprised me. He offered me some thoughts on what the numbers prove in terms of new lodges. He said, "What we see when a new lodge is formed, is additional plural memberships and then sometime down the road, there is a dimit from the mother lodge and the guy maintains only a membership with the new lodge."

I hadn't thought of that. Membership numbers is not what this post is about, but perhaps if you were in the line of thinking about starting a lodge simply to boost membership numbers in the state, maybe that's not the right idea. The Grand Lodge of California has made it pretty simple to start a lodge, but the availability of the data on whether or not it seems to work is likely a few years away. It would be interesting to see if this model keeps members engaged, recruiting and active, thus sustaining what the members got together for in the first place. I'd like to leave you all with my final thought on the matter, and if you read my last piece, you'll know what to expect here. If we're doing any of the things outlined above, we really should be doing it for one reason, your own fulfillment.

So what say you? Do you reinvest, or do you start anew?

~RHJ

RWB, Robert Johnson is the Managing Editor of the Midnight Freemasons blog. He is a Freemason out of the 1st N.E. District of Illinois. He currently serves as the Secretary of Waukegan Lodge No. 78 where he is a Past Master. He is also a Past District Deputy for the 1st N.E. District of Illinois. Brother Johnson currently produces and hosts weekly Podcasts (internet radio programs) Whence Came You? & Masonic Radio Theatre which focus on topics relating to Freemasonry. He is also a co-host of The Masonic Roundtable, a Masonic talk show. He is a husband and father of four, works full time in the executive medical industry and is also an avid home brewer. He is the co-author of "It's Business Time - Adapting a Corporate Path for Freemasonry" and is currently working on a book of Masonic essays and one on Occult Anatomy to be released soon.

Impact of War – Part 1

by Midnight Freemason Senior Contributor

WB Greg Knott

Word War 1 Soldiers 1

One hundred years ago the world was at war. Known as the Great War or the War to End All Wars, World War I (WWI) began after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand[i] of the Austro-Hungarian empire. Germany declared war on Russia and soon other countries also declared war on Germany including France, Great Britain and Italy.

The United States initially stayed out of the war, pursing a policy of non-intervention. The 1915 sinking of the British liner RMS Lusitania by a German U-boat, saw 128 American amongst the dead. President Woodrow Wilson demanded the Germans end the attacks on passenger ships. The Germans ignored this request and the U-boat attacks continued.

Ultimately the US would enter the conflict after Wilson called for war on Germany on April 2, 1917[ii]. Congress approved the request four days later. Though Wilson was generally not favorable to war, he saw the opportunity to end all future war by defeating the Germans. America quickly scaled up its military and began a mobilization to confront the Germans in Europe.

Freemasonry was an active supporter of America’s cause and helped contribute supplies and funds to help the war effort.

In his 1918 report at the Seventy-Ninth annual[iii] meeting of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Illinois, Brother Austin H. Scrogin, serving as Grand Master wrote: “In this great work Masonry has no small part. Members of lodges in vast numbers have joined the colors and are, either “over there” or are in camps training for overseas service. It has been my great privilege to loosen the rains, heretofore firmly held, and my dispensation enable many soldier boys to bow at our altar before embarking on their great missions abroad. Masonry in Illinois and elsewhere has shown its devotion to freedom’s cause in provide large funds by free and voluntary contribution for the comfort of those in the camps here, those in need abroad and to care for their loved ones left behind…”

Illinois Freemasonry was clearly supporting the troops and war efforts.

Grand Master Scrogin had numerous challenges of his own back on the home front in Illinois. He reported that several lodges were encouraging the recognition of Grand Orient of France. He reminded the constituent lodges, that however noble the cause was in supporting the French lodges, only the Grand East had the authority for such recognition. Brethren and lodges should not be entering into a campaign for any reason not endorsed and approved by the Grand Master.

