Get your own Free Home PageSo You're Going to Be Worshipful Master!
*****
Steven K. Robison, PM
Secretary, 1997
Jackson Lodge #146
Seymour, IN
*****
Serving your Lodge as Worshipful Master can be, and should be, a
high point in your Masonic career. Few other secular events in
my life has meant as much to me as the privilege of serving, in
1996, as Worshipful Master of Jackson Lodge #146.
Yet, for many who have served as Worshipful Master, that year In
the East was a trying and frustrating experience. "One crisis
after another;" "The Lodge wouldn't respond to me;" "I had to do
everything myself;" "I had good ideas which the Lodge just didn't
listen to"--I'm sure there are other, equally discouraging,
comments that almost every Master Mason has heard from those who
have served as Worshipful Master.
This article aims at providing a brief overview of some
considerations that (hopefully) will help you in your upcoming
tour of duty In the East in your Masonic Lodge. Included are
suggestions, both mine, and those of seventeen (17) other Past
Masters, who responded to my request on the Internet Freemasonry
List for input, on helping an incoming Worshipful Master both
enjoy his year In the East, and perform creditable service to his
Lodge in the position of Worshipful Master.
I wanted input on this topic, aside from my own ideas, for a very
compelling reason, perhaps best illustrated by:
The Blind Men and the Elephant
It was six men of Indostan
To learning much inclined,
Who went to see the elephant
(Though all of them were blind),
That each by observation
Might satisfy his mind.
The First approached the elephant,
And, happening to fall
Against his broad and sturdy side,
At once began to bawl:
"God bless me! but the elephant
Is nothing but a wall!"
The Second, feeling of the tusk,
Cried: "Ho! what have we here
So very round and smooth and sharp?
To me 'tis mighty clear
This wonder of an elephant
Is very like a spear!"
The Third approached the animal,
And, happening to take
The squirming trunk within his hands,
Thus boldly up and spake:
"I see," quoth he, "The elephant
Is very like a snake!"
The Fourth reached out his eager hand,
And felt about the knee:
"What most this wondrous beast is like
Is mighty plain," quoth he;
"'Tis clear enough the elephant
Is very like a tree!"
The Fifth, who chanced to touch the ear,
Said: "E'en the blindest man
Can tell what this resembles most;
Deny the fact who can,
This marvel of an elephant
Is very like a fan!"
The Sixth no sooner had begun
About the beast to grope,
Than, seizing on the swinging tail
That fell within his scope,
"I see," quoth he, "The elephant
Is very like a rope!"
And so these men of Indostan
Disputed loud and long,
Each in his own opinion
Exceeding swift and strong,
Though each was partly in the right,
And all were in the wrong!
So, oft in theologic wars
The disputants, I ween
Rail on in utter ignorance
Of what each other mean,
And prate about an elephant
Not one of them has seen!
--John Godfrey Saxe
Obtaining or following ideas from only one Past Master, or other
source, limits and narrows your focus, and leaves you lacking the
broad perspective that the position of Worshipful Master demands.
Obtain counsel from as many Past Masters, both in your Lodge and
other Lodges, as you can. You won't like all of their ideas;
and, not all of their ideas will work for you. But, your
progress through the Officers' Line should have given you some
insights and instincts for the position of Worshipful Master.
You should have no trouble separating the wheat from the chaff in
evaluating the advice and counsel of those who have gone before
you In the East--especially in your Lodge.
No such list or group of suggestions as this can be complete or
all-encompassing, and no list or group will help you deal with
all that you may confront as Worshipful Master of your Lodge.
But, I hope that the materials you will find below will provide
you a good foundation, on which you can build a successful year
In the East.
A. What It Means to Be Worshipful Master
For starters, here is one PM's description of the position:
"To become the model Master of a Lodge should be the
ambition of every brother; and to discharge with efficiency
and zeal the duties of that office should be his most
anxious desire.
"These duties are not confined to the mere repetition of a
few phrases learned by rote, but he should be able to
instruct the Craft, not only as to the meaning and origin of
our ceremonies, but also to explain to them the philosophy
which is veiled in its allegories and illustrated by its
symbols.
"He should be able, also, to convince his brethren, that all
science and all art, legitimately directed, are but lines
that radiate toward the great 'I AM'; that the sciences are
the media by which we are led to contemplate the goodness,
greatness, wisdom and power of the Great Architect of the
Universe; and that the arts are the modes we have developed
of expressing our sense and admiration of the wondrous
glories of an Almighty Father which are scattered around us.
"The Master of a Lodge should also, in his life and in his
conversation, be a model for his brethren to admire and
imitate, and should himself practise, out of the Lodge,
those great moral doctrines and virtues which he inculcates
within its walls. He should be punctual and methodical in
all things and, both by his character and conduct, command
the respect, the esteem and the good-will of all men; for as
the Master is supreme in his Lodge and distinguished by his
position in the Craft, so should he also be distinguished as
the possessor of an irreproachable character, a dignified
demeanour, an expanded intellect, and a liberal education.
