What's a brother to due

As of this year I left a 2 term run as Master of my lodge now that I have left the East I feel like outsider in my lodge. Just wondered if any other past masters felt kinda unneeded after leaving the East. If so how did you resolve that problem. The current master is great and leans on me a lot but I still feel like I am not a part of the lodge.


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I was placed in a situation of pro tempro in the East last year before election to the post this year. That was a four-month run followed by a three-month gap when the Master of the lodge returned to his position. One notices immediately that he is no longer the focus of attention. I guess that can affect men in different ways.

My situation was different in that I knew I was next in line and that I would assume the East next year at my other blue lodge. So, I can only tell you what I believe will be my reaction when the whirlwind rush is over.

I can also tell you that my installation was one of the most uncomfortable days of my life. I'm not one for the limelight, but I am one to face up to the duties and make it happen in a disciplined way. I'm no laci-fair, whatever will be, will be guy. I believe in respect through execution. There is no place for false pride in my lodge this year.

I have had to put aside what I enjoy most in masonry, study and research. Having studied philosophy and cultural anthropology as minors in college, masonry was a dream come true and filled the void that had developed in my life. I was consuming as many as 5000 pages of material per month before the day to day duties of the East fell upon me.

I have worked hard to rebuild my home lodge devastated by an aging demographic and many deaths in the past few years. We've raised and kept a new group of masters active in lodge. Now, we CAN open on a Master's Lodge with more than 10 masons in the room. Now we have active study nights and fantastic trips to visit other lodges. The guys spend time among each other with their families, taking new candidates under their wings and the demographics have changed drastically. They are younger, eager and building for the future. But I think I will be able to step away and go back to my studies. Continue to teach new masons and train others to take over the duties in the chairs and degrees. But I can't be sure until the deed is done.

I'm sure you will find the answer. Look for something to do around the lodge that the Master would support. Get involved with apendant bodies. Remember that you still have a duty to masonry to guard the West Gate and coach up the new members coming into the craft.

God bless brother and keep the lines of communication open, both here and among those brethren you feel confident with in your social circle.

What's a Brother due? Nothing. A Master of a Lodge is there to not only lead, but to serve. I worked hard and looked forward to serving in the East, yet when my tenure was up, I was more than happy to request and accept the role of Junior Deacon. Fortunately for our Lodge, the Brother who was W.M. before me had a wonderful line selected so the transition was very smooth.

Now that you're a PM, what do you expect? A pat on the back at every meeting? It's no longer your term, but the current Masters. That doesn't mean you did a bad job or your Lodge doesn't appreciate what you've done, but things evolve and it's time to move on. Why not think of new ideas to grow your membership? Maybe visit those Brethren who are unable to attend Lodge. There are many things a Mason can do for their Lodge, but do it for yourself, not to make others happy.

For almost half a year after serving in the East, I was so burned out that I rarely attended any Masonic function. It wasn't that I held a grudge, but needed to address personal issues and recharge my batteries. Last week was the first time I've attended practice and there wasn't a single Brother there who didn't welcome me with open arms and a warm smile. It's great to be a Mason.

I'm not a PM, but have been in leadership situations in other organizations and I agree with what Brother Bowden said above.
Becoming a PM doesn't mean that you should stop all the good things you've been doing for your lodge the last seven years, it just means that there is time to refocus the attention.

I'm certain that most lodges have areas that could use more dedicated management and efforts, and I believe that most WM would welcome it. Decided that you'll help out the lodge by coordinating all the fundraising efforts, that you'll be in charge of fraternal visitations or reaching out to the visits.
Take initiative and establish a teaching group that finally teach the lectures to more than the two people who happens to know them. Start that bookclub that you've always though about, but never had time to do, or sit down and help write the lodges history in a paper for TLR.

In short I think there is plenty of things to do for any member of our fraternity, whether they are PMs or not, and I think that most WMs will support it.

The only thing you cannot get, is the power you had when you wore the emblem of WM. But unless this is all you are thirsting for, I think you can find your place.

Brothers
Thanks for all the replies although I think some may have taken the question other than I originally intended.
No. Brother I want no pats on the back
I was only trying to say that it is awkward now not being the master.
You kinda get into a groove and then
You have to readjust.
Was just wondering if any body else felt kinda well for lack of better words lost after their term
And again thanks brothers for your input

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You will do well brother. It's just another step in masonry.

Soon, once you've found your true niche, you'll just look back at this a funny thing that happened to you on the way to the forum.

After all, the EAST is a most unnatural place to be for all of us. But it sure adds mettle to a man's armor.



You know, I just can't remember any good songs for the aforementioned movie. Not one.

:confused1:

maybe if I threw a me in there ...

Turning loose after a two term run will be hard. But, it will come to you. Get involved with teaching or focus on degree work. Good luck.

Speaking as a Past Master, there's no way I could do two consecutive terms. Even though I haven't been very active since my tenure, I was more than happy to hand over the reigns to our current Master, whom I deeply respect. It has allowed me to work on this site, take a much needed break and focus on where I can best contribute to the Craft.

I served 3 terms and was reelected for a fourth....I had to step down for family reasons...I see know problem with serving that many terms especially if the lodge is going in the right direction....My question would be for those who only served one term and passed the gavel, what ideas did you implement in your lodge?

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Like Blake, by the end of my term I was burnt out and ready to pass the gavel. This year I was asked to serve as Senior Steward. While I probably should have taken a year off to catch my breath, I think the change has made a nice transition and reinforces a lesson in humility that we all should have learned by the time we sat in the East. Namely, whether we're serving from the "big chair" or serving iced tea, it's all service to our brothers. If you're feeling like an outsider, you could do far worse than helping in the kitchen or on your building committee. You don't need a title or jewels, you just need to look at where your help is needed and pitch in.

I like that answer. Very well put funny you mention serving tea as I help the stewards prepare the meal for our last communication.but our lodge is so small you are likely to see our master washing dishes when I sat in the east I was the grounds committee.like I said we are a small lodge lol

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