Younger Masonry
I was sitting in Acanthus Lodge No. 632 in Des Moines on Monday night. I am a new member of Acanthus having dually affiliated in a month or so ago. The officers of Acanthus were conferring an Entered Apprentice degree. And, as I looked around at the officers it occurred to me that almost all of them looked to be men under forty.
This caused me to reflect on the age of members in our fraternity.
While I have no statistical analysis to back this up, my own personal observation from lodges I visit, to Grand Lodge sessions I attend, to the interest of Freemasonry on the internet is that Masonic membership is beginning to become younger again. I see many more young faces in leadership in the Craft, I see a growing interest in fraternity among younger men. And, I see those men being very active in the Craft. Acanthus Lodge should be congratulated for getting these new men involved! They are obviously working hard to involve new members.
Now that we are again getting younger men to consider Freemasonry, we need to make sure we give them Freemasonry. As a fraternal organization we need to reexamine our core principles, remind ourselves of the essentials of the Craft, and make sure we pass on those essentials to the incoming generation.
Younger Masons want Masonic education, and we must give them that. Younger Masons want to understand the power and meaning of our ritual. Younger Masons are looking for avenues for them to participate in the life of the Craft.
When I became a Mason, seven years ago now, I wasn't looking for another dinner club, or another charity to contribute to. I wasn't looking for another community service organization. I was looking to become a part of the oldest and noblest fraternity of men.
We need to make sure we give these new young Masons what they joined to get. We need to give them those things that are unique to our fraternity that they can't get anywhere else. We need to give them Freemasonry.
This caused me to reflect on the age of members in our fraternity.
While I have no statistical analysis to back this up, my own personal observation from lodges I visit, to Grand Lodge sessions I attend, to the interest of Freemasonry on the internet is that Masonic membership is beginning to become younger again. I see many more young faces in leadership in the Craft, I see a growing interest in fraternity among younger men. And, I see those men being very active in the Craft. Acanthus Lodge should be congratulated for getting these new men involved! They are obviously working hard to involve new members.
Now that we are again getting younger men to consider Freemasonry, we need to make sure we give them Freemasonry. As a fraternal organization we need to reexamine our core principles, remind ourselves of the essentials of the Craft, and make sure we pass on those essentials to the incoming generation.
Younger Masons want Masonic education, and we must give them that. Younger Masons want to understand the power and meaning of our ritual. Younger Masons are looking for avenues for them to participate in the life of the Craft.
When I became a Mason, seven years ago now, I wasn't looking for another dinner club, or another charity to contribute to. I wasn't looking for another community service organization. I was looking to become a part of the oldest and noblest fraternity of men.
We need to make sure we give these new young Masons what they joined to get. We need to give them those things that are unique to our fraternity that they can't get anywhere else. We need to give them Freemasonry.
Timothy Bonney
1 Comment
Reader Comments (1)
I wanted to drop you quick line and thank you for writing this piece. I, like the gentlemen you spoke of, am a relatively young (in age and tenure) Freemason and I think you have hit the nail on the head. The esoteric nature of the fraternity and its grand history is what attracted me to it 5 years ago, but to my dismay, I found less 'light' than I had anticipated. This wasn't because the fraternity has little so share, but rather, the membership of the lodge had become complacent in the gradual shift from an esoteric society with social occasions to one that is social with esoteric engagements.
This year, should tradition prevail and the members of my lodge see fit to entrust me with the position, I will be serving my lodge W:. Master. My focus will be in delivering upon the promise that was given me, and that I have given so many. The promise of light through education in the history, ritual, and lessons of Freemasonry.
Thank you for your article.
Fraternally,
C. Thomas Payne, II
Senior Warden - Sul Ross Lodge #1300 - College Station, Tx