Collabergh Radium DDGM visit                                                         October 23, 2008

A Lodge’s Basic Building Blocks

My Brothers, at my last official visit to Briarcliff Lodge, I invited you to join me in divesting ourselves of all the superfluities of past misunderstandings in order to establish a better foundation.  This evening, we meet at Collabergh-Radium Lodge.  It is a special Lodge in that such a large percentage of its members are serving or have served as R:. W:. leaders of our District.  In that spirit, tonight I would like to focus on the Grand Master’s directive to “lead with heart” in building our leadership upon our newly cleaned foundation.

Leadership does not spontaneously appear from a vacuum, nor does a static current presence ensure its future success.  The Lodges of our District practice leadership development in different ways.  Some promote it through specific instruction or committees and some through an unofficial network of Past Masters of the Lodge.  Regardless of different styles, good leadership can only exist when both the leaders and the followers contribute to its health.  Most vitally, leadership rests on our fulfilling our personal obligations to the body Masonic.

It does not help us that our society seems to have moved from a motivation based upon communal concern to one best typified by the popular saying “What’s in it for me?”  I saw a billboard last week with a picture of a man slipping on a banana peel.  The caption?  Just a website address of whocanisue.com, reinforcing the common thought that we are rarely personally responsible.  Yet Masonry is specifically about personal responsibility for the betterment of the Craft.  It absolutely relies on Brothers fulfilling their obligations taken at the altar and those taken as they agree to be leaders in the Craft.

Government is unique in the Lodge, as it is unlike that of our nation.  It is not a democracy; but rather, at its best, an enlightened absolutism, where the power of the Worshipful Master is final.  On the highest level, this same structure, and power, rests with our Grand Master, his Deputy, and his District Deputies.  Although this power is absolute, it is beneficent, and meant to be shaped by the leader’s personal Masonic journey and their record of both obedience and respect shown to other leaders when it was their duty to follow.

It is not a negative absolutism like totalitarianism, because tradition and Masonic Law establish otherwise.  While the Master and Grand Master rule absolutely, they cannot do so in violation of the by-laws and constitutions.  Also, the unique relationship and separate powers of theirs and their respective Trustees is not structured by accident.  Finally, our Grand Lodge and Lodges reinforce the consensual nature of this structure with yearly elections and appointments to the various stations and places.

While there are assurances that all is done in a fraternal manner; the basic necessity of leadership and obedience still lies at the core of a properly functioning Masonic Lodge.

My Brothers, we all must remember that we have voluntarily obligated ourselves to this structure.  So, when we agree to do something, we must try our best to do it.  Unfortunately, life is full of unexpected events.  However, our Masonic mantra of “family and job first” does not mean that we can simply abandon our labors without further consideration.

We need to practice common courtesy.  Surely we can agree that a quick phone call or e-mail to the Master or Secretary, expressing our regret at missing an upcoming meeting, is the least that we can do to let our Brothers in attendance that night know that we still stand shoulder to shoulder with them in the quarries, even though we are not there in person.

When something happens which precludes our fulfilling a specific obligation, we are still obligated to find our replacement.  Our first call should not be to the Master or District Deputy.  That is our second call…or third…or fourth.  It is a call to be made only after we have confirmed with another Brother that they will pick up our working tools, on our behalf, in order to fulfill our commitment.  After that, we should absolutely call to inform the Master or District Deputy of our absence, as well as to advise the name of our replacement.

Two words about answering calls and e-mails in general: Do it.  Even if the answer you have is a negative, the time you took to respond will also convey your respect for the brother’s request.  In the absence of a response, silence never speaks a positive message.  All it says to the initiator is that they were ignored.

Finally, it is always acceptable to clarify your Masonic education.  If you seek further light about something that an elder of the Craft tells you is done (or not done) because of Masonic Law or tradition, you should ask a different elder to comment on the topic.  A challenge to quote Masonic Law does nothing; except to show contempt for our rich history of respecting both Law, as well as unwritten tradition, as vital parts of our guidance.

In regards to proper leadership, it is relatively simple: practice what you preach.  Hypocrisy is to be avoided at all costs.   If Masons see that you are a Brother of your word, then they will respect that word.  If they see that you honor the works of other Lodges by refraining from sideline whispering, they will honor your Lodge work.  If you ask others to stretch their cabletows, they will surely look at your example.  Ask only of others what you, yourself, have already done.    Speak to others as you wish to be addressed.  If it is your practice to praise publically and correct only in private, you will be reflecting the very best constructive help.

Our present Masters may be at the pinnacle of power in our Craft, but their responsibility is equally as awesome.  They must advance the situations of their Lodges with harmony, and without causing undue burden to a small and proven group of workers within it.  They must value the most active brother with the same love as the out-of-state sideliner.  And while it is usually true that the majority of the work is accomplished by a minority, it is important that the Master does not allow that minority to become a separate club within the Lodge.  Division is never good in a craft of unity.

The Masters’ actions outside their Lodges are equally far-reaching.   When a Master attends an important event outside of his Lodge (like our recent Lodge of Remembrance), it is as if his whole Lodge stands there in support.  When a Lodge is not represented by even one brother at a special event, it sends quite a different message.

While they are also leaders in their Lodge, the Trustees, Secretary and Treasurer must be careful not to infringe upon the duties and privileges of the Master of the Lodge.  Their duties are equally as important, but there is only one Master.  Finally, the Past Masters possess special perspective and knowledge.  They must be ready to help and advise the Master in strict confidence, with the understanding that their “Past” title signifies that they are once again part of the majority that follows the leadership of the Master.  They demonstrate the difficult balance of both leadership and support, and are critical in illuminating the correct path to every Mason.

Ultimately, Masonry at its best is composed of both good leaders and good followers.  Neither role is a destination, but rather a journey that is important to pursue.  I know that the few steps that we have taken tonight have brought us further down both paths.  Worshipful Master, I thank you and the brothers of Collabergh-Radium Lodge for your hospitality this evening.  My Brothers of the District: I thank you for joining me on my travels and your unending support.