I congratulate Bros. Maves, Rodgers, & Budding PM, on receiving their 50 year pins. I have three more to present and will make arrangements to do them soon, as they will be presented at the Brother’s homes because they can’t come to the lodge for health reasons.

Our annual daylight degree went very well with five lodges participating. Each had a part and did them well. Our newest Master Mason, Bro. Richard Maddux received a great degree. Thanks again to the 129th and 131st Districts for their participation. The lunch provided by the Junior Warden and his crew was also very good.

March was a good month as we also gained 3 new candidates and two affiliations, but sadly two Brothers were called to that celestial lodge above. We initiated 3 new brothers and have 2 new petitions.

Coming in April we will be having a Building Fund Breakfast on April 17 from 8 AM to 12 Noon so please come out and support this, as the proceeds are for the lobby renovations. Any one wanting to contribute to the Lobby Building Fund may do so by sending a donation to the lodge secretary and mark it for the Lobby Renovation Fund. The donation will only be used for that project.

We will have the Hiram Award and Dinner on April 28 for Bro. Albert Lawson PM. Dinner costs $10.00 and is at 6 PM and the Award presentation at 7:30 PM.

Please attend Lodge. If you need a ride, call, and we will see that you get here and home again safe and sound. Fraternally, Barry Hughes, Worshipful Master Naval Lodge #87

Masonry has been carried along in the direction of the culture and as such it is diminishing in importance as is nearly every other fraternal based organization in the country. Mature men no longer look forward to amateur morality plays as their sole source of entertainment or escape from the dally routines of work and family life. As a result, Masonry advances with the culture unchanged at its peril. The cultural forces that gave rise to its development in the United States in the mid 18th century and to its renaissance in the mid 20th century have eroded. We are no longer a colonial society engaged in a Constitutional revolution nor are we in the paroxysm of two successive World Wars. We are now part of a World marketplace and community, a place where there is a growing competition of products and ideas.

Masonry has survived thus far, perhaps more successfully than others, because of our long tradition, wealth, broad membership base, and diverse concordant bodies, in a word our “social power”. However, each of these attributes is in decline. The visible signs are everywhere. We cannot trust our survival to the direction of the society because the larger culture may not share our set of values. We must set our own course so that we are not swept aside by the drift of the cultural norms. We do not have to allow the prevailing winds and ocean currents of the time determine our destination. Naval Lodge understands that it is time to trim the sails and man the helm. Part of our problem is that we continue to try to be all things to all people. However, we no longer have the social power in our communities that justifies such a strategy. In the United States, Masonry embraced democracy and intentionally removed itself from exercising direct political influence. For historical reasons it did not focus, as Continental Europe did, on its philosophical contributions. It is not surprising then that American masonry is largely absent from the discussions that dominate the philosophical exchanges in our intellectual circles. Instead, American masonry focused on its social power.

Masonry is one of the last and probably the largest fraternal organization that still exercises significant social power. But that social power has drastically diminished because of the radical changes in the social fabric. American Masonry’s social power was largely dominated by its conservative social values. As a result, its reaction to the changing intellectual climate was largely reactionary. Civil rights, women’s rights and LGBT rights have strained the tolerance of the fraternity. I still hear ugly comments and slurs by members lamenting the changes and yearning for the “good old days” of the old social order.

There is a world war of ideas taking place as we live and breath. Advancements in transportation, open markets and communication technologies have created the conditions for a cultural war of ideas. The clash of ideas and values that were once protected by oceans, mountain range and desserts, are now being played out on the world stage. What happens in Kabul and Baghdad now affects London and New York. Masonry needs to engage men in that discussion of values—that is our reason for being. To survive as a relevant and viable institution we will need to adapt to the new cultural climate and evolve in a way that maintains the integrity of our core values. So what might the Lodge of the Future look like? A Lodge that successfully navigates that transition will need to accommodate a new generation of men that live in a highly interconnected world. In this environment of overwhelming information, immediate communication and global competition, the new lodge will need to stick to a focused mission.

At first glance that Lodge needs to employ the communication tools that make it easy for men to gain information and arrange for participation in Lodge events. Electronic Trestleboards and interactive web sites that can be continually updated are a fundamental step in that direction. To become a dynamic lodge we need to be unapologetic that we are a selective membership. We need to employ new ways to invite successful, talented and bright young men into our fraternity. Also, we need not be bashful about expecting more from our membership. Higher standards, not lower standards should inform our thinking on such topics as dues, candidate advancement, proficiencies, and Masonic education. Masonic education as it is currently being practiced needs to be tailored to meet the needs of this new generation. Understanding the core degrees and their symbols is essential but we must be able to offer this younger membership programs that engage them at higher levels as well. At its core, the new Lodge will not just be dispensing information; it will give men the intellectual tools they need to think in ways that enrich their lives, to embrace the possible and the realms beyond the sky.