"...The Worshipful Master who presides over his Lodge with
ability, firmness and decision (for without force of
character, there can be no force of expression); whose
manner is courteous yet dignified; whose decisions are
consonant with reason and Masonic law; and who dispenses
light and information among the Craft, will ever be regarded
by his brethren as one who is entitled to their highest
respect and most fraternal regard."
These eloquent words were written by William Mercer
Wilson, the first GM of the Grand Lodge of Canada, about
130 years ago, and posted earlier by Br. Jim Bennie.
(I have found no better description of what a Worshipful Master's
aspirations should be upon ascending to the Throne of Solomon
than Br. Mercer's words.)
Another source (Anderson's Book of Constitutions) says that the
Worshipful Master should be "of good morals, of great skill, true
and trusty, and a lover of the whole Fraternity, wheresoever
dispersed over the face of the earth." And, on such
recommendation, it was expected that he would "discharge the
duties of the office with fidelity."
If this is too esoteric for you, and you want a "nuts and bolts"
description of the position, here's an outline of a speech made
in 1941 by PM in British Columbia, to a Lodge there, posted by
Br. Frank Kendrick:
1. Study the books of ancient lore and modern proceedings in
order to qualify for the high and important office of Worshipful
Master.
2. Get to know, really know, all the members of the Lodge.
3. While serving as Senior Warden, learn all the Master's Ritual
and so have time when Master to plan the programme and prepare
the speeches.
4. Before assuming office settle with ye Little Woman, ye Boss of
ye Household, that Great Question of going out nights.
5. Stow away in the Grey Matter of the Cranium a set of five
minute speeches for various occasions, and thus be ready whenever
called upon to do justice to the Lodge and Office.
6. Consult the Chairman of Committees before appointment of
members, and afterwards keep them active by calling for regular
reports of progress.
7. Many members working means much enthusiasm in the Lodge.
8. Have all the Officers and the Chairmen of Committees meet
together on convenient occasions.
9. Plan the programme of the Lodge meeting and harmonize its
details with the Great Masonic Design, then go over the Agenda
with the Secretary before Lodge and thus avoid those irritating
delays, whispered consultations and mutterings in the East.
10. Keep a timepiece always at hand and let not procrastination
become the thief who robs the Brethren of their beauty sleep.
11. The visitors are honoured guests of the Lodge, therefore
proclaim a welcome to them with happy words and smooth phrases,
and never call upon a visitor to speak in Lodge or at the Festive
Board without previous notice and due enquiry as to his ability
and willingness to do so.
12. Preserve the Dignity, Courtesy and Privilege of the East at
all times. Let no matter of personal modesty affect those
Ancient Rights and Prerogatives of the Oriental Chair which must
be handed on untarnished to those who follow.
B. Preparing for the Position
You cannot start too soon preparing for the position of
Worshipful Master! Hopefully, if you are reading this article
with a view toward structuring your year In the East, you are
progressing through the Officers' Line, and are not facing
imminent election to or installation in the position of
Worshipful Master. Begin thinking NOW about what it is that you
want to do as Worshipful Master--if you wait until you are
elected or installed, you have simply waited too long, and will
spend your year In the East reacting to situations that you might
have anticipated, and playing "catch-up."
My sense is that far more WMs who do their Lodges disservice by
inaction rather than by poor action; by simply trying to "get
through their year," rather than by trying to "do something" In
the East.
Ask yourself, for starters: What ideas do you have for the
Lodge? What do you want to accomplish? How do you want your
year as Worshipful Master to be remembered? [I'll have more
questions for you to ask yourself, and more for you to think
about, later.]
And, do not wait for the position of Worshipful Master to come to
you--it won't. TAKE the position. Within some fairly broad
parameters, in most jurisdictions, you can largely define the
position of Worshipful Master during your year In the East.
Those who have gone before you In the East have in fact defined
the position during their respective years. It has been defined
in different ways by different Worshipful Masters.
With each succeeding Master having additional years of service
performed by other Past Masters, and additional ideas used by
other Past Masters, to review and draw on, the performance of
each succeeding Master, in each Lodge, should be better and
better in the position. Note that I said "should be." In fact,
we all know it does not happen that way.
Look back on the years of those who have served previously as WM
of your Lodge. Some had good years; some had bad years; some had
indifferent years.
What makes a WM's year good, bad, or indifferent?
That is the big question, I think. If I had a perfect answer to
that question, I'd turn cartwheels. But, I don't.
However, some general factors HEAVILY influence the answer to
this question:
1. The WM's ability and willingness to assess his own human
strengths and weaknesses candidly.
