It’s Just a Fraternity!

by Midnight Freemason Guest Contributor

C. R. Dunning, Jr.

While I’m not very active on social media, I do occasionally wander through its twisting catacombs. Recently I was doing just that, and across two days I repeatedly saw presumably well-meaning Masons in different virtual spaces making assertive comments like the title of this piece. Some of them even voiced frustration with people who are “trying to make it what it isn’t.” In almost every case, a more pointed complaint was made against Masons who regard the Fraternity as a contemplative, spiritual, or philosophical tradition. Some specifically grumbled that their brothers who want their lodge environments to be more sincere, reverent, and inspiring are taking the fun out of Masonry.

Interestingly, these complaining brothers didn’t mention what they think the limits are to being a fraternity. Is this Fraternity only about fun fellowship? Does it concern itself with self-improvement? Is mutual support part of it? And, if it includes any of those things that are beyond simply making and hanging out with friends, then where exactly is the dividing line that separates them from spirituality, philosophy, and being contemplative? How is it that coming together for study and discussion of spirituality and philosophy interferes with good fellowship?

Another observation I made was that none of these brothers referenced the ritual of this Fraternity to support their claim. It made me wonder if they’ve ever listened to the actual words of the rituals that facilitate becoming a full member of this Fraternity. It’s hard to not conclude that to them many of the rituals’ words are just fancy but meaningless paper, bows, and ribbons on the package of membership. Somehow these brothers haven’t fully realized that the words of our rituals are meant to teach real lessons, provide real instructions, and urge real efforts to learn and grow spiritually and philosophically.

Similarly, it seems clear that the complaining brothers haven’t studied the history of our Craft. They haven’t been impressed with the fact that the rituals of this Fraternity were developed by men who were very interested in spirituality and philosophy. Those same men made sure that the shift from Operative Masonry to Speculative Masonry emphasized the spiritual and philosophical dimensions of the Builder’s Art. These and later great leaders of Masonic thought have repeatedly stated in their own words how important a solemn and contemplative atmosphere is to accomplish the central intentions of our ritual. Heck, they even wrote such admonitions into the ritual itself! But I have digressed to the topic of the previous paragraph.

Another problem behind the scenes of those complaints is that many brothers don’t know how to differentiate spirituality from religion. So, being taught that Masonry is not a religion, and that there should be no religious contention in the lodge, has given some brothers the impression that spiritual topics and attitudes have no place in this Fraternity. This misunderstanding happens despite our rituals being filled with spiritual considerations and urging us to pursue them. But I digress again. Back to the point, another issue in this context arises with brothers who, for whatever reason, cannot imagine or condone, let alone engage, spirituality that is inclusive of religious views other than their own. This problem is most unfortunately demonstrated when brothers seek or create rules and regulations that effectively impose their own beliefs on others and even remove things from our rituals and official documents that they find uncomfortable. In effect, in their own religiosity, they try to turn this Fraternity into an extension of their own churches. In the face of such ignorance and intolerance, it’s no wonder that, with the best of intentions, other brothers would scream “We’re just a fraternity!”

The point about taking the fun out of Masonry makes a little more sense to me. Different people take joy in different things, and some of us obviously have our minds made up that there are irreconcilable differences between fun and anything that involves a sincere commitment to learning and growth. By the way, those closed minds can be on either side of the divide. There are “fun” folks resistant to learning and growth, and there are “learning and growth” types who avoid fun. But I’m mindful of how important play is as a means of assimilating information and developing skills, and how often the true masters of an art seem to be more at play than at labor with their creativity. It’s also worth noting the staggering volumes of food and spiritous beverages consumed by Masons of the early Grand Lodge era while they considered profound issues and concepts! Surely there are activities that demand more solemnity and decorum, such as degrees, installations, and funerals. It is also right that some forms of humor and good cheer have their own places apart. It’s a hallmark of human maturity, and thus of Masonic virtue, to recognize where one is among these territories and their overlaps, and to conduct oneself accordingly. I’m happy to say that I know many brothers who are very good at both sincere labor and lively refreshment!

Now, you might think that I would condemn the complaining brothers I’ve been referencing, but I don’t. They deserve the benefit of the doubt and I have no reason to question that their position is conscientiously rooted in Masonry as they know it. The “just a fraternity” attitude was demonstrated to them before they became members. The negligence of our history and of the meaning in our rituals was inculcated by the examples of their elder brothers. And their perpetuation of that attitude and negligence has been rewarded with advancement and even honors. They may also be reacting to religious zealots posing as Masonic purists. In short, they’re the best Masons they can be given the circumstances of their fraternal experience. How can I hold any ire against them?

