With all the social media, emails, and text message threads, it is easy to receive these and consider them as “official” communication. I have intentionally tried not to rely on hearsay but get the official message delivered in the lodge. Reason 4: Dispense Charity and Sympathy to Sick and Distressed Two principle tenets of freemasonry are brotherly love and relief. During each lodge meeting, the Worshipful Master asks the Wardens and brothers present if they are aware of anyone in need of our aid or sympathy. If you are in need, or know someone in need, this is your opportunity to make it known broadly to the brothers. It is also captured in the meeting minutes for future reference. In addition to the lodge Chaplain offering prayer, the lodge may decide to take other actions to support those in need. These actions may include collecting financial or in-kind donations, depending on the nature of the need. Within Masonry, there is a variety of seen and unseen charitable work. In fact, much of the charitable work done is behind the scenes and not publicized for the world's awareness. The charity we offer is less about outward recognition and more about maintaining the upright character of Masonry by doing the charitable work of the Craft simply because there’s a need. Much of the lodge’s unseen work is only learned through attending the lodge meeting. If you are present, you have the opportunity to add your charitable contribution with that of the collective lodge. In your absence, your contribution can still be made, assuming you are informed about the need; however, it will likely require more of your effort and time to coordinate getting the contribution to the person/people in need. Reason 5: Protect the Door into the Craft At a lodge meeting, and only at a lodge meeting, can petitions for membership be requested, given, and/or balloted upon. If you know someone who is interested in joining the Craft, you will need to attend a lodge meeting (or ask a brother who is attending) to request the petition and provide the necessary information to obtain a petition. After being granted the petition, you will also want to be present to hear the report from the Investigation Committee as well as take part of the ballot to accept the gentleman for initiation. Likewise, you want to be in the lodge meeting when voting for candidates who you have not personally vouched for membership. This allows your voice to be heard in determining who is admitted into the fraternity and allowed to progress further through the t hree initiatory degrees. Remember, in Masonry, it only takes one “no” vote to prevent a man from being initiated or continuing further. If there is a man that does not possess the necessary qualifications or has certain characteristics that may sully the dignified character of the Craft, you should want to be there to ensure that no one enters the lodge that should not. Reason 6: Elect Lodge Officers Leadership is critically important to the success of any institution, especially a Masonic lodge. Only at lodge meetings are the officers for the next year elected by the brothers who are present and eligible to vote. While each brother is officially summoned by the Worshipful Master to attend the annual meeting for elections, many decide not to attend or are unable to attend. Your attendance or absence may be the one vote that impacts the trajectory of the lodge for many years to come. I have personally witnessed a few elections, in my lodge and in other lodges, that were decided by one or two votes. Similarly to the precautions taken to protect the door within the Craft, it is important to be actively engaged in the election process and cautious of those who seek leadership
roles before they are ready. Reason 7: Confer Degrees
It is only at a lodge meeting where you have the opportunity to play a role in the initiation, passing, and raising of a man into the Craft. Even a degree conducted at an Occasional Grand Lodge meeting is a lodge meeting. To successfully perform a degree, it requires the presence of many brothers. Receiving the initiatory degrees in Masonry is believed to be the most important and memorable times in a man’s masonic journey. Well attended degrees provide a lasting and impactful experience for the men joining our Craft and becoming our brothers.
Prince Hall Sentinel May 2024 Page | 64
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