2. The WM's ability to "play to his strengths."
3. The WM's willingness to seek help to cover or minimize his
weaknesses.
4. The WM's ability to determine who to seek out for that help.
5. The WM's ability and willingness to set goals and determine
what he wants to do during his year In the East.
6. The WM's ability and willingness to craft a plan for his
year In the East.
7. The WM's ability and willingness to seek help from
constructive Brothers and PMs to aid in the crafting and
execution of that plan.
8. The WM's ability and willingness to master the Degree work
and ritual work of the Lodge.
9. The WM's ability to inspire the Brothers.
10. The WM's ability to lead by example.
11. The WM's ability to anticipate problems and events, and to
plan for contingent ways to respond to them.
12. The WM's ability to make decisions.
13. The WM's ability to be flexible and accommodating.
14. The WM's level of interest in the position.
15. The WM's ability to evidence enthusiasm for the position.
16. The WM's willingness to listen to suggestions and comments
made by others.
17. The WM's ability to separate the wheat from the chaff, in
receiving advice and counsel.
I'm sure there are others--these are the ones that occur to
several of the Past Masters who provided input, and to me.
What does it mean to be Worshipful Master?
What can the Worshipful Master do?
What programs or projects can the Worshipful Master advocate or
sponsor?
How far can he lead his Lodge?
In what direction?
To what end?
The answers to these questions, and others, are largely up to
each Worshipful Master during his year In the East. For your
year In the East, the answers to these questions are largely up
to YOU.
Why is that? Why isn't the position more clearly defined? Why
isn't there something, somewhere, that tells a Worshipful Master
what he needs to do to have a good year In the East?
The answer to these questions is something alluded to above, and
which will not be obvious to you, AND which you MAY need to "be
there to know."
What didn't immediately dawn on me--and it took about a month of
being In the East to realize this--is that the WM has tremendous
powers in a Masonic Lodge. Unless the WM does something so
outrageous that it prompts an appeal to Grand Lodge by a
disgruntled Brother or group of Brothers, nothing the WM does can
be effectively challenged. And, those appeals are very rare.
That doesn't mean, of course, that you should let the powers of
the position go to your head. That wouldn't be healthy or
constructive. But, when I began to realize the scope of my
powers as WM, I began to take initiatives that I thought would be
in the best interests of the Lodge. While I sought, and listened
to, advice from PMs, and others, I made my own decisions.
You should, too. The Brothers of your Lodge will elect you to
the position of Worshipful Master with the expectation that you
will lead the Lodge during your year In the East. They will not
expect--and almost certainly will not appreciate--your deferring
critical decisions to others, be it a Lodge Secretary, or a Past
Master, or a group of Past Masters.
Making those decisions is no small task! While your instincts
will be of some help to you, gained through progress through the
Officers' Line, you doubtless will benefit from some more
"formalized" insight into the decision process. Several written
resources are available to you, both as to making these
decisions, and with respect to ideas for your term as Worshipful
Master. They are discussed in the next section.
C. The "Working Tools" of a Worshipful Master
Once I had adjusted to the position of Worshipful Master--and,
even with the best of preparation, that adjustment will take some
weeks--I crystallized a mission statement for my year as
Worshipful Master, from the ideas I had been working on. Here it
is:
I want to make Jackson Lodge a better place to be associated
with (to be a member of); a better place for its Brothers
and families to spend time (attending meetings and special
events and banquets); and, a better Community asset; and, I
want to try to showcase these achievements in a TrestleBoard
that will be the best one published by any Indiana Lodge.
Once you have formulated a mission statement for your year In the
East with which you are comfortable, it will make the remainder
of your task in defining your year MUCH easier! Indeed, the
mission statement for your year In the East is arguably the most
important Working Tool you will have as a Worshipful Master--
because it will tell you, to a very large extent, how to use the
other Working Tools that are available to you.
[You didn't realize that being Worshipful Master involved
creating a mission statement? Neither did I, going in. I
wish someone had told me! I stumbled onto the concept of a
mission statement almost by accident; but, was glad I did.
Essentially, your mission statement should answer the
question, "What do you want to do, as Worshipful Master,
during your year In the East?" That answer should be a
single sentence (although I will admit that I compounded my
single-sentence mission statement). A detailed discussion
of mission statements is far beyond the scope of this
article, but several recently-published books describe the
process of creating a mission statement. I liked Laurie
Beth Jones's book, "The Path," and found it quite readable.]
Some of the other Working Tools that you will have available to
you as Worshipful Master will be obvious to you--the written
resources set out above; and, the Past Masters of your Lodge, for
example. Let me go next, though, to one that may not be obvious
to you: your Lodge newsletter, or TrestleBoard.
