Post by thesixthnapoleon on Jul 7, 2007 16:34:03 GMT
Let me add this disclaimer to my entire post: although I have been accepted to become an Entered Apprentice at my lodge, I have not yet gone through any sort of initiation and I am almost completely ignorant of the inner workings of the Craft. So if I make any incorrect assumptions, I hope it won't be held against me. That said, I am a young man (23) and I was drawn to what I perceive to be the values and philosophies of Freemasonry, and so I feel like even now I have some perspective to offer.
I believe it is important to draw young people into Masonry for obvious reasons. For one thing, I feel like, as a young person, there are few forums for young, principled men to have fellowship in the modern world. Much of our modern culture is rooted in hedonism and selfishness. I must fervently admit that in many ways I partake in this culture, indeed I contribute to it in my line of work as a film-maker and commercial/advertising business owner, but I have always felt as though something was missing in my life and the Masonic lodge is, I hope, going to fill that void.
I also believe it is important for young, middle-aged and old men to mingle together. I feel like the divide between youth and age is growing wider than ever. Not in terms of animosity, but simply in terms of sheer alienation. I regrettably must admit that through the years I have been exposed to older men so little that they actually tended to make me feel uncomfortable to be around. I just didn't feel like it was possible to communicate with them beyond idle chit-chat. Fortunately, I have recently spent more time with elderly ladies and gentlemen and I find that they really aren't much different than me - just a little more "old-fashioned" and a hell of a lot more wise.
What a tragedy it will be if the rift grows so wide that young men no longer learn from the wisdom of the old! And, in the other direction, I feel it may be the case that older men who lose touch with youth may become bitter and overly stubborn and steadfast. Exchange of culture, ideas and values, in my opinion, would only enrich everyone partaking in the trade.
So perhaps I could offer my situation as a case study for enticing youth to enter the Craft.
I am drawn to Freemasonry for its traditions, and I have read that some people believe the image of Freemasonry must be renovated to bring in younger men.
I for one do not believe that "freshening up" the image of the Masons would work to attract youth. I say this not just as a young person, but from a professional standpoint as well, being a communications consultant. In the marketing book "Chasing Cool," by Noah Kerner and Gene Pressman, the point is stressed that attempting to genuflect to sub-cultures and peer groups will only drive that group away. If I came to the lodge and found that it was watered down and transformed to make it seem "cooler" to young people I would have left, feeling pandered to and a little insulted. There are still plenty of young men who want what Masonry has always offered.
I think the real problem, from a marketing perspective, is that most young men have no idea what Masonry really is. We've only heard rumors and seen bad TV shows that make Masonry seem a lot more murky and out of reach than it really is. I've wanted to learn more about and be a Freemason for years, being an avid history buff and knowing it played such a role in the founding of our nation, but somewhere along the way I "learned" that you had to be invited to join. This lie inhibited me from inquiring about membership for years, until I found out my current girlfriend's father was a Mason and I worked up the guts to ask him about it.
Thus, if any sort of "marketing campaigns" for Freemasonry are ever to be launched, and successful, I think it is vital that they limit themselves to subtle and reserved messages that Freemasonry is open to all good men. I particularly like the Ben Franklin campaign at askafreemason.org -- it may be a little hokey, but it gets the point across that Freemasonry is open to all good men without trying to pander to young people. If that commercial came on my local TV station a year ago I probably would have started the process of becoming a Freemason a year ago.
What I don't want to see is outright, flagrant recruiting campaigns. I find the requirement that a man come to the conclusion that he wants to be a Mason on his own to be a powerful tenet of the craft. I just think more young men need to be aware of what Masonry really is. 50 years ago, it might have been common knowledge, but these days the average college kid thinks Masonry is either a shadowy cult or something akin to the Loyal Order of Water Buffalos.*
At the end of the day, the best way to get youths to join might simply be for current Masons to make themselves examples in the community by reaching out to young people, serving as mentors and demonstrating what Masonry is supposed to nurture in us. To use an old filmmaker's adage, Freemasonry should "show, don't tell."
