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Posted at: 11:23 pm Enough! Easy is never better. McMasonry must end. There are a few good (some exceptional) Masons that I know who went through a one day class to become Masons. Every single one regrets it and would go through the three degrees again…if they had known better. I know it has been talked about since it was created, but it is now time. Masters, Wardens and whomever it is out there in your own jurisdiction that has a say…kill it! Make a personal pledge to prevent any more of this farce from taking place! To be fair (not really, but it’s always nice to have that illusion), there are some arguments in favor of one day classes…to wit: 1) more members faster, 2) not enough ritualists, 3) it’s easier, 4) we are so lazy and arrogant that we can’t get off our asses enought to actually make real Masons by taking the time necessary to select a few good men and teach them well. Now, the first three arguments are just silly. First: More members is not good on its face. It is simply more members. Isn’t one wife enough? How about taxes…you want more of them? Corrupt politicians? Osmonds? C’mon! More of anything is not necessarily better…it’s just more! Second: Not enough ritualists…hmmmm. How about picking-up a book and memorizing something brother? Third: It’s easier. Right. So is pretending that I am thin and attractive to women. But the reality is that easy is not always good…but wait, there’s still the last reason… Fourth: Well, I can’t argue with that one, so I will concede. That one is the only real good solid logical reason why we should keep the one day class. I guess they’re right. But I still think that we ought to kill it. Like the zit on your nose the day before Prom…POP that little bastard before it keeps you from making your dreams come true! Besides, one day classes were invented by a bunch of guys who apply “business world” analysis to a fraternal setting. They miss the point before the conversation even gets started. |
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January 16, 2008
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I totally agree, but you already knew that. In regards to your ‘business world’ guys, your sentiment sounds similar to that of one of my earlier blogs “Freemasonry is not a corporation”. The one-day classes also bring more problems for the future. Here’s an example: a jurisdiction has a one day class and 300 men become Master Masons. Then 10 years later, people see a decline in numbers so some guy wearing a purple apron develops a ‘program’ to retain membership or make contact with inactive Masons. The jurisdiction adopts the program and ‘program committees’ are formed all over the place. They start cold calling Masons and ask them why they aren’t active and what the fraternity can do to make it worth their while and the reply usually is “I don’t know, I just took a one-day class about 10 years ago and never gave it much further thought”.
Comment by emeraldi42 — January 16, 2008 @ 11:50 pm
Excellent, brother. I totally agree. Masonry isn’t just about the dues money and initiation fees. It should take longer to go through each degree if you ask me. Keep up the good work.
Comment by Josh — January 17, 2008 @ 4:24 am
I cant agree more.
Being someone who approached Freemasonry from the outside i.e: I did not know anyone and did not have any familial connections. Deciding to join after I had read everything I could find on the internet and at the library and building my own favorable opinion. I would have been terribly disappointed to have watched someone else go through what I had knocked on the door for. I can say that I knew much more about the fraternity than my brothers thought I knew, as do a lot of younger men who come to our doors. Lets not disappoint them.
Comment by M.M.M. — January 17, 2008 @ 9:25 am
Our lodge is desperate for members (as always). We were rushed through our degrees and there was talk of the one day degree, but we had put our foot down and said “No! If we are going to join let us join like all the brothers before have!” I’m glad we did.
Comment by Zef — January 17, 2008 @ 11:31 am
I too agree. I also hope that those out there who agree promote the traditional degrees over the one day class and that those who do not have one day classes in their jurisdiction see to it that Freemasonry never goes to or back to one day classes.
Comment by David — January 18, 2008 @ 12:13 am
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!
Comment by Dan — January 20, 2008 @ 8:25 am
Brother Dan,
As I stated, not all One Day Class graduates are McMasons…in fact, a Past Master and former DDGM of my Lodge was an ODC grad…and he is one of the finest Masons I know. I do not want to leave the impression that the broad brush applies to all.
You do, however make excellent points, and in a future blog I will address one of them specifically. Thanks for your input.
-Aedifico
Comment by AEdifico — January 20, 2008 @ 12:23 pm
I too appreciate peoples concerns regarding one-day masons. I went through a one-day class, as did my son. I have seen many good men go through both the traditional way and through the one-day way. Brothers, it’s not how we get men through the doors of our Lodge that keeps them there - it’s what we do with them once they are in. You can complain and moan about “that’s not how I had to do it” or you can accept the Brother and take the time to teach him the lessons of our great Craft. I contest that you can not learn Freemasonry in 3 evenings spread out over three months with a couple of mentoring session thrown in. You cannot learn Freemasonry in a one-day class either. Freemasonry is ongoing learning, it’s about taking a brother under your wing and teaching him through your experiences.
I have seen many men join the Craft in both the standard way and the one day way and after their degree work, they are pretty much ignored. If they come back - great, if not - oh well. This is what must stop. We must welcome our brothers back to the Lodges and stop complaining about how he got there. Make him feel welcome and important and he will keep coming back.
I drive over an hour to Lodge each way. I’m a Past Master who tries to live up to the standards of Freemasonry every day. I have missed very few Lodge events since I became a Mason in 2000 - and yes, I am a one-day Mason. Am I any less (or any more) of a Mason that anyone else? I think not. I wear the same apron and cable-tow that all my brothers wear - I’m only different because of the mindset of many.
Comment by tom — February 15, 2008 @ 2:07 pm