Bro.BruceBenjamin
Premium Member
How do you get anyone to do anything? Short answer you recruit them and better yet you feed them (with knowledge). "One plants the seed, one waters the seed...
"One plants the seed, one waters the seed...
The first expense is a black suit, then the chapeau, then the ornate sword and when it's all said and done you're wearing an outfit that bears absolutely no resemblance whatsoever to the Knights Templar of old. Another possible turn-off is all of the drill, personally I had enough drill and marching during my 20 year military career. If what I've written sounds harsh I do apologize because that isn't my intention I am very proud to be a Sir Knight.
For the past 3 yrs at every raising in our Lodge I have been given time to address each new brother. I have done so on behalf of all the YR bodies I belong to. You have to follow up, just as no one knows what Masonry is when they join, no one really knows all the bodies until they are in for a while
David Melear said:I would disagree with you by agreeing, but I think I will add the Blue Lodge to your list. To me the York Rite and Blue Lodge are connected very closely, if all you think the Commandery does is march in parades, then maybe all the Blue Lodge does is just memorize a few words and say youre a member. I would add that maybe the Blue Lodge is frankly unnecessary to agree with you.
Finally, the cost of the uniform can be huge if you're in the line. Full committment to Commandery requires a huge committment of time, travel, and $$. This can be quite imposing for many brothers who are already committing time to Lodge and Chapter/Council. Just my humble opinion....
Traveling Man said:I found that the very precept in conflict with the basic idea of "Freemasonry". Maybe the very idea that Commandery is perceived as exclusionary? Or that the attrition rate makes this feat almost impossible? Or how about the fact that very few memorize the ritual; and “reads them", how sad!
We have no problems getting Masons to join the Commandery . We do not ask them to shell out money for "uniforms" because we wear mantles which my commandery furnishes . We voted down the uniforms and silly chapeaus for two reasons , we did not want to wear them and we do not want our new members to have to shell out all that money . We came to the conclusion , that we do not want to create Sir Knights and then tell them they have to go out and spend all this money to be active , it is not fair . We also supply the swords for those who do not want to buy them . Some buy their own , I for one do not when we have so many in our storage room .
In fine , if you become a Sir Knight in my Commandery , we will supply you with everything you need to be active . Just pay your dues , we will take care of everything else .
I am in Kentucky .