A DECLARATION FOR MASONIC ACTION
by Kenneth H. Hooley
Let me open by saying that I realize that the A. Douglas Smith, Jr.
Research Lodge #1949 is normally engaged in passive research. That
is to say that its usual preoccupation lies in the collection,
collation, and interpretation of past and present events with
Freemasonry for the use and benefit of future generations.
However, our Fraternity now faces a serious national decline in
membership of alarming proportions. It has been entrenched for at
least 10 years. In 1974 national Blue Lodge membership stood at 4
million. At the end of 1984 membership had declined to about 3
million, a straight-line attrition of about simple 2.5 percent per
year. This is the most optimistic analysis. More likely, this
decline is tracing a parabolic curve, like a mortgage wherein the
remaining balance reduces to a near vertical descent in the latter
years of the mortgage term. On this basis, national Masonic
membership could well be near only 500,000 within the next 35
years. Consider the consequences against the backdrop of positive
growth in national population! This means that Freemasonry is in
crisis. It also means that strong and appropriate corrective
measures must be implemented as quickly as possible.
Our present Grand Master is most concerned with this problem. He
is certain to be receptive to a well-conceived composite plan of
action by this Research Lodge. At least 75 percent of your
membership must comprise an impressive array of leadership titles
and experience which range from Worshipful Master to Past Grand
Master. Therefore, this Research Lodge represents a unique
reservoir of ingenuity and Masonic capability within The Grand
Jurisdiction of Virginia.
The greatest of all Spiritual Masons, the Nazerene, pointed out an
eternal TRUTH which applies to all here and now present: "By their
works, ye shall KNOW them." In view of the gravity of this Masonic
hour, I urge you to depart from passive to "active" research and
development. What other Masonic body in Virginia is better
equipped to perform this most important task? Our Grand Lodge has
already taken certain steps in the right direction. This means
there already exists a problem awareness and receptivity to a well-
conceived composite PLAN OF ACTION.
The Supreme Architect needs your best present effort. Your Most
Worshipful Grand Master severely needs your present help. It is a
situation similar to the Soviets' first launch of Sputnik. It is
comparable to President John Kennedy's call for a U.S. space effort
to be the first to land a man on the moon. So, then was pressed
into service a massive pool of ACTIVE research and development such
as the world had never before seen.
With these thoughts in mind, let me urge that this august Research
Lodge seriously ponder and develop a complete blueprint of
procedure from the following Declaration for Masonic Action. Let
what comes forth be an equitable and honorable blueprint to achieve
the correct goal of renewed Masonic growth by equitable and
honorable means.
Our membership decline has TWO basic causes. (1) The first is that
negative attitudes and practices within the ranks of past
Leadership have been, too long, allowed to infect the general
membership. (2) The second cause is that this Leadership has failed
to ascertain and to positively apply appropriate corrective changes
in the outer workings of The Craft. You must accept as axiomatic
that the inner condition which causes the outer manifestation can
only be changed by a persistent and habitual effort to modify or
change the outer FROM WITHOUT through presently)established centers
of control. This will slowly induce the eventual cleansing of the
inner causes so as to stabilize the renovated exterior Masonic
structure. Remember the LAW: "As within, so without"! The
leverage we must employ is conscious EFFORT toward changing the
present effortless drift of destructive negativism into positive,
purposeful, and prolonged constructive outer ACTION.
Nine (9) Items for Action
No. 1. Freemasonry must cleanse, overhaul, and rebuild its various
levels of Leadership by proven techniques of reprogramming, so long
as these techniques remain within the parameters of the Masonic
value system as to both The Spirit and The Letter. Our Grand Lodge
has already established a Leadership training program that can
probably be further refined. We also must be prepared to accept
the probability that adjustments must be made in administrative
policies and recorded Laws and By-Laws.
No. 2. Freemasonry must effectively deal with the fact that its
future rests solely upon the quality of today's YOUTH and all of
the hereafter tomorrow's. To that end, let me suggest that the
Grand Lodge of Virginia officially and actively supports the growth
of "The Order of DeMolay." This includes the lowering of DeMolay
admission into the Blue Lodge to 18 conditionally. The condition
should be that the DeMolay member agrees in writing not to petition
any other Masonic Body for a period of 6 years. Let me also
suggest that every Blue Lodge be required to establish and maintain
the DeMolay required Masonic Committee to recruit and develop
DeMolay chapters throughout the Grand Jurisdiction.
No. 3 Every newly-raised Master Mason, age 21 and older, should
be restricted from petitioning any other Masonic Body for 3 years,
during which time he will be expected to complete the Grand Lodge
Masonic Education course. Also, let it be known to him that, during
this 3 year period, he will be expected to be reasonably active in
Degree Work; or, some Masonic Community Service of his choice.
Admonish him, as well, that failure to do so will mean that when he
is eligible to petition other Masonic Bodies he will have to do so
WITHOUT the written commendation of his Worshipful Master.
No. 4. We should also adopt a two-fold plan of Indirect
Recruitment. Part A: Wives and other female members of each
Masonic family should be encouraged to invite male relatives of
their families and friends to request of a known Master Mason a
petition for membership to a DeMolay Chapter or Blue Lodge. Part
B: Each Master Mason should, likewise, be urged to request the
female members of his family, and those of his friends, to petition
Job's Daughters and/or The Order of The Eastern Star.
No. 5. We should encourage the establishment of Daylight Lodges;
or, daylight stated meetings by existing Blue Lodges in those areas
or Districts where there exist sufficient numbers of Brethren who
cannot, because of their occupation, attend evening meetings.
