The Grand Lodge
of Free and Accepted Masons
of the State of California
Grand Lodge of Masons in California
Freemasonry seeks good men and makes them better. Tell a friend!
The California Masonic Candidate Mentor Program

Mentoring Program and The Lodge Masonic Education Team

Purpose

To ensure that every Candidate is properly instructed in the fundamentals of the Craft.

Mechanics

Upon election of a petitioner for the Degrees of Freemasonry, the Master appoints a Masonic Mentor for a one year term to serve as part of a Lodge Masonic Education Team. In the event a Lodge does not have an education team, the Mentor may work alone to enact the program. The Mentor should familiarize himself with the material and complete the quizzes in advance.

Method

The Masonic Mentor will contact the candidate and advise him of the tentative Degree schedule and invite the candidate and his Lady to any open Lodge functions. The Mentor will maintain contact during the candidate's progress through the Degrees and will assist him in preparing for each Degree. The Mentor will ascertain if the candidate has any particular Masonic friends or associates who would like to be invited to attend or assist in the conferral of the Degrees (particularly the Third Degree). He will also determine whether the Candidate would like to obtain a suitable Masonic Bible or use a suitable family Bible to be obligated on.

Above all, the Mentor will make the new Brother a part of the Masonic Family.

The Candidate meets with the Mentor a minimum of five times. The set of three Masonic Education Booklets published by the California Grand Lodge are an introduction to Masonic Education and a mainstay of this program. Some lodges may desire to make these available prior to each degree as this may enhance the candidates' experience. Some lodges may prefer to provide this information after the degree to allow the candidate to experience the degree without any prior knowledge. In either case it is recommended that the booklet for each degree be reviewed with the candidate after the degree, to answer any questions, and have the candidate complete the accompanying questions.

  1. Prior to the First Degree: provide “A Basic Masonic Education Course – Entered Apprentice” booklet (Optional). 
  2. Following the First Degree, prior to the Second Degree: review “A Basic Masonic Education Course - Entered Apprentice” booklet. 
  3. Following the Second Degree, prior to the Third Degree: review “A Basic Masonic Education Course – Fellowcraft” booklet. 
  4. Following the Third Degree: review “A Basic Masonic Education Course – Master Mason” booklet. 
  5. One month after the fourth session participate in a Continuing Education Program as designed by the Lodge. 
A continuing program of support through fraternal Lodge visitations, mentor counseling, and Lodge participation is encouraged for the new Brothers in their first year as Master Masons. Occasional attendance at the local meeting of each of the three youth groups; DeMolay, Jobs Daughters and Rainbow for Girls is to be encouraged. It is especially encouraged that the new Master Mason endeavor to attend at least one initiation for each of the three youth groups. It is also recommended that the New Brother be invited to join his Lodge brethren at the next occurring Annual Communication of Grand Lodge. An orientation meeting will be provided by the Grand Lodge of California Education Committee at each Annual Communication for new brothers. Those who desire so should advise their Lodge secretaries when requesting their credentials for the Annual Communication to notify the Education Committee that they wish to attend the orientation.

Prior to the First Meeting

  1. Upon the election of a Candidate for the Degrees of Freemasonry, the Lodge sends the Candidate a congratulatory letter. (Sample Letter, Appendix A) Include a copy of Short Talk Bulletin No. 8-54, “Tell the Applicant,” available from the Masonic Service Association. 
  2. Assign a Mentor to the Candidate. Preferably a seasoned member who is knowledgeable about the craft and who has read the California Masonic Education Program Booklets and this Manual. The Mentor will serve as one of four members of the Lodge Masonic Education Team or he may work alone. 

The Purpose

Every candidate is a stranger to Freemasonry and Freemasonry is a stranger to him. It is not merely a Lodge that he joins, but a great Fraternity with a history stretching back over many centuries, an intricate system of laws, a large number or purposes, ideals and Obligations, a set of rights, privileges and duties, a set of landmarks to be preserved, the whole carrying on a program of activities of great variety.

It is too much to expect of any man that without guidance he shall be able to make himself at home in such a society, or that unaided he shall be able to take his own proper place in the Lodge's work with credit to himself and honor to the Brotherhood. He has every right to expect that the Lodge itself shall give him much of the information he needs. It is because so many Brethren never receive this information, and are permitted to come - and perhaps go - undirected and uninstructed, that they either cease attending Lodge at all, or, too often, for lack of knowledge, blunder into humiliation to themselves and damage to the Lodge.

There is nothing new in these statements. For years responsible Craft leaders have been only too aware of them, and have realized that this failure to properly prepare the candidate for his new duties and privileges is both a failure on the part of the Craft to discharge its just obligations to him, and a weakness in the fundamental system of Initiation which incurs the danger of weakening the whole structure by attempting to build enduring walls with rough ashlars and untempered mortar. Moreover it is not solely a matter of teaching the new member the ceremonies he is to go through; it is necessary that he become imbued with the spirit of Freemasonry and to believe in, as well as to understand, its purposes and ideals. Our Fraternity does not rest on compulsion or military rule; if its own members are at odds with its aims it becomes a house divided against itself. In many cases when Masons cause dissension in a lodge, it is not out of malice or a desire to make mischief, but because they do not understand the rules and laws.

It is not only the candidate that profits by the “Lodge System of Masonic Education.” The Lodge itself is strengthened from having new members who from the beginning are able to take part in its activities; who are likely to become regular attendants; and who can quickly grasp the aim and purpose of the Lodges' endeavors. They come in already prepared for work! And the Master has a larger staff of trained members to work with as a result.