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Posted: 6/3/2015 5:24:11 PM EDT
[#1]
Good lesson for all, Beer. I wouldn't go straight to the East if I returned. I would sit in Lodge for a year and make sure its something I want and the Lodge needs. |
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Posted: 6/3/2015 8:01:02 PM EDT
[#2]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Good lesson for all, Beer. I wouldn't go straight to the East if I returned. I would sit in Lodge for a year and make sure its something I want and the Lodge needs. thats my plan. i am DONE with the leadership thing in a lodge. i don't need the misery again. |
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Posted: 6/3/2015 11:42:22 PM EDT
[#3]
As my Brother Chris Hodap (Author of Freemasonry For Dummies) says, "Sometimes, it will take a lot more Masonic funerals before things will change"
40sum year MM |
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Posted: 6/4/2015 7:43:12 AM EDT
[#4]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
As my Brother Chris Hodap (Author of Freemasonry For Dummies) says, "Sometimes, it will take a lot more Masonic funerals before things will change" 40sum year MM we need a like button. it really burns my ass to see lodges run by long term masons that joined for the benefits and social club aspect and never learned what it means to actually be a MM. |
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Posted: 6/4/2015 8:46:14 AM EDT
[#5]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
As my Brother Chris Hodap (Author of Freemasonry For Dummies) says, "Sometimes, it will take a lot more Masonic funerals before things will change" 40sum year MM Yeah. A PMIGM here always says, "Nothing a couple of good Masonic funerals can't solve." |
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Posted: 6/5/2015 9:39:42 PM EDT
[#6]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
we need a like button. it really burns my ass to see lodges run by long term masons that joined for the benefits and social club aspect and never learned what it means to actually be a MM. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
As my Brother Chris Hodap (Author of Freemasonry For Dummies) says, "Sometimes, it will take a lot more Masonic funerals before things will change" 40sum year MM we need a like button. it really burns my ass to see lodges run by long term masons that joined for the benefits and social club aspect and never learned what it means to actually be a MM. Amen Brother! |
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Posted: 6/6/2015 2:22:17 PM EDT
[#7]
Yep I was a couple of years into leadership and walked away due to the same type of crap. I wish WV had dual membership with PA. I'm done with my old lodge(It will take many more funerals to root out the rotten core), but have nothing against PA. Unfortunately, the primary turds plans have come to fruition and is now a DDGM.
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Posted: 6/7/2015 5:27:18 PM EDT
[#8]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I wish WV had dual membership with PA. You can visit our lodges all you want. I'm friends with the DDGM of District 12 and he comes to many lodges and events in the 29th District here in PA. |
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Posted: 6/7/2015 5:52:43 PM EDT
[#9]
Masonic leadership certainly can be tiring and frustrating. But at the same time it is, IMO, rewarding and worth the effort.
For far too long the leadership has fallen into two categories: the status-quo/we've always done it this way or it's all about me. These two things are killing the institution. If we don't change how the fraternity if run, and now, it is doomed. If not us, who? |
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Posted: 6/7/2015 6:10:21 PM EDT
[#10]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Masonic leadership certainly can be tiring and frustrating. But at the same time it is, IMO, rewarding and worth the effort. For far too long the leadership has fallen into two categories: the status-quo/we've always done it this way or it's all about me. These two things are killing the institution. If we don't change how the fraternity if run, and now, it is doomed. If not us, who? oddly enough if we base our decisions on what masonry teaches us many of these issues disappear. the issue we have is we have WAY to few men that know what masonry teaches because they were never required or had the drive to learn it. I hate to say it but masonry in alabama has become a 75% good ol boys club vs masonic organization. in any given lodge here you will have 4-5 members that have actually studied masonic philosophy and try to live by it. sadly they tend to become outsiders in the lodges, either by choice or being forced out by the "good ol boys". that really saddens me. We have grand discussions on why membership is down, well THERE is your reason brothers. |
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Posted: 6/8/2015 9:01:31 AM EDT
[#11]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
You can visit our lodges all you want. I'm friends with the DDGM of District 12 and he comes to many lodges and events in the 29th District here in PA. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
I wish WV had dual membership with PA. I'm friends with the DDGM of District 12 and he comes to many lodges and events in the 29th District here in PA. Thats the problem, I am PA mason, district 3, George Washington Lodge 143, I live in WV which does not have any form of dual membership. I don't want to leave PA completely. |
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Posted: 6/8/2015 9:05:12 AM EDT
[#12]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
