From the Worshipful Master
So, you’re a newly raised master mason. What do you do now?
You go to Disneyland!
No, you don’t. Well, you might, but that isn’t the point.
The point is that after you’ve been raised to master, it’s often difficult to know what to do, next. Go to meetings, certainly. If your lodge has an education program, as Wayfarers #50 does, perhaps you attend education meetings. But what else is there for you to do?
The most obvious thing is to enter the officers’ line. The positions you go through, and the order in which you revolve through them, will vary from lodge to lodge, though they end with junior warden, senior warden, and ultimately, master of the lodge.
If you aren’t ready to enter the line, though, there are still things you can do, to take part in Masonic activities and aid your lodge.
Lodges have various committees. While there will generally already be a chairman for these committees, it is also true that the chairman can often use help in running the committee or events related to it.
There is usually a specific grounds and building committee, and volunteers are often needed for cleaning up and organizing the lodge and its grounds. This is a great help to the lodge, beautifies it, and keeps it in good condition. Likewise, lodges have charity committees, and help to plan and carry out charity functions and visitations is often greatly appreciated.
The various degrees, as you already know from having gone through them, require people education and practiced in the rituals to perform various functions during the degrees. Even if you are not in the line, learning the ritual can both improve your knowledge of masonry, and provide the lodge with various people to help with the degrees. Similarly, helping a new apprentice or fellowcraft to practice their work can be a great boon, to them, and the lodge.
And finally, simply living like a good man and mason should shows your brothers, and the world, the light of masonry, and that it is our goal to make good men, better.
There are many other ways for a new master mason to help his lodge in particular, and masonry in general. Speak to those with more experience, ask what you can do to help, and volunteer. Your lodge needs you.
Bryan Bullock
Worshipful Master
In January’s education night, we discussed the topic/presentation called “profane to Master Mason 101 (in Arizona).†At the end of the presentation, we discussed many things we could do within the fraternity after becoming a Master Mason. Some of the suggestions included joining the appendant bodies, getting into the officer’s line, heading a committee chair, helping out with charities, and learning ritual work. All of these activities are good and will help to foster brotherly love, relief, and truth within Freemasonry. I would like to say a few words about ways we can help our own Lodge.
First off, you do not actually have to be a Master Mason to begin helping out YOUR Lodge. This can begin when we seek to become a member of a particular Lodge and become a candidate to the degrees of Masonry. This includes helping to keep the Lodge building clean, participating in Lodge activities that are open to the public or to the degree that is appropriate. This also includes participating in fundraising events by either showing up, or helping to run the event as a volunteer.
With all that can be done, I want to emphasize that this is still YOUR Lodge. This Lodge does not belong to any one individual; Freemasonry is a democratic institution. Although there exists a leadership within the brotherhood, this Lodge still belongs to all of us and each of us is accountable for ensuring the future of our Lodge
Christopher Huson
Senior Warden
From the Junior Wraden
After finishing the degrees of Masonry, newly made Master Masons can sometimes feel lost, or worse yet, left behind. It is understandable, given that a new brother’s Masonic prospects are somewhat less directed than during the degrees. While the brethren should take care to prevent this, it’s important new brothers know they can build the solution to this problem themselves.
Just as Masonry has as many different meaning as it has members, so too are there nearly as many prospects of Masonry to explore. After being raised, there are whole libraries worth of literature that are well recommended to read. Masonic history, and the effect it has had on the rest of history, is an avenue worth exploring. Appendant Masonic organizations are an interesting and exciting way to further Masonic interests. Naturally, the community at one’s home lodge is an excellent way to start, helping with lodge events and the care of the lodge itself, up to and including volunteering in the officer line. Asking about the lodge can be an excellent start to finding out what prospects you are interested in pursuing.
History, community, ritual, leadership; remember, if you ever feel lost, just ask.
Cameron Smith
Junior Warden