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Post by windtimber on Nov 10, 2005 14:11:19 GMT
After long reflection, and years of hearing about the decline of Freemasonry in both numbers and "quality," I'm beginning to feel it's not that we're short in numbers, but long in general administration, perhaps too concerned with showering "dignitaries" with honors and titles, and, dare I suggest, having large formal meetings for the sake of meeting - even though there is no work to do.
Rephrasing that, has Freemasonry elevated form over substance? Do we need to concentrate on what it means to be a Mason, as opposed to "meeting like Masons?"
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Post by a on Nov 10, 2005 14:20:24 GMT
has Freemasonry elevated form over substance? Do we need to concentrate on what it means to be a Mason, as opposed to "meeting like Masons?" In my opinion - a resounding Yes.
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Post by rbartlett on Nov 10, 2005 20:16:12 GMT
Which is why I'm a tad concerned with those rushing around badge collecting.
This must be a poor reflection upon Craft if a newly raised brother thinks "right, been there done that -NEXT!!"
Maybe if we spent more time in Lodge discussing rather than talking this wouldn't happen....
S&F
Richard
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Post by maat on Nov 10, 2005 20:30:58 GMT
Yes - Yes - Yes !!!
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Michael
Member
... as you have passed through the ceremony of your initiation...
Posts: 326
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Post by Michael on Nov 11, 2005 11:34:42 GMT
Though I have to agree with you whole heartedly, when is this talking to be done? We at OEs' Tyle at 6pm dine at 8pm and fortunately have a ceremony at every one of our five meeting a year. I have read with interest those posts that talk about presenting papers at meetings to help not just assess those who have recently joined but to continue to educate those who have been "keeping a seat warm for years". But fitting them in would mean extra meetings. And like many, one of the considerations in which lodge to join was the commitment in time. There seems to continue to be a feeling that Freemasonry is failing, but all the statistics show(and yes I know that figures can be made to represent almost any position) that all groups and organisations are feeling the pinch with regard to membership. So I suspect the question is what in society has/is changing that is discouraging people from joining? Freemasonry is bound to feel a contraction in numbers as all those Brethren - and there were many, many thousands - who joined following their release from the armed forces after WWII and in this country conscription in the 50's, come to the end of their time. But some lodges are thriving, and some, even in the same building, are handing in their warrants. Surley this says more about individual Lodges than Freemasonry as a whole? And as for Badge collecting
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Post by kizzy on Nov 11, 2005 11:55:32 GMT
Bro Michael, I don't think that doing a Ceremony at every Meeting is necessarily a good thing, indeed that could be the rock that some Lodges ultimately perish on.
It is good in the beginning. Lots of new Members, Initiation Fees, Subs paid, money in that Lodge's bank account. But what then? Same old thing every Meeting, First, Second, Third, Installation and again and again. Having at least one Meeting in Three as a paper or discussion etc would introduce variety and enhance the learning of the Brethren old and new alike.
Also what do you do with these many new Members. They come in, do their Three Degrees then what? With the changes to Society in contrast to that of the Golden Age of the ex Wartime and National Service intake the modern man will not be happy to sit on the Stewards bench for a few years and be an unpaid Wine Waiter and Raffle Ticket seller. Does your Lodge have a high drop out rate after the Third Degree or do you retain Members perhaps by involving them if they wish in the Ceremonies e.g. Presenting the Working Tools, Giving the Charge or the Tracing Board etc? It was Dr George Oliver, a famous Mason of bygone times who warned that "Large numbers are not necessarily a good thing"
Maybe we ought to consider why we are Freemasons and what we have to offer both to the Individual and to Society and less about how word perfectly we can perform the same Ceremonies time and time again.
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Post by windtimber on Nov 11, 2005 17:13:34 GMT
Thanks for your responses! I hadn't thought of meetings consisting of only degree-work [What I assume the "ceremonies" reference relates to.] as being a problem. We meet 10 times per year [once a month except in July and August] for dinner and then open a tiled meeting to consider various official lodge business and announcements. Our degree work is done on other nights or in weekend festivals. Each regular tiled meeting includes a presentation from our "Education Officer" who's duty is to provide some enlightenment on Masonic history or philosphy. That invariably sparks some discussion, both during the meeting and at coffee afterwards.
The primary aegis of my original post was a concern that, perhaps, our various bodies are duplicating efforts and need to cooperate for the betterment of Freemasonry as a whole - concentrating on improving local Blue Lodge life rather than spending so much time and money and large "Grand" meetings. Thanks for the alternate points of view. You raise very appropriate questions!
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