For me, all these observations and reflections point to three very important truths. First, if this Fraternity is to be what its founders intended, what its rituals say it is, and are very well-equipped to facilitate, then Masonic education is of utmost importance. In our efforts to ensure a future for this Fraternity, if we don’t know what most deserves to be saved and passed on to future generations, then we risk throwing the baby out with the bathwater. Second, an examination of our history and ritual shows that the problem of “trying to make it what it isn’t” began a long time ago with the rise of the “just a fraternity” attitude. Third, this Fraternity can be both fun and spiritually and philosophically meaningful; for brothers with open minds and hearts, the two don’t need to be mutually exclusive.

But let’s face it, fewer brothers will grasp any of these truths if we don’t help everyone see them in our history and the words of our rituals. Without Masonic education, it really is just a fraternity, and that takes the meaning and the fun out of it for those who are actually seeking more light in all the colors our tradition offers. With good Masonic education, each brother knows he can appropriately enjoy whichever color he finds most attractive, and he can do so without preventing others from appropriately enjoying theirs. In the process, brothers might even discover some colors to be more attractive than they had expected, and in doing so benefit from a richer experience. That’s just the fraternity this Fraternity is meant to be.

~CRD

Brother Chuck Dunning

is an advocate, facilitator, trainer, and consultant in contemplative practice, with more than 30 years in the professional fields of higher education and mental health, as well as in Masonry and other currents in the Western esoteric traditions. He has authored Contemplative Masonry: Basic Applications of Mindfulness, Meditation, and Imagery for the Craft (2016), and The Contemplative Lodge: A Manual for Masons Doing Inner Work Together (coming in 2020), and was a contributing author in The Art and Science of Initiation (2019). Chuck has articles published in several Masonic journals and websites, is a nationally recognized speaker and trainer on the Masonic Educational circuit, and has been interviewed for numerous periodicals and podcasts. In 2019, the College of Freemasonry in Rochester, New York presented him with the Thomas W. Jackson Masonic Education Award for Fraternal Leadership in Masonic Research and Esoteric Study. In 2018, the Southern California Research Lodge recognized him as being among the Top Ten Esoteric Masonic Authors. Chuck is the founding Superintendent of the Academy of Reflection, which is a chartered organization for Scottish Rite Masons wanting to integrate contemplative practice with their Masonic experience. He is also a Full Member of the Texas Lodge of Research. You can contact Chuck via his webpage: https://chuckdunning.com/.

A Return to Basics - Masonic Education Begins Anew

by Midnight Freemason Emeritus Contributor

R.H. Johnson

After starting a whole new Masonic Lodge bent on nothing but fulfilling an intense desire for Masonic Education, I demitted from my Mother Lodge (Waukegan No. 78). I had my reasons. I had, from the time of my Raising, until I took my demit, never been a sideliner. From Jr. Steward to Worshipful Master, and then immediately into the Secretary seat for three years--We met every Monday, no exceptions. I missed, in all those years, maybe five meetings. I loved Waukegan 78.

In October of 2019, Spes Novum Lodge No. 1183 received its charter from the Grand Lodge of Illinois. What a proud day. Fast forward through the years until now. A pandemic, drastic shifts in the way people are working, schooling, and, let's not forget, the home life that changed. What a time...

Spes Novum No. 1183 is what I believe to be the Premier Masonic Education Lodge in the State of Illinois. We do our thing. It's magical. It's education that cannot be matched. And we are succinct in all business, with no concern with anything other than a Genuine Masonic Lodge Experience, focussed on Education, Brotherly Love, and Connections.

Something, for me, was missing. How do you go from meeting every Monday, to just once a month? My Big Brother Bob came over to knock out a tile backsplash for my kitchen. A typical Brother, wouldn't take money. My wife baked him some of her famous cookies as payment. Sitting at the table in the dining room, chatting with Big Brother Bob, I realized how much I missed seeing him every week. And for that matter, all the members.

I disappeared for a few moments. I printed out an affiliation petition and filled it out. I sealed it, and when Big Brother Bob was about to take off, I handed him the envelope. I said, "Can you give this to Carl? It's my petition to come back." Bob looked surprised and happy.

The following Monday, I joined the Brothers for a Fraternal night at a local pizza joint where significant others and spouses were gathered. News spread fast of my petition to re-affiliate with Waukegan 78. Lots of smiles and handshakes and hugs where I heard, "Glad you're coming back." At the next stated meeting, I sat in the familiar orange cloth-covered pew seats and listened to my old friend, mentor, and Secretary read my petition. The District Deputy was in attendance for his annual visit, which also happened to be his final one, as he was retiring from the position to follow his wife to Nebraska.

