Survival Revival
a paper presented by
Bro. Lawrence Reese
at C. B. Vance Council Number 85,
Allied Masonic Degrees
On 29 April 1999
Great Bridge Masonic Lodge,
Chesapeake, Virginia

I'm not sure how to give this paper without the fear of either offending or embarrassing someone present, so I ask you to please consider my words objectively and understand that what the topic covers is both sensitive and solemn in content. It is merely offered as a wake-up call based on this particular mason's honest assessment of current affairs, his proposal for action and nothing else.

Throughout history mankind has endured and overcome many obstacles. Masonry has enjoyed popularity and suffered lean times over many centuries. The fact that Free Masonry has lasted so long should be a source of comfort for us. Or should we be so smug? Are these times the same as then? Compared to the last 500 or so Masonic years, Freemasonry can currently be thought to be on the downside of popularity. How low will it go? Can we continue or even survive for that matter? What is our 'action plan'.

These are hard questions to answer. This evening, I'd like to address the issue of Masonic survival and in a sort - offer techniques for a revival. The paper is titled: Survival Revival.

A depression family in the dust bowl years - their life's saving are gone. The stock market has crashed Brother, can you spare a dime. Those with vision beyond the hardship survived...

World war two. Concentration camps. Day to day survival. Those with vision there also survived...

Most recently, a few teenagers obtain weapons and bombs and launch a terror spree in a high school. Trench coat - Mafia was at work. Those students with vision will survive those gruesome scenes currently etched on their brain...

There are many other cases like this throughout history - but the underlying message is the same - those with vision persevere. By looking inward before reaching out people gain a purpose for carrying on.

What is our vision for the future of Free Masonry?

Think back twenty or so years. No, I was not a member then, but I have discussed what it was like with those who were enough to get an idea of what it was like. A Mason had to wait for an opening in the line - sometimes for years. Service was considered honorable and notable in the lodge and the community. Masons were respected individuals in their neighborhoods. Average age of membership was around 30. Occupations of the average mason - blue collar worker. Some technical, some in the service industry.

Look at us today. Gone are the formal fund raisers, galas, which swelled banquet halls. The parades and pageantry of the old days are gone fallen prey to community indifference and religious-right opposition. Some lodges and appendant bodies are barely able to achieve a quorum.. Average age of membership is double than what it was 20 years ago. Every year, our organizations suffer net losses. Occupation of average mason - retired. Average mason's service history:: "Been there - done that". Due to lack of new members, chairs are hard to fill. Some members cannot serve because they are too old, too infirmed, can't see to drive, and so on.

So, what will the future of masonry to be like? Haven't been there myself, visited it only in dreams. But dreams can be the stuff of vision. I believe we stand at a crossroads - choose one. The boulevard to failure or the lesser path towards success.

Imagine:
Lodges again filled to capacity. A new petition will be read at every meeting. A waiting line for persons to fill chairs. Average mason's age is once again 30. Occupation: blue collar, white collar, and retired. Child care is offered for children downstairs during the meeting. Internet access on computers in the lodge for spouses during meetings. Computer games for the youth. Large screen televisions in reception rooms with cable TV for entertainment. The lodge is open for aerobics on meeting nights for member's wives. Day care set up during week days during events. Farfetched? Hmmm. Does this sound too insane?

It was once said that insanity is defined as doing the same things and expecting different results.

What if we did nothing and expected change, what would our organizations look like then?

Due to our resistance to change or adaptation, lodges will go dark due to lack of active membership. Some will be combined, growth will stagnate as elderly brothers pass on. Concessions to the ritual will be granted to bring in anybody who can serve and pay dues -don't worry about qualifications, if you are breathing and vertical, we'll take your money. Buildings will fall into disrepair and the city will be forced to condemn them. Masonry is forced on one knee, and the opponents from every direction will drive the final blow to wipe out masonry from the region, forever.

So, which route do we take? Which road do we travel? Who are we currently relying upon to ensure that masonry succeeds? Who is willing to adapt for the betterment of the craft?

The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them. - Albert Einstein.

Here are some problems that I perceive exist:

How does a retired mason in his 60s or 70s contact 20 or 30 year old in the workforce to introduce masonry?

Do we currently rely on the 20 percent of our membership, (comprised of young members) to bring in needed 80 percent of the needed membership?

Yes, survival-revival is at hand. Do I have all the answers? No. I have suggestions. I'm sure by now, every mason has an opinion - and there for suggestions of their own. But, I also have a willingness to adapt as necessary for the good of the craft.
We need to embrace change. If we don't adapt to the 21st century, all hope is lost. The candidate of 30, 40 and 50 years ago is not the same breed as the one today.