No. 6. Within each Lodge a system of "buddy" committees should be
established. The function of these committees should be to make
personal contact with inactive members. The committee member would
make personal contact with inactive Brethren to invite them (or
him), with spouse, to his home for an informal Masonic family
evening or afternoon. At least, the Committee Member could
telephone such Brethren two or three times per year simply for a
friendly chat. Such occasions should be especially directed to the
ascertainment of that Brother's special personal interests and
skills. Then the suggestion should be made that these attributes
would be most helpful to Lodge activities. Ask the Brother to come
and share them with his Blue Lodge program.
No. 7. Every Blue Lodge should be encouraged to produce at least
one Masonic Family event per year, such as a pot luck dinner which
would feature an after-dinner speaker or entertainment program.
Outside talent could be used, of course. However, it would be
especially interesting to utilize whatever family talent that might
be available. There should also be appointed Brethren as Hosts who
would mix with the group and see that everyone is personally
welcomed and introduced to those who are not well known!
The remaining two items deal with the most "important" principle of
"PROJECTION". That is to say that Freemasonry must first seek and
discover the most essential needs and constructive wants of the
locale or communities where its Blue Lodges operate. Freemasonry
must then send forth is membership into the community to assist in
the development of resources and means to operate the machinery of
the chosen objective. The utilization of this vital principle is
what enabled Freemasonry to function as "Builders" of the
Government of the United States and the Society which is supposed
to direct and to control that government. Such was the character
of Freemasonry in the 18th and 19th centuries. It was this precise
purpose for which the Ancient Brethren originated Freemasonry in
the first place.
Throughout most of this 20th century, thus far, this purpose and
function has been abandoned by Freemasonry. It is, in this
century, how the WORD of the Master Mason, the "Builder," has been
all but lost! Even worse, for too long, two Bodies of the Masonic
Tree have been allowed to use and abuse the auspices of Blue Lodge
Freemasonry for their own ends. This has resulted in projecting a
negative image upon the mind of the general public. These
conditions must be brought under control, and reversed, if efforts
to regenerate the desirability and positive influence of
Freemasonry in the culture and society of America are to succeed.
No. 8. Each Blue Lodge, or a group of Lodges within a Masonic
District, should promote and execute at least one Masonic community
event such as a Masonic Fair. It should feature competitive
exhibitions of arts, crafts, entertainment, etc., awarding ribbons
and/or prizes for the best.
No. 9. Each Lodge should develop a project of community service,
designed to best utilize its reservoir of membership and
membership/family skills and talents. For example: (a) Our
communities have a growing number of single-parent households. We
must realize the severe handicap that these families suffer. We
should seek them out. We should share with them our own family
attention and help them to the extent of our cable-tow. By so doing
as Blue Lodge Masons and Masonic Families, we serve God, Country,
and greatly enrich our own lives with Spiritual fulfillment.
Example (b): A most tragic development of our time is the alarming
growth of teenage suicide. Each Lodge, or groups of Lodges within
each Masonic District, should establish a Youth Problem Counseling
Service. The function of that service would be to offer our Youth
adult special help toward the realization of their constructive
ambitions and dreams and desires for self-fulfillment. The service
should solicit volunteer assistance by professional help such as
educational counselors, psychologists, and social workers who are
already within the locale or community.
If we as Masons, and Masonic Families, make a serious commitment to
such service projects within our communities, our Masonic and
Eastern Star membership problems will soon begin to abate and
eventually disappear. Outsiders will want to become a part of our
Orders. We shall then be sowing good seed upon fallow ground. We
shall then be cultivating with Diligence and Patience. And we
shall, with certainty, harvest the Good Fruit to the benefit of
ourselves, our Fraternity, our families, our Country, and to the
Glory of God, our Supreme Architect. "As ye sow, so shall ye
reap," said the Shepherd of Bethlehem. This is another aspect of
the Law of Duality. And, as we first do so in the "outer", from
the living unconscious within each of us shall eventually come
forth The Light which shines from within The Temple Not Made with
Hands. This great Truth is also eloquently expressed by Portia,
the lady attorney in Shakespeare's "Merchant of Venice." She
refers to the power of a single candle which shines forth from a
sea of darkness.
Let me now finish with this contemplation:
Every human life must choose to ignore or to learn from the failures
and accomplishments of the Past. The Energies of Life demand that
we respond to the Present with positive richness of sharing and
caring hearts; or, with negative emptiness, barren and stark. Of
the Future, we must all await a Time with patience until, at last,
we discover what we, today, upon Mother Earth have cast! So it is
with Freemasonry. The shadow of declining membership continues to
lengthen. Is this the growth of tomorrow's fruitful womb? Or, is
it the opening of Freemasonry's tomb?
The answer to ONE of these questions will characterize the future
of Freemasonry. This is the late Hour when Masonic Leadership must
choose which price is to be paid:
(1) the administration of strong medication and, perhaps, some
surgery; or,
(2) the tragic loss and cost of a great fraternal funeral.
The Supreme Architect has decreed seasons wherein we must die for
His Greater Causes. But, He has also provided sowing and growing
seasons wherein we may choose to LIVE and labor and to create our
very own lesser causes.
Brethren, which course shall we choose to take? High-Twelve, now
past Meridian, forces upon us a choice to make. Must we not return
to labor until the Sun has set upon the Station in the West when,
then, we may adjourn to rest and to celebrate?