I just finished reading American Freemasons: Three Centuries of Building Communitues by Mark Tabbert (see more info here). It was a really great read and I do recommend it to anyone interested in American history from a Masonic point of view.
One of the great things about this book is that it shows how Freemasonry has occasionally re-branded itself in the public eye in response to the changing face of American society. That’s all well and good, but one way that current Freemasonry is trying to stay relevant is to pretty much open the doors to anyone and everyone– let ‘em come in and give ‘em the degrees.
If Freemasonry is going to sit idly by and let someone become a Master Mason in one day, well that is just too much for me. If we allow Freemasonry to come to this, how are we any different than any other group that simply charges an annual fee for membership? Personally, when I joined the Lodge it was for other reasons than just another nametag. I’m already a member of Kiwanis (not knocking Kiwanis, mind you).
I am GenX. Born and bred a child of the Eighties. Believe me, I know all about wanting immediate satisfaction. My generation wants everything NOW. But, guys, come on! The very core of what Freemasonry stands for might as well be thrown away if we just allow anybody to join… so long as they have a checkbook.
I feel somewhat cheated that I received the 32° of the Scottish Rite in a single day. What did I really learn in one day? The three months it took me to become a Master Mason were well spent. I studied. I read. I talked to other Brethren. I learned. I understood what I was getting into. And I approved.
My obligations mean something to me. There are Brothers in my local lodge that I would trust to the ends of the earth. But when men can take the Master Mason obligation en masse, I’m sorry, they are simply being cheated.
I guess what I’m saying is simply this: it’s about the quality of man rather than quantity of men. I would rather be a member of a lodge of 10 Brothers whom I know and trust with my life than a lodge of 1,000 whom I barely know.
January 25, 2008 at 4:34 pm
Please find below my response to this same issue at MasonicMinute.com.
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I appreciate the concerns for Freemasonry that everyone here has expressed. However, as a “McMason” I feel a need to express my opinion.
#1. I was sent to a One Day class by my WM. Not knowing any better, I went willingly. Did I find the ritual work and experience fulfilling? Absolutely!
#2. Regarding the possibility that a “McMason” never returns to his home Lodge, isn’t that just as much the newly obligated Brother’s fault as well as his Lodges? Where were his mentor and/or his WM and Wardens?
#3. If a”McMason” fails to continue his own involvement and education, is not that his own decision. In my jurisdiction, the newly obligated brother is advised, in ritual, that his attendance is NOT required, but is encouraged. On a personal level, aren’t we making a judgment call on the length of another brother’s cable-tow? What gives us that right? He has to answer to the Grand Architect for his actions, not to me. If I judge him as somehow less of a Mason because he doesn’t attend Lodge, am I not usurping Deity’s place? I seem to remember a certain Jewish man teaching his followers “Judge not, lest you be judged”.
#4. Stagnancy in the lodges helped create the situation where Grand Lodges began having One Day classes. Instead of meeting the needs of young men for meaningful educational, esoteric, and social outlets, many local lodges became coffee and cookie clubs whose members became entrenched in stagnant thinking and relevance to young men. How many times have I, and many other “McMasons” heard the phrase, “We’ve never done it that way!” and “When I was in the East!” Ah yes, nothing to deflate a new brother’s enthusiasm like hearing the passwords of the Past Masters as expressed in my previous sentence.
#5. The question remains to be asked, “What are the individual Lodges doing to make the necessity for One Day classes obsolete?” Are the lodges and their members stuck in the past, recalling the “Glory Days” of the 1950’s and 1960’s or are they encouraging the newer members to take an active part in Freemasonry beyond attending boring Stated Meetings without any significant Masonic Education and cold cut sandwiches passing for a communal meal. Are the PM’s willing to give up their misguided sense of control and let the newer members grow the Craft for the future? I respect our PM’s deeply and appreciate their sense of care for the Craft, but please, don’t let one’s ego become a factor in stifling a new brother’s enthusiasm or involvement! Are the members of the Lodges offering to help without taking over projects proposed by it’s newer members. Is there any attempt to teach the “McMason” excellence in life as well as ritual. Freemasonry is more than ritual and Stated Meetings! Unfortunately that is the extent of Masonry experienced by many new Brothers!
January 25, 2008 at 5:41 pm
I think perhaps I struck a nerve here. Certainly there are those that go through in one day who return to lodge, or who try to learn more about Masonry. Actually, I don’t think I mentioned anything about ‘McMasons’ (or anyone else for that matter) not attending lodge meetings. If you’ll permit, I’ll respond to your points individually…
#1- I’m glad, Brother, that your work was fulfilling. As I said in the post, I went through 32° myself in one day. I also feel it was beneficial and fulfilling. I further feel that there was alot I missed out on. Can I go back and read over the stuff that I breezed through? Certainly I can and I will. I do think it would have been much more fulfilling had it been a bit more personalized. I cannot go back and do it again for the first time though.
