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Freemasonry isn't dying

JJones

JJones

Moderator
I'm sure many of you have seen this already but, to my knowledge, it hasn't been shared on these forums so here it is for discussion:

http://www.midnightfreemasons.org/2016/06/freemasonry-isnt-dying-its-refining.html

I look forward to seeing what everyone's thoughts are on the matter, especially after our recent discussion on Millenials. I'm personally not a fan of the "national Grand Lodge" concept myself but I feel much of what is said needs consideration.
 
R

Ressam

Guest
1. Nuclear Weapons.
2. Artifical Satellites&Internet.

These 2 things've changed everything!
Freemasonry needs big-big
Reformation/Transformation!
IMHO.
 
Bloke

Bloke

Premium Member
I agree with him we are changing to readjust after a membership, organizational and pyscological model developed during a boom period (has anyone compared post Civil War GLs to post ww2) but its moot. GLs will never "save" Freemasonry - that's always going to be done at a lodge level, all GLs can do us foster that, which sadly often means keeping the hell out of the way and not putting road blocks up to making lodges places men want to be and bring their friends, like having to leave to enjoy a beer together.

What problem does forming a national lodge solve ? It can only be financial, concentrating funding but that also creates systemic risk. Me, i'm a big fan of lodges ( and GLs ) being self determining to meet their members needs. The critical thing is am intelligent, informed approach.

One critical thing to organisations and individuals is morale. The expansion then contraction of the craft post ww2 mainly creates a problem of unadaptability which in turn affects morale. Morale and cohesion, which we call "harmony" is perhaps the single most importsnt thing and within that a willingness to adapt and not hold to old financial and organisational models built on bloated membership.
 
Bill Lins

Bill Lins

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
MRichard said:
Did I miss something? Is he not a freemason? Or a regular or recognized one?
Click to expand...
This is what he posted in the "Various Questions" thread: "But it's true! I'd like to join Freemasonry only for -- "Financial Benefits"!
That's why, I think that -- I'm not suitable for it, now! And that's why I'm still researching & workin' on myself."
 
R

Ressam

Guest
JamestheJust said:
Given the not very exciting state of Freemasonry, I am not so inclined to the insider/outsider approach. (I still preserve the secrecy of the recognition signs that are all over the internet.)

Are there true and faithful brethren not formally initiated? Would that be why GM have a tradition of making a Mason on sight?

On the other hand I am not sure that all regularly initiated brethren are indeed true and faithful brethren. A browse through most Masonic forums will show brethren that disregard the brotherhood aspects of the 3rd degree obligation.
Click to expand...

Freemasonry is -- Great Friendship!!!
Good Hobby!
Very Nice Gentlemen's Club!
But, I just doubt about: seeking The Truth, searching for The Light, Makin' Good Men Better.
 
K

king82

Registered User
Bloke said:
Uninitiated
Click to expand...
Ressam said:
Freemasonry is -- Great Friendship!!!
Good Hobby!
Very Nice Gentlemen's Club!
But, I just doubt about: seeking The Truth, searching for The Light, Makin' Good Men Better.
Click to expand...
Sounds like where ever ur at isnting doing it right. And light doesn't just flow to u. U individually have to seek it. And it has made me alot better. U get out of it what u put into it. It might take someone years to find it.
 
drw72

drw72

Premium Member
I agree with the streamlining the Grand lodge / home lodge idea.

I left the KofC to become a Mason for several reasons but one of them was the constant push for recruiting and money. Many councils have their own building which are basically just money pits. We were trying to recruit more than the military does, having fund raisers all the time and bingo twice a week just to keep our hall. There were two factions in my former council, one wanted to sell the hall and meet in the church hall and the other wanted to keep it.

Some other councils had already sold their buildings and met in their church facilities which, in my opinion, made them more effective. They worked more closely with their church (KofC is Catholic based after all) and the money they raised went to charity instead of building upkeep, taxes, etc.

I had the opportunity to visit Colchester England last year and see an example of the way Freemasons meet over there. Not every lodge has it’s own building, in fact it seems very few do. The one I visited, St. Giles Masonic Centre, is host to almost 30 Craft Lodges and appendent groups (Royal Arch, KT, etc). http://www.stgilescentre.org.uk/masonic

It seems over here that we tend to be more possessive and territorial, everyone want their own building (FM & KofC). Like they think you can't have a Lodge without a building.
 
JJones

JJones

Moderator
Technically, each GL could have almost been considered a national GL before the Civil War, but that's a whole other topic.

A Grand body needs to accessible and approachable. We have this now with state Grand Lodges as they tend to be within reasonable commuting distance and it's not unfeasible to be involved in GL activities. A national Grand Lodge would be prohibitive because brethren would be less likely to have the time and resources for involvement.

There are probably other reasons as well. For one, I certainly wouldn't see all the US Grand Lodge abdicating their authority in favor of a National Grand Lodge.
 
drw72

drw72

Premium Member
JJones said:
A Grand body needs to accessible and approachable. We have this now with state Grand Lodges as they tend to be within reasonable commuting distance and it's not unfeasible to be involved in GL activities. A national Grand Lodge would be prohibitive because brethren would be less likely to have the time and resources for involvement.

There are probably other reasons as well. For one, I certainly wouldn't see all the US Grand Lodge abdicating their authority in favor of a National Grand Lodge.
Click to expand...

Would it be feasible to use a system like in England, one Grand Lodge and each State have a Provincial Grand Lodge?
 
JJones

JJones

Moderator
drw72 said:
Would it be feasible to use a system like in England, one Grand Lodge and each State have a Provincial Grand Lodge?
Click to expand...

I'm not sure what the benefit is in that? Somebody from England could probably shed more light on that system.

I believe we have a similar system in the Knights Templar, where there are both national and state Grand bodies however I'm not an active enough member to have much experience there.
 
Last edited:
MRichard

MRichard

Mark A. Ri'chard
Premium Member
Bill_Lins77488 said:
This is what he posted in the "Various Questions" thread: "But it's true! I'd like to join Freemasonry only for -- "Financial Benefits"!
That's why, I think that -- I'm not suitable for it, now! And that's why I'm still researching & workin' on myself."
Click to expand...

I wonder if this is someone I already blocked. Is it Ressam? I already knew about him.
 
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