You probably haven't thought about your Lodge TrestleBoard in the
least. Let me tell you why I think that is a mistake. For
starters, try thinking of each issue of the TrestleBoard during
your year as WM an opportunity to get your program across to the
Brothers of the Lodge. From there, try thinking of each issue of
the TrestleBoard as an opportunity to advance the stature of the
Lodge, the Fraternity, and even the Community, during your year
as WM. Next, try imagining the appreciation the Brothers, the
ladies, and the widows of the Lodge for the insights and
entertainment items you can include in the TrestleBoard.
The TrestleBoard is the "public face" of the Lodge. It will be
seen in the homes of every Brother by his non-Masonic friends;
and, if it is picked up by them, and glanced at, will make a
significant impression on them--positive or negative--and likely
will influence their views of the Lodge and what it's about.
USE the TrestleBoard. Express your opinions; stimulate
discussion among the Brothers; educate the Brothers; set out your
mission statement; state your goals and aims as WM; encourage the
Brothers to get active or stay active in Lodge affairs. The
TrestleBoard is a tremendously powerful tool for you, as
Worshipful Master, to make almost any constructive use of that
you see fit. Most of the time, and with most Worshipful Masters,
that tool is wasted. There is almost no limit to what you, as
Worshipful Master, can do with the TrestleBoard of your Lodge!
And, a bonus: Unlike some of the other Working Tools of a
Worshipful Master (those Past Masters, again, for example), the
TrestleBoard is completely flexible--it will not resist your use
of it at all; and, it will not try to use you!
Written materials from others constitute another Working Tool for
the Worshipful Master. I found Carl Claudy's "The Master's
Book," especially helpful, although it is a bit dated. Other
helpful works would include PGM Dwight L. Smith's collections,
"Whither Are We Traveling?," "Why This Confusion in the Temple?;"
and, "Look Well" (written from the perspective of a Past Master
providing a series of letters to a Senior Warden throughout his
year as SW, designed to help him prepare for the position of
Worshipful Master). Further, "Macoy's Worshipful Master's
Assistant," rev. by the late Allen E. Roberts, contains valuable
insight into the prerogatives and duties of the Worshipful
Master, and other resource material. The Masonic Service
Association, 8120 Fenton St., Silver Springs, MD 20910-4785,
publishes numerous materials that will be of use to you. The
Philalethes Society, Drawer 70, Highland Springs, VA 23075-0070,
publishes a quarterly magazine which I think would be highly
beneficial to an incoming Worshipful Master, although I was
unaware of it until after leaving the position of Worshipful
Master; and, sponsors a Masonic Leadership course. Your Grand
Lodge, in addition, may have a Masonic Leadership course or a
Wardens' Retreat that will provide insight to you.
Here are two additional Working Tools for a Worshipful Master
that may not occur to you: Your computer, and the Internet. The
larger and more active your Lodge is, the more use you will want
to--and need to--make of a computer. At a minimum, the computer
can help you keep track of Lodge events--I used the computer as
my only calendaring tool during my year as Worshipful Master,
determining to keep no paper calendar at all. From there, the
computer can be used to help you keep notes of meetings, special
events, and the like. It is invaluable as a Working Tool for a
Worshipful Master. I did all my letters as Worshipful Master on
computer, prepared reports to the Lodge on computer, and kept
program notes on computer. Additionally, I appointed myself
Chairman of the Lodge Publications Committee, and edited the
Lodge TrestleBoard on computer. Let me summarize the importance
of this Working Tool by stating simply: I do not think I could
have functioned effectively as a Worshipful Master without a
computer.
Also, with the computer can come access to the Internet. I
obtained Internet access shortly after being installed as
Worshipful Master. I find the Internet one of the most important
technological innovations since the invention of the printing
press--and, in time, its utility to mankind may surpass that of
the printing press. It is too early to make that call, but its
potential for doing that is clear, at least to me. Numerous
newsgroups and web sites pertaining to Masonry exist, and others
are being created. They provide insight, ideas, (usually)
constructive criticism, and valuable information on almost any
Masonic topic imaginable. Many Grand Lodges, and quite a few
local Lodges, have web sites on the World Wide Web; many of these
provide links to other Masonic sites. Explore the Internet well
in advance of your installation as Worshipful Master! You should
have no trouble locating sites that interest you, and with which
you are comfortable. You should avoid the temptation to spread
yourself too think on the Internet, and this valuable Working
Tool lends itself to that temptation!