oddly enough if we base our decisions on what masonry teaches us many of these issues disappear. the issue we have is we have WAY to few men that know what masonry teaches because they were never required or had the drive to learn it. I hate to say it but masonry in alabama has become a 75% good ol boys club vs masonic organization. in any given lodge here you will have 4-5 members that have actually studied masonic philosophy and try to live by it. sadly they tend to become outsiders in the lodges, either by choice or being forced out by the "good ol boys". that really saddens me. We have grand discussions on why membership is down, well THERE is your reason brothers. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Masonic leadership certainly can be tiring and frustrating. But at the same time it is, IMO, rewarding and worth the effort. For far too long the leadership has fallen into two categories: the status-quo/we've always done it this way or it's all about me. These two things are killing the institution. If we don't change how the fraternity if run, and now, it is doomed. If not us, who? oddly enough if we base our decisions on what masonry teaches us many of these issues disappear. the issue we have is we have WAY to few men that know what masonry teaches because they were never required or had the drive to learn it. I hate to say it but masonry in alabama has become a 75% good ol boys club vs masonic organization. in any given lodge here you will have 4-5 members that have actually studied masonic philosophy and try to live by it. sadly they tend to become outsiders in the lodges, either by choice or being forced out by the "good ol boys". that really saddens me. We have grand discussions on why membership is down, well THERE is your reason brothers. I did not become a Mason for the gold or the power of the good ol boy network. I became a Mason because I looked around one day and a formerly shitty life had improved considerably and I felt the need to get off the couch and try and be a positive influence for others. My lodges good ol boy network has driven me back to the couch, temporarily. |
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Posted: 6/8/2015 9:10:19 AM EDT
[#13]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Thats the problem, I am PA mason, district 3, George Washington Lodge 143, I live in WV which does not have any form of dual membership. I don't want to leave PA completely. Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: Quoted: I wish WV had dual membership with PA. I'm friends with the DDGM of District 12 and he comes to many lodges and events in the 29th District here in PA. Thats the problem, I am PA mason, district 3, George Washington Lodge 143, I live in WV which does not have any form of dual membership. I don't want to leave PA completely. |
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Posted: 6/8/2015 10:41:02 AM EDT
[#14]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
You don't have to be a member of a lodge to visit it. As long as you are a regular and current mason who is neither suspended nor expelled, you can visit any other regular lodge in the world. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
I wish WV had dual membership with PA. I'm friends with the DDGM of District 12 and he comes to many lodges and events in the 29th District here in PA. Thats the problem, I am PA mason, district 3, George Washington Lodge 143, I live in WV which does not have any form of dual membership. I don't want to leave PA completely. I am fully aware of that,I have visited around a dozen other lodges. I want to be able to become a member of the lodge in my hometown, I can not due that without dropping my PA membership. I will not due that. WV has a few problems their Grand Lodge needs to fix in my opinion. |
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Posted: 6/8/2015 12:01:14 PM EDT
[#15]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I did not become a Mason for the gold or the power of the good ol boy network. I became a Mason because I looked around one day and a formerly shitty life had improved considerably and I felt the need to get off the couch and try and be a positive influence for others. My lodges good ol boy network has driven me back to the couch, temporarily. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Masonic leadership certainly can be tiring and frustrating. But at the same time it is, IMO, rewarding and worth the effort. For far too long the leadership has fallen into two categories: the status-quo/we've always done it this way or it's all about me. These two things are killing the institution. If we don't change how the fraternity if run, and now, it is doomed. If not us, who? oddly enough if we base our decisions on what masonry teaches us many of these issues disappear. the issue we have is we have WAY to few men that know what masonry teaches because they were never required or had the drive to learn it. I hate to say it but masonry in alabama has become a 75% good ol boys club vs masonic organization. in any given lodge here you will have 4-5 members that have actually studied masonic philosophy and try to live by it. sadly they tend to become outsiders in the lodges, either by choice or being forced out by the "good ol boys". that really saddens me. We have grand discussions on why membership is down, well THERE is your reason brothers. I did not become a Mason for the gold or the power of the good ol boy network. I became a Mason because I looked around one day and a formerly shitty life had improved considerably and I felt the need to get off the couch and try and be a positive influence for others. My lodges good ol boy network has driven me back to the couch, temporarily. I am raising money for the Cryptic Mason Foundation of Wisconsin, Inc. This year, in-lieu of a MIGM's Testimonial Dinner I asked for donations. The other night at my Red Cross of Constantine meeting, after hearing the Treasurer's report, I asked for a donation. My RCC Conclave has a good bit of money that we do nothing with. Upon my request, the Treasurer (who is a PGHP) said, "We're a social organization, not a Masonic one." A PREGC piped-up with, "That's bullshit! Write the check." And the Knight Companions agreed. So, the point is; we must continue to press forward. We can't let the old guard and nay-sayers get in the way and discourage us. If we give-up, we abandon those precepts and principles we so strongly believe. If we give-up, the institution will continue to flounder. If we give-up, future generations will not have the opportunity to be brought to Light. If we give-up, all the words will be lost. |
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Posted: 6/8/2015 12:44:02 PM EDT
[#16]
I hear what your saying, however it would take a very long time for the guard to change at my lodge, They are a long lived group of codgers. The in crowd has quite a bit of lodge and local power. They are a large group of guys of varying ages. They are not dumb and have planted seeds that will last generations. One of the ringleaders is now a DDGM. before him we had a vote that drew several very much deserved blackballs. The DDGM at that time freaked and the end result was the black balls turned white
 . That was it as far as staying in a leadership position in that lodge for me.
These days away from the lodge I have had far more occasions to be the Mason I desired to be. I am not done with being an active member, just not with those guys. |
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