The Masonic Renewal Committee of the Conference of Grand Masters of North America 2017 David R. Bedwell Memorial Masonic Renewal Essay The Concept of Masonic Renewal - What does it mean to you now and in the future? Brother Eric J. LeHew, Junior Deacon Herndon Lodge #264 Herndon, VA Grand Lodge of Virginia For over 300 years, the worldwide fraternity of Freemasons had endured change, both internal and external. Outlasting the sands of time, the Masonic Lodges of the world have withstood political, social, cultural, and economic forces that threaten the ideals of what the Lodge stands for. Throughout the transformation of the world around it, the Masonic Lodge holds firm to its ideals and institutions and continues to make the assertions that Masonry s
primary object is to Take good men and make them better. But in recent years this idea has come under scrutiny and again the Lodge as an institution is at a crossroads that will determine its future success. If Freemasonry as an institution is to continue and survive as a healthy institution (it is the opinion of the author of this essay that the organization worldwide will never fully become defunct) then the membership must but committed to the ideas of the organization. It is also woefully comforting to understand and know that Freemasonry has faced the challenge of membership before. The fraternity overcame the challenges then, and so it will do so again if the membership is given the proper tools to do so. Borrowing from a recently read article on being committed to the profession of teaching, the ideas expressed in this article are easily adopted to Freemasonry, and if properly executed, the renewed interest in the fraternity can be reaped successfully. 1 Be Real The first of these tools is in response to the ever changing degree of technology that bombards us. In a new world of 21st Century learners, communicators, and activists, the fraternity needs to understand the importance of digital communication and social media presence. But yet we must maintain our ideas of being real to ourselves and to the people with whom we communicate with in these platforms. Perpetuating the commonly misrepresented fraternity as an evil organization is one of the favorite pastimes of the internet. Look long enough and some conspiracy theorists will spout ideas that defy the Masonic Principles of Faith, Hope, and Charity. Being real to ourselves and recommitting to these ideas and showing the 1 The author is an educator with over 11 years in the classroom at the secondary level, and also teaches at a local community college.
world in a positive light what we do as an organization is the first means of renewing our commitments. Be Fair Being fair to ourselves and realizing that these changes cannot come in a single day, or week, or in a year. But it is a lifetime commitment of mastery to understand the esoteric and the non-esoteric side of Masonry. Time, dedication, and failures are part of this. Learning from past mistakes and embracing the help when needed, and offering help to others in whatever ways possible makes one s Masonic journey possible. I am proud to call the members of my Masonic Brotherhood Mentors, friends, confidants, and coaches. Realizing the inevitable struggles I would have faced without help and fairly supporting others helps to build a stronger brotherhood with mutual understandings and needs. Be Encouraged Often looking to the membership itself for inspiration and commitment to ideas is overlooked. Surrounding one s self with positive influences can have a lasting effect. Past Masters are a wealth of support and inspiration. Looking to them for advice and support as the Lodge transitions into this new and dynamic century is necessary for success. These men have had good years and bad; happy days and sad; successful projects and utterly disastrous endeavors. But they did not give up and the Lodge did not fold. It is these stories and ideas that need to be retold and learnt from. Guidance and support from within in the easiest way to strengthen a Lodge. And it is not the Officers that need such support; every Brother, no matter how newly Raised or how long ago they entered the West Gate their needs as a member of the
Lodge must be attended too. We each took a solemn obligation to do this; reminders of this duty encourage the membership to rekindle their commitments to Freemasonry and also helps to build a strong Lodge. Be Committed Being a good member of a Lodge requires interactions with each member and is built on strong foundations of relationship with people that you know and trust. Each member of the Masonic Fraternity took it upon themselves to approach the Lodge and ask for Light in Masonry. Why, when finally Raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason do so many forget what it was like to timidly approach the door and knock? Be committed to the ideas of the Fraternity; live them in your daily life as you promised to do. Let your Masonic journey be your own guiding star as you find your own strengths in Freemasonry, and continue to encourage younger generations, both inside and out of the Fraternity what it means to be a Mason. Be Moving Never stop growing as a Mason. Never forget the ideals that have become such a part of your life that they are overshadowed by contradictory values. As social mores, norms, and values swirl around the fraternity our commitment to be unwavering in our choices as a Mason must be ever constant. Hold tight to those ideals, but be willing to adjust the learning, be willing to challenge yourself in the pursuit of those ideas every day in new and dramatic ways. Be open to listen; be open to fulfillment of new thoughts; be adjusting to changing times but cherish the bond of brotherhood that unite and cement us. Be Successful Finally, this may seem unnecessary to mention but being successful and finding your inspiration within the fraternity is what makes the values of Masonry special for each of us.
Each man is drawn to the fraternity for different reasons, so each man must find for himself that one reasons Freemasonry has been an inspiration. Find that, and hold to it. Embracing these simple ideals and tools isn t the sole reason the Fraternity will be saved from low membership, nor will it find the predominance in society it onces had if every Mason follows these ideas. But maintaining the dedicated membership of men whom have embraced Freemasonry as their own ways to be a better man is important. These ideas are to extend further: every Mason has a choice to live the ideas of the Fraternity in a positive way and show others the important place Masonry holds within their own lives. Committing one s self to the renewal of these ideas is the success of Masonry in general. Don t be discouraged by failures but embrace them as learning experiences. Know full well that a continuance of these experiences only further deepens our commitments to Masonry as we strive to live the virtues instituted into each of us upon our Raising. Embrace this fact, the success of the Fraternity worldwide will continue to to encourage, enlighten, and inspire.