Education of Masons - where to begin?

MikeWebbInNebra · 11-20-2006, 09:21 AM

Brethren,
I am in my year as WM, although I was raised only 5 1/2 years ago. (Forgive me if I take a bit of time to lay down some groundwork for my question.) I was in the twilight of my career as a Marine (24 years), and had be feeling for some time that I needed something more, something outside my little circle of family and church acquantinces. I was looking for true male friendship, comraderie, and a group of like-minded men from whom I could learn from and exchange ideas.
I approached a dear friend at my church whom I knew to be a Mason and he set me on the road. I thoroughly enjoyed the brief time I had in that lodge (Consuelo lodge in Escondido, CA), and learned a bit from the brethren - mostly how to comport ones-self as a Mason, to strive for self-improvement, and to take time to listen to others at a relaxed pace - that is, let others take time to develop and present their point, then take time to ponder what was said and meant.
Before I knew it, I had retired from the Marines and moved my family back to Nebraska to start the next phase of our lives. Once I got the family setup in our new house, the schools, and was settled in my new job, I found and joined the local lodge.
Nice guys, a storied history and tradition, but one which was (is) in decline - as many throughout the country are. The majority of the members are members in name only - they're on the roster, but we never see them. Most are 60 and over. Those few who do come to meetings are so busy teaching the ritual and traveling throughout central Nebraska to do lectures, etc. (because of the shortage of those that can do them from memory), that we don't ever get together to be truly educated. I've raised about 8 this year and have to to go. I doubt I'll see more than 2 from now on. Most are going right into the Shrine. Can't really blame them; a bit more fun, and there's only so much time available in a busy week to spare from family and work.
I had high hopes to turn this around in my year as Master. Sure didn't work out that way.
Not only is there a profound apathy among the older members to change things, the young guys (well, those young to Masonry) don't know where to go from here. We desire something more, but having never experienced it, we don't know how to properly articulate it, or how to begin something within our own small group.

So ... my question for the more learned members of this forum is this: How do we start a program of education that "makes good men better" Or put a different way: Knowing that we need to educate ourselves, is there a "lesson plan/template" we can use as a starting point?
I've only been a member of this website a week or so, but I've viewed many of the threads and skimeed or read the essays. To be frank, most ofd those with questions that are similar to mine are told of the vast array of resources available and kinda told to pick one and start there. I'd be much more comfortable with a means to lay the groundwork for the study of Masonry, a set of topics to be discussed - set in the context that they tie into one another or at least complement each other for the final goal, and a means to sum it all up and then sustain what we've learned.

I respectfully await your comments.

David Herman · 11-20-2006, 09:38 AM

I suggest resources like those offered by the Southern California Research Lodge at http://www.calodges.org/scrl/ , or programs like that offered by the Victorian Lodge of Research at http://www.geocities.com/athens/theb.../dipmased.html or Pietre-Stones at http://www.freemasons-freemasonry.com/mecfr.html

MikeWebbInNebra · 11-20-2006, 10:05 AM

Thank you; I'll take a look.

bluebeacon · 11-20-2006, 12:01 PM

i agree that morality is one of our solid precepts without which masonry could not exist but i will give you a gift...a gift of further clarity in your pursuit for light...the secret lies in geometry! study the ancient art of geometry and you will see the light, it exists all around you! One of the greatest untold secrets has to do with Central Tendency...aka the mean....find out what this symbol looks like...hint: it is all around you! What does this mean to me? Balance my friend, balance!
Reflect on my words and teachings this day and pass them on to your brethren so that the light may flow freely to those brethren who wish to understand our ancient secrets....

fraternally yours,
chris

MikeWebbInNebra · 11-20-2006, 12:08 PM

Interesting take. I'll do some searches on Geometry to find some material for use. Thanks.

Mike

MikeWebbInNebra · 12-06-2006, 09:23 AM

As an update to this topic, I've been in contact with our Grand Lodge's Education Committee and have found them to be quite receptive to moving forward on this topic. It would appear that there's more than a few of us in Nebraska eager to do learn more and have forums to exchange views and ideas. In fact, I'm working with them to host a regional conference for Central Nebraska to get the ball rolling.
My question or request is this: has anyone else had to 'start from scratch' on this topic? If so, any lesson's learned you'd care to share?

dpdeleon · 12-30-2006, 06:42 PM

Every now and then I surf the web looking for Masonic info - both pro and con. I was on a website that remarked how Masons can discern what Masonry is all about by keeping an attentive ear and absorbing the knowledge from the blue lodges and appendant bodies.

Today, as I was studying one of the charges (which I'll be giving next month) it occured to me that a lot of what a mason is about is right in front of us and we sometimes just don't see it.

It has given me food for thought.

Stephen · 01-02-2007, 06:31 PM

Brother Webb,

My name is Stephen Schmeichel I am from lodge 300 out of Lincoln NE. Seems to me your story is alot like mine. I too was in the Marine Corp and got out and moved my family back here to Nebraska. I am not a WM; still trying to expand on my light. It's good to see other Nebraskans trying to expand on their own light. Hope to talk to you soon. Good luck on the new journey towards the EAST. Question? What was your MOS in the Corp? Where were you stationed? What was your unit? How long were you in for.

D. W. Brown · 01-03-2007, 10:32 AM

I am very excited to see the younger generation (like me) getting involved and trying to change things. It appears NE has a more tolerant system to those who want to expand their knowledge than some of the other jurisdictions like Alabama, Georgia, Florida, etc.

Most of your fellow young masons in these lower 13 states have broken away from the typical GL system to form the United Grand Lodge of America because of the backlash they receive from their fellow masons on anything related to change.

MikeWebbInNebra · 01-04-2007, 10:00 AM

I hope to use the thread to keep you all in the loop as to my efforts. Thus far I am encouraged, and not to a little degree by the support of the members of this website and forum.

To answer Br. Steven; I was in 24 years and was a Weather Officer 6802/6877. Stationed at Cherry Pt., Futenma, Iwakuni, Miramar, Bogue Field, LeJuene, Chanute AFB, IL., 29 Palms and Quantico. Mostly in the Air Wing, also on Instructor Duty and in 8th Comm. Bn and MACS-2 my first hitch as a HF Radio Operator MOS 2534.