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Why do people leave/ become inactive?

dfreybur

Premium Member
I'm with most of you in my belief that it's the lack of education. The catechism is nice but let's face it; you aren't learning Masonry, you're learning the Degrees. My downfall is that my Lodge is in a town of about 500, so most of our Brothers are old and don't see any need in teaching beyond the catechism.

I suggest this is a generational difference on what masonry is to most. Very many of the previous generation joined for the fellowship and social activities and that really is what Masonry is to them. I've heard former military describe the camaraderie we experience as parallel to what they experienced in the military and it's something they wanted. Very many men of the WWII and Korea era see masonry this way and for them that's what Masonry is. Asking them for education is a question that doesn't make sense to them because of that. They never studied that because they were never interested.

Now a young generation is at our door and many or most are interested in something else. Either we deliver what they expect or our lodge is in trouble.

Lodge opened a door for me and gave me a good foundation of knowledge and understanding but almost all of my Masonic knowledge has come from countless hours of private study over the last 5 years.

To a great extent that's deliberate. It's one of the meanings of "You get out of Masonry what you put into Masonry". Some men put social events into Masonry and for them that's what we are. Some men put mystical studies into Masonry and for them that's what we are.
 

TDJ One

Registered User
I'm struggling to stay myself, and I was raised a little over a year ago. For me, I see a combination of things. The combination of burnout, lack of Masonic education, and older Brothers setting a poor example. Granted no one is perfect. Some internal conflicts inside of me I don't agree with that I see going on. I do agree with the comment everyone become a Mason for their own reason.
 

RedTemplar

Johnny Joe Combs
Premium Member
Many are called but few are chosen. There is a saying currently popping up on masonic facebook sites that proclaims, "Any man can be a Mason. But not every man can be a Mason". There is a lot of truth to this.
 

Mac

Moderator
Premium Member
I've been a member of several campus and professional organizations, and I've just never felt the same level of preparation with Masonic lodges. Oftentimes, the lodge is run by a new leader each year, with a salty secretary backing him up.

The identity of the lodge (and the focus of the same) can change annually, and there isn't always a consistency there.


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dfreybur

Premium Member
I'm struggling to stay myself, and I was raised a little over a year ago. For me, I see a combination of things. The combination of burnout, lack of Masonic education, and older Brothers setting a poor example. Granted no one is perfect. Some internal conflicts inside of me I don't agree with that I see going on. I do agree with the comment everyone become a Mason for their own reason.

Lack of Masonic education - When is the last time you prepared a talk for Stated meeting? We all get out of Masonry what we put into Masonry. The last time I presented a talk at Stated was December. Just sayin ...
 

Browncoat

Registered User
I think most who expect the Lodge to provide their entire Masonic experience are going to end up disappointed.

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JJones

Moderator
I think most who expect the Lodge to provide their entire Masonic experience are going to end up disappointed.

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This is very true. Until a certain point in our masonic careers we have our experience provided to us but afterwards we are usually left to our own devices. At that point we have to provide our own experiences through study and reflection. At least that's my opinion.
 

BroBook

Premium Member
Just remember masons are not made by the initiation process it only allows them to prove they have been initiationed.
 

Mac

Moderator
Premium Member
This is very true. Until a certain point in our masonic careers we have our experience provided to us but afterwards we are usually left to our own devices. At that point we have to provide our own experiences through study and reflection. At least that's my opinion.

We should have these meetings to discuss those reflections, or share them with our brothers, though.


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JohnnyFlotsam

Premium Member
Lack of Masonic education - When is the last time you prepared a talk for Stated meeting? We all get out of Masonry what we put into Masonry. The last time I presented a talk at Stated was December. Just sayin ...

That's more true than not, but you and I both know that there are Lodges that "...don't have time for that stuff." I'll spare us the rant on what they do have time for, because we all know that refrain.

It is not reasonable to expect our newest members (the one's we're worried about attracting and retaining) to provide the "Masonic education". They joined to get that. Unless and until they have achieved a certain level of proficiency, and I mean far more than memorized catechism, most will not be able to contribute meaningfully in that area.

I have seen remarkable young men work hard to put together something interesting for the benefit of the assembled members. The back-row kibitzing never ceased, and at the end the WM barely offered a thank you before moving on to the more important business of dealing with the building's infrastructure. Most of those members don't show up anymore.

The sad fact is that (with some rare exceptions) we don't deliver anything close to what the ad copy promises.
 

TDJ One

Registered User
We should have these meetings to discuss those reflections, or share them with our brothers, though.


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In my experience most of these discussions happens in private with a select few Brothers, not in open lodge. This should be the platform for Study Hall meetings.
 

TDJ One

Registered User
That's more true than not, but you and I both know that there are Lodges that "...don't have time for that stuff." I'll spare us the rant on what they do have time for, because we all know that refrain.

It is not reasonable to expect our newest members (the one's we're worried about attracting and retaining) to provide the "Masonic education". They joined to get that. Unless and until they have achieved a certain level of proficiency, and I mean far more than memorized catechism, most will not be able to contribute meaningfully in that area.

I have seen remarkable young men work hard to put together something interesting for the benefit of the assembled members. The back-row kibitzing never ceased, and at the end the WM barely offered a thank you before moving on to the more important business of dealing with the building's infrastructure. Most of those members don't show up anymore.

The sad fact is that (with some rare exceptions) we don't deliver anything close to what the ad copy promises.

This is my point.
 

crono782

Premium Member
In my experience most of these discussions happens in private with a select few Brothers, not in open lodge. This should be the platform for Study Hall meetings.