I have mentioned the Past Masters of the Lodge already. They are
an obvious, and quite valuable, Working Tool of the Worshipful
Master. Almost all of the Past Masters who responded to my
request for input mentioned the availability and willingness of
the Past Masters to help you have a good year In the East. Your
progress through the Officers' Line, and your familiarity with
each of the Past Masters of your Lodge, should suggest to you
which Past Masters can be most helpful with particular projects
or programs, which Past Masters can be most informative with
respect to ritual or Degree work questions, which Past Masters
have the time necessary to commit to specific tasks, and most
other questions which will come up with respect to obtaining
assistance, guidance, or advice from the Past Masters. One
contributor referred to the Past Masters as the real "ancient
Landmarks" of the Lodge. Some of these ancient Landmarks, in
some Lodges, have a tendency to forget that they are no longer In
the East. Your use of Past Masters as Working Tools must be
tempered with the realization that the Past Masters have minds of
their own; and, that, on occasion, it may be necessary to gently
remind them of who is In the East. (Ever so gently!--Your year
In the East will be a struggle, and your Lodge will suffer, if
you do not have the cooperation and support of these Working
Tools.)
Programs, projects, and banquets constitute another class of
Working Tools for the Worshipful Master. The magnitude and scope
of these will necessarily vary with the size, location, and
resources of your Lodge. However, if you believe your Lodge is
not capable of doing much along these lines, you will never know
until you try! Also, consider joining with other area Lodges in
cooperative programs, banquets, and activities. Pooling
resources and talent can have a synergistic effect which may
surprise you. You probably are better suited than any article
writer to judge what programs and activities will interest your
Lodge Brothers; here are just a few of the suggestions from some
of the contributors which worked for them in their Lodges:
Law Enforcement Night
Teacher Appreciation Night
Citizen of the Year Banquet
Adopt A School Program
Adopt A Highway Program (Lodge responsible for picking up litter
on a particular street)
Bears on Patrol (Lodge furnishes stuffed animals to police
officers to provide to children who are involved in traumatic
events--wrecks, fires, domestic quarrels, etc.)
Christmas Miracle Program (providing Christmas gifts to needy
families in the local Community)
A "Masonic Minute" in each stated meeting (a "mini" Masonic
Education item)
The Brothers and other people associated with the Lodge "vote" on
the WM's programs, and on Lodge activities generally, with their
feet--they vote by attendance, in other words. Keep track of
attendance at the first few programs you sponsor. You should be
able to tell whether you are on the right track with your
programs and activities in this way.
The Brothers of the Lodge are a vital Working Tool for the
Worshipful Master; they are the reason for his existence and for
his holding the position of Worshipful Master. They will elect
you to the position because they have confidence in you and will
want you to succeed in the position. They (most of them) will be
willing to help you in any way you need. Be reasonable and
prudent in your requests to them; be specific in what you ask
them to do; and, be appreciative when they do it.
I have tried to mention the most helpful Working Tools which
occur to me, and which were suggested by other contributors.
Still other Working Tools may be available to you--a District
Deputy Grand Master, a Lodge Development Representative, or some
other representative from your Grand Lodge, for example. Use any
Working Tool that you believe will help you fashion a good,
successful year In the East constructively!
D. Some General Pointers for the Worshipful Master
Once you have assumed the position of Worshipful Master, you will
find a myriad of expectations, duties, responsibilities waiting
for you. How you discharge those duties and responsibilities,
and measure up to those expectations, is largely up to you. As
PGM Dwight L. Smith put it, in his "Look Well" collection,
addressed to an imaginary Senior Warden named Tom:
'Why are you here, Tom?' They want to know. 'What can we
expect from you? A year of zealous, inspired leadership?
Twelve months of casual, half-hearted coasting? An
apologetic year in which everyone governs the Lodge except
the Brother who was elected to do so? Or are we just giving
you the opportunity to get your name on the list of Past
Masters?'
A list of specific advice and suggestions for you, once you have
assumed the position, would likely be virtually endless, and no
such comprehensive or all-inclusive list is possible in an
article of limited scope, such as this. I will include, in the
next section, some of the specific advice and suggestions
received from other contributors. But, here are five general
pointers which you would do well to remember and practice:
1. The WM must evidence enthusiasm for the position by showing
up at the various Lodge meetings, programs, and banquets
throughout the year. This position requires a significant time
commitment which you must be prepared to make, and which probably
will interfere with other things that are important to you in
life. (Be sure those in your household understand this, before
you assume the position!)
2. The WM must demonstrate support for the youth programs that
the Lodge sponsors by his presence and attendance. Yes, the
Lodge provides a place for them to meet, and (usually) some
funding. But, BE THERE for them! This will pay dividends, both
in their lives as they move to adulthood, and in the life of the
Lodge and its appendant bodies. (Our two newest EAs, for
example, are Senior DeMolays from our Lodge DeMolay Chapter.)
3. While it is good to seek advice and counsel, the decisions
need to be yours, and not someone else's. (I hope you've picked
up on that!) The Brothers will react negatively if they perceive
that the Worshipful Master is only "doing the bidding" of anyone
else. Having a WM "under the thumb" of someone else (usually
that "someone else" is a Past Master who thinks he knows it all)
reflects poorly on the WM and the someone else.
