The Will

(Written September 1996)

The fraternity at large runs the risk of making the twenty-four inch gauge a mere platitude instead of a working tool, if it is assumed that candidates do not have the will to make time for Masonry. We should be telling candidates during their investigation that a time commitment is necessary and will be met by our commitment to give our time to teach them. The fraternity at large needs to ask if it blames time and outside influences for some men’s decision not to advance beyond the first degree, when it is rather a failure to abide by Masonry’s Old Charges regarding a Master’s duties toward an apprentice could be the cause. As the rate of advancement within Mill Valley Lodge No. 356 demonstrates, when a Lodge abides by its duties toward an apprentice and invests in their education and training, men will gladly make time for Masonry and will eagerly return the Lodge's investment through their participation.

Recently a story was related after a school of instruction about a man who joined a yacht club. He went to all the meetings, and after months of cocktail and dinner parties finally asked when they were going to go sailing? He was told they didn’t do that. He quit and joined a debate club and after months of cocktail and dinner parties, he asked when they would have a debate, and they said they didn’t do that. He quit and joined Masonry. After months of stated meetings and stated meeting dinners…. Guess what? (Besides the fact that it was not Mill Valley Lodge that he had joined!)

Should we deliberately sacrifice "Wooden Ships and Iron Men" in favor of "Wooden Men and Iron Ships"?

If we look at such proposals as minimizing proficiency requirements and holding one day classes where proficiencies are delayed or waived, we see a trend toward making things "easier." It would seem that men today are expected to have less will. (We seem to be losing sight of the key word "will" in Hiram’s last words. This difference between "can," "shall," and "will" is very telling and illustrates the subtle degrees by which Masonry is taught: "Can" relates to following rules others dictate, "shall" relates to an unconscious decision, but "will" relates to the exercise of full consciousness.) If the study of proportion, geometry, and nature advocated and symbolized in the second degree illustrates the spiral phenomena of the universe in general, the third degree demonstrates that human transcendence of the forces of nature can only be accomplished through a supreme act of personal will. Despite the obvious tribulations of our daily existence, it is easy to fulfill our natural functions in life: To be born, procreate, and die. It is not easy to surpass this and become a conscious individual. Such mastery requires a level concentration born of hard work, the first step of which is developing an ability to remember.

Freemasonry - The Last School of Memory

One answer to the question, "What does Masonry offer?" is that it offers this type of intellectual development. Schools do not. We do not expect dedication and persistence, we teach it. This is one of Masonry’s greatest beauties and strengths.

Proficiencies are only rote exercises if we make them such. Proficiencies are the starting places both for memory work, and philosophical discussion. Learning (as opposed to just hearing) requires personal assimilation and integration of the subject matter. There are no short-cuts to learning. Learning a philosophy thus entails concentration and work: It requires knowing the details as well as the big picture. Conscious practice of a philosophy requires remembering the details and fullest extent of the philosophy. It is clear from our ritual, including the proficiencies that Masonic philosophy advocates conscious practice of its philosophy rather than mere discussion. For instance we are taught to practice charity, not merely sing its praises like a tinkling bell.

The perceived decline in membership has more to do with our failure to delve the depths of Masonic philosophy (the seeds of which may be systematically stored for retrieval in the rooms of Solomon’s Temple as constructed in our minds) and to seek the relevancy of that philosophy in today’s society. We are frequently reminded that many of this countries founding fathers were Freemasons: This fact is as trivial as their having ridden horses, unless and until we consider the extent to which they wrestled to distill out, practice and implement an essentially Masonic philosophy in society. (While Masonic history is fascinating and important in integrating new members into the traditions of Masonry, history as such is static: A study of Masonry’s past alone does not further the Craft or individual brethren as much as a study of its philosophy symbolism, and the process of memory work.) Making admittance or requirements for advancement easier moves us further from the solution to a perceived decline in membership by weakening our grasp on the important tool of symbolic masons, mental control.

The simple fact that deaths might outstrip raising new Master Masons does not augur for making Masonry "easier." Most acknowledge that the years immediately following World War II were aberrant for the number of Masons entered, passed and raised: Such a rush to join had not occurred before or since. In the case of Mill Valley Lodge, in 1947, we raised 47 Masons. That was 50 years ago. Those brethren are now a minimum of 71 years old, many are older. In the coming years, many brethren will reach the milestone of having 50 years of membership in the fraternity. Given this fact, it is unfortunate, but not surprising that nature is taking her course and we are losing members to death at an alarming rate. However, if we chose to draw designs on the trestleboard of Masonry’s future based on such quantitative data, are we in effect changing the definition of and philosophical basis behind Masonry.

Admittedly, Mill Valley Lodge suffered from some very lean years. During one period of almost three years the Lodge had no candidates. That drought broke, and Mill Valley Lodge has been reading applications at nearly every meeting. There is not an easy explanation for this change. However, much has to do with the energy of younger line officers, and the determination to increase the balance of our Lodge's program through an exercise of will.

Added Value Yields More Satisfied Members

Consider that if a Lodge were to hold a stated-meeting dinner followed by a stated meeting that encompasses little more than paying bills, it would not be enough to attract and hold members interest - it could be likened to going to a restaurant, being given a menu, having the menu taken, being given an empty plate, having the plate taken, and finally being given a bill for $36.00: Apart from some companionship, there would be little or nothing of a uniquely Masonic character being done in such a Lodge or to distinguish it from any other organization that has such mundane tasks to perform as paying bills. Why come if you know you’ll leave on an empty stomach?

To maintain and build upon Mill Valley Lodge's truly Masonic atmosphere, Mill Valley Lodge began encouraging all members to present "Trestleboards" (lectures) on the patent and latent symbolism of Masonry. Long "seminars" on topics such as the numbers 3 and 5, corn, astronomical aspects of the Hiram myth, etc. have been held once a month on a night traditionally reserved for officers’ practice. A brief recap of these seminars has been given at the stated meeting, and/or reported in the monthly Bulletin (to the extent possible since the examination of the ritual precludes discussion outside a tyled environment). Average attendance at these seminars has been almost equal to Lodge attendance. Moreover, Lodge attendance has been increasing. Putting the Lodge to work in such a manner is not an easy solution since it requires a willingness to give more time, but declining membership can not be cured by easy means. We have to offer value, not easy access.

Conclusion

Learning proficiencies does not seem to have been an obstacle to men joining Mill Valley Lodge. In the last six years all but one candidate has advanced through all degrees. Moreover, they have completed their Third Degree proficiencies at about a 90% rate. Based the experience of Mill Valley Lodge's candidates’ coaches, the candidates are eager, and willing to learn proficiencies taught from mouth to ear.