My Brethren,
There is "good news today" about Masonry in California.
Having recently returned from the conference of Grand Masters of North America, it was clearly apparent that we in California are in the vanguard of leadership in almost all aspects of the Craft.
Many wrongly believe that Masons are a bunch of old men. How many applicants are really 70 years old?
The average age of a newly made Master Mason in California is 39.5 years. Of the approximately 1900 applicants for degrees in 2006, 1042 (55%) were under 40 years of age.
In the last year we have conducted more first degrees that at anytime in the last 16 years. Many young men are increasingly joining our ranks from what is commonly known as the Millennium Generation, born in 1961 and the following 18 years.
Recent business studies have been made concerning what attracts these young men and how they are retained.
This millennium generation spends $3.50 for a cup of Starbucks™ coffee several times a week and a $50.00 meal for two is cheap, even without drinks. When confronted with $60.00 per year dues, they believe you meant $60.00 per month - their health club membership costs them that much. Our low dues and application fees make them wonder if they are joining anything worth while.
A great number of these young men have more knowledge about Masonry than many Masons. They have grown up with the internet and easily access information. What Masonry offers, and what they cannot obtain through the internet (or Kiwanis or Lions Club) is the personal one on one experience of our Masonic degrees. Masonry is a unique and personal experience.
The millennial are not the 60 to 80 hours per week work-a-holics of the baby boomer generation. They will work 40 hours per week and want time to do those things that interest them. They will also hire baby sitters to do what they want.
These men are looking for leaders with honesty and integrity. It's not that they don't want to be leaders; they would just like some great role models first. Be prepared, my brethren, for their high expectations.
Listen to them. These young adults have ideas and opinions, and don't take kindly to having their thoughts ignored. Respect them. "Treat our ideas respectfully," they ask, "even though we haven't been around a long time." They need to know they are a valuable part of the lodge, and that there is more to being a Mason than just pouring coffee.
Challenge them. They want learning opportunities. They seek the "philosophy of life" imbued in Masonry that can be found in the symbols of our craft and our degrees. They are looking for individual growth and development.
If you want the millennial to continue to return to the lodge; shorter and more purposeful meetings are needed. After working diligently to pass through the three degrees and proficiencies, we advise them they can now attend a stated meeting, something they have been told they can look forward to on becoming a Master Mason. Unfortunately, too often, they find that they will be only listening to who died and the monthly bills to be paid. Not only do we lose newly raised brethren, but even brethren of many years do not attend or may come to dinner, and not stay for the meeting. The stated meeting is not the heart and soul of Masonry. The lodge and its brethren must offer much more. Each lodge can determine for itself where emphasis should be added, as one lodge may not fit all that a brother may seek in Masonry. We don't require "cookie cutter lodges.
We need to keep the promise we made to all who entered our gates: we told them Masonry makes good men better. The millennial, and all Masons, need to know how Masonry makes "you" a better person.
What are we doing in California to meet these needs?
While there are still many of us who claim we relish the idea of the long form lecture following the degree, we also can observe some candidates and regulars in the lodge having a tendency to "doze off". To help this situation, we anticipate within two months the release of the optional PowerPoint supplement to the first degree lecture. We hope to accomplish the same for the remaining degree lectures.
Plans are proceeding for a DVD following the first degree that an Entered Apprentice can take home to show his wife, family and friends which will explain the non-esoteric material. In the future, we look forward to similar DVD's for all degrees.
Throught the help of the ritual committee, the optional use of costumes in the third degree ritual is almost ready to be released.
"Masonic formation" seminars are being held to teach brethren how to bring together within the lodge, those members who desire to discuss and learn more about how the principles of Masonry, taught in the degrees, can be "applied" to ones daily life. We will point out that when a Mason in his first degree enters the lodge room, he is really entering a replica of the world with the east, west, north and south, and sun and moon. On his entry he is immediately greeted by the senior deacon with a working tool which is used to impress upon him that the world is full of trials and tribulations, but that by following his guide, the Masonic principles to overcome these problems will be revealed to him.
Masonry in California recognizes the importance of the internet and the technology it offers. Within 60 days a new on-line learning class on lodge finance will be available to all brethren from your home or office at which you can proceed at your own speed, including referral back to where the answer to a missed question is located. On completion of the on-line test, the computer will actually print a certificate of completion and automatically notify the grand secretary. We plan that all five of the present lodge certification programs be so developed in the next several years.
As you may know, gifts to the Masonic homes and California Masonic Foundation can be made on-line in installments.
Your inspectors have just begun reporting quarterly on the status of their lodges through the internet with no paper reports and can simply fill in the blank or check the box provided.
A new program of lodge ambassadors has been launched where each lodge ambassador will, by August, be receiving monthly information of grand lodge programs and activities.
I will conclude with what I believe is an extremely important matter.
The general public is continually being exposed to the mysteries of Masonry by television, movies, books (i.e. Dan Brown's works and pending book, The Solomon Key") and websites and print media. Each Mason should be able to respond in a 20 second reply (an elevator ride to the 5th floor) to the inquiry: "What is Masonry?" There is no time to be philosophical or explain the ritual of degrees. In the past we have replied that we are a fraternity of "make good men better;" such a phrase has significance to Masons, but usually means little or nothing to a non-Mason. I suggest the following: Freemasonry is a men's fraternal organization teaching that each man should improve himself by his own good conduct toward his family, his country, and all mankind. The "golden rule" is our basic tenet. Clearly, a memorized short paragraph is not required, but a brother should be ready to give a knowledgeable response.
My brethren, keep those millennial happy, as they must be our future Masonic officers.
There is good news tonight," and Masonry is on the move in California.