4. Each and every decision you make will leave at least one
Brother who would have done it differently unhappy. You simply
cannot make every one of the Brothers happy. There are a number
of paths to a successful year as Worshipful Master, and you will
need to find one with which you are comfortable. One certain
path to an unsuccessful year is to try to please everyone.
5. Along with #4, you will make mistakes. Expect to. No one
learns anything without making mistakes. "A man should never be
ashamed to own he has been in the wrong, which is but saying, in
other words, that he is wiser today than he was yesterday."--
Jonathan Swift
When it becomes clear to you that you have made a mistake,
examine it, rethink it, learn from it--but do not wallow in it.
Move on.
E. Kernels of Wisdom & Insight
What specific insights and suggestions can those who have
occupied the position of Worshipful Master give you? Here are
some of the succinct points made by the contributors, in no
particular order:
1. Seek advice from the Past Masters--you'll know which ones to
go to.
2. Put your heart, soul, and toenails into your Lodge
TrestleBoard.
3. Have a term plan, in addition to your mission statement,
that includes Masonic education, Lodge visitations, and social
events, and be sure your Line Officers, including the Secretary,
have copies well in advance of your installation.
4. Know your ritual work before being installed, and ask for
help if you don't.
5. Read, and re-read, your Lodge by-laws and the Book of
Constitutions, your Grand Lodge Constitution, and Book of
Regulations.
6. Use common sense.
7. Communicate with your officers and candidates.
8. Be organized and efficient at meetings.
9. Be prepared for emergencies--expect Brother Murphy (Murphy's
Laws) to be a regular visitor to your Lodge.
10. Be patient with the Past Masters who think they know it all.
11. Find at least three Past Masters and ask them to help you
put together a program that will make the Lodge much better by
your term's end.
12. Concentrate on what the Lodge needs, not just what interests
you.
13. Take your wife, if you have one, on a mini-honeymoon before
your installation, and promise her another after your successor
is installed.
14. Direct and lead with the gavel, but avoid dictating with it.
15. Have a solid handle on your Lodge's financial condition.
16. Try to get on the same page as your two next likely
successors, your SW and JW.
17. Listen to everyone, even the jerks.
18. If it's important, it needs to be done. Now. Waiting for
consensus is procrastination. You were elected to lead, so lead!
19. Think marathon, not sprint.
20. Try asking people to do specific, achievable things--"Would
you write to these three Brothers (addresses attached) whom we
haven't seen for several meetings?," not "Would you contact some
of the guys who haven't been coming to Lodge?"
21. Have fun with your year In the East!
22. Use the phone, in addition to putting Lodge events in the
TrestleBoard. Use a phone committee, with specific Lodge members
for each committee member to call.
23. Hold officer rehearsals at least monthly.
24. Keep the business part of the meetings as short as possible.
25. Analyze what programs have worked for Past Masters, and what
programs didn't work.
26. Be prepared to be in control of your Lodge during your year
as Worshipful Master.
27. Learn the ritual work, and (unfortunately, given the aging
Masonic population) the Funeral Service.
28. Have your committee appointments lined up before you are
installed.
29. If you desire to make significant changes, do so in a way
that avoids alienating the Brothers who have brought your Lodge
as far as it has come.
30. Try to respond to the desires of the majority, but do not
sell yourself or your program down the river to do so.
31. Seek input from others to define the needs of the Lodge, and
formulate a program responding to those needs.
32. The key to success is planning, planning, planning.
33. Involve your Line Officers in your planning.
34. Sponsor and plan for interesting Masonic education programs,
with outside speakers if possible, as well as Past Masters and
other Brothers interested in specific Masonic topics. Avoid non-
Masonic topics; leave those to the service clubs.
35. Have education programs for topics of interest, including
non-Masonic topics such as heart disease. [The topic of non-
Masonic education & information programs brought sharply divided
input from the contributors. Some recommended them; some
condemned them. You know your Lodge; use your judgment.]
36. Keep in touch with all Brothers if possible, paying
particular attention to shut-in or infirm Brothers, and to those
who have been regular in attendance but who suddenly stop coming.
This could be a sign of health problems of which you may not be
aware.
37. Utilize a transportation committee to provide transportation
to those Brothers who may be unable to drive to meetings or
events.
38. Be practical in your planning for your year In the East.
39. Hit the ground running! You can't afford to spend two or
three months figuring out the position of Worshipful Master.
40. Utilize a calling list for your officers, passing calls down
the Officers' Line to the Tyler, and have the Tyler report back
to you.
41. Take a humble pill immediately after your installation, and
remember that Masonry is a volunteer undertaking. Don't make it
a drudge, and make it interesting for the Brothers.