*Now, don't get me wrong, I'd probably join the Water Buffalos, but that's a whole 'nother can of worms!
I believe it is important to draw young people into Masonry for obvious reasons. For one thing, I feel like, as a young person, there are few forums for young, principled men to have fellowship in the modern world. Much of our modern culture is rooted in hedonism and selfishness. I must fervently admit that in many ways I partake in this culture, indeed I contribute to it in my line of work as a film-maker and commercial/advertising business owner, but I have always felt as though something was missing in my life and the Masonic lodge is, I hope, going to fill that void.
I also believe it is important for young, middle-aged and old men to mingle together. I feel like the divide between youth and age is growing wider than ever. Not in terms of animosity, but simply in terms of sheer alienation. I regrettably must admit that through the years I have been exposed to older men so little that they actually tended to make me feel uncomfortable to be around. I just didn't feel like it was possible to communicate with them beyond idle chit-chat. Fortunately, I have recently spent more time with elderly ladies and gentlemen and I find that they really aren't much different than me - just a little more "old-fashioned" and a hell of a lot more wise.
What a tragedy it will be if the rift grows so wide that young men no longer learn from the wisdom of the old! And, in the other direction, I feel it may be the case that older men who lose touch with youth may become bitter and overly stubborn and steadfast. Exchange of culture, ideas and values, in my opinion, would only enrich everyone partaking in the trade.
So perhaps I could offer my situation as a case study for enticing youth to enter the Craft.
I am drawn to Freemasonry for its traditions, and I have read that some people believe the image of Freemasonry must be renovated to bring in younger men.
I for one do not believe that "freshening up" the image of the Masons would work to attract youth. I say this not just as a young person, but from a professional standpoint as well, being a communications consultant. In the marketing book "Chasing Cool," by Noah Kerner and Gene Pressman, the point is stressed that attempting to genuflect to sub-cultures and peer groups will only drive that group away. If I came to the lodge and found that it was watered down and transformed to make it seem "cooler" to young people I would have left, feeling pandered to and a little insulted. There are still plenty of young men who want what Masonry has always offered.
I think the real problem, from a marketing perspective, is that most young men have no idea what Masonry really is. We've only heard rumors and seen bad TV shows that make Masonry seem a lot more murky and out of reach than it really is. I've wanted to learn more about and be a Freemason for years, being an avid history buff and knowing it played such a role in the founding of our nation, but somewhere along the way I "learned" that you had to be invited to join. This lie inhibited me from inquiring about membership for years, until I found out my current girlfriend's father was a Mason and I worked up the guts to ask him about it.
Thus, if any sort of "marketing campaigns" for Freemasonry are ever to be launched, and successful, I think it is vital that they limit themselves to subtle and reserved messages that Freemasonry is open to all good men. I particularly like the Ben Franklin campaign at askafreemason.org -- it may be a little hokey, but it gets the point across that Freemasonry is open to all good men without trying to pander to young people. If that commercial came on my local TV station a year ago I probably would have started the process of becoming a Freemason a year ago.
What I don't want to see is outright, flagrant recruiting campaigns. I find the requirement that a man come to the conclusion that he wants to be a Mason on his own to be a powerful tenet of the craft. I just think more young men need to be aware of what Masonry really is. 50 years ago, it might have been common knowledge, but these days the average college kid thinks Masonry is either a shadowy cult or something akin to the Loyal Order of Water Buffalos.*
At the end of the day, the best way to get youths to join might simply be for current Masons to make themselves examples in the community by reaching out to young people, serving as mentors and demonstrating what Masonry is supposed to nurture in us. To use an old filmmaker's adage, Freemasonry should "show, don't tell."
*Now, don't get me wrong, I'd probably join the Water Buffalos, but that's a whole 'nother can of worms!