Volume 7

VOLUME 8- JULY, 2009

Brethren,

Below is the third of a four part article I wrote in 2006 in response to the Scottish Rite leadership
conference. Again, your comments and opinions are encouraged.

I was fortunate to have had coaches that took the time to teach me, not just the catechism, but what it
actually means to be a Mason. Not only did they answer any questions I had, but they also made me
think about new questions. They also instilled in me a very real since of duty. In the 3rd degree charge
we are told to preserve the reputation of the fraternity unsullied. And to be careful not to recommend
someone for the degrees unless you are sure that he will conform with cheerfulness to the rules and
customs of the fraternity. That is a pretty tall order, I was initiated in October, and in December I was
handed the oldest fraternity in the world to preserve and protect. This is what we need to make our
new members understand. This fraternity WILL NOT survive without us. We are not only masons, we
are FREEMASONRY. Will everyone who is under the age of 50 please stand. These men who are still
sitting have carried our fraternity here, these men standing are our Coaches, Masters, Past Masters,
Current and past Grand Officers, and Lecturers. To those of you who are standing. “The old will die,
the young may die, and the wisest know not when.” These are the shoes we have to fill. We are the
future of Masonry. We are a fraternity of Grandfathers and Grandsons. With few exceptions,
Masonry skipped a generation. Of those of us under 40 many of us learned of Masonry from our
grandfathers, not our fathers. As the “greatest generation” passes on, they also pass on this fraternity,
and they will pass it through a large generation gap. It is up to us to preserve its history and customs
while at the same time adapting to a changing world. Masonry has weathered many storms; it has
survived attacks from every front. One thing is certain. Light cannot be hidden. Truth cannot be
whispered while disinformation is shouted. We need to be visible in our communities again. Remember,
“Every human being has a claim upon your kind offices, do good unto all…” It is time for our newer
members to step up. We need their help, and to get their help, we need to get them to show up at the
meetings. Our Masonic education committees should have something every meeting to present to the
lodge. Our membership committees should be in communication with the members. We need to ask
these Brothers why they don’t attend, and what we can do to get them to come. Find out what their
strengths are and use them. Give them a job to do, even if it’s just something simple. Get them
involved in the Lodge. Anyone who has kids knows that if you are very active in the lodge, it does take
away from your family time, it shouldn’t, but it does. Lodges should recognize this and make efforts to
include the family in as much as possible. A family night with a dinner and/or a guest speaker will go a
long way towards showing that the Lodge is not a place where the husband/father goes to get away. If
we want to get younger members into the fraternity, we need to tailor ourselves more to their
lifestyles. A twenty-something man with a wife and 3 kids has a very hectic life. Money is always
tight, and time is precious. The lodge needs to realize this and accommodate him the best we can. We
need to involve the families more. We need ladies nights, family nights, picnics, etc. We need to be
visible in not only his life, but in his families life. Find out what is going on in his life; all young married
people have ups and downs. We as a lodge should be there to offer a fraternal hand. Our members need
to know that they can come to the lodge for assistance. By assistance I don’t necessarily mean money.
The most welcome assistance is, more often than not, nothing more than reassuring words, or an
attentive ear.

Part 4 to follow next month…

Sincerely and fraternally,

Jason D Strucinski P.:M.:
Master, Balfour Lodge #188
(336) 824-2552 home
(336) 414-1350 mobile
jstrucinski@uniquetool.net
www.Balfourlodge.com

CLICK HERE TO READ THE VOL. 6 (MAY , 2009) EDITION

CLICK HERE TO READ THE VOL. 5 (J ANUARY, 2009 ) EDITION

CLICK HERE TO READ THE VOL. 4 (NOVEMBER, 2008) EDITION

CLICK HERE TO READ THE VOL. 3 (JUNE, 2008) EDITION

CLICK HERE TO READ THE VOL. 2 (APRIL , 2008) EDITION

CLICK HERE TO READ THE VOL. 1 (JANUARY, 2008) EDITION

From the East - A Message from Wor.: Jason Strucinski