My petition to re-affiliate had to lay over, and an investigation committee was assigned. Fast forward a bit. I met with my committee, and they assured themselves, I was in the right frame of mind and without mercenary motives, and reported favorably. At the next stated meeting, after being accosted by several Lodge members not present the previous month--(I was almost hugged to death. We should all be so lucky.) I sat in those same orange cushioned pews, and once more, my petition was brought up. I was asked to retire from the Lodge whilst the members had to vote.

I was a little nervous. I had left the Lodge, and I know not everyone was happy about it. I wondered if I would pass the vote. I was called back in, and as I approached the altar, I was greeted by clapping hands and the words of the Worshipful Master that I helped Raise, "Welcome Home." I was emotional inside.

Not being able to sit still, I accepted the offer to become the Lodge's new LEO (Lodge Education Officer.) From it, I came, and to it, I returned. My plan is to have concise, one-page Masonic Education written up for each meeting of Waukegan 78 and then, offer these Lodge Education pieces right here on the Midnight Freemasons after I've presented them to the members of Waukegan 78. They will likely also appear in The Lyceum.

I hope you enjoyed this piece and that you also enjoy the short educational pieces that are to come.

~RHJ

RWB Johnson is an Emeritus Managing Editor of the Midnight Freemasons blog. He is a Freemason out of the 2nd N.E. District of Illinois. He currently serves as the Secretary of Spes Novum Lodge No. 1183. He is a Past Master of Waukegan Lodge 78 and a Past District Deputy Grand Master for the 1st N.E. District of Illinois. He is the current V:. Sovereign Grand Inspector for AMD in IL. Brother Johnson currently produces and hosts his weekly Podcast, Whence Came You?, which focuses on topics relating to Freemasonry. He is also a co-host of The Masonic Roundtable, a Masonic talk show. He is a husband and father of four and works full-time in the executive medical industry. He is the co-author of "It's Business Time - Adapting a Corporate Path for Freemasonry", “The Master’s Word: A Short Treatise on the Word, the Light, and the Self – Annotated Edition,” and author of "How to Charter a Lodge: A No-Nonsense, Unsanctioned Guide. More books are on the way.

Are You Duly and Truly Prepared?

by Midnight Freemason Guest Contributor

Bro. Ira Gilbert, PM, PDGM

My Brothers, you became my brothers as soon as you took upon yourself the obligation of the Entered Apprentice degree. When you entered the door of your Lodge for the first time two questions were asked of you. The first was whether your entry into the Lodge was of your own free will and accord. The second was asked of the Junior Deacon, who was conducting you on your admission into the Lodge, was whether you were duly and truly prepared. These two questions are inter-related.

Was your entry into our fraternity of your own free will and accord? Did any one entice you into becoming a Freemason? When the Investigating Committee spoke to you and your significant other were you asked the reasons for your desire to become a Freemason? Were you offered a copy of “On The Threshold” a pamphlet that explains the journey that you are now undertaking or some other material given by your Grand Lodge?

As an extension of the query of your free will for entry into Freemasonry, you should have been informed that being a Freemason grants you entry into an elite fraternity of brothers. A Masonic Lodge is far more than being merely a social or charitable organization. The social and charitable activities of your lodge are important. You may be attracted to the social and charitable endeavors of the lodge. These are certainly laudable activities for every lodge to undertake. However, a Masonic lodge is also a place for moral and philosophical enlightenment.

As experienced Masons, we envy the path that lies ahead for you in our brotherhood of Freemasonry. After taking your obligation in the Entered Apprentice Degree, you heard an explanatory lecture on the symbolism and meaning of the ritual that you had just completed. In the ritual for each of the three degrees in Blue Lodge Masonry there are some ninety items that require symbolic explanation. The explanations presented to you in the degrees are only a start in understanding what Freemasonry really means.

Bro. Rollin C. Blackmer edited and produced a series of lectures about our fraternity. His book was entitled, “The Lodge and the Craft”. It was first published in the year 1923. In the first lecture Bro. Blacker remarked that in the year 1923 there were approximately 100,000 brethren in the State of Missouri. Of these 100,000 brethren only about 75 men had made a significant study of the symbolism, philosophy, and history of this Brotherhood to which they belonged.
He went on to state that it was a lamentable state of affairs that the majority of its members were ignorant of most everything connected with Freemasonry. There are many reasons for this regrettable state of affairs.