42. When conflict arises, be prepared to deal with it quickly,
before it becomes a problem for the Lodge.
43. Don't try to turn a failed program into a success. Admit
the failure, learn from it, and move on to something else.
44. Vow to love all of the Brothers--the good, the bad, and the
ugly. This will get harder as your year goes on!
45. Deal with all Brothers out of love, fairness, and honesty,
and don't play politics with them.
46. Let the Brothers know when you are pleased with them, and
let them know (constructively) when you are displeased. Don't
expect them to read your mind.
47. Pay attention when a Brother wants to tell you something,
even if you're occupied. It may be important to you; it's
definitely important to him.
48. Don't let anyone rush you into snap decisions. But, when a
decision has to be made, make it.
49. Get to know the Secretary. Be mindful of the Secretary's
many responsibilities, and use him sparingly and efficiently.
Every request you make of the Secretary causes him extra work.
Any Master or Brother, in about fifteen seconds, can think of
projects that will require several hours of the Secretary's time.
He is busy enough! Any request by a Brother for something extra
from the Secretary should come through you as Worshipful Master.
The Secretary can make or break your year as Worshipful Master,
not only by what he does, but by what he does not do, or does not
inform you about.
50. Be flexible in your planning. Changes are inevitable, and
will need to be made.
51. Include the Lodge Widows in your plans, with several--more
than one--events for them during the year.
52. Spread the work around. Asking that marginally-active
Brother to participate in a project may be just the thing that
will cement his relationship to the Lodge, and will spark his
interest to the point of becoming an active regular.
53. Spend time getting to know the new candidates and Brothers.
They are the future of your Lodge.
54. Masonic Lodges are not ruled by the membership but by the
Master. The members expect the Master to rule and lead, and the
Lodge suffers when he does not.
55. Try a community activity with some other organization, such
as Knights of Columbus, Elks, etc.
56. Remember the "back bones," who do all the work, and the "jaw
bones," who gripe about the work that the back bones do.
57. Remember the story about Anybody, Somebody, Everybody, and
Nobody; and, remember that there are really only two: Somebody
and Everybody. [See Sec. F.]
58. Plan your work, and then work your plan.
59. Remember the concepts of courtesy, Masonic etiquette, and
protocol, and know what they are for each situation that you know
you will confront as Master.
60. Be prepared for your meetings, with a definite program and
agenda.
61. Avoid trying to be "one of the boys" to curry favor with the
Brothers or to get them to like you. It is more important that
they respect you in the position of Worshipful Master, and you
need to earn that respect by the example you set. If they
respect you, be assured, they will like you.
62. Be sure visitors are made to feel welcome.
63. If you have a Festive Board, be sure it is done properly,
with all required protocol and ceremony.
64. Be mentally prepared for the position of Worshipful Master.
Care for the Brethren. Care for the Lodge and its work. Care
for your candidates, and be sure your Degree work is done
properly and with the necessary decorum.
65. Read your Lodge's minutes book, especially during periods of
growth, to get a feel of what True Masonic Charity is all about.
This will give you a feeling of appreciation for the efforts you
are being allowed to follow--along with a sense of humility.
66. Be sure each Brother receives recognition during the month
of his Masonic Birthday. If a Brother cannot attend, ask him for
a written greeting to the Lodge that can be read at the
recognition portion of the program.
67. Do not try to do everything yourself.
68. Solicit ideas from others, including your Line Officers.
Give them a feel for what you are going through in the decision-
making process as Worshipful Master.
69. Be sure to visit the Lodge's youth groups. You will receive
special recognition as the Lodge's representative, and your
interest and support by your presence will be appreciated.
70. The most important part of the Worshipful Master's position
is having a sense of vision, a sense of direction, and a sense of
purpose. The Worshipful Master must know where he wants to take
the Lodge, how he is going to accomplish that task, and who he
can go to for help. Having a sense of vision, direction, and
purpose will be appreciated, and will draw support from the
Brothers, even if they do not necessarily agree with all the
points of the Worshipful Master's program.
71. Avoid taking on too many responsibilities in other appendant
bodies.
72. Try to build continuity into your programs, to the extent
possible, without leaving your successor lacking in flexibility.
73. Have contingency plans for the unexpected collapses of
events or programs.
74. Don't try to do too much--concentrate on a few core items
and goals.
75. Your purpose as Master is to motivate, stimulate, and
coordinate the Education and Leadership activities of your Lodge.
76. To get help--Seek, Ask, and Knock.
77. Invite the Brothers to "Dream Along with Me," in imagining a
better course for the Lodge.
78. Bring the bare words in your ritual and Degree work to life;
this will reveal a wealth of deeper meaning for the Brethren, and
for you.
79. Try to find constructive things for the Past Masters to do,
so that they will not wind up having finished their years as
Master, and then vanishing from the Lodge.
