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Your Prediction: Freemasonry in 5-10 Years

rhitland

Founding Member
Premium Member
We assign mentors even if they cannot teach the work, but they are responsible to stay in constant contact and just be there friend and keep them coming up to Lodge. We recently intiated 4 EAs and after this new program we still have 4 active EAs. So a mentor does not have to teach the work and they can even sit down with the candidate and learn it together but a real mentor main objective keeps the new candidate engaged in the Craft.
 

TCShelton

Founding Member
Premium Member
It is just a matter of us younger guys taking ownership in what we do, and spreading it around.
 

owls84

Moderator
Premium Member
I know one thing we have done that works for Masonry 24 hours a day 7 days a week. It never calls in sick and is alwys working full steam. It is our website http://www.fortworth148.org. That website has shown me, that with the responses we have recieved, the curiosity is there but is hard to find. There are a TON of people that are looking for a lodge or just answers in Masonry but don't really know the proper channels to find it.

Side note: Our website was designed from scratch for $2080 that includes hosting. And the good news is the return is quick.
 
D

dannyjacobs

Guest
lodges

I hope most of yall are wrong about lodges dieing. And for the ones talking about the old guys and young guys not having anything in common I say bull. Im 32 and i love to hang out with the elders in the lodge we have alot more in common than I would have ever thought you just have to give it a chance and see. Maybe the elders at Brazoria lodge are the exception I dont know but not only my self but some of the young EA's to the young master masons enjoy the elders. Just this past hunting season two of my elders from lodge went to my hunting lease with me and we had a great time. I think if everyone gives them a chance you can learn alot and us younger ones can be better as well as masonry if we do.
 

dhouseholder

Registered User
Re: Your Prediction: Texas Freemasonry in 5-10 Years

5-10 years? Dwindling
20-30 years? Booming.

Generation Zers and the Digital Generation are going to realize that in their commercialized, mass marketed, focus-advertising world that they will yearn for personal relationships with people who are like minded and not behind a computer screen. Children are growing up solipsists. All they know is the words and images on the TV and computer screen. I bet that when they mature, most will desire flesh and blood relationships that transcend digital interaction. Some will flock to other organizations, but some will come here too.
 

Bill Lins

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
Re: Your Prediction: Texas Freemasonry in 5-10 Years

I love the idea of participating in the FFA.

In case you don't yet know, FFA stands for Fathers Feeding Animals! ;)

We've had good luck with attracting & retaining younger Brethren. We give them things to do to let them know that they are a vital part of our Lodge, and encourage & support the projects they propose.
 

Bill Lins

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
Re: Your Prediction: Texas Freemasonry in 5-10 Years

and the committee on CHANGE has done a lot of damage in the name of improvement. They sat around and dreamp up the opening and closing of the EA and FC then want the new master to learn it.. ? Then for some reason the opening and closing of the Master Masons Lodge of Sorrow has become all important..? kinda like one of those things that is good to know so we are going to require it..? I think that coming into someone's lodge and grading the opeing and closing is an insult. If they were just there to teach or help would be a different story, but to grade another mason..?

Dunno why you have such a hard-on for the Committee on Work. Allowing us to open EA & FC Lodges without having to open, call off, call back, & close a MM Lodge was a wonderful idea, IMHO- saves a lot of time.

As to the grading, the younger Brethren took it as it was intended- a friendly competition between Lodges. Only the "old dogs" pitched a bitch- mebbe because they have forgotten their work? There's no argument that the quality of the work has declined precipitously over the past few years- it wasn't the "kids" who let that happen. They are the ones who questioned why we made them learn the work properly when the officers of many Lodges couldn't even open & close without help. The "kids" are the driving force behind improving proficiency in the ritual- God bless 'em!
 

TCShelton

Founding Member
Premium Member
Re: Your Prediction: Texas Freemasonry in 5-10 Years

As to the grading, the younger Brethren took it as it was intended- a friendly competition between Lodges.

+1. We ate it up. We also got the most improved lodge award across the state.

I'm looking at having it put in our by-laws that line officers must get certified annually before elections.
 

Blake Bowden

Administrator
Staff Member
Re: Your Prediction: Texas Freemasonry in 5-10 Years

My revised prediction...

  • Prince Hall Brothers will be fully recognized. No merge, but dual memberships and visitation rights will be permitted
  • Hundreds of rural Lodges will demise due to lack of membreship and/or funds
  • Masonic License plates will be available
  • Not only will codebooks be allowed during practice, but meetings.
  • Appendant bodies will experience a significant decline in membership....bordering on catastrophic.
 
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JTM

"Just in case"
Premium Member
Re: Your Prediction: Texas Freemasonry in 5-10 Years

change?



heh, i hope you're wrong about the codebooks during meetings.
 

js4253

Premium Member
Premium Member
Re: lodges

I hope most of yall are wrong about lodges dieing. And for the ones talking about the old guys and young guys not having anything in common I say bull. Im 32 and i love to hang out with the elders in the lodge we have alot more in common than I would have ever thought you just have to give it a chance and see. Maybe the elders at Brazoria lodge are the exception I dont know but not only my self but some of the young EA's to the young master masons enjoy the elders. Just this past hunting season two of my elders from lodge went to my hunting lease with me and we had a great time. I think if everyone gives them a chance you can learn alot and us younger ones can be better as well as masonry if we do.

