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Asking people to join

hwood

Registered User
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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CLewey44

Registered User
I think if I was to start a lodge today, I'd want invitation as my primary way of gaining new members. This way I could get members I knew and trusted and that they'd solicit quality new members. The way it's done now, you can just show up at a lot of places and they will take you. I'd obviously be ok with fellows coming off the street but a stringent vetting process is in store.
 

Warrior1256

Site Benefactor
I think if I was to start a lodge today, I'd want invitation as my primary way of gaining new members. This way I could get members I knew and trusted and that they'd solicit quality new members. The way it's done now, you can just show up at a lot of places and they will take you. I'd obviously be ok with fellows coming off the street but a stringent vetting process is in store.
Sounds pretty good.
 

hwood

Registered User
I think if I was to start a lodge today, I'd want invitation as my primary way of gaining new members. This way I could get members I knew and trusted and that they'd solicit quality new members. The way it's done now, you can just show up at a lot of places and they will take you. I'd obviously be ok with fellows coming off the street but a stringent vetting process is in store.

But do you think this will bring dedicated members in?



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CLewey44

Registered User
It's tough to say. In some cases it would. Provided they "get their moneys worth". There may be no magic way to get 60, 80 or 100% of your members to show up. If you have devoted members looking prospective devoted candidates, it may work out. Also really getting to know guys off the street would make them feel apart of something special maybe. Who knows?
 

CLewey44

Registered User
I always say the same, if you have a friend who you think has the correct character and you would spend a weekend with him - ask him.

I agree. I've never asked anyone to join technically but I've said "I think you'd like Masonry and would be a good candidate." I let that sit with them. Problem is they have a preconception about it and they think it's a waste of time or boring. "Old Men's Club" a couple of people have said.....
 

Keith C

Registered User
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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Just a small clarification. Being a First Line Signer is NOT a "requirement" for the Master Builder Award. It is one of 6 elective activities of which 3 have to be completed. And there is nothing that says it has to have come from asking someone to join.

The 6 Electives of which 3 have to be completed are:

1) Participate in a Degree conferred by your home lodge.
2) Be a first-line signer of a petition for membership in your lodge.
3) Contact a Brother who has not attended lodge in the last 6 months and invite them to accompany you to the the next stated meeting (The Brother must accept and attend for these criteria to be met)
4) Assume responsibility for arranging a Masonic Education program for your lodge. This may be done by you or by someone else via your invitation with the Worshipful Master's approval.
5) Attend a Quarterly Communication of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania.
6) Attend either a stated meeting of the Pennsylvania Lodge or Research or the Academy of Masonic Knowledge.


Our WM keeps track of who needs what requirement / Elective completed. We get a few inquiries a month from the Grand Lodge website system. The WM will assign these inquiries to brothers who contact the individual, meet with them to get a sense of their personality, etc., invite them to dinner before a stated meeting to meet some of the brothers and then, after both the Brother, the Lodge and the prospective candidate are all on the same page be the first line signer on their petition.

Yes, we ARE permitted to suggest joining to those we think are good and worthy men but we are also careful to properly guard the West gate. I can't speak for your Lodge or District, but we are PERMITTED to ask but not specifically ENCOURAGED.
 
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CLewey44

Registered User
Just a small clarification. Being a First Line Signer is NOT a "requirement" for the Master Builder Award. It is one of 6 elective activities of which 3 have to be completed. And there is nothing that says it has to have come from asking someone to join. Our WM keeps track of who needs what requirement / Elective completed. We get a few inquiries a month from the Grand Lodge website system. The WM will assign these inquiries to brothers who contact the individual, meet with them to get a sense of their personality, etc., invite them to dinner before a stated meeting to meet some of the brothers and then, after both the Brother, the Lodge and the prospective candidate are all on the same page be the first line signer on their petition.

Yes, we ARE permitted to suggest joining to those we think are good and worthy men but we are also careful to properly guard the West gate. I can't speak for your Lodge or District, but we are PERMITTED to ask but not specifically ENCOURAGED.

I like this and agree. It allows for better 'guarding of the west' for sure.
 

Bloke

Premium Member
.....3) Contact a Brother who has not attended lodge in the last 6 months and invite them to accompany you to the the next stated meeting (The Brother must accept and attend for these criteria to be met)....

I like this.
 

hwood

Registered User
Just a small clarification. Being a First Line Signer is NOT a "requirement" for the Master Builder Award. It is one of 6 elective activities of which 3 have to be completed. And there is nothing that says it has to have come from asking someone to join.

The 6 Electives of which 3 have to be completed are:

1) Participate in a Degree conferred by your home lodge.
2) Be a first-line signer of a petition for membership in your lodge.
3) Contact a Brother who has not attended lodge in the last 6 months and invite them to accompany you to the the next stated meeting (The Brother must accept and attend for these criteria to be met)
4) Assume responsibility for arranging a Masonic Education program for your lodge. This may be done by you or by someone else via your invitation with the Worshipful Master's approval.
5) Attend a Quarterly Communication of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania.
6) Attend either a stated meeting of the Pennsylvania Lodge or Research or the Academy of Masonic Knowledge.


Our WM keeps track of who needs what requirement / Elective completed. We get a few inquiries a month from the Grand Lodge website system. The WM will assign these inquiries to brothers who contact the individual, meet with them to get a sense of their personality, etc., invite them to dinner before a stated meeting to meet some of the brothers and then, after both the Brother, the Lodge and the prospective candidate are all on the same page be the first line signer on their petition.

Yes, we ARE permitted to suggest joining to those we think are good and worthy men but we are also careful to properly guard the West gate. I can't speak for your Lodge or District, but we are PERMITTED to ask but not specifically ENCOURAGED.

I stand corrected thank you brother. I have completed 1 and 3. I'm working on number 4.
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Keith C

Registered User
Looking good hwood! I have one left for the voluntary criteria, having done #1 # #6. I would have it complete if our "Quarterly Communications" were actually quarterly instead of semi-annual. I wasn't about to drive to Pittsburgh for one day to go to the one in June and the one in Philadelphia will be 2 weeks after the year has passed since my raising and our DDGM won't allow that to count. So I am hoping the prospective candidate I have been assigned works out!
 

LK600

Premium Member
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. To me, there is no argument whether a dedicated member would be best coming from asking or being asked since I think (lately) the track record doesn't necessarily support either. Just my thoughts.
 

hwood

Registered User
Looking good hwood! I have one left for the voluntary criteria, having done #1 # #6. I would have it complete if our "Quarterly Communications" were actually quarterly instead of semi-annual. I wasn't about to drive to Pittsburgh for one day to go to the one in June and the one in Philadelphia will be 2 weeks after the year has passed since my raising and our DDGM won't allow that to count. So I am hoping the prospective candidate I have been assigned works out!

I hope it goes well best of luck.


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jermy Bell

Registered User
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.
 

goomba

Neo-Antient
Site Benefactor
Just bluntly asking someone randomly "you want to become a Freemason?" I am against. However, 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.
 
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