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Why is it so hard to get Masons to join the Commandery?

timgould

Registered User
I enjoy the Order a great deal. There are challenges though. But I find that over coming those challenges have there own reward. I think it is a matter of priority. I am a rather devote Christian. I LOVE that there is an area of freemasonry that folks like myself can really enjoy the parallels of freemasonry and Christianity.
Our Commandry even takes time out of our Stated Meeting to instruct the other Knights in the Word of God. I like this. I think it goes hand in hand with the spirit of the Knights Templar.
But there is an expense that I feel wards off many. There is a lot of learning that deters others.

Mostly, I think folks don't joins for the same reason many good men don't join Masonry over all.... The question of "what will I get out of this?" can't be satisfied. Is it just another business meeting? Or is there some real growth and improvement?

Every lodge, regardless of SR, YR, or Blue, needs to find some way to IMPROVE the men that come... every single time! Otherwise we are just spinning our tails and trying to catch the wind. IMHO
 

KSigMason

Traveling Templar
Site Benefactor
The fact that the Fraternity has many more followers than real leaders is part of the issue, and then followed by disappointment when they do join the York Rite magnifies this. York Rite is supposed to be the surviving Order of The Knights Templar. The history books have built the reputation of the Great Secretive Order of the best of the best, but in actuality 90% of its members are ignorant to the history of The Order that they are members of, nor do they care to know. It's just one more block to check on the Masonic ladder and one more title to add.
Todd Creason highlighted an excerpt of Mackey's that I read in my Lodge: Reading Mason?

I am starting to implement Days of Instruction to help new members and help spread further knowledge on the Order. I am holding 3 Days this May: a day for the Royal Arch, a day for Cryptic Masonry, and a day for the Commandery. I will cover grips, signs, words, symbolism, history, and influences/evolution of each body. It won't be extremely in-depth, but I will get the ball rolling and share resources for them to further research.
 

curt

Premium Member
I am very interested in joining. However, as a master mason, I have to admit great disappointment in what I have seen as far as participation by my Brothers. I can only assume, that it is the same in the commandery. I feel that masons should be dedicated to the betterment of mankind and constantly at work to help others. If I go to all of the effort to become a part of something, that I believe will be worthwhile and then it is not, it would distress me a great deal. As in the scriptures, we should be on fire or passionate about what we do.
[h=2]So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Revelations 3:16 KJV[/h]It is very disappointing to want to be a part of something big, only to find out it is dull, boring and without passion.
 

Blake Bowden

Administrator
Staff Member
I wish you didn't have to be Christian to join the commandery. There's a rich history and tradition attached to the Templar order that I'd love to be a part of.

It's been awhile, but from what I remember, you don't have to be a Christian to join the Commandery, only to defend the Faith. Could be wrong though.

In response to the original post, I was extremely busy in Blue Lodge and the thought of having to dedicate even more time, not to mention allocating hundreds of dollars for an outfit was too much. The health of my Blue Lodge was my priority because without that, appendant bodies are dead.
 

Brother JC

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
It's been awhile, but from what I remember, you don't have to be a Christian to join the Commandery, only to defend the Faith. Could be wrong though.
You must also state a belief that the Saviour died on the Cross for the remission of sin. (And that is before the Order of the Temple.)
 

chris289

Registered User
Bro
I can only answer for my particular reason.
I wanted to dedicate my efforts to my blue lodge and give my all to it and go through the chairs.
Not saying you can't do both just saying I couldnt.
But that is only my reason

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dstivers120

Registered User
I feel the expense of buying a sword, chapeau etc. Keeps a lot of brethren from joining. I think the vendors are in collusion that keeps the prices high.

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Bro_Vick

Moderator
Premium Member
I feel the expense of buying a sword, chapeau etc. Keeps a lot of brethren from joining. I think the vendors are in collusion that keeps the prices high.

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People keep saying this, but really you don't need a chapeau or a sword to be in Commandery, if the Commandery wants to open in full form the unit will provide you a temporary sword.

You only need the full garb if you are joining a Commandery that requires that as the uniform, and that is usually only for their officers.

You don't have to join a body and go directly in the line-up to enjoy it.

S&F,
-Bro Vick
 

Bill Hosler

Registered User
People keep saying this, but really you don't need a chapeau or a sword to be in Commandery, if the Commandery wants to open in full form the unit will provide you a temporary sword.