#2- Not sure what you mean here. While it isn’t a requirement for a Mason to ever attend a lodge meeting, I think most Masons would agree that it is certainly beneficial to do so. For the expansion of Brotherly Love as well as one’s own learning.
#3- Again, not sure exactly what you mean. I am not saying that one who goes through in one day is not a Mason. Your cable-tow and mine are bound by the same rules, however we may have different lengths of cable– I respect that and appreciate it. And I agree that it is not our place to judge a man a worthy Mason based on his Lodge attendance. It is, however, our duty to judge a man a worthy Mason based on his character and life. That goes for any man, whether he be raised over the course of a day or 10 years.
#4- I agree. However, I maintain that simply because the Lodges themselves created the problem does not justify the solution they have come up with after the fact.
#5- I could not agree more, Brother.
I am not saying that you are not a Mason. Nor am I saying that Masonry shouldn’t take a long hard look at what is happening in terms of the “But that’s the way I was taught” mentality.
What I am saying is that Masonry in general is losing something of itself by doing these sorts of things. And, we don’t want to lose all of our traditions and rituals to meet the demands of society. We are ‘Ancient’ after all. Becoming a Mason should be a deep, meaningful and personal experince, I believe. Doing otherwise cheats the candidate of experiences that can never be re-lived for the first (and most important) time.
Best Wishes.
January 26, 2008 at 6:07 am
Brother Mike,
My own feelings on the matter are that the Lodges, and not the Grand Lodges, must make every effort to make Masonry relevant to the candidate’s everyday life. An excellent starting point is to make sure we practice Masonry, and not just ritual.
As I stated, and I think you agree, we made the mess, we have to clean it up. Let’s agree to strive for excellence in all things. Candidate investigation, ritual, and especially, life. We ought to always seek to inculcate and practice the lessons we learn in the Craft. Only then will we be able to make our communities and society better places to live.
We must also make every effort that the initiatory rituals are practiced and given in exemplary fashion. If the candidate is not impressed during his Masonic formation as to the seriousness of the moment at hand, I do not believe that we have accomplished our goals as a Lodge. As a result, the newly obligated Brother may not feel the need to continue his involvement with the Craft.
I am a “McMason”. Interesting term, “McMason”. Being of Scot and Irish descent, I know that the “Mc” or “Mac” means “Son of”. Therefore, these men who do take their degrees in a One Day Class are our sons masonically and that places a whole lot of responsibility on our shoulders. If we fail them we not only have to answer to ourselves and them, I believe our Obligation means we will have to answer to the Grand Architect as well.
Regarding “McMasonry”, I have sensed a kind of discriminatory attitude, especially among the Brothers from the older generation, that we ODC-ers are somehow less of a Mason than they are. Does that bother me? Yes, it does. However, I have made it my personal obligation to see that I do everything possible to assure the WWII generation that the Craft will be in good hands in the future.
January 26, 2008 at 5:13 pm
Where do you get off calling men McMasons? You could probably study Freemasonry your entire life and not have a clue. I know lots of men who came in through a one day class who are far more Masonic than you.
January 26, 2008 at 6:12 pm
Thanks for the input. Your personal attacks on me provide nothing to the conversation however. How do you judge me? Do you know me? Have we attended Lodge together? Have I helped you study the catechisms? Or are you making attacks because of what you read on a single blog post? Are you a Mason?
In any case, peace to you.
January 26, 2008 at 10:45 pm
First of all, I hate any term that takes the “Mc” from McDonald’s in an attempt to marginalize whatever is being referred to. It started with the term mcjobs, supposedly to denote that a job at McDonald’s isn’t a real job. If half the leeches in this country would get a job at McDonald’s instead of scamming the system, it would be a step in the right direction. So the term you used of McMason doesn’t even make sense.
Second of all, you were initiated, passed and raised in 3 days. Throw in your proficiencies and it could be up to 6 days. Compared to a one day class, that is only 5 more days. What is important is what a Mason accomplishes over his lifetime, not a few days.
Third, you refer to quality over quantity. That has nothing to do with a one day class. Most men who come in the traditional way never come back to lodge. Having 10 men you know in lodge are 10 men who are just as likely to have come in from a one day class as from the traditional way.
January 27, 2008 at 4:04 am
Well, I’m busted. I have never worked at McDonalds. While in college (just recently paid off my student loans, BTW) I did work at a number of places, however, including Pizza Hut and some other eateries… And, I’m not sure exactly how it applies to the conversation, but my version of leeching off the system is working many, many long hours into the night writing software for people that don’t always pay me what they owe.
