enaissance Advancing Our Future –Renaissance A Masonic Has Begun il

By Wayne Spooner

Freemasonry is one of the most nimble, flexible and adaptable organizations in history.” For centuries, our ancient and honorable fraternity has captured the hearts and minds of quality men who choose to design, create, build, and contribute positively to the world around them. Through a shared focus on the core skills of architecture and the building process, Freemasons have contributed mightily to the advancement of humanity across the globe. The number of noteworthy Brethren who were change agents and symbolic pillars throughout history are too numerous to mention. The commonality amongst them has been forged in a deep trust in one another, the steadfast appreciation of the talents that our Brethren can bring to the work ahead, and a focus on harmony to unite us in shared purposes and missions. Extracting from our unique ritual experiences, we have learned how to speculate, think for ourselves, envision possibilities, and design a future that propels our Speculative Craft of Builders forward across time.

Our Masonic legacy around the world is balanced on a firm foundation of staying true to the past while being aspirational about the future. Said differently, our ability to leapfrog through time is driven by an unwavering focus on the symbolic art and applied science of architecture toward positively building and leading a better life for our families, communities, and brotherhood. Thinking small is not an attribute shared by true master architects along with many of our fore-Brothers who have helped dramatically transform countries and societies across the globe. As Freemasons, we think big and bold about the ingenuity and capabilities of skilled workmen to build a brighter future. When examining our fraternity’s history throughout Illinois, our Masonic temples were amongst the first structures built in many towns and communities. Similarly, our Masonic Lodges occupy the list of the earliest incorporated entities in several local geographies throughout the state. Reflecting on those Masonic accomplishments and many more throughout the decades since 1840, we shift and pose this question, “what does your Lodge look like, just a decade from now, in 2032?”

As we peek through the looking glass, a first reality check is the realization that the Worshipful Masters and Wardens who will serve in those roles in 2032 may not have yet alarmed the Preparation Room door. What will be needed to ensure that the Brethren on the membership roll in 2032 are enjoying a quality Masonic Membership Experience from being part of an Active Lodge for Illinois Freemasonry? To address that question, we will focus on the Five Masonic Renaissance Drivers needed to design and implement a compelling and successful future for our Lodges and grand jurisdiction.

The Five Masonic Renaissance Drivers to achieve our exceptional future are as follows:

• Driver #1 - Go Back to the Basics - Let us Not Assume –Freemasonry is complex and requires a solid level of knowledge to understand it, execute our work and activities, and just be useful. We must challenge the assumption that the Brethren have a working knowledge of basic Masonic topics like Masonic Etiquette, successfully serving on a Lodge Investigating Committee for a membership prospect, how to vote on several matters within the Lodge, how to effectively talk about our Masonic Membership Experience in both compelling and accurate ways, how to successfully execute Lodge events and activities among many other fundamental topics. Keep in mind that unless a well-informed Brother shared the above information and effectively guided you or other Brethren in your Lodge through topics like those listed above, we should not assume that a widespread understanding exists of our unique Masonic practices, procedures, and protocols. Let us work together and commit to proactive Membership Development to confidently reinstall a solid “standard” of what it means to live as a knowledgeable and productive Freemason and useful member of a Lodge.

• Driver #2 - Grow Masonic Teachers — The vast majority of the newer Brethren coming into Freemasonry are sincerely interested in genuine self-improvement and living more fulfilling lives; that trend will absolutely continue. To help these good men and all of us become the best version of ourselves, we must help the Brethren work on themselves in a safe and supportive environment, accrue confidence from valuable work and contributions made, and gain recognition and confirmation that they are actually being useful. That progression and those achievements are supported and advanced by our humble and knowledgeable Masonic Teachers (e.g., Grand Lecturers, Certified Lodge Instructors, Lodge Intenders, and well-informed Past Masters). Reflect on the answer to this catechism question to frame the critical importance of this success driver, “how do you know yourself to be a Mason?” Thus, the journey of our Masonic Teachers begins with the Lodge Intender Program. In that crucial experience, a newer Brother learns from and is guided by a Faithful Friend and Guide as he progresses through the learning experience and degrees of Ancient Craft Masonry. Therefore, if you have a passion for helping others learn and are willing to dedicate yourself to acquiring the required knowledge and expertise to serve that mission for Freemasonry, then we encourage you to chart and advance your journey to become a faithful Masonic Teacher.