Yes, I contend that an open lodge is the utmost perfect time and place for that rather than in private.
To make a few quotations from MacBride:

"In the lodge there are two significant terms in common use. Money matters, election of officer-bearers, laws and bye-laws and such like, are called Business. The ceremonies of the degrees, etc., are named Work. The Work or main function of the lodge, consists of certain ceremonies symbolical in character and mainly, but not exclusively, based on the work of operative masonry."
"The true mason lodge provides an environment for the development of the nobler nature of man, for the formation or building up of high character... To provide a suitable environment wherein this work may be carried on, the Lodge is isolated from all the ordinary conditions of life... This is the Chief End--the Alpha and the Omega--of a lodge. This, and not the petty prosperity of a Pounds-shillings-and-pence-balance, the tinsel éclat of a crowd of intrants, or the beggarly boast of a rank-and-title membership... We can scarcely desire a more exalted ideal: we should never be content with a lesser one." (bold mine)
 
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JJones

Moderator
We should have these meetings to discuss those reflections, or share them with our brothers, though.


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In my experience most of these discussions happens in private with a select few Brothers, not in open lodge. This should be the platform for Study Hall meetings.

I agree with you both. Ideally I think we should be working to improve ourselves and sharing what we've learned with one another. I think one-on-one is a a great way to share, especially if one of the brothers is a mentor. I also think presentations given during lodge meetings that cover and share what a brother has learned would really help to make the meetings more...well, masonic.

Yes, I contend that an open lodge is the utmost perfect time and place for that rather than in private.
To make a few quotations from MacBride:

"In the lodge there are two significant terms in common use. Money matters, election of officer-bearers, laws and bye-laws and such like, are called Business. The ceremonies of the degrees, etc., are named Work. The Work or main function of the lodge, consists of certain ceremonies symbolical in character and mainly, but not exclusively, based on the work of operative masonry."
"The true mason lodge provides an environment for the development of the nobler nature of man, for the formation or building up of high character... To provide a suitable environment wherein this work may be carried on, the Lodge is isolated from all the ordinary conditions of life... This is the Chief End--the Alpha and the Omega--of a lodge. This, and not the petty prosperity of a Pounds-shillings-and-pence-balance, the tinsel éclat of a crowd of intrants, or the beggarly boast of a rank-and-title membership... We can scarcely desire a more exalted ideal: we should never be content with a lesser one." (bold mine)

That's a great quote! Thank you for sharing that brother.
 
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dfreybur

Premium Member
It is not reasonable to expect our newest members (the one's we're worried about attracting and retaining) to provide the "Masonic education". They joined to get that. Unless and until they have achieved a certain level of proficiency, and I mean far more than memorized catechism, most will not be able to contribute meaningfully in that area.

Unfortunately it's also not reasonable to expect a member who joined for social reasons to make presentations that aren't about social events of the past. So how to get past the chicken-and-egg issue here? Some group has to boot strap past it. That group includes us on my Freemasonry even the brand new brothers. You're pioneers my new brothers! Go for it!

I have seen remarkable young men work hard to put together something interesting for the benefit of the assembled members. The back-row kibitzing never ceased, and at the end the WM barely offered a thank you before moving on to the more important business of dealing with the building's infrastructure. Most of those members don't show up anymore.

My challenge - Glare down the kibitzers and congratulate the presenter. I've always thought that any brother other than myself presenting is better than my presenting and I always thank brothers for doing so and ask questions after the meeting. They delivered value so we need to let them know that. Because boot strapping the chicken and egg takes doing that.
 

crono782

Premium Member
My challenge - Glare down the kibitzers and congratulate the presenter. I've always thought that any brother other than myself presenting is better than my presenting and I always thank brothers for doing so and ask questions after the meeting. They delivered value so we need to let them know that. Because boot strapping the chicken and egg takes doing that.

Yup, show those nay sayers what for! Seriously though, it seems to me as well that propping up the do-doers is the best method for putting down the poo-pooers. lol
 

Brother_Steve

Premium Member
I asked to be on the ritual and advisory board for this year.

We discuss more on the porch of the lodge after a meeting than we do during a meeting.

The more I speak about masonry outside of lodge the more I discover that it is not about putting on an apron and sitting in a room.

It is about the interactions with your Brethren outside of a stated meeting that makes masonry work for the individual. You have to find those who love talking about the Craft. Grab on and get as much as you can out of them. Everything you need to start out as a MM is in your rituals. Learn them for your foundation and go from there.

Yes, it is nice to meet everyone and socialize before and after a meeting but it should not stop there. Those interactions should happen more than once or twice a month.

I'm not saying you should dump your life long non mason friends but you should make it a point to have a beer with those you fit in with the best to keep those ties tight.

That is the issue today though. Our lives are so hectic and fast that I have to put my masonic schedules on my Google calendar and sync it to my wife's account so she knows the five W's for the month. Getting out for socialization outside of stated meetings is tough.

Look at us here and now. We use a forum to communicate and seek out each other. Some of us post on multiple masonic forums for that connection because we do not have what our fathers and grandfathers had...Time...

How many Masons here find that they use this and other forums to try to fill the gaps that you seem to be left with from your own lodge?

I'm not embarrassed to say I'm one of those Masons.
 
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cemab4y

Premium Member
Thumbs up! This is why I have always been so supportive of "Square and Compasses" clubs, and informal Saturday morning breakfast meetings. You can learn so much more about the Craft, when you are out of the formal meetings.
 
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