The first of these reasons lies in the fact that our fraternity is now approaching the 300th year of its existence. Much has transpired in the past 300 years. The fraternity cries out for its new brethren to take upon themselves a study of what the principles of our brotherhood really are and mean.

You have joined a group of men who are the elite of society. You should consider yourself a Masonic brother to George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Paul Revere, John Hancock, thirteen signers of our United States Constitution, and nine signers of the Declaration of Independence. You are a brother to a myriad of other Freemasons, such as Gene Autry, Ernest Borgnine, W. C. Fields, Clark Gable, Roy Rogers, Davy Crocket, George M. Cohan, Irving Berlin, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, General Douglas MacArthur and General Leonard Wood. I can go on and on listing the brethren who you can now call your brothers. You are fortunate, indeed, for having been welcomed into this great fraternity.

Were you duly and truly prepared to enter the Lodge hall to take upon yourself the obligations of Freemasonry. This query can be considered on two levels.

First of all, you were asked to divest yourself of all metals and wear a suit suitable to your degree. You were hoodwinked (blindfolded) and a rope (cable-tow) was placed about you. The meaning of these preparation and symbols were explained to you. In this context you were undoubtedly duly and truly prepared to enter to lodge hall.

However, were you also duly and truly prepared in your mind and ready to start your journey in Freemasonry? In Freemasonry, it is true that your family and means of earning a living are predominant. And, I do not mean to imply that you are expected to become a Masonic scholar, while this would certainly be a laudable accomplishment. But, it is important that you understand what it really means to become a Mason. Are you duly and truly prepared to attend the meetings of your lodge, to the best of your ability? A Masonic Lodge is only as good as the brethren that are active in its affairs.

Are you duly and truly prepared to learn what it means to be a Mason and live according to Masonic precepts? Freemasonry is an organization dedicated to making good men better. You are already thought to be a good man or you would not have passed the test of the ballot box and been admitted to your Lodge. A study of Freemasonry will give you the tools to become a better man. Properly implemented, your family and society, in general, will applaud your dedication to Masonic principles.

So, my Brother, I welcome you into our fraternity. There are many in your Lodge who will aid your quest into the philosophy, symbolism, and history of our Order. You should find something that piques your interest in our Brotherhood. There are five basic areas of interest in studying Freemasonry. These are history, philosophy, symbolism, law, and ritual (its memorization and meaning). Find an area that is of interest to you and pursue it. There are dedicated brothers who will help you as you take upon yourself the journey to learn what it really means to be a Mason.

My Brothers, I will close this presentation with a saying by the noted Masonic author, H. L. Haywood. His words may indicate to you the basic premise of Freemasonry, “Not More Men In Masonry, But More Masonry In Men”.

~IG

Bro. Ira Gilbert was raised on January 8, 1968 in Isaac Cutter Lodge #1073 and was Master in 1972. Isaac Cutter Lodge merged with Chicago Lodge #437 and he is now now a member of Chicago Lodge. Bro Gilbert is a member of A. O. Fay Lodge #676 as well. He is also a member of the Valley of Chicago Scottish rite. Bro. Ira's dedication to Masonic Education has afforded him the ability to serve on the Grand Lodge Committee on Masonic Education and the Grand Lodge Committee on Jurisprudence. Bro. Ira comes from a Masonic family, his father being Master of Universal Lodge #985, now a part of Decalogue Lodge through a series of mergers. His father was also a Grand Lecturer. His main interest in our fraternity lies in the philosophy and history of our ritual and in Masonic Jurisprudence. Bro. Ira was a DDGM twice, once in the 1980's and once four years ago. He is also a fellow of the Illinois Lodge of Research and the ILOR awarded him the Andrew Torok Medal as well.

It's Masonic Con Season!

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

RWB:. R.H. Johnson

It's June! This time of year is marked by Lodges getting back to work. And in so doing, we're seeing a major influx of presentations at the local and jurisdictional levels. If you're an active Brother, you're undoubtedly busy as all heck trying to make it to all the Masonic Education you can. It's like open season!

The year really kicked off with the Midwest Conference on Masonic Education (MCME1949.org). Read about the experience in this month's The Lyceum (The Grand Lodge of Illinois Education Publication). After that, the Masonic Restoration Foundation held its first in-person meeting in quite some time.

Just this last weekend, I was at the 4th annual Esotericon--in-person after a two-year stint of being entirely virtual. It was epic. Great speakers all around. The weekend before that was the Original Masonic-Con Event, kicked off several years ago by Ezekial Bates Masonic Lodge. This time around, it moved to Manchester, New Hampshire.

