What Is a "Real" Master?

Wor. Stephen C. Cohn

(c) 1996, "The Trowel" 
Grand Lodge of Massachusetts

As Masters or Past Masters, we all know that the Brother we elect and install as the Worshipful Master of our Lodge is responsible only to the Grand Master, the Grand Lodge or the Deputy of the Grand Master, and is afforded all the dignity and respect that accompanies this truly awesome position. We are all aware of the rights, responsibilities and unique powers that belong to the Brother while he is the Master. And we know what is expected of him while he occupies the East.

But what do you do when the Brother who is Master of your lodge fails to perform according to the "standards" set forth in your lodge? Does your lodge present him with a Past Master's Jewel and Apron? What are the requirements to receive a Past Master's Diploma? Where are they written? The Grand Lodge Constitutions you say? Well, Section 702 essentially states "The Master of any Lodge... who has faithfully discharged his duties and complied with the laws of the Grand Lodge may, at the end of his first year, be presented... with a Past Master's Diploma."

What are these duties and requirements? Simply stated, to attend the visitations of the District Deputy Grand Master whenever possible, to attend or participate in a Lodge of Instruction (Masonic Forum), to participate in the district's annual exemplification, and to exemplify at least a "portion" of the ritual at every communication. 

Nowhere in our jurisdiction is it written that a Master MUST plan or conduct programs or events for the membership or families. Nowhere does it say a Master MUST be proficient in entire degrees or all the ritual. Nowhere does it say a Master MUST be enthusiastic OR effective OR competent.

The recently released The Vision of Freemasonry in Massachusetts addresses many long and short term goals to enable our Grand Lodge and individual lodges to follow the same path into the next century, and also provide a forum for continuity from administration to administration. Although not completely in effect, many goals outlined therein have been met. The others will come on-line in the very near future.

A Master will be required to perform certain tasks and meet certain minimum goals during his term to be considered for a Past Master's Diploma. These include local community involvement programs, lodge improvement, and membership involvementprograms. While attending lodge is supposed to be "recreation," officers must accept the fact that many others are depending on their performance and participation in lodge affairs.

Their absences or tardinesses only serve to place additional burdens on those remaining officers who are forced to perform additional duties within the lodge. Our future as lodges and as Masons are at stake. Just putting in the time or having just any warm body in a station with no enthusiasm will no longer assure our success, but may lead to our failure. Too many lodges are in trouble and are folding or merging due to a lack of leadership. 

Bro. John R. Graham, 33o, says in his Short Talk Bulletin "Masonic Leadership: It's time To Set The Pace" that "...the problem is not Masonry. The problem is not our beliefs or ideals. The problem is one of leadership. Or more to the point, a total lack of leadership at every level.... The major qualification for being a leader in our Fraternity is time. If you can devote the time, you can get to the top... and get a jewel hung around your neck."

In "The Indiana Freemason," M.W. Dwight L. Smith, P.G.M.says in Whither Are We Travelling there are no minimum requirements as to ritualistic proficiency. "Nothing regarding history, symbolism, philosophy, ethics, laws or traditions. We elect a Master and expect him to become a leader. It never
occurs to us to require evidence of leadership first."

We can no longer afford to recruit just any brother from the sidelines in order to fill empty stations without considering his capabilities and capacities. Some may want to be officers for all the wrong reasons -- taking part in lodge affairs only whenit suits them and neglecting the responsibilities associated with their respective offices. They are usually the first ones to complain if they are not automatically advanced to the next office the following year. 

Automatic promotion based on attendance or previous station tenure cannot continue. Winning an attendance endurance contest does not necessarily imply a brother has the aptitude and qualities to be an effective leader; just that he may have the time. Electing a Master and expecting him by osmosis to be the omnipotent motivator and leader will do nothing but sink a lodge in short order. 

Some jurisdictions require Wardens to be completely proficient in all their lectures and demonstrate other competencies to earn a Warden's Certificate or Instructor's Certificate before they can even be elected Master of their lodge.

The old Warden's Workshops, now the Master's Path Workshops, supply the incoming Master with excellent tools which can, if applied properly, allow the future Master to plan and preside effectively. This is assuming he has the proper attitude, intelligence, and aptitude to do just that. But someone once
said you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink!

A Master has to be self-motivated and be a motivator in order for the lodge to survive and thrive. In order to accomplish this, he should have an understanding of organizational concepts and have the necessary interpersonal skills to effectively formulate his plan for the coming year and the ability to cope with unexpected changes as they may develop. What do you do when a Brother who has proved marginally proficient in the lectures of the Deacons and Wardens, who soon after installation as Master becomes so completely overwhelmed with the responsibility as Master he completely "shuts down" and
delegates almost everything -- from ritual to candidates; doing an absolute bare minimum of work within his lodge.

This is not referring to the Master who has done the ritual and lectures many times, or a Master who suddenly finds himself under extreme extenuating circumstances through no fault of his own. Or a Past
Master sitting in the East again, who may, on special occasions, dole out portions of work to certain other Past Masters or Brothers for a change of pace and delivery. 

The arguments are that nothing has ever been officially written, and that he is the Master and can do just about anything he wishes! It is generally assumed that the incoming Master is somewhat enthusiastic and intelligent, and has the proper aptitude and attitude to handle the responsibilities of Master, although he certainly would not be blamed for being just a bit apprehensive! But what happens when this is suddenly not the case? 