Yes, I was initiated, passed and raised in three days. And with the proficiencies you could count six days (recently turned in the MM proficiency, which is not a req, or it would have been five days). But that doesn’t count the hours spent learning the catechisms of the degrees. Even if it did, by your own numbers it is one day vs. six days. That’s roughly 17%. Are you really arguing that one can get as much out of Masonry in 17% of the time? From candidate to Master? Really?
As an example, I think I speak for most people when I say it’s really tough to do a full week’s worth of work on Monday alone.
Regarding your third point, I think you are missing my point, but I would like to ask you to show me your numbers to back up your statement. That would be interesting.
Finally, please re-read the initial post. I never used the term McMason at any point in the post. Brethren whether they are initiated, passed and raised in one day or 10 years are Masons. I’m referring to the techniques used by Grand Lodges to try and drum up the membership roles.
January 27, 2008 at 1:51 pm
Here’s the numbers: a few thousand men have become Masons through the one day class. Hundreds of thousands have become Masons the traditional way. More of the latter group don’t bother to get involved than the former. This is a making Freemasonry relevant issue, not a one day class issue.
January 27, 2008 at 2:11 pm
Brother Mike, Can I offer some wise counsel. It seems Anonymous does not want to discuss the issue calmly. I would suggest you quit arguing, both of you, remember your Obligations, and agree to disagree.
At the same time, I hope that I have not contributed in a negative manner to this discourse.
Respectfully and Fraternally,
Dan
January 27, 2008 at 2:47 pm
Brother Dan, your counsel is both timely and good. For my part, I will refrain from any future comments on this issue.
Anyone may, of course, continue to post comments, but be forewarned: I will remove any comments that do not strive to further peace and harmony among our Brotherhood. Ours should be a fraternity without contention, except that ‘noble contention’. And it would appear that some of the comments posted on this topic have been somewhat less than noble. If I have been too negative, I do apologize.
April 5, 2008 at 8:07 pm
Can’t we all “brothers” just get along…I have been a MM for 8 years now…I have been lecturing new candidates for the last several years…
I think that going through a one day thing does not fully educate new candidates…I guess it has its purpose…Monetarily I guess…Since the majority of money goes to the grand lodges of the different states…I do not attend lodge meetings or go to lodge for the benefit of the “grand lodge’…I go for the benefit or my brothers who I would trust to the ends…
If brothers do not want to get involved and participate further in lodge, “who cares”…This is where priorities come in play…You either want to or you don’t…It is in your heart or it is not…
We need to spend our time and thoughts on things such as the masonic homes…The masonic homes that we have all though would be a place for us as masons when we grow old and have nothing…This we have recently learned that it is a misnomer that any of us or our wives, widows, or orphans will even have a place…The masonic homes will accept anyone and being a MM or anything does not give us any rights at all when the time comes…This is what we need to spend our time on…Things that matter to us…
A “one day” brother could become just as educated and brotherly as the “traditional” brother if he has masonry and his brothers in his heart…
Thanks…C
April 7, 2008 at 11:12 pm
Mike—I agree. McMasonry is not a good thing. I think the only people that should be able to receive degrees short of time or without demonstrating proficiency should be exceptional cases, such as deploying military, etc. I think that the majority of Mcmasons don’t appreciate their degrees as much as somebody who stood on trembling legs and demonstrated their knowledge.
http://woodyjones.wordpress.com/
April 20, 2008 at 10:35 am
Again, we are missing the point in our quest to trump or attack the messenger!
The point of Masonry is what you do, the quality of how you live your life and how you try to improve the state of mankind, in turn, improving yourself.
Whether a brother obtains the proper degree in one day or in one lifetime is only a step in the journey of life! What should be important is the morality and character of how the Brother(s) live their lives!
Anything worth having is worth working for! Conversely, there are exceptions to consider as well! The value of a one day degree should be looked at on a case by case basis! THE KEY IS WHAT DOES THE BROTHER TO IMPROVE HIMSELF AND WORLD AFTER THE DEGREE!
Brother Mike is not wrong in his opinion, it gives us cause to think!
May 4, 2008 at 11:10 pm
Here here Brother Mike!
While it is true that Freemasonry should adapt over time this kind of evolution must never change the ‘core’ of what Freemasonry is.
These days it almost seems as though Masonry is pandering to the times out of fear of extinction. Chance to Advance degree work is issuing new brothers through like a degree mill. In my opinion, a man absolutely must experience his third degree raising personally to draw the greatest benefit from it.
I’m going to put up a post on 3Ruffians.com about this as well. The more of us who speak up in favor of tradition and real masonic value, the better.