• Driver #3 - Invest in Lodge Officer Learning and Development — We need experienced, wellinformed, and confident Masonic leaders who can design the plans, interpret the work to be done, and inspire the Brethren to follow along on that profound journey to build a brighter and more compelling future for every Lodge across our grand jurisdiction. Building upon the last success driver above, the Brethren who serve as Lodge Officers need help; they are not expected to achieve success for their Lodges alone. They absolutely need the guidance and support from Masonic Teachers and other dedicated mentors.

Also, we provide them with valuable reference tools like The Handbook for Officer Advancement along with hands-on learning and development experiences from attending the “Lodge Officer Development Workshop — A Roadmap to the East” events and local Masonic Ritual Schools of Instruction. The Lodge Trestleboards / Annual Lodge Plans in the future will be designed by these upcoming Worshipful Masters and Wardens who will need to keep the Craft rooted in the timeless elements of our Masonic Membership Experience while staying nimble, flexible, and adaptable to the present and emerging times.

• Driver #4 - Embrace and Use Technology in Lodge Operations — Technological tools and capabilities should be embraced as Modern Masonic Working Tools to help communicate effectively with all members and facilitate efficient Lodge Operations. Every Lodge has access to a private and secure communications system that is exclusively available for Brethren in “Good Standing” status within our grand jurisdiction. It is the Our Lodge Page System (OLP) which is accessible via the OLP websites and an OLP mobile app. Next, many younger Brethren (under 50 years old) do not have or use physical checks to pay for anything; therefore, electronic payment capabilities are critical for all Lodges to adopt. OLP provides the ability for Brethren to securely pay dues electronically via credit and debit cards. The Zelle system available from most banks provides a secure electronic funds transfer capability which is done instead of using cash or checks for payments. Overall, we can expect more and not less technological tools and capabilities in our lives in the years ahead, and our Lodge Operations will need to stay flexible and adapt to effectively engage the entire membership across our grand jurisdiction in the decades ahead.

• Driver #5 - Inspire Personal Accountability and Ownership

Being an active and engaged Freemason is quite personal. Good men seek out our fraternity for three primary motivations and expectations — Opportunities for Fellowship (Brotherly Love), Opportunities to Learn (Masonic Truth) and Opportunities to Make a Difference and Contribute (Relief). Also, as a fraternity, we are first and foremost a brotherhood of men who seek to make genuine friends in the real, physical world. Thus, add informal activities on the Lodge Calendar which provides time for the Brethren to casually mingle, connect and just talk. Working together on Lodge projects including degree conferral teams inspires personal accountability to learn, acknowledgment of self-improvement progress, pride in shared achievements, and joint ownership of “My Lodge,” not just “The Lodge.” Remember that a Lodge is not the building; it is the list of Brethren named on the membership roll who work together as shared owners and caretakers of Illinois Freemasonry now and for decades to come.

Like the Brethren throughout the centuries who have toiled as “fellow workmen in the quarries of Freemasonry,” focusing on the above Five Masonic Renaissance Drivers will deliver a brighter and more enduring future for our beloved fraternity.

Yes, a Masonic Renaissance has begun in Illinois which is propelled by the passion, dedication, capabilities and focus of many Masonic leaders and Brethren on executing the five success drivers outlined above (along with other valuable initiatives being implemented for our grand jurisdiction). As Freemasons, we are investing in self-improvement and being useful to others. Said simply, we are Builders! For more than 182 years, our Brethren in Illinois have shared their talents, time, and resources to advance our Masonic legacy. For the Brethren reading this message today, the baton is now in your hands to carry our ancient and honorable fraternity forward into the future. Like those who have gone this way before us, we will retain what is truly timeless about Freemasonry while adapting to the changing technological, communications and social norms in the years ahead. Our motto of “Masons living Masonry in their daily lives” will carry forward to