tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30515586.post722844835893544810..comments2024-03-13T00:15:51.021-07:00Comments on Lodgical (My Thoughts on Masonry): A Program to Improve the CraftJeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00787092364477664570noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30515586.post-68520179645916118902016-08-22T23:35:02.368-07:002016-08-22T23:35:02.368-07:00To improve Masonry, we must:
IDENTIFY potential go...To improve Masonry, we must:<br />IDENTIFY potential good men<br />INVITE them to our social functions for familiarity<br />INITIATE them into the fraternity<br />INVOLVE them once they become Master Masons<br />PERFECT the art and make it as beautiful as a song. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06773150344377262422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30515586.post-48974337028550901732007-03-20T14:03:00.000-07:002007-03-20T14:03:00.000-07:00I like the ideas of promoting balance and sharing ...I like the ideas of promoting balance and sharing our masonic experience in a holistic way. I also agree that many people are simply not educated as to how and by whom things work in the world. Is there a particular way you Brethren might suggest that we could together, and online, try to accomplish some of this education, beyond simply blogging about it? I am willing to head up any web design or development that might be needed, but I'm not sure what would be most effective or useful.Jeffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00787092364477664570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30515586.post-72627442916463145442007-03-20T06:18:00.000-07:002007-03-20T06:18:00.000-07:00In my Lodge, the hard times came and went before m...In my Lodge, the hard times came and went before me. I joined 5 years ago and was one of the vanguard of young men of high moral character to join the Lodge. Since my joining, many other good young men have joined. Most of the interest comes through family contacts but we also do civic charity events and things of that nature. We've been trying to keep up or community involvement while trying to reintegrate families back into the Craft. <BR/><BR/>While we are seeing a steady stream of new petitions from young men, their friends and families, we are sill suffering the same problem as all other fraternal orders: recognition. Very few ordinary citizens are aware of the existence and purpose of Masonry. Though I would not take this as a fault of ours. Most citizens are not aware of what Congress does, who their Senator is, what the Vice President does, or even how their local court system works. Many can't write properly in any language and don't seem to have any sense of social or civic responsibility. I think that Masonry suffers this along with all other groups of responsible, moral, upright citizens. In my opinion, the Fraternity itself is faring no worse than any other private-membership organization.<BR/><BR/>That's not to say we don't have our problems. As the current NY Times investigation of the Shrine's finances and the SJ/AASR's NASCAR fiascos demonstrate. I think that we can do much in our Lodges to get back into the public view as a force of good in the community. At our Grand Lodges, we can ensure that we are following proper procedure in all things and not letting proper procedure get in the way of our charitable obligations or our main purpose of making good men better.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30515586.post-70594604185897731422007-03-20T05:50:00.000-07:002007-03-20T05:50:00.000-07:00I think an important element of this is to focus o...I think an important element of this is to focus on your role as craftsman in a holistic sense, so discuss how your masonry fits into our lives and interacts with our business, personal, and social lives and development.<BR/><BR/>Men, especially the new generation of masons, are accomplishing great things while still finding the time to 'be' masons. I think that speaks volumes about what kinds of men we want, and what kinds of men we will attract.<BR/><BR/>I've been taking a similar approach. Identify men that would make a positive contribution to the craft, and just start talking the 'big life issues' with them. Those kinds of discussions always open the door to talk masonry.Trevor Twininghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01012748748796866487noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30515586.post-9908979135549970002007-03-19T07:37:00.000-07:002007-03-19T07:37:00.000-07:00I have been talking Masonry, and made sure that th...I have been talking Masonry, and made sure that the work we do at my Lodge (the CHIP program), gets into the company newsletter.<BR/><BR/>Just today, I informed someone who did not know, that the Shriners were Masons.<BR/><BR/>For me, I would like a balanced Fraternity where discussions on science, philosophy, self improvement and esotericism are a part of each stated communication. I also think there is room for charity work and just plain fellowship. Not evry brother is going to be interested in discussing philosophy, not every brother is interested in charity, and not every brother is going to want to learn ritual. *But*, we can use the talents of every good man to make him, and by extension society better.<BR/><BR/>So, a balanced program that makes use of each member's talents. Let's "set the craft to work and give them good and wholesome instruction for their labor".Traveling Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13965508897438794269noreply@blogger.com