Further Comments Further to last month’s leading article (Observations), a brother has written with some additional points regarding recruitment (in no order of importance): (a)
(b)
(c)
(d) (e) (f)
the demise of the large 'works' (steelworks, forges, shipyards, sugar works, factories etc) where large numbers of men worked together and would discuss the Craft at meal breaks; a generation of masons who hadn't encouraged their sons and nephews etc to join. When I became self-employed in 2007, I no longer had to hide the fact I was in the Craft and was amazed at how many mates told me 'My Father, Grandfather and uncles were all masons'. Few could explain why they hadn't joined (to be fair the Councils and Police in the west of Scotland frowned on the Craft from the days of Sir Pat Hammill, Chief Constable). the consequences of (b) where keen young men are invited into other Orders, given a post and then being swamped trying to learn a load of ritual. I was installed into the Chair of a Preceptory in 2003; I was Installed in the Chair of the Conclave (an Order I'd hoped just to admire from the benches when I joined originally) in 2005; and had the Chair of the Royal Arch in 2006. At one time I had seven Obligations rattling around in my head, the saving grace being that neither the Royal Arch nor Conclave did much visiting and I'd only accepted the Chair in the Preceptory on the understanding that other Knights would do the (expected) monthly visits to the seven other Ayrshire Preceptories; clarification that Freemasonry has no links with the Orange Order; that it is the Church of Rome who frowns upon their flock joining the Craft rather than Catholics not being welcomed into it; and lastly many of today's partners/wives aren't prepared to stay at home while the bloke goes out to masonic meetings once (or more) a week.
My thanks to the brother for these observations. Visiting & Ritual In today’s world, points (c) and (f) are more important than ever. Many brethren (young and old) cannot afford the time—whether it’s work, family or other—and to expect visiting lodges 4/5 times a week have past. We must accept time is precious especially since many are now re-evaluating their life under the recent pandemic. We must accept that masters might not be able to visit as before; we might suffer reduced numbers of visitors as a result, but visitors do not keep a lodge functioning, the brethren do. As a follow on from time, this can affect the amount of free time a brother might be able to spend on ritual. So we need an alternative model. Perhaps some long lecture might be better as a lecture which is read by the ‘orator.’ this would allow brethren more time to study the ritual. The argument that memorizing is a way to understand the ritual does not stand up in academic circles. Therefore, what do we deem to be more important—understating or reciting?
Cross Keys April 2021
Page 30
