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Becoming worshipful master of your lodge

Brother_Steve

Premium Member
I belong a lodge that I really enjoy being apart of. We have our senior warden come back to lodge after 20 years and will be master this coming masonic year. We have exhausted most of our savings, and need to think about fund raisers, and also trying to become a thing in our community again. But we have one member that wants to spend money we don't have, but when we need to fix something or replace something, this member becomes Mr technical, and trys to make it sound like we are spending more money than we really would be. We have a new young member who has watched to many you tube videos on freemasonry, yet they let him waste time yapping about nothing during business meetings. When asking the new master coming in about any of this or old business that he will inherit, we get, well, I don't wanna step on anyone's toes, and all I'm here for is the friendship etc,etc. If you can't fix or choose to not address problems why become master ?
I have a have a policy in place. If you are going to make a motion, come to me before the meeting with what you're going to propose. We will talk about it. If it is bad for the lodge or it requires more thought, it won't be heard that night.

I would always consult my wardens and part masters before flat out saying no. However, if you still stand up under new business, you're not going to be acknowledged unless I know you have other business that has been agreed upon.
 

Glen Cook

G A Cook
Site Benefactor
I have a have a policy in place. If you are going to make a motion, come to me before the meeting with what you're going to propose. We will talk about it. If it is bad for the lodge or it requires more thought, it won't be heard that night.

I would always consult my wardens and part masters before flat out saying no. However, if you still stand up under new business, you're not going to be acknowledged unless I know you have other business that has been agreed upon.
If, in your view, it is bad for the lodge, will it be heard eventually?
 

jermy Bell

Registered User
I have a have a policy in place. If you are going to make a motion, come to me before the meeting with what you're going to propose. We will talk about it. If it is bad for the lodge or it requires more thought, it won't be heard that night.

I would always consult my wardens and part masters before flat out saying no. However, if you still stand up under new business, you're not going to be acknowledged unless I know you have other business that has been agreed upon.
Not good business. But like I've been told, it is up to the worshipful master to run his lodge as he sees fit. But I guess it only falls down to who will keep coming back for that masonic year and who won't be back at all.
 

Brother_Steve

Premium Member
Not good business. But like I've been told, it is up to the worshipful master to run his lodge as he sees fit. But I guess it only falls down to who will keep coming back for that masonic year and who won't be back at all.
It's common courtesy to let the master know what you're thinking before a meeting. Sometimes certain things are proposed by a brother that is above and beyond the normal request for money.

IE we have a charity budget. All requests for charity get funnelled through the charity committee. They include me in their decision making. If they find it worthy and within reason, they present it to the lodge to be voted on.

Otherwise, we would have to entertain every motion for charity and spending can get out of control.
 

Bill Lins

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
It's common courtesy to let the master know what you're thinking before a meeting. Sometimes certain things are proposed by a brother that is above and beyond the normal request for money.
While what you're saying is true, EVERY Brother has the right to speak. To deny a Brother his right is, to say the least, unMasonic. If you cannot have a civil discussion with differing viewpoints and maintain peace & harmony, you might want to rethink your style of "leadership".
 

jermy Bell

Registered User
While what you're saying is true, EVERY Brother has the right to speak. To deny a Brother his right is, to say the least, unMasonic. If you cannot have a civil discussion with differing viewpoints and maintain peace & harmony, you might want to rethink your style of "leadership".
SO MOTE IT BE !
 

Pointwithinacircle3

Registered User
While what you're saying is true, EVERY Brother has the right to speak. To deny a Brother his right is, to say the least, unMasonic. If you cannot have a civil discussion with differing viewpoints and maintain peace & harmony, you might want to rethink your style of "leadership".
Um, are you sure? My understanding is that no Mason has the right to speak in Lodge without the Worshipful Masters permission. Also, that the WM can instantly gavel down any member at any time. As I understand Masonic law, it is the WM job to direct and govern his Lodge as he sees fit. I am interested in having one of your civil discussions with any one who has a differing opinion.
 

jermy Bell

Registered User
In our lodge, we are given the right by the worshipful master to make a motion, or discuss anything in open lodge. Some things you may not like, but you aren't beatin down and told to shut up. And actually in the end no one goes home mad. We are given a small amount of time to make our statement, and discussion, and then move on to other new business. But we all have a voice. In our lodge and we get a lot covered. But yes, the master has the right to not hear discussion, or continue it as old business.
 

Glen Cook

G A Cook
Site Benefactor
While what you're saying is true, EVERY Brother has the right to speak. To deny a Brother his right is, to say the least, unMasonic. If you cannot have a civil discussion with differing viewpoints and maintain peace & harmony, you might want to rethink your style of "leadership".

I admit my own style of leadership has evolved over the years to one tending toward guidance and persuasion and structuring of the debate, rather than prohibiting discussion. Yes, in many Lodges* the master can prohibit discussion on legitimate matters. But is this style of leadership one that leads towards happiness within the lodge?

Sometimes, people just wish to know that they have had a fair shake. To refuse them the opportunity to have their concern heard by their peers can lead to a sense of disenfranchisement, resentment, and a sense that they are of less worth.

“There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.”

1 Corinthians 14:10.

*Grand body sessions are more formal, but even in that venue the presiding officer may not refuse to hear matters properly raised, depending on the jurisdiction.
 

TheThumbPuppy

Registered User
Sometimes, people just wish to know that they have had a fair shake. To refuse them the opportunity to have their concern heard by their peers can lead to a sense of disenfranchisement, resentment, and a sense that they are of less worth.

I have no experience in leading a Lodge, but this is certainly true leading a team at work or in a volunteer organisation. I find that people most of all want to know that they have been heard. The majority is prepared to compromise and have their wishes postponed or rejected as long as they know that you've taken them seriously into consideration. A very small minority will end up disenfranchised and resentful no matter what you do.
 

Keith C

Registered User
While I understand the desirability of having anyone be heard, I also have seen meetings drag on for hours as anyone and everyone wants to bring up their pet project, complaint, charity or point of information. There is ample time between and before meetings to approach the appropriate committees or the WM or one of the Wardens to bring up whatever issue you may have and want to discuss. If a Brother stands and wants to discuss some proposal that has not been previously discussed preliminarily outside of the Tyled meeting, I will direct them to the appropriate Committee and the members thereof to discuss. I won't "gavel someone down" but will ask if they discussed it with "X" committee and if they haven't I direct them to do so and have the Committee bring forth a motion if appropriate.
 

Bill Lins

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
Um, are you sure? My understanding is that no Mason has the right to speak in Lodge without the Worshipful Masters permission. Also, that the WM can instantly gavel down any member at any time. As I understand Masonic law, it is the WM job to direct and govern his Lodge as he sees fit. I am interested in having one of your civil discussions with any one who has a differing opinion.
Legally, the WM DOES have those powers. A GOOD WM will only use them extremely sparingly. A heavy-handed WM will learn the meaning of the phrase "voting with their feet" when he is sitting alone on his throne, wondering where his Brethren have gone. To lead by persuasion, after giving every Brother who so desires the opportunity to speak their piece, constitutes "best practice" in the East. The willingness to cheerfully accept a situation where one loses the vote is an admirable trait in a WM. "Servant leadership" should always be the goal in volunteer organizations such as our Fraternity.
 

Bill Lins

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
A few years back, there arose some contention in one of my Lodges. Some EVIL PM, who shall remain nameless ;), stopped by the grocery store on the way to the next meeting. When Lodge was opened there was a can of peas & a can of hominy sitting upon the WM's podium as a not-so-subtle reminder to all. It worked.
 
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