I think that's what it's all about!
 

Dave in Waco

Premium Member
Re: Your Prediction: Texas Freemasonry in 5-10 Years

I think one of the biggest problems we face, is that we are kind of missing a generation that is just now starting to recover. I've noticed this in my own Lodge. We have few members between the ages of 40-60, with those in that group on the low end of 40. Because of this drought in that age group, it has lead to a few people who were not quite ready to take the place in the chairs. This also has kind of lead us into getting stuck in a rut somewhat. As people have stated sometimes a little change is good to freshen things up, and we've been unable to make little changes to freshen it up.

We do have some strong leaders that will be coming up through the chairs, but we have had very real discussions on if there is an end of the line for us. The next few years will be either our re-emergence or our death nail.

I think one change in Masonry is generating a more public presence. I am a big proponent in doing big public events for charity. To me it's a big two-fold item. First it helps raise money for charity. Secondly, it give a nice big public face and reminds the public we are still big in the community.

Regardless, I think we need some more exposure as being part of the community. I also think we have over extended ourselves on the number of Lodges we have. And example is my county. We have a population of around 200,000, and have a Lodge per 10,000 people. In the building we meet in, there are 3 other Lodges, both having similiar problems. So I do see the day of combining Lodges into maybe some kind of Super-Lodges or something.
 

Texas_Justice85

Registered User
Re: Your Prediction: Texas Freemasonry in 5-10 Years

Im in one of those 3 lodges Dave and I absolutely agree, this is something that our WM is addressing as well.
 

Dave in Waco

Premium Member
Re: Your Prediction: Texas Freemasonry in 5-10 Years

Im in one of those 3 lodges Dave and I absolutely agree, this is something that our WM is addressing as well.

One night we need to get our 3 lodges together to brainstorm a bit. I know a few of us have been brainstorming some on our Wednesday Work Nights already. You guys in Fidelis and Lockwood are always welcome to come.
 

Raven

Registered User
Re: Your Prediction: Texas Freemasonry in 5-10 Years

Good luck, Brother!
You will get through it fine.
 

Raven

Registered User
Re: Your Prediction: Texas Freemasonry in 5-10 Years

That's an awesome site, Bro. Josh!
 

Texas_Justice85

Registered User
Re: Your Prediction: Texas Freemasonry in 5-10 Years

One night we need to get our 3 lodges together to brainstorm a bit. I know a few of us have been brainstorming some on our Wednesday Work Nights already. You guys in Fidelis and Lockwood are always welcome to come.

Also hillsboro lodge has the same problem. There are 2 or 3 that meet there and they all attend each other's lodges as well.
 

diagft32

Registered User
Re: Your Prediction: Texas Freemasonry in 5-10 Years

I think the revival may have already started. I am seeing an increase in petitions and intrest. I believe (ok maybe it's more of a hope) the extreme selfishness and materialism has to grind to a halt soon. It is just another bubble, I hope. These people want and need balance and the lodge can help. People are starting to wake up to the fact that the current way is not working and never will again. We are all part of this world, and nothing in nature survives being out of balance for too long. We are no exception. Think of what would happen if the masses figured out the power of Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth. Figure out what this means to you and live it publicly. People will notice. The human race is starving for these things, but most are convinced they don't really exist. I know better.

If we treated everyone as well as we generally treat our Brethren, I believe that we will know the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth. Maybe it's not possible, but it does not stop me from trying. I can't fix anyone else, but I can work on myself. We will reach a tipping point as more and more people live selflessly. The selfish can not survive.
 

Dave in Waco

Premium Member
Re: Your Prediction: Texas Freemasonry in 5-10 Years

I do believe you have a point diagft. I think people are slowly starting to come back to the idea of a social conscience and getting more involved with their community organizations in an effort to help themselves by helping the community as a whole.
 

Bill Lins

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
Re: Your Prediction: Texas Freemasonry in 5-10 Years

My revised prediction...

  • The Grand Lodge facility in Waco will be up for sale (we can't afford it). This would allow us to be a smaller, yet more nimble organization.
  • Prince Hall Brothers will be fully recognized. No merge, but dual memberships and visitation rights will be permitted
  • Hundreds of rural Lodges will demise due to lack of membreship and/or funds
  • Masonic License plates will be available
  • Not only will codebooks be allowed during practice, but meetings.
  • Appendant bodies will experience a significant decline in membership....bordering on catastrophic.

Selling the GL building is a good idea. All we need is leased office space for the Grand Secretary & Grand Treasurer, and the Library & Museum. The Grand Communication could rotate among different cities in the state yearly.

I hate to see rural Lodges & the appendant bodies fall on hard times, but I'm afraid that it's inevitable.

Sure hope you're wrong about codebooks in meetings & I'll do everything I can to prevent it from happening.

Full recognition of PH Brethren is way past due- the sooner it happens, the better.
 
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