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Asking people to join

Bloke

Premium Member
I'm not sure about asking anyone anymore. In the beginning I would of said yes. But now, not really sure. I've been to a hand full of different lodges and it's still the same. No one wants to try anything new, or do anything. So, it's boring business meetings, ( I've been to lively er furnuals ) and degree work just as boring, let's hurry this up so we can get home. A lot of MM that have been raised come back for a meeting and usually the 3rd degree to see what they went through, and never come back.
Do you have a lodge of research or fraternal club which is local ? That might be the answer.

If you wanted to do something bullish and had another brother in the lodge who thinks likewise, you might consider attending, but not enter lodge and spend some time outside talking, then going to dinner. If you could get the group outside lodge to grow, eventually you'd find that content incorporated into meetings....
 

MarkR

Premium Member
Do you have a lodge of research or fraternal club which is local ? That might be the answer.

If you wanted to do something bullish and had another brother in the lodge who thinks likewise, you might consider attending, but not enter lodge and spend some time outside talking, then going to dinner. If you could get the group outside lodge to grow, eventually you'd find that content incorporated into meetings....
Just FYI, most American lodges have dinner before lodge, not after. I think I'd be in a big hurry for lodge to end, too, if my stomach was growling!
 

LK600

Premium Member
I'm not sure about asking anyone anymore. In the beginning I would of said yes. But now, not really sure. I've been to a hand full of different lodges and it's still the same. No one wants to try anything new, or do anything. So, it's boring business meetings, ( I've been to lively er furnuals ) and degree work just as boring, let's hurry this up so we can get home. A lot of MM that have been raised come back for a meeting and usually the 3rd degree to see what they went through, and never come back.
ugh... that's pretty damn depressing. Sounds like a hostile takeover might be needed lol. ;)
 

Warrior1256

Site Benefactor
I would personally prefer inviting new members as opposed to waiting for people to ask (though I would use both). I can control who I ask, so the quality could be protected.
Sounds good.
if there is a man who you know and has the qualifications I see no reason not to ask if he's ever thought about it. Honestly we all talk about things we like. Talking to a profane about the fraternity if it's appropriate should be encouraged.
Agreed. I would just start talking about the great things about Masonry. Then if he asked about joining I would reply "Well, since you asked....."
 

Brother JC

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
I had a coworker who became a close friend. I talked about what I did in Lodge and he was always interested, but never asked. Finally, on my last day at work before I moved, I told him, “I think you’d be a fine Mason. If you ever decide to pursue it, let me know.”
 

Keith C

Registered User
I hope it goes well best of luck.


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Thanks Brother!

I was at lodge last night for two MM degrees, I was JW for the degrees, they are throwing me in head first to get me ready for next year! Anyway before the meeting I was looking for a pair of gloves for another brother who was filling in the Pursuivant chair, and the drawer with spare gloves is under a display case with various masonic memorabilia and I saw this and thought of you!

Here it is!

20170920_185354_zpsvy9zk2d7.jpg
 
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Brother_Steve

Premium Member
What do you think about this???
I myself am not to excepting of this, but here in Pennsylvania it's kind of encouraged to do so special if your working toward your master builder award it's one of the requirements to be the first line signer.

I know that we are in decline of members due to old age and death, but I'm not sure this will bring in dedicated members.



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depends...

What if your life-long friend wants to join but never knew to ask because the topic of joining never came up?

As it currently stands, I'd never ask one of my friends to join. At most, I'd as his wife if she was ok with his joining and I'd leave her a petition with my signature as the top line signer.
 

dfreybur

Premium Member
There exist jurisdictions that use invitations. They tend to be very private ones in the European mainland in lands that have seen oppression. Invitations work fine for them.

I learned that in the US before labor unions were common, some small companies used lodge membership in place of union membership. As a result some men were pressured to join our assemblies. That was an abuse that generated a strong reaction against. Forbidding invitations was a part of that reaction against. Thing is I never have checked that story for historical accuracy. Hmmm.

