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YOUR Grand Lodge

Blake Bowden

Administrator
Staff Member
If you were Grandmaster of your Jurisdiction for one day and had the power to change 5 things, what would they be?
 
L

Leomarth

Guest
I still consider myself a newbie in Masonry, even though I've been a Mason for five years. So, some of these things may be common, some may have been poo-poo'd before my time.

1) I'd decree that it was perfectly fine to make a black man a Mason. Just to clear up any confusion.
2) I'd get a committee going on lodge financial stability, to examine practices being used and find out what's successful, and what isn't, then report to the individual lodges.
3) Start a fellowship committee, to find out what Masons today want, and how to bring them closer to each other.
4) Mandate that every lodge have a website, even if it has to be designed by someone at GL, and hosted on GL servers.

I can't really think of a #5 right now. Maybe later.
 

TCShelton

Founding Member
Premium Member
I can only think of one right now: give each lodge one stated meeting to vote to expel troublemaking members.
 

rhitland

Founding Member
Premium Member
I would raise GL dues from $14.50 to about $60-$80.

Delete a ton of craziness in the law book definatley the one about not decorating aprons.

Make it illegal for appendant bodies to recruit MMs
 

Nate Riley

Premium Member
I would raise GL dues from $14.50 to about $60-$80.

Delete a ton of craziness in the law book definatley the one about not decorating aprons.

Make it illegal for appendant bodies to recruit MMs

I agree, I think decorated aprons are cool and should be allowed (within reason, I guess there would need to be some guidelines). I personally would like to have on with the symbol from The Man Who Would Be King.

I absolutely agree with the last one! I think the fact that Masons don't recruit is pretty significant (although the soft pitch to qualified men is ok). And I think it is distracting when the appendant bodies recruit. You should make it known that they exist then if and when a man (or his wife) is ready they can petition. I had a big issue with the OES not leaving my wife alone at our installation to the point it was unenjoyable. If we go to another family event and she is harassed, I will probably bring it up in Lodge to let the brothers that are involved know.

I am not 100% sure on my feelings about this, but I would I would probably do something about invitation only bodies. From what I know about them, I like what AMD and Knight Masons do (as far as degrees) and I would probably join if invited. It is hypocritical on my part, I know, but it just seems to me that there is something un-Masonic about invitation bodies.

After I typed it, I realized there is probably nothing the Grand Master can do about the last one. Maybe I should post it on one of the "rants" threads.
 

Blake Bowden

Administrator
Staff Member
1. Complete revamp of the Grand Lodge of Texas website. The first priority of focus should be for the NON Mason.

2. Create a committee for producing commercials similar to Massachusetts

[video=youtube;eGsuF-sdbUs]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGsuF-sdbUs[/video]

Why couldn't we create one featuring Sam Houston? Juan Seguin? Stephen F. Austin? It would have to be done from a historical perspective. People could care less about seeing some cheesey looking infomercial. We have to give them something that catches their attention. GL of Mass pulled it off, we can too!

3. Make a resolution for Texas Masonic License plates...humm..under the S&C we could have "Masons of Texas'...lol. Seriously there's no reason why we shouldn't.

4. Propose a state-wide open house. It's nothing special by itself, but if it were to schedule it with the commercials, it could be a big success.

5. Even though it wouldn't happen in one day, I would love to have visitation with Prince Hall Lodges.
 

rhitland

Founding Member
Premium Member
Put my boot on the throat of the good ole boy system that is tearing apart Masonry and not let up.

I would pullback the viel of charity the Craft hides it's esoteric and initiatic purposes behind.

think that gets me to 5
 

owls84

Moderator
Premium Member
All great ideas.

1) I would give EVERY committee action items and dead lines, I am tired of committees being formed with no REAL Purpose. I would have the committees evaluate EVERY practice (Laws, forms, etc.) to see that they are still compliant.

2) A new and funtional Website for Grand Lodge with a program to help other lodges get good informative websites for themselves and tie them into the GL website.

3) Clear up this problem with trouble makers in Lodges. I would make it very clear that if you complain or file charges on a Bro. Mason and they turn out to be false then YOU will be punished and make some examples. I would come up with a system that would allow each Lodge to punish members with a one year suspension pending further after review with the GL. However, there would be appeals and such.

4) Allow Lodges to govern themselves more. If a Lodge wants to do something, such as wear gloves during a degree, then let them. If it is an improvement, within reason, then let them. As long as the words and actions are the same.

5) Raise GL Dues and do away with endowments. There is no way something this good could only be worth $14.25. And as we see now Endowments are hurting us maybe look at an endowment that allows your lodge to pay half of the annual returns. Something along those lines.

Now I know some of these would be more than a GM can do but it is what I would do if I had the power.
 

Bro Mike

Registered User
I had a big issue with the OES not leaving my wife alone at our installation

Wow! We had exactly the same issue with a couple of OES members putting the hard sell on my wife while I was busy with installation this weekend.

I was especially miffed that the Brother didn't come into the lodge room to help finish the day up. Instead, he and his wife stayed in the dining room to recruit my wife.

Realistically, there is very little chance she would ever join, but another had sell effort like that and I would up that to 100% of it never happening.
 

luftx

Premium Member
Howdy all!

I'm the newbie here, and relatively new to Masonry (just over 3 years), and I would:

1. Institute a program to teach the 'Old Guard' to loosen up and start paying attention to the younger masons. Just because (in my lodge) most of the active members are retired, everything has to revolve around their schedules, and the working man has a hard time getting to our practices and degrees.

2. Create a NEW GL website committee so that the website would be improved.

3. Work with the State of Texas so that they could start selling Masonic License Plates (Geez, how I would love to have one of those).

4. Clean up that law book, I'm getting tired of asking the two lawyers (we're a small country lodge) to clarify some of the stuff in there. Plain English would work!

5. Advertise (see #4), Advertise, Advertise!

AWESOME Forum!!
 

Traveling Man

Premium Member
1. Decree that all Lodge Stated meetings (except balloting and appropriate degrees) would be conducted in the first degree. This would encourage participation.

2. Ferret out racist and religious bigots through questionnaires… and suggest some self re-examination.

3. Examine the idea of consolidating Lodges and suggest the idea of Masonic Centers.

4. Require that all Masonic catechisms be turned in only during stated meetings.

5. Increase dues to $150.00 /yr. (or more) and no more “passing the plate” dinners, make “the jar” a thing of the past. Masonry is too cheap especially here in Texas. Let’s make it, “the” experience!

6. All officers must be certified in their office and should be proficient for all degrees for their station. (Talk to an EA and ask him who he thinks is Master of the Lodge, talk about confusing) Oh yeah he’s the guy who never shows up, even for a degree, especially yours! Sad. (See #1, he’ll know who’s the Master).

7. Proper attire for officers with suggestions to the brethren…

8. Then y’all shoot me for the above… VBG
 
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