Scrogin wrote “It will be recalled that under the wise leadership of Joseph Robbins, the profoundest Masonic jurist and scholar Illinois has ever produced, the hand of fellowship was withdrawn from the Grand Orient as well as the Grand Lodge of France. This was not done in any fit of anger, but action was taken after due deliberation and most thorough investigation. There are certain landmarks or fundamental principles which, if removed, would render Masonry innocuous. It would become a purely benevolent and social association of men merely for pleasure and good fellowship…”

The land mark Scrogin was referring to is the requirement of a belief in a supreme being. French Freemasonry had dropped the requirement in 1877. The French lodges also did not place a bible upon their altar, instead using a book of constitutions.

The Grand Master of Illinois understood that patriotism and the need to support the French people in time of war was important, but not so much as to ignore one of the fundamental principles of Freemasonry. Apparently, some brethren were looking to bring Masonic charges against those proposing recognition. But Scrogin deferred any action saying[iv], “It is my suggestion, therefore, that action be deferred until the calmer counsels of peace may lead us into safer channels that those to be found in the vortex of war.”

These weren’t the only things that Grand Master Scrogin was facing. In the next installment I will review a number of other actions and recommendations he made that are impacting Freemasonry in Illinois to this day.

~GJK

WB Gregory J. Knott is the Worshipful Master of Ogden Lodge No. 754 in Ogden (IL) and a plural member of St. Joseph Lodge No. 970 (IL), Homer Lodge No. 199 (IL) and Naval Lodge No. 4 in Washington, DC.

___________________________

[i] “Educate Home - World War I Centennial.” Finding The Lost Battalion - Home - World War I Centennial, World War 1 Centennial Commision, www.worldwar1centennial.org/educate-home.html.
[ii] Stables, Gordon. “1917: Woodrow Wilson's Call to War Pulled America onto a Global Stage.”The Conversation, The Conversation, 24 June 2018, theconversation.com/1917-woodrow-wilsons-call-to-war-pulled-america-onto-a-global-stage-75022.
[iii] Scrogin, Austin H. Proceedings of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Illinois. Vol. 79, Grand Lodge of Illinois, 1918.
[iv] Ibid

That Which Has Been Lost - Laws, Rules and Regulations

Part 2

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

Bill Hosler, PM

 

Recently I published a piece in which I laidout my belief that we who are in pursuit of Masonic education have forgotten to educate newly obligated Brethren on the basics of Masonic membership and my theory on how we came to our present situation.  This is the second installment. You can read the first part HERE.

In the original piece I was going to write was about how one dresses while attending lodge meetings. As part of the research I asked a question in a Facebook group.  I even gave an example of what I was searching for from my jurisdiction.  The debate from my question went in every direction (except for answering my question.) It became very heated.  I realized even though my question brought about a lot of debate, very few Brethren understood my question.

Although as important as the subject, is it has been debated over and over to the point it has almost has become the infamous debate that stemmed from “Points in or out” article from a few years ago.  So although I reserve the right to throw gas on that fire at a future date I went to discuss something I felt was more important.

During the dress argument, a Senior Warden of a lodge stated that during his year he isn’t going to enforce the dress of his members while attending lodge events. “I don’t have the right to tell members how to dress.”, he stated. I’m sorry Brother, but that isn’t correct. 

Even before you become a Mason you are asked many times if you will (paraphrasing) “cheerfully conform and submit to the laws of Freemasonry." You also agree during your obligation that you'll follow all laws, rules, and regulations of a lodge of (Whatever degree you were receiving).  In plain English, “If you want to play our game, you have to play by the rules we've set up.”  In many cases this includes how your lodge chooses to direct you to dress while attending a lodge communication. So Brother, yes you do have the authority to instruct a Brother how to dress when coming to lodge.  

I have come to believe many Brothers within our fraternity are not aware their grand jurisdiction have put in place many rules (in Masonic circle called laws), which govern their day to day life.  

