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What would you like to see changed in the Masonic experience?

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Companion Joe

Premium Member
I agree with trysquare. Our stated business meetings are for the business of the Lodge. Occasionally there are opportunities for other things, but our plate is pretty full with communications, reading petitions, balloting, scheduling, etc.

So far this year, we have opened the Lodge 18 times; 7 of those have been stated business meetings. The other 11 have been for degree work. I think we a pretty good job of covering all our bases and proving a Masonic experience.
 

Levelhead

Premium Member
I like to see ecerything stay as origional as possible. Once you start to bend and flex ritual it goes nowhere good fast.
 

Pointwithinacircle

Registered User
I like to see ecerything stay as origional as possible. Once you start to bend and flex ritual it goes nowhere good fast.
I would like a clarification on this point. Are you referring to the words spoken, where the emphasis is placed, the accompanying gestures? I am not sure to what you are referring.
 

cemab4y

Premium Member
I don't believe that anyone is suggesting that the rituals be altered. The general purpose of this thread, is to discuss what can be changed on the administrative side of Freemasonry. Should we expand our internet presence? Should we reach out to inactive masons? Should our meetings be more interesting?
 

Brother JC

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
I like to see ecerything stay as origional as possible. Once you start to bend and flex ritual it goes nowhere good fast.
Those aren't the type of changes we mean, we're talking the parts between ritual; education, discussion, presentations.
 

Levelhead

Premium Member
Well i was at a EA degree and the guy who did the lecture did it with a slideshow and ive seen a couple EA lectures and it really sunk in with the slide show.

Im not a big fan of technology in the lodge but the slideshow was easy to follow.
 

MarkR

Premium Member
Well i was at a EA degree and the guy who did the lecture did it with a slideshow and ive seen a couple EA lectures and it really sunk in with the slide show.

Im not a big fan of technology in the lodge but the slideshow was easy to follow.
It was a technological advancement when they stopped drawing on the floor with chalk and mopping up afterward, and started using pre-painted cloth tracing boards that they could roll out to do the lectures. Those became referred to as carpets. They were eventually put up on easels, then came the "magic lantern" projector with hand-painted slides (my lodge still has a couple of them), eventually 35mm slides in a carousel projector, and now PowerPoint. Yes, different people learn differently, and having visuals to go with the lectures increases the likelihood of reaching the different members of the audience.
 

cemab4y

Premium Member
I have seen the slideshow, for the MM degree, and it was terrific. I obtained some videos from the GL of Oklahoma. I suggested that we view them at my lodge, and some members went ballistic. "Masonry has survived for hundreds of years without video". And blah-blah-blah.

In the EA degree, we are charged to "improve ourselves in Masonry", and we are also charged to study the seven liberal arts and sciences. I believe that Masons should adopt the tools and methodologies that are available for self-improvement and academic study.

I would like to see a whole series of on-line video courses, so that Masons can improve their understanding of the Craft.

I cannot stress too strongly, that I am not interested in changing MASONRY. I only want to see adaptations and more use of modern technology in the lodge. Increased use of the internet, will help. Altering and updating some of the administrative processes, will be great.

Holding more degree work on the weekends, is not a change. It will enable men who cannot attend on the weeknights, though. Enabling members to pay their dues on line, is not a change in ritual.

As our membership cohort ages, there will be more men who cannot get out at night. I would be delighted to see more daylight lodges.
 

Morris

Premium Member
I wrote to our secretary once about paying online. I told him that I pay $15 a month to be a part of a sports website. I've never cancelled it in three years! It's so easy to just say it's only $15. I believe our dues could be set up similarly.


Jeff
 

cemab4y

Premium Member
Being able to pay dues on line, is a change that has been long in coming. The Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania has enabled every PA mason to pay dues online. The Grand Lodge made an arrangement with Payliance. (See www.payliance.com). Masons can arrange for their dues to be paid online.
 

Companion Joe

Premium Member
If I may ask, why is paying dues online so important? I will start by saying that every bill my household pays is done either online or via bank draft. We don't mail any bills. But, what's the problem with when you get your dues notice, take a check or cash to next stated meeting and hand it to the secretary? I couldn't tell you when or if I've ever mailed my dues in 20 years as a Mason. I always just give it to the secretary and instruct him not to mail my dues cards. Give them to me at the next meeting so it saves the lodge a stamp.

