Boo!

Most Worshipful Grand Master, Brethren, Ladies and Guests Good Evening. The title of this evenings talk is “Freemasonry is Scary”.

Freemasonry is scary for many reasons.

If you have ever typed the word “Freemasonry” into a Google search you are returned with 1,030,000 hits. On the first page alone half of the sites listed are what we could call Anti-Masonic. The others are legitimate, personal or Fringe. When a potential candidate sifts through this information it is not only daunting but also based on some of the ridiculous claims could be a bit frightening. Although I must say I am still looking for my cut of the world money supply.

The one thing you will learn is that you need to go meet a Mason so that you can become one. This can be a challenge because some people have to build up the courage to knock on the door of a local Masonic Temple in hopes of meeting someone. We might find this hard to believe, as we know we are a very social organization but think about the first time you may have made a few distinct knocks on a door. This challenge is further exacerbated when you go to the imposing structure of the Salt Lake Masonic Temple for instance only to find we use the back door.

Once a fellow has gained admission to one of our Temples he suddenly finds himself the most popular guy in the room. Everyone is happy to see him. Everyone greets him with an outstretched hand and a smile. If he has brought his spouse, partner or family everyone is welcomed. Sometimes though we have a tendency to smother the visitor in the room. Little does he know that he may be the only new person that a lodge has seen in months or years and the zealous welcome of the Brethren can sometimes be off-putting on your first time through the door when you were just curious to meet a Mason.

This jubilant fascination with the new guy normally keeps building, as the fellow becomes a candidate and eventually a new Mason in the Lodge.

I can remember what it was like.

Can you in this room hearken back when you were in the North East corner of the Lodge for the first time?

Remember how it felt everybody was happy to see you and then you earned your seat among the Brethren.

Then at the next meeting another new guy up and decides to go join the lodge and sometimes not always you ended up sitting by yourself.

Suddenly all the attention was drawn from you to the next customer in line. How did that make you feel? You knew nobody here you knocked on the door and became a rock-star for a while and worked hard became one of the Fraternity only to sit all alone in a room full of Brotherhood.

I have talked to a few Masons where this has unfortunately happened and that’s a little scary in more ways than one.

Freemasonry will push you out of your comfort zone.

How many people here like to speak in public?

When joining the lodge a Brother is suddenly introduced to new ideas, customs and traditions. He is told to memorize a bunch of letters in a book that are actually words and how fortunate he is that he gets to sit in front of everybody at the next meeting and recite this stuff.

Unfortunately not everybody wants to do this. Sometimes we forget to ask the new guy if it’s ok with him. He doesn’t know about or what “the code” is and quite frankly may not want to sit and recite in front of the lodge. I was told I had to do this in my own Lodge and truthfully I almost didn’t come back to the next meeting. This can be scary stuff to some folks.

How about the first time you had to deliver ritual in open lodge. You studied and studied. Mumbled in your family room and in your car on the way to and from work. Your wife and kids thought you were going nuts talking to yourself. I guess that’s scary too, Dad joins the Freemasons and starts talking to himself. Anyway you cleaned up the best you could and put on your “new” used Tuxedo the first one you ever wore that wasn’t for a Prom or a wedding and then you ran out the door only to forget you cipher. The anxiety builds and the traffic is bad. It’s the first time you’ve worn braces with your trousers and which way does that dang cummerbund supposed to be on anyway? Your plastic shoes have no support and the lodge room is hot even though the air-conditioning is on. The lodge meeting starts and the Worshipful Master asks you a question and then…..Your mind goes blank. Welcome to the fraternity, not scary at all, eh?

What about rebuilding a lodge when half it’s officers don’t sign up again? What about buying land and then building a Lodge Hall when you don’t know where the money is going to come from. Scary maybe? Brave probably..

Some of these things that I have mentioned may have happened to you or maybe we have been guilty of them ourselves. The beauty is that Freemasonry more than a Fraternity is a means of instruction. If we follow its teachings and tenants we can overcome our shortfalls. If we need help we can converse with well-informed Brethren who are always ready to give as well as receive instruction. We can conquer fear by taking advantage of the rich history that we have in our seasoned membership. And we can sooth the discomfort of change by embracing the exuberance of youth.

Our Grand Lodge and her lodges have designed websites with good information for the curious and serious researcher.

The Masonic Family has opened her doors, even the front doors, throughout the state to the public.

We have put on a public face in the Masonic Meet-up Groups breaking bread and building trust with those that might join us.

We have looked internally at our failings and chose to move forward as the time is always now in all things.

Yes we have challenges, misinformation, locked doors, petty squabbles and a few scary things.

However in Freemasonry there are also the answers a “Right” course if you will and this is how we will stay positive, we will grow, we will combat fear and be the Masonic Family we know we all can be.

Thanks for listening and enjoy the rest of your evening.