Here are some small steps that Naval Lodge is taking to adapt and evolve

SELECTIVE MEMBERSHIP

The old policy of waiting for a man to actively seek membership in the fraternity is based on an old social order that no longer exists. The days in which members of a community always knew who were members of the fraternity and where the local Masonic Temple was located are over. Men commute to jobs, transfer to new communities, work in places unrelated to their childhood. It is absurd to think that the best men are going to “naturally” find their way to the doorsteps of our fraternity. The air of secrecy that fostered our growth in a day when everyone knew a Mason is now a disadvantage in a society where most people have no idea what Masonry is about. Also, new communication tools like the Internet serve to spread misinformation about Masonry’s true purpose.
I am not opposed to the idea that a man should join the fraternity of his own free will and accord. However, you cannot exercise free will unless you know about the choices. It is naive to think that a good man will come to us if he does not know that we exist.
Our custom has been not to solicit membership. But that custom has been so narrowly interpreted that many members are afraid to even admit they are a Mason
let alone talk to their friends about our ideas and values. In the spirit of a new openness, Naval Lodge is sponsoring an Open House program at the Temple on Saturday August 14. I have asked the other concordant bodies to join us in this program. We will be advertising this program in the newspapers. This is the perfect opportunity for family, friends or co-workers who have any interest in learning more about the fraternity in general and Naval Lodge in particular to attend.

HIGHER STANDARDS: CANDIDATES

We should be raising the bar not lowering it. It is a fact of human nature that men value what they are invested in. If it does not take any effort it probably does not have any value. At first, I thought the short form proficiency in the first and second degrees would be a relief to our younger members and spur them to advancement. I am now of the opinion that the short term gain is not worth the long term loss. Shortening the proficiency to the obligation has not solved our membership advancement problems. We have more new members who are not advancing than ever before. Also, doing only the short term proficiencies makes it so much harder to get that full form Master Mason degree proficiency.
The result is languishing candidates and the loss of potential young officers. This year after forming a Candidate Committee and contacting candidates to determine why they had not advanced in several years, I authorized our secretary to send out notice letters. The letters set a generous deadline and advise long term candidates that they will no longer be treated as candidates but as Entered Apprentice or Fellowcraft Masons only. The result is that they forfeit their candidate fees and are taken off our Senior Wardens’ list for candidate advancement.
our new candidates to read their essays after delivering their proficiency in lodge. For many candidates this is his first address before the lodge and as such is an opportunity for the man to introduce himself publicly. This opportunity to share their thoughts shows the candidates that we value their efforts and intellectual contribution. The readings also provide another beneficial way for our membership to get to know the candidate.

SIDE LINERS

This year I have asked sideliners to become competent and deliver ritual work. The assignment of degree perambulations and degree charges has allowed some of our members who are not in the officer line to participate in the degrees, and take their first steps in ritual work proficiency. I have been very gratified by the results. These assignments have had the added befit of reducing the demands on the line officers. Nearly all the sideliner ritual work has been exceptional. If you are interested in an assignment let me know.

OFFICERS

Raising the bar also applies to the officer corps of Naval lodge. For the first time in years, the officer line will assume “advanced stations” in August when the Lodge returns from being dark in the month of July. “Advanced stations” means that for purposes of degree practices and degree conferrals, the officers will advance one station.
Stated meeting are not affected by this policy. The Senior Warden will be responsible for the Master’s work in the Third Degree, the Junior Warden will be responsible for the Master’s work in the second degree and the Senior Deacon will be responsible for the Master’s work in the First Degree.
The Junior Deacon becomes responsible for all the Senior Deacon work in all degrees and is expected to deliver the Middle Chamber lecture in the Second degree. This is a tall order but it is good for the officers and the Lodge. This practice encourages our officers to become proficient for their advancement in the line in advance of elections and installation. It also helps to create a stable line and a competent set of officers upon whom the Lodge can rely. It also sends a clear message to the aspiring officers of the Lodge.
We have a busy season ahead of us. In August we will have the official visit of the District Inspector at our stated meeting on August 5. We will confer a first degree upon Mr. Brett Euchenhofer on August 12, a second degree on Bro. Mervyn Nicholas on August 19 and a third degree on Bro. Douglas Campbell on August 26. On Saturday we will have our Open House Program to introduce Masonry to our community. On Saturday August 28 Naval Lodge will tour the Masonic Home in Union City.

Fraternally,
V. Thomas Langford
Master

Originally Posted: August 2010 Trestleboard