I recently read a piece that included this quote by Grand Master William Sardone of New York. “The Greatest Generation didn’t talk about the Lodge. Baby Boomers never heard about the Lodge. Now, the Millennials can’t find a Lodge.”

Fifty years ago people saw the Square and Compasses every day.  Most Masonic Lodges were either on Main Street, the Town Square, or some other busy thoroughfare.  Masons bought ads in the high school year book and  announced meetings in the local paper.  Every year the local paper published a photo of the newly installed lodge officers.  There was probably even a sign on the highway announcing the presence of a Lions Club, Rotary Club, and Masonic Lodge to motorists.

A few years ago a gentleman went to the Chamber of Commerce office in my town and asked where the Masonic Lodge was. The nice lady replied that she didn’t think there was one.  (My lodge was chartered in 1847. It’s not like we’re a start up.)  A friend of mine is active in civic affairs in her town. When I told her I would be in town for a Lodge meeting she asked,  “Do we still have one of those?”

As Masons we do have secrets. However, our Lodge address, meeting nights, scholarship awards and the fact that we exist aren’t on the list of secrets.

Let’s tell people we are Masons.  Tell them, better yet, let’s show them who Masons are and what we believe.

Let’s wear our S&C lapel pin.  Put a medallion or Grand Lodge tag on our cars. Paint the sign at our lodges or put up a new one.  Take  a photo of our newly installed officers and send it to our  local paper. Participate as a lodge in our community functions.  Let people know we’re still around.  

In Matthew 5:5 we are told “Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.”   Candles, like all fire, require heat, oxygen, and fuel.  A candle kept under a basket will soon consume all the oxygen and die out.
Let’s not hide our light, and die like that candle.  Instead, let’s show our Masonic light in our words and actions and spread some of that light to the world.

Ricky Stevens, Internet Committee
Grand Lodge of Mississippi

How should we as Masons answer that question?  
Here are a few answers I saw in a recent Facebook discussion after a man asked the question “What do y’all do in that lodge?”

“You know Masons, it’s a secret.”

“Oh, you know. Try and control the universe. Sacrifice goats. Clean the kitchen. Eat babies. Basically everything you’ve YouTubed.”

“Argue about money.”

“We mind our own darn business.”
“Choose world leaders and solve problems. How are we doing?”

“If I tell you, you will not believe me. Better I shut my mouth until you found out yourself.”
“How to ride a Goat”

This one really stood out to me: “My answer is I could tell you, but I’d have to kill you. And that seems to satisfy their curiosity.”

Now tell me, was the man’s curiosity truly satisfied, or did he just give up?  And do we really want to satisfy his curiosity, or channel it into further inquiry?

And then there were these replies

“How my brethren and their loved ones are doing; and how we, as a group, can help our community.”
 “Brotherhood, friendship, charity, friendship” “I would take that as an opportunity to say why don’t you come with me. We’ll feed you a good meal and you can meet a few of the brothers and maybe decide to see what we do for yourself.”

Let’s ask ourselves, what do we do in that lodge?  Are we building better men, or are we building a wall that keeps other good men out? 

-Anonymous

As Masons we are told to walk uprightly and to conduct ourselves properly at all times.  

This obligation does not end at our keyboards.   Some Masons who would never dream of using foul language in Lodge or in Church seem to think nothing of posting vulgar or offensive words or photos to social media.   Some of these Masons even use the Square and Compasses as their profile pictures!

Please stop and think before you post or share.  Ask yourself, is this something I would want my mother, wife, or daughter to see?  Are these words or images ones I would want repeated or displayed in my lodge?  Is this the example of Freemasonry I want to set for the world?  And remember, the internet is forever.  Once posted, those words or pictures never go completely  away.

As Masons we are also instructed to give a quiet word of advice or correction to our brothers if needed.  Again, that obligation does not end at the keyboard.  Let’s make a point to ask each other, “Brother, did you really mean to post that?  Are you sure that’s something that should be associated with the S&C on your page?”

Let’s think before we post, and keep an eye on our Brothers.    
Be the Example.

Ricky Stevens, Internet Committee
Grand Lodge of Mississippi

Numerous are the occasions where, throughout history, a small group overwhelmed their larger opposition. Perhaps this took place on the battlefield. Perhaps it was in the halls of justice, or in the various congresses and assemblies where the rights of all people were fought for. In these instances, it was not the size of their group that won the day, but their fortitude – that cardinal virtue which is so frequently extolled in Freemasonry.

Yet, these are all groups of individuals. And, as individuals, mankind has produced world-changing results, from religious guidance to scientific discoveries, to philosophical understanding, and to be that one voice that leads their group – perhaps to war, or perhaps to peace.

Freemasonry is but a group of individuals. Individuals with a generally similar mindset and worldview, yet at times with vast differences in how best to accomplish their goals and purposes. This is but one reason why each and every individual is important to our fraternity. If we can unquestionably learn anything from history it is, perhaps, that one person really does make the difference. One viewpoint. One word spoken. One action taken.

Whatever our membership numbers are – locally, regionally, nationally, or globally – the individual remains. The ability to act upon the square, still exists. The ability to persevere in the practice of every commendable virtue, still exists. The ability to enforce, by precept and example, the tenets of our Institution, still exists. These are the virtues, characteristics, and actions upheld and made by individuals, and are only made stronger when such individuals assemble together.

Freemasonry is relevant today, and will be relevant tomorrow, because of the innumerable individuals who still look to improve themselves, and because those individuals will, naturally, be attracted one to another. All that remains is for us to remember the command as found in the Epistle to the Ephesians: “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” If we do, success is the only possible result. Freemasonry, notwithstanding, will not only survive – it will thrive.

Fraternally,
Jared Stanley, Grand Librarian
Grand Lodge of Mississippi