As many Past Masters can attest, if the Master expends almost no effort in the lodge, without ever lifting a finger to benefit or promote the lodge, it may go to pieces during his year. He has the potential of undoing years of work by his predecessors. But as long as he attends a couple of visitations and Lodges of Instruction (now Masonic Forums), gets some type of a notice out every month (usually by the Secretary), and exemplifies a "portion" of the ritual every month he will receive a Diploma for a "job well done!" -- A "Master" of the Craft. 

This group asks what this says for all the hard work that they have put in during their year or years in the East, those who have really mastered their craft and have earned their diploma and jewel? 
In "The Indiana Freemason" M.W. Bro. Smith reported on an incident where a candidate failed to return to his lodge following his Entered Apprentice Degree due to a poor performance by the Master of the lodge. M.W. Bro. Smith stresses that such a performance by a Master "constitutes an insult to the candidate's intelligence." The candidate was disappointed and disillusioned.

After the poor performance by the Master and other officers, thecandidate left and never returned for the subsequent degrees. This is unfortunate. What many masters and officers fail to remember is that a candidate paid a considerable amount of money for his degrees and to receive an education in Freemasonry. In this instance the candidate never received the education he paid for and obviously desired. 

The Master's performance was "careless, sloppy and crude," because he made no effort to prepare for the ritualistic lessons of the degree. "Because he was trying to give 'good and wholesome instruction' on subjects he knew nothing about, a good man was lost to Freemasonry." Did this Master receive his
diploma? Perhaps. Unfortunately this scenario has been duplicated too many times in our lodges and M.W. Bro. Smith is convinced this is the number one cause for any decline in membership.

One way to test his theory is to examine successful lodges around you. Those lodges that are thriving, generally have an active membership, and an involved and knowledgeable Master who is capable of motivating his lodge. This Master will earn the accolades of his Brethren and his diploma. Those lodges that are in trouble are missing some or all of the above and need to be resuscitated before they completely fail.

So my esteemed fellow Past Masters, where does this leave us? Is there a problem with the leadership in some of our lodges? -- Yes. Do we have to be more selective in recruitment of officers? -- Yes. Are we going to continue to be content with officers just putting in the time and possibly settling with
mediocrity? -- NO! There is much to be said on lodge leadership, and much has and continues to be written in various jurisdictions.

Almost everything assumes that the incoming Master IS enthusiastic, WANTS and PLANS to have a successful year, and TRIES to achieve those elusive goals. This Master SHOULD be rewarded and receive his diploma, along with a very firm handshake of congratulations -- HE TRIED! It is the sometimes apathetic attitude of the membership or over-inflated egos of some past masters that usually prevents an energetic and enthusiastic Master from succeeding. Hence, another potential failure of a lodge due to attitude problems.

But who are we? We are only Past Masters, with no real authority or power to do anything when it comes to running our lodges. But I like to think that we at least have a vested interest in our lodges' future and success. No one wants to see them fail. It's no secret that our membership is dwindling and
it is becoming more difficult not only to attract new members but also to attract competent officers as well. R.W. Richard E. Johnson, Past Deputy Grand Master of Massachusetts, likes to say that "The [competent] Master is a Rose.

Past Masters are thorns; an integral part of the flower that protects and feeds the flower. Without them, the flower will survive -- but not for long." As Past Masters we have to be the part that feeds the flower; but not only the flower in bloom, which is the Master, but all those little buds further down the stem -- the line of officers. We still have to nurture them, instill them with a proper attitude, and supply them with the necessary tools so they too can be as well trained and enthusiastic as most of us once were or maybe still are. 

As officers, it is important that one makes the effort to learn more about our fraternity by reading, attending the Masonic Forums and participating in the various leadership seminars offered by our Grand Lodge. This is especially true if a brother wants to be a line officer but lacks a leadership or
organizational background. These actions will make the officer a more knowledgeable Mason; gaining more depth and a wider breadth of our fraternity and becoming a better respected officer in the
process.

We all know of lodges where Past Masters are filling in many, if not all, of the stations. We continue to need qualified and capable brethren to lead our future. The big question is how to get them. If we can't, then unfortunately the cliche becomes our destiny; if we cannot learn from our history, we are doomed
to repeat it.

Despite the successful efforts of the Masonic Awareness Committee we are continuing to lose valuable brethren due to suspensions, demits and unfortunately deaths. Awareness activities are not restricted to just external lodge activities but to internal lodge activities as well. As important as it is to make the public aware of our existence, causes, and ideals, thereby attracting new members to our lodges, it is equally important to keep our existing membership active and motivated. 

It is the obligation and responsibility of the lodge's nominating committee to propose the best qualified brethren to be elected officers. It is the responsibility of the Master to honor his obligation of setting the Craft at work and giving them necessary instruction; educating the candidates and membership of
the lodge. It is also the responsibility of the membership of the lodge to support its master.

When a lodge has an energetic and enthusiastic master, and a master has a supportive lodge, everyone wins! We have to collectively begin to change our attitudes and improve ourselves in Masonry; producing better men, Masons, officers, lodges, and eventually a better Masonry. It will take a concerted effort on behalf of every Mason. Only then we will be able to say Freemasonry is alive and well and able to survive beyond the next century.