Comments on: Too New to be Master… http://masonicminute.com/blog/2008/02/13/too-new-to-be-master/ Masonic Thinking and Working Sun, 12 Oct 2008 01:49:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=wordpress-mu-1.2.1 By: AEdifico http://masonicminute.com/blog/2008/02/13/too-new-to-be-master/#comment-10081 AEdifico Fri, 15 Feb 2008 21:09:45 +0000 http://masonicminute.com/blog/2008/02/13/too-new-to-be-master/#comment-10081 Interesting input from all on this one. I do plead guilty to starting conversations with sometimes edgy pronouncements...but I think they are conversations that need to be had. Thanks to all for your continued attention to MasonicMinute.com. Interesting input from all on this one. I do plead guilty to starting conversations with sometimes edgy pronouncements…but I think they are conversations that need to be had.
Thanks to all for your continued attention to MasonicMinute.com.

]]> By: David F http://masonicminute.com/blog/2008/02/13/too-new-to-be-master/#comment-10001 David F Fri, 15 Feb 2008 01:43:16 +0000 http://masonicminute.com/blog/2008/02/13/too-new-to-be-master/#comment-10001 I was told by a PM (four times at that) that every year in the East he always relected on how different he was from the previous years. I believe that relative to the state of the lodge, an individual mason must be honest with himself and his intentions on moving up the line. I have seen a mason advance a couple chairs and be an excellent master of his lodge and another who seemed to use it as a tool for respect. I know that my advancement has been through confidence that I could uphold my chair and have full confidence from the brothers of my lodge that I could perform my duties as a mason and as an officer. I was told by a PM (four times at that) that every year in the East he always relected on how different he was from the previous years. I believe that relative to the state of the lodge, an individual mason must be honest with himself and his intentions on moving up the line.

I have seen a mason advance a couple chairs and be an excellent master of his lodge and another who seemed to use it as a tool for respect.

I know that my advancement has been through confidence that I could uphold my chair and have full confidence from the brothers of my lodge that I could perform my duties as a mason and as an officer.

]]> By: Shepdawg http://masonicminute.com/blog/2008/02/13/too-new-to-be-master/#comment-9901 Shepdawg Thu, 14 Feb 2008 02:01:14 +0000 http://masonicminute.com/blog/2008/02/13/too-new-to-be-master/#comment-9901 Having been raised last June and have been appointed SD of our Lodge, I truly understand the sentiment behind what you are saying. But I think that it is up to that Brother whether or not he feels comfortable being an officer and continuing up the chairs. There is a lot to learn about governing a Lodge, no doubt about it, but if the Brother wants the knowledge and seeks advise and mentorship from the more experienced members, I believe that even the new guy can significantly impact and improve his lodge for the better. It’s much more than knowing ritual. You must also consider the background of the “new guy”. For instance, what is his experience? Is he or has he ever been in a leadership position at his place of employment and had to make difficult decisions there? However, if the WM is having some doubts about the abilities of one or more of his officers, I think that he has the duty and the obligation to inform that Brother(s) of his concerns and take the neccessary corrective actions before they become a real problem for the good of his Lodge. In my opinion, the Lodge shouldn’t elect a WM if there are some concerns of competency even if he has gone through the chairs and it is "his turn". I am just now feeling comfortable with being SD, but not JW, SW or WM. If I elect to go through the chairs in the ensuing years,I'm sure it will be a while before I again feel comfortable in that years chair. I hope that no one would pressure someone into accepting a position they did not first show interest in doing. Someone must step up and take an officer position every year and simply because they are one of the new guys shouldn't have any bearing on it. Having been raised last June and have been appointed SD of our Lodge, I truly understand the sentiment behind what you are saying. But I think that it is up to that Brother whether or not he feels comfortable being an officer and continuing up the chairs. There is a lot to learn about governing a Lodge, no doubt about it, but if the Brother wants the knowledge and seeks advise and mentorship from the more experienced members, I believe that even the new guy can significantly impact and improve his lodge for the better. It’s much more than knowing ritual. You must also consider the background of the “new guy”. For instance, what is his experience? Is he or has he ever been in a leadership position at his place of employment and had to make difficult decisions there? However, if the WM is having some doubts about the abilities of one or more of his officers, I think that he has the duty and the obligation to inform that Brother(s) of his concerns and take the neccessary corrective actions before they become a real problem for the good of his Lodge. In my opinion, the Lodge shouldn’t elect a WM if there are some concerns of competency even if he has gone through the chairs and it is “his turn”. I am just now feeling comfortable with being SD, but not JW, SW or WM. If I elect to go through the chairs in the ensuing years,I’m sure it will be a while before I again feel comfortable in that years chair. I hope that no one would pressure someone into accepting a position they did not first show interest in doing. Someone must step up and take an officer position every year and simply because they are one of the new guys shouldn’t have any bearing on it.

