STB-82-10
music Sym. No.3 mov. No. 1 by Brother J. L. F. Mendelssohn
A SURRENDER OF VALUES?
(SCENE l)
In making their rounds through the wards
of the Veterans Hospitals, the M.S.A. Field
Agents frequently have patients confide in them
that "I used to be a Mason." The ensuing conversation usually brings out that the patient was
"Dropped for non-payment of dues." When
MSA Field Agent follows up with a question of
"How come?", the answers seem to fall into a
pattern:
1. I moved and lost contact until it was too late.
2. I lost interest.
3. I couldn't attend.
4. Personality conflict.
5. One year I forgot to pay my dues and
the next year it just seemed to be too much to
pay, so I let it slip.
6. My wife paid all the bills and didn't
think it was important.
7. (And way down at the bottom of the
list.) I couldn't afford it.
So often, the person who has been dropped
for NPD, has no knowledge of how to become
reinstated or has the misconception that he
must pay dues for all of the years he has been
suspended. M.S.A. Field Agents have "salvaged" a great many by bringing them back into the fold.
(SCENE II)
In a telephone conversation, which is repeatedly encountered, a wife or other family
member, requests assistance in getting a loved
one admitted to a Masonic Home, nursing
home, or hospital, and is chagrined to learn
that he is not eligible because he had let his
membership lapse.
(SCENE III)
Death is always a traumatic experience for
the family. Knowing that Dad was a Mason, the
family requests a Masonic funeral because they
have been impressed with its dignity. Unfortunately, the Masonic service cannot be conducted because Dad was not in good standing at
the time of his death.
(SCENE IV)
Johnny proudly tells his Dad that he has
been "accepted" and will be initiated next
month. Dad has to make all kinds of excuses as
to why he can't be there that night. The truth of
the matter being that he was "suspended for
NPD. "
(SCENE V)
The Secretary reports: "Worshipful Master,
there are seven Brothers who are two years in
arrears. If their dues are not paid by next
month, they'll have to be suspended for
N . P. D. "
The Master's reply is: "Seven! Wow! . . . is
there anything else on your desk?"
(Unfortunately, reactions such as this are
all-too-frequent. It has become too mechanical;
too much a matter of form.)
Many surveys have been conducted over the
past few years to determine the cause of losses
through non-payment of dues, and to determine ways of reducing the losses. The results of
such surveys, for the most part, have been inconclusive and unrewarding. There has been insufficient follow-through to adequately find a
long-range solution. In some communities,
there are more "former Masons" than current
ones. This is a sad commentary. Little more has
been done other than to identify it as a problem
facing the Fraternity. We are applying light
bandages when we should be applying tourniquets.
We wring our hands and look around to see
where to place the blame, when all we need to
do is practice what we preach. Just like the
church which was having problems in its
growth. After trying socials and Bingo games,
dances and chicken suppers--all without success--someone suggested they should "Try
religion." Maybe it's time for the lodge to "Try
Masonry . "
We proudly proclaim that we "take good
men and make them better." We express our
tenets as "friendship, morality and brotherly
love." We announce our belief in "faith, hope
and charity." We use the lessons and tools of
the operative Masons to teach--symbolically--
that we must place our designs on the trestleboard so that the stones will fit with exact nicety. The trestleboard is translated to "life" and
the stones to each of us as individual Masons.
We--each and every one of us--must make
a renewed commitment to those precepts if we
are to meet this challenge. It's a matter of education and communication. It's a matter of
pride. It's a necessity for our existence as a
"brotherhood of man under the fatherhood of
God. "
"Taking good men" implies that we must
be highly selective in whom we admit to our
Order. Is the petitioner a "good" man? Is he
"of good report?" Does he measure up to our
moral standards? Does he truly believe in a
Supreme Being? Does he have concern for his
fellowman? Can he meet his financial obligations? If he has those qualities he is deserving of
our brotherly love and our desire "to make him
better" using the "working tools" as they
should be used, so that he may have pride in
himself and satisfaction with his new profession .
Once he has been given the working tools
and taught to use them, we must ensure that he
is "gainfully employed" in his new profession.
There is nothing which will cause him greater
frustration than being put on
"unemployment." He needs to be gainfully
employed in meaningful work. There is a commitment when we petition a lodge that we want
to be a part of the lodge--that we are willing to
work at it. However, too frequently we are not
given the opportunity.
Communication -- Leadership -- and
Education are the three keys to an effective
solution. The instructive tongue can and should
be one of the most effective working tools of
Masonry. The Masonic leader must put it to use
to instruct, to guide, to lead, to build and to
translate the lessons of our ritual into meaningful applications in the lives of the Masons. With
proper guidance and instruction, everyone can
be inspired, nlotivated and involved in the affairs, operation and activities of the lodge.
An active Mason is involved. His involvement maintains his interest. He is part of the
Brotherhood. By maintaining his interest and
involvement, there is little chance that he will
become an N . P . D . statistic .
There are instances when pride, false pride,
or stupid pride, will prevent a Mason from admitting that he cannot meet his obligations. A
careful and personal contact with those in
arrears should determine if that is the problem.
The cause is even more important than the
result. We must be as careful--or even more
so--in making these investigations as when we
investigated him as a petitioner. He may need
the compassion of his Brethren more now than
ever.
A personal, face to face, contact with one in
arrears will usually provide an indication if it is
an oversight, or a sincere desire to sever "the
mystic tie." It will also offer the opportunity to
present the honorable option of requesting a
demit once he is "clear on the books."
In the Short Talk Bulletin of March, 1943
("Dropped N.P.D.") the causes, effects and
solutions to the losses of membership are fully
discussed. Thirty-nine years later, the same
reasoning remains valid. We urge a complete
re-reading of this important Short Talk Bulletin, and quote the final paragraphs which so
succinctly define the challenge:
"The one and only way to keep
them is to make the Lodge worthwhile.
To many the mere fact of belonging; the right to see a degree; the
thought of being a part of the Fraternity is enough. But others want more;
more entertainment, more chance to
take part; more good times, more
Masonry in Lodge.
If the Master is sufficiently on his
toes to appoint, inspire and put to
work a committee which really works
at the task of recovering the lost members, he should also be clever enough
to plan interesting meetings and carry
them through.
There is nothing the matter with
Masonry; the matter boils down to the
questions of leadership, sustained and
interested planning, enthusiasm for
the Fraternity and the Lodge. Given
these and members will not drop
themselves; begin with these this year
and many who have dropped themselves will return--and be happy in
their homecoming."
While some refer to this challenge as
"membership retention," it is actually more a
matter of meeting our obligations as Masons--
of showing concern, both for our Brethren and
our Ancient Craft. Losses through nonpayment of dues are a surrender of our values.
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