You only need the full garb if you are joining a Commandery that requires that as the uniform, and that is usually only for their officers.

You don't have to join a body and go directly in the line-up to enjoy it.

S&F,
-Bro Vick

If that is the case then the Commanderies aren't conveying that to the new members well. When I was knighted the only thing the members could talk about was me becoming an officer, going through the line and receive my KYCH and learning the ritual and the drill routine. I know this was mostly because they were desperate for new blood. It is a double edged sword (pun intended).

I was lucky when I joined. My Commandery was well off financially. If you joined the drill team (which never met), they would furnish you a uniform, chapeau sword..etc. I never worried about that. I just wasn't into the marching, constant saluting..etc.

Its like they went from the beauty of the Order of the temple to being a Civil War re enactor.
 

JJones

Moderator
I try to be active in my Commandry but I've got to be honest, the drill is a big turn-off to me. I didn't care for it in the military and I don't care for it now.

They should still have drill teams if they like, sure, but all this marching around and whatnot just to open and close seems pointless and time-consuming to me.

I've already given my opinion on the uniforms. :001_tongue:
 

Txmason

Registered User
After I became a master mason I asked brothers at the lodge what the difference between the York and Scottish Rites were. I received the basics of what each one was and no one was able to tell me what I would get out of it. Fast forward two years later, and I joined the SR. I just never got any answers to anything and plus distance was and still is a major factor.

I am trying to get a SR club started in my area so there can be more participation, but the only interest seems to be blue lodge not the shrine, York or Scottish rite


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Txmason

Registered User
And after I became a master mason no one approached me from any of the organizations about why I should join.


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crono782

Premium Member
Kind of the same here. Nobody would really give me the low-down on the YR vs SR vs blue lodge differences. Granted, I already have a good idea given that I'm internet savvy and also this forum. Still, plenty of members of my lodge are also in or active in the local Valley, but nobody spoke much about it. I love what I saw in SR and the deeply philosophical and esoteric aspects of it play into my interests, but if they didn't I might be kinda turned off that nobody prepped me for what I was in store for. STill, I'm thankful that my local SR Valley is just a handful of blocks from my work (and less than 10 miles from my home).
 

promethean

Registered User
You do not have to be Christian to join the Commandery. This misconception prevents many from joining. If you believe in freedom of religion, the obligations of the Commandery should not turn you off.

The more esoteric teachings of the Scottish Rite may hold more appeal for certain Brethren, but we have some great people in the York Rite.
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Mac

Moderator
Premium Member
A profession of belief in Jesus Christ as savior (on the petition) sounds pretty Christian to me.

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Bill Hosler

Registered User
You do not have to be Christian to join the Commandery. This misconception prevents many from joining. If you believe in freedom of religion, the obligations of the Commandery should not turn you off.

The more esoteric teachings of the Scottish Rite may hold more appeal for certain Brethren, but we have some great people in the York Rite.
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That is true. All it says is you are willing to pick up a sword to defend the Christian religon.


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Mac

Moderator
Premium Member
The petition on the (Texas) Grand Commandery's website has the following line:

"The undersigned represents that he is at present time a member of_____________________________________
_____________Lodge No. ____________A.F. & A.M. under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of
_____________________________; and that he is at present time a member of or, that he has petitioned
______________________Chapter No. __________R.A.M. under the jurisdiction of the Grand Chapter of
__________________________for the Capitular Degrees; and that he is at present time a member of or, that
he has petitioned ______________________Council No. ________R. & S.M. for the Cryptic Degrees; that
he is a firm believer in the Christian Religion, and that he has never been rejected by a Commandery of
Knights Templar..."

http://www.texasyorkrite.org/commandery/forms/YorkRitePetition.pdf
 

JohnnyFlotsam

Premium Member
So... you're saying that the Texas Grand Commandery has different regulations than that of the Commandery in other jurisidictions. Imagine that.
Don't get me wrong. If a group of Christian Masons want to get together and do whatever it is that they do, I support that. Such activity is not particularly Masonic, but it certainly is not un-Masonic. I just find it interesting to note that there are some jurisdictions (Texas is not the only one, BTW) that feel the need to exclude non-Christians from the Order while others do not. That would certainly put a damper on membership, especially in the more culturally diverse communities.
 
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