What’s Your Contribution?

BY J.D. WALKER, MASTER, LAFAYETTE-DUPONT LODGE NO. 19

Is your Masonic organization doing something that you don’t like? If so, you need to ask yourself some questions: When was the last time you attended a meeting? What do you contribute, besides dues, to your Masonic organization? These are important questions, because it is sadly too often the case that a small cohort of Brothers are the ones to attend regularly and contribute their time and effort to the activities of the Lodge.

My mother Lodge has 90 members on paper, but we’re lucky to get 15 on a regular basis at our Stated Communications. My second Lodge has 35 members on paper, but we’re lucky to get 7 members on a regular basis at our Stated Communications. Nevertheless, in both cases, when we took actions that members did not like, we heard negative feedback from members we had not seen in Lodge in years. One Brother of my mother Lodge has not been back since he and I were raised.

In my Council, there is active opposition to things we are trying to do for the betterment of our Council. That opposition, however, comes from those who are not members of our Council, and it also comes from members who do not attend our meetings and do not help in our activities.

Our organization subsists on the triad: dues, dedication, and direct attendance. Our Bodies need members who are not only going to pay dues, but will show up and help with programs and activities. When this does not happen, the members who do show up will quickly get burnt out and stop coming. This is how a Lodge (or other organization) dies. Everyone thinks someone else will step up, and no one does.

One may correctly point out that the oaths we all take as Masons mean that God, family, and our rice Feghali, along with a large number of Scottish Brethren. To reciprocate this honor and to further affirm our continued commitment to working together, I have asked the Most Worshipful Past Grand Master, Brother Akram Elias, who is also the Grand Representative of the Grand Lodge of Scotland near the Grand Lodge of Washington, D.C., and the Most Worshipful Grand Master-Elect, Brother Michael Nicholas Sr., to accompany me on this historic visit to symbolize the steady trusteeship and future architecture of the special relationship we have forged between our two Grand Lodges. profession come first before Freemasonry. This much is correct, but if your Masonic commitments are not even going to have a seat at the table, why are you a member? Yes, God, family, and your profession come first, but that doesn’t mean that Masonry comes never. If that is truly the case, then what are you hoping to get out of Freemasonry? Why did you join in the first place?

J.D. Walker

President John F. Kennedy famously said, “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” In the same light, I would say, “Ask not what your Lodge can do for you, ask what you can do for your Lodge.” Take on an assignment for a Brother who may be feeling overwhelmed, and do it to the best of your ability. A small handful of Brothers cannot do everything. If all you can do is sit back and criticize, but you do not attend meetings (or worse yet, do not pay dues), then it is better if you are silent, because you are not supporting your Lodge, and you are definitely not supporting your Brothers.

Being a Mason doesn’t make the man; it’s the Man that makes the Mason. Part of that means that Freemasonry is not about what profit you can get out of it, but rather it is about what you can put into it. Your “wages” are not tangible. They come in the appreciation and fellowship you receive from your brothers. If you are on the sidelines, step up, before we lose more Brothers to burnout because they are trying to do too much. Let an active Brother say “no” once in a while.

Official Toast to the Grand Lodge of Scotland

(CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17)

Step up.  Brethren of the Mystic Tie, on this 283rd Anniversary of your Grand Lodge, I lift my cup of friendship and brotherly love and kindly ask you to join me in delivering this special toast to the perpetual health and eternal prosperity of the Grand Lodge of Antient Free and Accepted Masons of Scotland.

TO THE PERPUTUAL HEALTH AND ETRNAL PROSPERITY OF THE GRAND LODGE OF ANTIENT FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS OF SCOTLAND! 