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aedifico42| Teaching Ourselves…

Posted at: 11:53 am

One of the greatest laments of our Masonic time (the last generation) is that we no longer have any mentors.  I know that I am not alone in this feeling.  Grand Lodges around the Nation are making great efforts to try to educate members to become mentors to the newer brothers.

Unfortunately, this takes lots and lots of time, energy and dedication.  Without the mentors, you don’t get too many men who have the love of Craft that will produce more mentors, and thereby, more educated brothers.

We find ourselves in a time where we must do it ourselves.

In blog after blog, and conversation after conversation I continue to hear the drumbeat.  There are programs, to be sure, but there are not enough men willing to take younger brothers under their wing and actually SIT DOWN AND TEACH THEM HOW TO BE MASONS!!!

From the feedback we get here at MasonicMinute.com, we know that there are a narrow few of you who care…as compared to the rest of the Craft.  Those of us who are part of this virtual Lodge can talk to each other forever, but if we do not get with the program and actually practice what we preach, we are spreading nothing but bits and bytes all-over the internet.

My commitment manifests itself in what we call a “Book Club” out at our Lodge.  We meet once every-other month on a night not dedicated to any Lodge work.  A pot of coffee and some open minds is all we need.  For the past two years, we have had discussions ranging from the simple to the profound (usually the more simple, the more profound).

We are lucky.  I have a friend and a mentor who is a famous Masonic author.  He gives me ideas, and I run with…some of them.  I also have a Lodge where the “younger” (it’s the attitude, remember?) guys are willing to get together and ask all those questions that we think are taboo.

The most important thing about what we do is listen.  We don’t judge any opinion, but offer alternatives if there is disagreement.  We don’t have any real restrictions or rules about the discussion because that stuff gets in the way.  We also make certain that there is as little pressure to participate as can be.  It is a service that we provide, if they are willing to attend, they do.

We are teaching ourselves by reading, listening, thinking and, well, teaching others. 

Masonry in America is at a turning-point.  We are already seeing a slight statistical rise in new members (in spite of overall losses due to age and natural attrition).  We must capture the hearts and minds of our brothers and bring them to the light. 

So many generations before us did not make the effort.  We must now teach ourselves.

I can’t think of a better time in history to be a Mason.

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