]]> By: emeraldi42 http://masonicminute.com/blog/2008/02/13/too-new-to-be-master/#comment-9863 emeraldi42 Wed, 13 Feb 2008 17:04:00 +0000 http://masonicminute.com/blog/2008/02/13/too-new-to-be-master/#comment-9863 I see where you're coming from AEdifico but I agree with Traveling Man, it depends on the brother. I know you and I sometimes see a 'less than 3 year Mason' and say "He is not ready to be a Master, what was that lodge thinking.", but on the same note I know of a few brothers who have put in years of membership who are not competent enough to be Master as well. I do however think that pressuring a new 'warm body' to fill a chair is a cop-out and unfair to the new Mason and his development. I see where you’re coming from AEdifico but I agree with Traveling Man, it depends on the brother. I know you and I sometimes see a ‘less than 3 year Mason’ and say “He is not ready to be a Master, what was that lodge thinking.”, but on the same note I know of a few brothers who have put in years of membership who are not competent enough to be Master as well. I do however think that pressuring a new ‘warm body’ to fill a chair is a cop-out and unfair to the new Mason and his development.

]]> By: Traveling Man http://masonicminute.com/blog/2008/02/13/too-new-to-be-master/#comment-9854 Traveling Man Wed, 13 Feb 2008 15:05:13 +0000 http://masonicminute.com/blog/2008/02/13/too-new-to-be-master/#comment-9854 I disagree. Arbitrary limits like this do more harm than good making two classes of Masons. It depends on the Brother, not on the time. I know people that have "20 years of experience", and it's the same year twenty times. Traveling Man I disagree.

Arbitrary limits like this do more harm than good making two classes of Masons.

It depends on the Brother, not on the time. I know people that have “20 years of experience”, and it’s the same year twenty times.

Traveling Man

]]> By: James http://masonicminute.com/blog/2008/02/13/too-new-to-be-master/#comment-9853 James Wed, 13 Feb 2008 14:38:16 +0000 http://masonicminute.com/blog/2008/02/13/too-new-to-be-master/#comment-9853 I was raised on November 16th, 2005. I am currently Junior Warden on my Lodge and set to advance to Senior Warden next year, and to the East the following year. So, I completely understand where you arguement is coming from. I did consider saying I wasn't ready but for me the decision was based on this is something I truely love and want to devout myself to. I am also blessed by a good group of officers who I know are going to be around to help out. I did make the decision not to join any appendent bodies until after I have sat in the East, though. I was raised on November 16th, 2005. I am currently Junior Warden on my Lodge and set to advance to Senior Warden next year, and to the East the following year. So, I completely understand where you arguement is coming from. I did consider saying I wasn’t ready but for me the decision was based on this is something I truely love and want to devout myself to. I am also blessed by a good group of officers who I know are going to be around to help out. I did make the decision not to join any appendent bodies until after I have sat in the East, though.

]]> By: Carter http://masonicminute.com/blog/2008/02/13/too-new-to-be-master/#comment-9849 Carter Wed, 13 Feb 2008 13:55:49 +0000 http://masonicminute.com/blog/2008/02/13/too-new-to-be-master/#comment-9849 Interesting thought Brother, and good point. I imagine that this will ring home with a few Brothers out there. Interesting thought Brother, and good point. I imagine that this will ring home with a few Brothers out there.

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