All you have to do is pick up your jurisdiction’s book of Masonic laws. I think you'd be surprised at some of the laws on the books and possibly how many of these laws you might accidentally break during the course of your daily life, through ignorance.  

Many of the laws lay out the functions of the Grand Lodge, the officers and their responsibilities.  Other sections layout rules for subordinate lodges which they govern.  Others still enumerate the laws and personal responsibilities of the individual Mason within the jurisdiction.

I have gathered some laws which are actually on the books from several jurisdictions. Some of the laws are common sense.  

It is a Masonic offense in one jurisdiction to: 

“...wear a Masonic emblem, or otherwise claim to be a Master Mason in good standing while an Entered Apprentice or Fellow Craft Mason, a suspended or expelled Mason, or a Mason unaffiliated for more than one year.”

Or

“Failure of an officer of a Lodge to settle and to return his books over to it at the proper time, or failure to perform with fidelity a duty as an officer of a Lodge or of the Grand Lodge.”

Or

“Using Masonic membership for commercial purposes.”

There are others laws which govern your daily life.  Here are some examples from various states:

“Failure to support defendants is unmasonic. It  shall be  the  duty of  every  Master Mason  to  provide his  minor children, his father and his mother with the necessities of life to the extent that they will not become a charge of the lodge”.

 Or

Masonic offenses:

“Drunkenness.”

“Gambling, in any amount or at any time, which may unreasonably impair one’s ability to support himself or those having prior claims upon him, or which causes a discredit to the brother or to the fraternity.” 

“Profanity or the habitual use of obscene and filthy speech.”

Or

“To promote or encourage the production, distribution or use of obscene films, pictures or writings”

Or one which has brought about much controversy in the last few years from the Grand Lodge of Tennesse:

 “To engage in lewd conduct. To promote or engage in homosexual activity. To cohabit immorally in a situation without the benefit of marriage.”

There are many more.  If you look, you will notice some have been in place for many years, decades even. I want to state I am not saying I agree or disagree with any of the above Masonic laws,  I am just submitting them as examples to illustrate my point.

In my opinion, you can look at these laws in several different ways. If you totally disagree with a particular law you can work through the legislative process of your Grand Lodge to change a law you disagree with.  

You might also look at these laws and you might find one of them bring to your attention something you do in your daily life that you aren’t proud of.  It might be like tossing some cold water in the face, a wake up call. 

You can also demit from the Fraternity.  (I don’t suggest this one.) 

But one thing you cannot do Brother, is ignore the lawyers of your Masonic jurisdiction.  It is very possible it could lead to suspension or expulsion.  

Just like in every other part of your life there are rules you have to live and abide by. Whether you are at work, playing in a softball league or living as a citizen of your country, there will always be laws and like it has been since the days of the laws of the Romans “Ignorantia juris non excusat”. Ignorance of the law is no excuse.

Take notice, govern yourself accordingly Brethren.

~BH

WB Bill Hosler was made a Master Mason in 2002 in Three Rivers Lodge #733 in Indiana. He served as Worshipful Master in 2007 and became a member of the internet committee for Indiana's Grand Lodge. Bill is currently a member of Roff Lodge No. 169 in Roff Oklahoma and Lebanon Lodge No. 837 in Frisco,Texas. Bill is also a member of the Valley of Fort Wayne Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite in Indiana. A typical active Freemason, Bill also served as the High Priest of Fort Wayne's Chapter of the York Rite No. 19 and was commander of of the Fort Wayne Commandery No. 4 of the Knight Templar. During all this he also served as the webmaster and magazine editor for the Mizpah Shrine in Fort Wayne Indiana.

If Not Us Then Who?

by Senior Midnight Freemason Contributor

WB Gregory J. Knott

The Scoutmaster by Norman Rockwell

Midnight Freemasons Editor Robert Johnson, recently wrote an outstanding piece titled “Shadows Burned Onto the Walls – Addressing Freemasonry’s Biggest Problems”. This article expressed in very clear terms the thoughts and concerns that I and so many other brethren have had over the years. If you have not read this article, stop reading now, click on the link above and go read it. Seriously.