Granted, in my case, Lodge, Chapter, Council, and Commandery all meet in one place, and one man is the secretary for all. We get one dues notice.
 

BryanMaloney

Premium Member
Masonry has existed without electricity for longer than it has existed with electricity. Why do lodge buildings have electricity?
 

cemab4y

Premium Member
There are several ways to address your question. In the larger sense, it really makes no difference if you pay your dues online, or hand a check to your lodge secretary, or send a check through the US Mail, or pay in cash. As long as your dues are paid.

But- there are several other issues that we should look at. I belong to lodges in Kentucky and Massachusetts. I reside in Virginia, and I do a lot of international work (Last ten years in Iraq/Afghanistan). Handing a check to my lodge secretary is somewhat impractical ,when I am in a tent in Afghanistan.

With the aging of our membership cohort, we are going to have more Masons residing in Florida and Arizona, and belonging to lodges in different states. These men will not be able to visit their home lodge, and pay in person.

When it comes to implementing new technology, we need to "step back", and see how it will affect our membership now, and in the future. On-line payments also will permit members to break up their dues in installments, if they choose to.

There is an old Indian saying, about "do not criticize a man, until you walk a mile in his moccasins ."
 

Companion Joe

Premium Member
I agree with and see your point about living out of state from your lodge, but honestly that never entered my mind. I belong to one lodge, and that's the one in which I was raised and I attend, so I have no frame of reference there.

I don't think it's a good idea or practical to have monthly dues. That's just an opinion and observation.

I just got back from the Summer York Rite Assembly in Maggie Valley, N.C. Today's key note speaker made a great point. We need to stop making accommodations in Masonry for everyone. We need to make it mean something again. If someone wants to be a Mason, make sure they are worthy. If they want to be a Mason, then they want to practice Masonry, not dictate how Masonry needs to change to better fit them.

As for Bryan's straw man, I was thinking about the Masonic experience. By his logic, I can see everyone now ... "That apron lecture means so much more now that I can pay my dues on line."
 

BryanMaloney

Premium Member
As for Bryan's straw man, I was thinking about the Masonic experience. By his logic, I can see everyone now ... "That apron lecture means so much more now that I can pay my dues on line."

As for Joe's straw man, I can see everyone now: "That apron lecture means nothing now that we can pay dues on line. Let's just throw it out."
 

Companion Joe

Premium Member
I asked a sincere question seeking information. To me, paying dues on line has never been on my radar. To others, it seems like a big deal. I was curious as to why. Unlike your nonsensical reply, cemab4y offered some valid points that I had never considered. I acknowledge such and consider myself enlightened.

On this, and many other threads, get over yourself.
 

BryanMaloney

Premium Member
No matter how much people like claiming that others bring up straw men, nobody ever likes it when their own straw men are pointed out to be straw men. Ever notice that?
 

Morris

Premium Member
If I may ask, why is paying dues online so important? .

Not sure if you were asking me but I was deployed to Afghanistan. If we had this type of system it would be automatic payment, I could have made an attempt, or my wife could have paid it for me. Thats why I posed the question. I would imagine a ton of people travel for work making this to a small degree important.


Jeff
 

Companion Joe

Premium Member
Not sure if you were asking me but I was deployed to Afghanistan. If we had this type of system it would be automatic payment, I could have made an attempt, or my wife could have paid it for me. Thats why I posed the question. I would imagine a ton of people travel for work making this to a small degree important.


Jeff
I was asking anyone in general. It seemed more than one person brought it up, so I genuinely wanted to know.
 

Companion Joe

Premium Member
No matter how much people like claiming that others bring up straw men, nobody ever likes it when their own straw men are pointed out to be straw men. Ever notice that?

Most people, I feel, understand I wasn't making a straw man or any other kind of argument. My response was in reply to the ridiculousness of your post. I asked a legitimate question. You came back with a snide response. I rebutted in kind.
 
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