From the Grand Secretary

Membership: Attendance and Retention

Mansour Hatefi , PGM

Grand Secretary

Those of us, who claim to be Masons on the devoted family men, and reliable members of basis of paying our dues in a timely fashion the community with true and proven moral and and attending lodge regularly, should realize social virtues. that failure to practice Freemasonry beyond the boundaries of the lodge room will perpetuate a lack of recognition by the community as to who we are and what we stand for. We must strive to build a new public perception of the value and relevance of Freemasonry. Fortunately, many men in today’s world – the men we want to have as members, have, themselves, high standards. We must create an environment that matches their expectations of an organization representing the highest ideals. As such, there must It is very important to the success of our The fi rst hours, the be some very clear plans put into place organization for us for inspiring the new to work on growing within ourselves and fi rst months, the fi rst members to ensure attendance and having respect for the world around us; to be outward-looking and to establish ourselves as a vital and integral part of our local communities. This should be an essential step in any effort to enhance the roster of our lodges. year a new Mason spends in your lodge will often set the stage for his future in Masonry and, more retention. One such plan is simply putting the right man in the right lodge. For as long as we can all remember, the drive for new members has meant that on many occasions, if anyone showed any interest There are sufficient to become a member, signs of renewal suggesting that the importantly, his future the prospect would be channeled straight Craft is gaining a higher profile as within the lodge. into the lodge of the man he approached; younger men seek out little or no thought a place for fraternal going into how that bonding. However, candidate would in our enthusiasm to expand the quantitative relate to the members, or they to him. aspect of our membership, we should not forget that the strength of the Craft does not reside in the number of members of our lodges, but rather in their quality. Granted that the time has passed when only the elite were admitted to the Craft, but this realization should not be taken as a license to accept just anyone into the Fraternity. We should continue to strive to attract men of great conscience and character, worthy citizens, The new trend should be to assess the prospective candidate and introduce him to whatever lodge he would feel comfortable in. The personal aspects of the candidate as to his background, profession or vocation, should also be taken into consideration while informing him of the culture and overall outlook of a few lodges and then letting him make a choice as to which lodge

he would prefer, then to introduce him to that lodge. Another very beneficial approach would be to match a candidate with a lodge of common focus, providing him with the opportunity to get together with lodge members and enjoy the comradeship of each other.

However, once we gain new members, we must work hard to retain and nurture them so they become active in their membership. We must make Masonry meaningful and relevant to every new Master Mason, individually. We must afford our new brethren everyday practical support as they begin their Masonic journey through life. The first hours, the first months, the first year a new Mason spends in your lodge will often set the stage for his future in Masonry and, more importantly, his future within the lodge. Masonry is, in many ways, a journey into a new country. It is often a long journey, and not always a simple or easy one. To help ensure the future of our Fraternity, we must make certain that our new brethren don’t embark on these journeys alone. We should strive to achieve excellence in all that we do. We need to look at what we have to entice and hold the interest, not only of our present members, old and new, but also of those contemplating joining the Craft. We must have thoughtful, well-planned lodge programs, excellent standards in the preparation of lodge meetings, excellent standards for the ritual, and an enthusiastic and positive approach in all aspects of our labors, both within and without the lodge. Let us set the standard that will raise our lodges above the mediocre to a new level of excitement and interest. It is up to us to see that our young Freemasons are not left standing alone. It is our duty to assign a brother to watch over them and introduce them around, take them visiting, mentor them with experienced brethren their own age, and involve their family in their Masonic life. Let them see that Freemasons love one another and care for each other. Freemasonry is a step that should never be regretted, because the road lit by Masonic light is a road of happiness, blessed by peace and harmony. The Masonic rite is built around the individual, with the erection of a moral and social edifice directed at making a brother wiser, better, and consequently happier. By these actions our members will look forward to attending their lodge meetings and be keen to take an active part, thus helping us to regain anon the relevancy and prominence we enjoyed for so long, not so long ago. We can achieve this goal, but only if we all assume our role in its realization. ■