80. Remember that you are in charge of a management team, and
that other members of the team will eventually lead the Lodge.
Do what you can to help them develop their respective styles of
leadership, and to encourage them to accept the responsibilities
that go with the position of Worshipful Master.
F. Some Final Thoughts
I hope this article has given you some insight into the position
of Worshipful Master in your Lodge, and how that position can be
filled. I would leave you with three parting pieces of thought
and insight:
1. This is a story about four people named Everybody,
Somebody, Anybody and Nobody. There was an important job to be
done and Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it. Anybody
could have done it, but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry about
that because it was Everybody's job. Everybody thought Anybody
could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn't do it.
It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what
Anybody could have done.
2. Here is a posting I made to the Internet Freemasonry List,
describing what I thought of the position of Worshipful Master at
Jackson Lodge #146, and the continuity of effort in the position:
I am the I[mmediate] P[ast] M[aster] of Jackson #146. I had
a very good, very helpful, group of PMs from which to draw
talent, help, and (when needed and asked for) advice. At no
time did I feel that any PM was trying to 'run the show'
from the sideline. At no time did I feel that my toes were
being 'stepped on' in the East. This was my feeling in
spite of the fact that we have some pretty opinionated PMs
who, I am sure, would have done things quite differently
from the way I did them.
I set out to ambitiously expand our TrestleBoard; I set out
to initiate a series of banquets and special events to try
to draw Brothers and their families back to Lodge functions;
I set out, as much as anything, to try to show the Brothers
at Jackson #146 that there was more than one way to fill the
East in a Masonic Lodge.
The problem, though, that I think ambitious and progressive
Masters will encounter in almost any Lodge is that there is
no way to ensure continuity of direction. Perhaps this is
as it should be; no Master should try to tie the hands of
those who come after him. The best he can hope for, as I see
it, looking back at the East, is that, by his example and
direction, he can show those following him a path that
worked for him.
The man who sits in the East in any Lodge, in any year, will
bring his own strengths and weaknesses to that position. It
is up to him to 'play to his strengths;' the PMs are there
to help him deal with and overcome his weaknesses--or, at
least, to see to it that those weaknesses do not interfere
with his year as Master, or cause lasting problems for the
Lodge.
But, the Master needs to run the Lodge. I found that, with
a definite sense of direction and purpose, and with a
mission statement set out early in my year, I got good
support from almost all the Brothers in the Lodge, and from
all the PMs whom I approached for assistance. (By the same
token, I suspect that a Master who tries to simply fill the
chair, with no program, with no ideas, and with no purpose
other than putting in time, will have problems. Those
problems, in my opinion, are of his own making.)
The Master of a Masonic Lodge has tremendous powers. Used
for the benefit of the Lodge, and with a definite purpose
and program, those powers enhance the Lodge and the sense of
belonging that all Brothers should feel. Misused, or not
used, those powers are simply wasted--and the Brothers are
left feeling that they are being dictated to, or are without
a sense of direction. Either way, the Brothers, and the
Lodge, lose.
3. The Greek philosopher Aristotle tells us that there are
three kinds of friendship:
* We have friends who make us laugh, whose company we enjoy.
* We have friends who are useful to us, who lend things to us,
who do things for us that we cannot do well for ourselves.
* Finally, we have "friends in the good." This friendship
occurs when we are united with others in a common undertaking,
which lifts us to another level, giving us a desire to strive for
something beyond our own lives. This is the highest form of
friendship, and we seek it, says Aristotle, because we quite
simply become better people for having "friends in the good."
If you will take care that the Masonry practiced in your
Lodge, during your year In the East, is reflective of Aristotle's
third kind of friendship, a lot of things that could go wrong
will take care of themselves!
*****
I hope you enjoy your tenure In the East as much as I did. I
wouldn't have missed the year I spent as Worshipful Master for
anything, and will have good memories of that year for the rest
of my life!
[My heartfelt thanks to the contributors whose insights made this
article much easier to write, and much more complete than it
otherwise would have been. The shortcomings, omissions, and
errors, are mine.--SKR
[Contributors: Greg Glur, Jim Bennie, Kenneth Gibala, Irving
Anderson, Frank Kendrick, Thomas Coberly, Ray Grodnicki, Ted
Crombie, Leonard Jones, Dan Doron, Buzz Grabo, Glen Epperson
(with special thanks for his observations on how to deal with and
treat the Secretary), Bob Moore, George Skelton, Andrew Mann,
William Milz, and Tom Valente. The contributors are from a wide
array of geographic locations, having served Lodges in Montana,
Wisconsin, British Columbia, New Jersey, Oklahoma,
Texas, Israel, New Hampshire, Colorado, District of Columbia,
North Dakota, and other locations which I was unable to
identify.]
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