What does the 1999 mason candidate want? How do we get them in? Don't get me wrong, the method for getting quality young men into masonry does not have to change, but the means does.

To be successful, we will need a new strength and strategy.

So why doesn't what we did in the past, work today? It's a change in our understanding -our paradigm.

Lifestyles have changed:

In say, 1960 the man worked, the wife was a homemaker. He came home, ate a prepared dinner, visited with the kids, and then he was off to his meeting.

Today, both the man and wife works. Dinner is fast food or the parents takes turn. Both come home to homework, laundry, and bills. The wife is just as tired as the husband and will not put up with watching the kids just so he can run out to a meeting. etc. etc. Soccer, T-ball, Choir, Scouts, High School Prom, you name it- and the family is at it. FAXs, cellular phones, Internet, HDTV, technology has made us into a complex generation.

* The complexity of the family has changed. Single families abound. Parents of breadwinners may be cared for.

* Community life- is non-existent. There is no civic pride anymore. Life is too transient.

* Technological advancements. The world now comes to our doorstep. E-mail and Internet services is where the world shops, communicates, and gets involved.

* We now live in a 24 hour society. While the world runs around the clock, the lodge is open only a few hours each week. Why?

* Also, the norms have changed.
- By the year 2010 in the United States. the white person will officially
become a minority.

- In California next year - English will become a second language.

- The favorite male child's name in Texas and California is Jose.

- In Five years, the largest majority by age will be those over 65.

So, where is the answer? It comes from us. We need to change and adapt to current trends. But, change is not easy. It requires us to get out of our comfort zone. What do I mean by term comfort zone? Here is an experiment:

First, I'll ask each of you to clasp your hands. Notice your dominant clasp, (left thumb over right or, maybe the other way around). Now invert your clasp so that your opposite thumb is on top. Feels funny, doesn't it. Yet it appears normal to someone else. The first clasp was in your natural, comfort zone. I asked you to get out of your comfort zone and change grips. I could ask you to cross your legs, or cross your arms and prove the same effect. One way feels comfortable, the other awkward.
We need to get out of our comfort zones, even to the point of feeling awkward in order to reach the new prospect. To the outside world, you will appear normal - from their frame of reference, even though you may be uncomfortable inwardly.

We need to go where the candidates are in order to reach them and then connect with them in some way.
Here is a story to emphasize this point:
Many years ago, a mother brought her child to Gandhi and asked him to speak to her son about refraining from eating sugar. "Bring the boy back in a week." Was Gandhi's reply. She did so and the following week Gandhi spoke a few moments with the boy and then bade him farewell. Perplexed, the mother asked Gandhi why he made her wait a week before speaking to her boy. Gandhi's reply: "Last week, I too was eating sugar."

We need to connect with the candidate in a way that makes them feel comfortable and then establish interest - even if this means we have to get out of our comfort zone.

Let's be brutally honest regarding masonry's image for a moment. What is the public's opinion of us right now?

To better understand, what is your opinion of say, the Elks, the Moose Lodge, Exchange Club, Toastmasters, and so on? Are they also stuck in the same paradigm of 'wait-it-out and they'll come concept'? I'll bet the public can't tell the difference between a moose or a mason on any given day. From their paradigm, don't be surprised if we are all grouped together in the 'dying breed' category.

For survival, we need to change, get out of our comfort zone, make contacts and persevere..
Perseverance will win in the end. There are numerous examples. Here are two taken from history:

Edison just about gave up with his light bulb. He thought low resistance filaments would be the answer. They did not work. In one last attempt, he tried a high resistance filament and the world was ushered into the electric light bulb age.

A mining venture was about to go bankrupt in South Africa. They were down to their last day of operation. Credit limits were strained, men were missing paychecks. The company would go bankrupt in the morning. At ten minutes to five, a worker was about to put away his tools for the last time, but decided to dig another foot one last time and in doing so, struck the richest diamond vein in modern history.

Yes, eligible candidates will not beat a path to our doors as maybe they once did. Word of mouth is disjointed at best. Word of the Intemet, television, and magazines will catch their eye today. A serious study of the typical 21St century quality Masonic candidate needs to be done. Not only that - but methods to reach and draw him in also. Our 'PR' needs to fit times.

If we are to move into the 21St century in a proactive way, we are going to have to adapt. This is indeed a call for a survival-revival.

Act or be acted upon. Now is the time.

Thanks for listening and good evening.

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