I think the reason is long obsolete and we should resume invitations. But the system should be carefully designed to avoid pressure. So far the small steps in that direction have been too unwieldy. First mount an education campaign teaching why we do not have invitations and why that system is obsolete. Then introduce a well designed invitation system. The process would not be a fast one.
 

CLewey44

Registered User
There exist jurisdictions that use invitations. They tend to be very private ones in the European mainland in lands that have seen oppression. Invitations work fine for them.

I learned that in the US before labor unions were common, some small companies used lodge membership in place of union membership. As a result some men were pressured to join our assemblies. That was an abuse that generated a strong reaction against. Forbidding invitations was a part of that reaction against. Thing is I never have checked that story for historical accuracy. Hmmm.

I think the reason is long obsolete and we should resume invitations. But the system should be carefully designed to avoid pressure. So far the small steps in that direction have been too unwieldy. First mount an education campaign teaching why we do not have invitations and why that system is obsolete. Then introduce a well designed invitation system. The process would not be a fast one.

Bro. Doug, just curious on this and I am 100% on board with you. Do you feel Masonry should be invite only? Or maybe primarily invite only with occasional men off the street but very (much more than now) strict vetting to allow them entrance? Your thoughts?
 

Bloke

Premium Member
There exist jurisdictions that use invitations. They tend to be very private ones in the European mainland in lands that have seen oppression. Invitations work fine for them.

I learned that in the US before labor unions were common, some small companies used lodge membership in place of union membership. As a result some men were pressured to join our assemblies. That was an abuse that generated a strong reaction against. Forbidding invitations was a part of that reaction against. Thing is I never have checked that story for historical accuracy. Hmmm.

I think the reason is long obsolete and we should resume invitations. But the system should be carefully designed to avoid pressure. So far the small steps in that direction have been too unwieldy. First mount an education campaign teaching why we do not have invitations and why that system is obsolete. Then introduce a well designed invitation system. The process would not be a fast one.
Somewhere in here there was a thread started in Trade Unions and Freemasonry while you were gone Doug. Can't find it.. maybe the topic just came up.. but it was interesting .... as is the related comment above.
 

dfreybur

Premium Member
Bro. Doug, just curious on this and I am 100% on board with you. Do you feel Masonry should be invite only? Or maybe primarily invite only with occasional men off the street but very (much more than now) strict vetting to allow them entrance? Your thoughts?

Because the US does not have a history of repression in living memory, I don't think there's any reason to turn away people who approach us.

Once I visited the Rosicrucian Museum in San Jose, CA. I signed their visitor log. Several months later in the paper mail I received a signed invitation. I have a favorable opinion of the AMORC but I was already active in my mother lodge at the time so I didn't join a second fraternity. Still, it's a reasonable method. Whenever low on members, send invitations more freely. Whenever flush with members, be slower about sending invitations. Doing this might smooth the curve on long term membership trends.
 

Warrior1256

Site Benefactor
I learned that in the US before labor unions were common, some small companies used lodge membership in place of union membership. As a result some men were pressured to join our assemblies. That was an abuse that generated a strong reaction against. Forbidding invitations was a part of that reaction against. Thing is I never have checked that story for historical accuracy. Hmmm.
Interesting! I hadn't heard this before.
 

Jeff Adair

Registered User
Sorry but we should never ask some one to join. I have friends that I know would make good Masons but on our petition is ask who asked you to be a Mason...the answer...no one. If being a Mason is something you want to do, you'll seek the light. 2B1ASK1.
 

Ripcord22A

Site Benefactor
Sorry but we should never ask some one to join. I have friends that I know would make good Masons but on our petition is ask who asked you to be a Mason...the answer...no one. If being a Mason is something you want to do, you'll seek the light. 2B1ASK1.
That's you jurisdiction. .....what if someone doesn't know about Freemasonry?

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Jeff Adair

Registered User
I will let them know about Freemasonry but there should be no pressure what so ever for someone to want to become one.
 

Jeff Adair

Registered User
To me by asking someone to join steps all over the tradition of Freemasonry. Funny thing, my wife and I were at my friend's house and he was talking about the lodge and asking questions about it. My wife finally just said... "Ask Jeff for a petition already!"
 
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