You might be curious about what's next...I'm glad you asked. The next Masonic Con event will be South Pasadena Masonic Lodge (SPML) Masonic Con - www.MasonicCon.com. There will be many speakers you all know and love, a major pop-culture festive board, and more. Then in August, both Masonic Con Texas and Masonic Con Kansas! That's right! For the first time since Masonic Con Chicago--a Masonic Education conference descends on the Midwest. You can catch all the details at MasoncicConKansas.com

If that isn't enough, how about the first-ever Allied Masonic Degrees Illinois Ingathering? This event will be on September 17th, 2022, in Bloomington Normal, Illinois. A full schedule is forthcoming.

I hope you all travel, fellowship, and learn together!

~RHJ

RWB Johnson is a Co-Managing Editor of the Midnight Freemasons blog. He is a Freemason out of the 2nd N.E. District of Illinois. He currently serves as the Secretary of Spes Novum Lodge No. 1183. He is a Past Master of Waukegan Lodge 78 and a Past District Deputy Grand Master for the 1st N.E. District of Illinois. He is the current V:. Sovereign Grand Inspector for AMD in IL. Brother Johnson currently produces and hosts weekly Podcasts (internet radio programs) Whence Came You? & Masonic Radio Theatre which focuses on topics relating to Freemasonry. He is also a co-host of The Masonic Roundtable, a Masonic talk show. He is a husband and father of four and works full-time in the executive medical industry. He is the co-author of "It's Business Time - Adapting a Corporate Path for Freemasonry", “The Master’s Word: A Short Treatise on the Word, the Light, and the Self – Annotated Edition” and author of "How to Charter a Lodge: A No-Nonsense, Unsanctioned Guide. More books are on the way.

A Night To Remember, A Preview Of Things To Come?

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

WB Darin A. Lahners

Brethren and Guests of Homer #199 

It started with a conservation between Illus. Bro. Steven Harrison, soon to be Illus. Bro. Greg Knott and myself.  Although it was derailed last year due to the pandemic, Steve Harrison has always been kind enough in the past several years to stop in Urbana, Illinois for lunch with Greg Knott, Todd Creason, Brian L. Pettice, and I (along with various other brothers who have shown up over the years) as he winds his way to Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Indy 500 from his home in Missouri.  This year we were able to have this lunch, and Steve offered to give an educational presentation for us when he made his way through the area the following year.  As circumstance would have it, Steve contacted me about two months ago to inform me that he'd be coming through the area as he needed to conduct some research in Michigan. 

Initially, I looked at him potentially coming for a stated meeting of my mother lodge, Saint Joseph #970, but as fate would have it, Steve was going to Indianapolis for the Indy, Xfinity, and NASCAR races this past weekend.  My plural Lodge, Homer #199, was meeting on August 16, the day after the final race had ended, and Steve would be coming directly by the area. Steve was also needing to have a face-to-face discussion with the Midnight Freemasons co-editor, Robert Johnson; so once Robert was able to commit to being able to travel downstate from his home in Northeastern Illinois for the meeting, the date was selected.  Steve asked what presentation we would like to see, and after performing a quick poll of our lodge members, we decided that we would like him to present: "Freemasonry Crosses the Mississippi", based on his book of the same name. 

With this, the wheels were set in motion.  I started heavily advertising the event on Social Media.  I started an Eventbrite event page to try to get a count of how many would be coming in so that I could accurately buy enough food for the pre-meeting dinner. Although, I'm Senior Warden currently, I informed the Junior Warden, Sam Shreeves, that I'd handle the meal for the event. I spoke with Robert, and agreed that he'd stay at my place, Steve would have his RV which he would be able to park in the spacious lot south of our Lodge building in Homer.  I will spare you the minutiae of the rest. 

The evening came and dinner was served.  I was amazed at the number of people that had turned out.   We had a total of Twenty Three brothers in attendance.  Now maybe that's a normal turnout for a stated meeting for you, but for someone who is attending meetings where we normally are struggling to make a quorum, that is incredible.  We opened the meeting on the first degree as we had an Entered Apprentice in attendance, and followed the opening with Steve's presentation which lasted approximately 45 minutes and was followed by a short Question and Answer session.  Immediately after the presentation, Our Worshipful Master, Dale Katterhenry, presented Illus. Bro Harrison with our Grandmaster's Pin.

WM Dale Katterhenry presents Illus. Bro. Harrison with MWGM Stephen Oakley's pin 

Homer Lodge #199 surprised both Steve and Robert with honorary memberships.  I presented the certificates and dues cards to both of them along with our Worshipful Master, Dale Katterhenry, stating that we wanted to honor them for their contributions to Masonic Education, but that from a purely selfish standpoint that I felt it would be so freaking cool to have them as members of a Lodge that Greg Knott, Todd Creason and myself already belong to.  