If you are like me, the article left me shaking my head and thinking “yes this is spot on”. Brother Johnson ends the article with some very frank and wise words about what is needed in this fraternity:

“If we don’t work to make our experience better, to get ourselves in the seats, to read the books, to bring those things to the lodge, to make men better, it’s going to continue to be an empty experience both literally and figuratively. We gaze at the shadows of the great fraternity, burned into the walls with wonder. Like an archaeologist looks upon the dead language, we are reminded that while we respect the past, we cannot be a slave to what was. It’s time to work harder on what you want.”

Let me reflect further on Brother Johnson’s conclusions. I have been in the fraternity since 2007. In that 10 plus years, I have been extremely active, joined numerous masonic bodies, served as Worshipful Master of a lodge, brought one lodge back from the verge of extinction and helped charter two new masonic bodies a High Twelve club and a new Royal Arch chapter. I received the Mason of the Year award from the Valley of Danville (IL) in 2015.

I don’t list all these activities to brag on myself, but merely to illustrate that I have been an active mason. But I must be honest, there have been numerous times that I have wondered, why bother anymore? There are many ways to spend my time and I am active in numerous other organizations including serving as an elected community college trustee, attending my sons track meets and my long-time passion, being a scout leader. If others don’t care about masonry then why should I?

But then I pause and think about the impact we are making. I recently met with two Fellowcraft masons and worked with them on learning their catechism. They were nervous, but excited about joining the craft and progressing through the degrees. In that short meeting we had, they did nicely on learning their work and are ready to prove up at the next lodge meeting. It left me thinking, perhaps I was making a small impact on their lives. Helping them develop themselves into better men by understanding what our fraternity stands for and giving them a framework for self-improvement.

I do not have the answers for what the long-term solutions are for building this fraternity and ultimately building better men. But I do know this, if someone doesn’t work on it, or more precisely if WE don’t work on it, then who will?

Honestly, what keeps me motivated and an active freemason are the men like the contributors here at the Midnight Freemasons, individuals like Brothers Denver R. Phelps and Stephen C. Hooper of my home lodge Ogden No. 754 (IL) and countless others who put in their time and effort to make freemasonry happen.

In many ways it is like the efforts I put into Scouting. I don’t see the full return today, but I know somewhere down the road, what we are doing in Scouting will make a difference. I think back to the men who stepped up to be my scout leaders. Many of them have passed away. But in their day, they put in countless hundreds of hours to ensure that myself and all other fellow scouts had opportunities to grow and learn. Ultimately, I earned my Eagle Scout badge in 1981 and it was a special honor. Clearly however, as a 15-year-old I did not understand the full impact of what scouting had given me.

37 years later being an Eagle Scout, means much more to me today than it did then. Not because of the badge or the Eagle Scout medal, but because of the life lessons and core values which have helped shaped my life and ultimately who I am. This was made possible because of those volunteers that came every week to ensure that we could have a troop meeting, a campout or canoe trip.

I believe that freemasonry operates in much the same way. The time spent working with a brother on a catechism, playing a part in a degree, reading some of great works of masonic authors or providing some lodge education at a meeting might not yield an immediate return on our time investment. But we keep working in the quarries because we have the hope and knowledge that what we are doing will make a difference down the road on improving our individual lives and the lives of our brethren.

Let me close by saying this, what we do matters. Our impact is real. The values we stand for are timeless and needed by society more than at any point time in our history. We should not rest on our magnificent history or laurels of the past. Freemasonry is about building for the future.

If you won’t step up, who will? If not us then who?

~GJK

WB Gregory J. Knott is the Worshipful Master of Ogden Lodge No. 754 in Ogden (IL) and a plural member of St. Joseph Lodge No. 970 (IL), Homer Lodge No. 199 (IL) and Naval Lodge No. 4 in Washington, DC.