WB Darin Lahners and WB Dale Katterhenry present honorary memberships to Steven (background L) and Robert (foreground L)

To finish the presentations, the Midnight Freemason Blogs Founder, WB Todd Creason, presented  Midnight Freemason Senior Contributor, WB Greg Knott, with a gift to commemorate Greg being conferred the 33rd Degree in the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite.  The gift was an illustration of Greg by the uber-talented Midnight Freemason emeritus contributor and fellow 33rd conferree, Travis Simpkins.    

Soon to be Illus. Bro. Greg Knott by soon-to-be Illus.Bro. Travis Simpkins

Following the presentations, the lodge business was handled, and after the meeting, we took the fantastic photograph that headlines this article.  We also were able to get a picture of the six Midnight Freemasons in attendance.  This made Robert jokingly remark that we should change the name of the lodge to the Midnight Freemason lodge.    

From L to R: Illus.Bro. Brian L. Pettice, Illus. Bro. Steven L. Harrison, Illus.Bro. Todd E. Creason, RWB Robert Johson, Soon to be Illus. Bro. Greg Knott, WB Darin Lahners

We also had our guests come in from across the state. WB Tim Thomason, (Fifth from the left in the headline picture above), who is the current Worshipful Master of Landmark Lodge #422, drove 128.5 miles from Plainfield, Illinois for the event. One of my fellow Area Education Officers, Bro. Jordan Kelly, drove along with Bros. Andrew Friend and Kyle Koestner drove 110 miles from Springfield Illinois to attend the event.  I want to thank them personally for taking the extraordinary effort of doing that.   I also want to thank everyone who came out, again from the bottom of my heart.  I also want to thank my brethren of Homer #199, especially our secretary, WB Stephen Hooper who jumped through multiple hoops to get the honorary memberships.  

Illus. Bro. Steve Harrison, Bros. Jordan Kelly, Kyle Koestner, Andrew Friend

After the event I was texting with Greg Knott and Todd Creason. Greg stated that it was an awesome event and I did a great job.  As much as I appreciate the compliment, what made it all worth while is all of my brothers in the headline picture getting together, enjoying fellowship and education.  But the funny thing is, it really wasn't that hard to do.  Maybe I was lucky because I had connections, but at the end of the day, it's something that can easily be replicated in your lodge. 

Here's the very simple recipe:

1. Get your lodges buy-in (if you can).  In my case, Homer #199 has prioritized Education, so when I asked, everyone agreed.  But if you don't think that your lodge would approve doing an event like this, then you don't really need them to.   You just need a space to hold the event. Work with other lodges in your area, and brethren that you know that have a passion for Masonic education.  I'm willing to bet that someone will give you the space for it.

2. Arrange a speaker.  Browse https://masonicinstruction.com/the-speakers/ and find a speaker that you might want to bring in.  Reach out to them. 

3. Plan the event.  Make the event as simple or complex as you want. The sky is the limit. 

4. Hold the event.  If you build it, brethren will come. If you don't believe me, look at the above photos.   

This is the second event that I've planned, The first being the 2018 Illinois Lodge of Research Spring Symposium. Let me tell you, that event was a lot harder to pull together than this one, but it still wasn't too difficult.  It doesn't take an expert level planner to put something like this together.  If you need advice about how to do it, my email is in my bio.

In closing, I'd like to think of last night as the first of many.  My hope is that you read the article and you get inspired to do something in your own backyard. I'd also like to float the idea of having a Midnight Freemason Con.  I'd like to get as many of our contributors (past and present) into one room with a bunch of brothers and just have some fellowship, fun and hopefully learn some things along the way.  If you think that'd be a good idea and something that you might try to attend, please comment on Social Media or on the blog below.    

~DAL

WB Darin A. Lahners is our co-managing Editor.  He is a Past Master of St. Joseph Lodge No.970 in St. Joseph. He is also a plural member of Homer Lodge No. 199 (IL), where he is also a Past Master. He’s a member of the Scottish Rite Valley of Danville, a charter member of Illinois Royal Arch Chapter, Admiration Chapter No. 282 and is the current Secretary of the Illini High Twelve Club No. 768 in Champaign – Urbana (IL). You can reach him by email at darin.lahners@gmail.com.              

Three Wishes For 2021

by Midnight Freemasons Founder

Todd E. Creason, 33°

Midnight Freemasons (left to right) Greg Knott, Darin Lahners (back), Bill Hosler (front), and Todd E. Creason at St. Joseph Lodge No 970 (IL) over the summer.  We're also your hosts of the Meet, Act, & Part Podcast and this was the first time the four of us had met in person.

 

2020 has been a tough year all the way around, and Freemasonry has certainly not weathered the storm any better than anybody else.  But I think we’ve learned a few things as we’ve gone along, and my hope is that as we all pick up our tools and get back to work in the quarry in this upcoming year, we take a few of the things we’ve learned with us. 

Use The Tools We’ve Learned

I just turned over 100,00 miles on my odometer.  My car is less than five years old.  I’ve about driven the wheels off of it, and the vast majority of those miles were Freemasonry-related.  I drive and drive and drive and drive.  Many of us do this.  For instance, I get up on a Saturday, I’ll drive two hours for a meeting that lasts an hour and drive home thinking that meeting could have been a phone call.  And my Saturday, by the time I get back home, has a giant hole in it.  I could have spent that time with my family—maybe taking my grandson fishing.  I could have spent that time with my friends having a cookout.  I could have spent that time volunteering at the community trash pick-up.  I could have done a lot of things, but I burned gas and put miles on my car for a meeting that could have been a call. 

That was before COVID—that was before we really had to rely on other communications tools like Zoom calls, etc.  And I hope we keep these tools and use them.  Our time together in Lodge and face-to-face should be when we have our regular meetings or ritual instruction, or when we do events, or social gatherings, or most importantly—when we’re doing our degree work.  But that’s not what most of my travel is about.

If we want new members to get involved, we’re going to have to respect their time.  We’re competing with a lot of things.  We want that next generation to join us, but the Fraternity is going to have to learn to fit into their lives.  We can’t waste their time.  We can’t say on one hand we want you to be better husbands and fathers and community leaders while on the other hand asking them to drive two or three hours and attend a meeting that would be just as effectively given online.  When we want our members to be somewhere, we need to be sure they’re going to be able to participate, that they’re going to get something out of it, and that they’re going to enjoy the experience and want to do it again—not drive home wondering why they blew a huge chunk of their free time on that waste of time. 

My first wish for 2021 is not to fall back into old habit—continue to use the tools we have discovered to make the time we dedicate to Freemasonry more productive.

Get A Handle On Social Media

I’ve written on this topic over and over again.  I’d like to see the Fraternity start setting some standards of conduct for social media.  The first argument I always get when I say this is that every person has the right to an opinion, and that it’s a free country and people have a right to do what they want to do. That’s true, but my argument back is that if you want to do that, do it as an individual and not as a representative of OUR fraternity.  When you’re representing yourself as a Mason with your Fez, or your apron, you represent us all—you are no longer a ME you are an US!  As Masons we represent individuals that fall on both sides of every conceivable topic on this earth.  Republicans and Democrats.  Cubs and Cardinals.  Ford and Chevy.  And it’s not just divisive conversations.  It’s posting pictures of events or conduct that are unbecoming of a Mason.  I think a few highly visible Masons are doing irreparable harm to our Fraternity through nothing more than their activities on social media.  I’ve thought so for a long time, and it’s not getting any better.

I’ve probably told this story—I can’t remember if I have or not:  A few years ago I had a guy asking me about joining the Lodge.  He was very interested, and every time I saw him he asked me about it.  I’d given him a petition, and I fully expected him to petition our Lodge.  He was exactly what we’re looking for in a member.  He was young.  Married with a young family started.  He was active in church and in his community.  He would have been a fantastic addition to our Fraternity.  But he never returned the petition.  I called and asked him about it, and he said he was thinking about it—I never heard back, and I had a bad feeling about it.  I ran into him and his wife a couple months later, and I asked him again about it, and it was pretty obvious that he was uncomfortable talking about it in front of his wife.  A few days later he shows up at my house to explain.  His wife had some friends that were Masons, and she looked them up on social media.  He showed me the pictures—a group of Masons holding their hands up so you could see their rings while at either a strip club or a bar somewhere.  Women sitting on their laps that weren’t their wives.  Huge pile of beer cans on the table.  You get the picture.

Now you may know that most Masons don’t act like that.  I may know that most Masons don’t act like that.  But you’ve got almost no chance of ever convincing that guy Masons don’t act like that, and zero chance of ever convincing his wife that he should join.  I’ve seen them a number of times since and they completely avoid me.  You know why?  It's because they think I’m a member of some club that parties and drinks in strip clubs and they don't want to be associated with me.  I’m not, but that’s the perception.  I wonder how many other people out there see stuff like that and think that about Masons they know.   

I’m studying for Christian ministry, and my wife runs across this stuff on social media every so often—so do I.  It concerns us both.  She asked me not long ago if I was going to have to demit from Freemasonry at some point—are people going to think Freemasonry is some far left or far right political group based on the vitriolic political debates a few very visible members engage in?  Are people going to think Freemasonry is some kind of drinking or party club based on the behavior of a few very visible members.  It’s a good question, and one I don't have an answer for right now.  We live in a different era now, and the conduct of a few can have such a huge impact.  I hope the answer is no, but if I have to choose between serving God in the future or remaining a member of the Fraternity, the decision will be extremely painful, but easy to make.

My second wish for the Fraternity in 2021 is we start taking our reputation more seriously and start managing it better before a few bad apples spoil the entire barrel. 

Get Back To The Membership

I wrote a piece years ago Freemasonry’s Obsession With Empty Chairs.  Sadly very little has changed.  We’re always looking around our meetings at all those empty seats and wondering why there aren’t Masons sitting in them.  We wonder why our new Masons come to our meetings and then stop showing up.  Every year at this time as I’m sending out dues notices for my Lodge and go over all those Masons I have on my roster that used to be active and now owe more than a year or two worth of dues I wonder why they stopped being active.  I’ll even call these members up and touch base with them.  I never get a real answer.  I know that.  It’s always “well, I got busy” or “it conflicts with another obligation I have.”  But it comes down to the same thing.  Whatever they were getting out of it before, they were no longer getting.  Like a wise member of my Lodge has said for years, “when they stop having fun, they’ll stop coming.” 

And with our new members—those ones that we just raised and are so excited in the beginning, and then vanish all the sudden.  That’s easy to figure out, too.  Whatever they thought our Fraternity was about didn’t meet the expectation.  I totally get that.  It didn’t meet mine either, but with friends like Greg Knott who joined the Lodge about the same time I did, we found a niche.  We made our expectation a reality by bringing a little less boring meeting and a little more Masonic education to the Lodge.  We were lucky because our Lodge was open to it, and wanted to encourage us in our journey—in many places that simply isn’t the case.  I’m sure if it weren’t for that bit of luck and that openness to allowing us to share what we were reading and learning neither of us would be active Masons today. 

I was appointed the State Masonic Education Officer serving the Grand Lodge of Illinois A. F. & A. M. back in October—haven’t done a lot yet, but the Grand Master put me in that spot knowing I had a heavy class load and wouldn’t really get started until after the finals were over in December.  But we’re going to get rolling now.  The focus of the majority of our efforts will be on that brand new member—getting that new Master Mason engaged.  That's the starting point right there.

Every active Master Mason I know was engaged from the moment he knocked on that door.  Masonic education was almost non-existent when I joined my Lodge (and my definition is education that falls outside the realm of ritual instruction).  What we did have was ritual instruction given by a grumpy and meticulous man name Jackson Cline.  We not only learned when to turn right and when to turn left, and how, but we also learned why.  And it was fascinating.  And we had a few young guys that were all about learning that ritual—the name that comes to mind is Sean McBride.  He was more than a decade my junior, yet became and still remains a mentor of mine.  About every Masonic organization I’m a member of right now you can track back in one way or another to this young mentor of mine, Sean McBride.  And this enthusiasm of Jackson Cline (WWII era) and this young guy Sean McBride lead me, and a few others to dig in and learn more about that ritual, and the history, and our values, and the application of those teachings . . . and we discovered vast libraries of information that almost nobody else in my Lodge had any interest in at all--until we started sharing it.  And when you get even a couple two or three or four guys enthusiastic about learning, it becomes a snowball rolling downhill. 

And that’s my final wish for 2021.  That we get back to the basics—back to bringing in new members and getting them engaged, getting them excited about not only improving themselves, but in helping others do the same thing.  When you can do that, the good that comes as a result reach far outside the walls of that Lodge.  

Have a great 2021!

~TEC 

Todd E. Creason, 33° is the Founder of the Midnight Freemasons blog and is a regular contributor. He is the award-winning author of several books and novels, including the Famous American Freemasons series.  He is a Past Master Ogden Lodge No. 754 (IL) where he currently serves as Secretary. He is a Past Sovereign Master of the Eastern Illinois Council No. 356 Allied Masonic Degrees. He is a Fellow at the Missouri Lodge of Research. (FMLR). He is a charter member of Admiration Chapter No. 282 and a Past EHP.  He currently serves the Grand Lodge of Illinois A.F. & A.M. as the Chairman of the Masonic Education Committee and State Education Officer.