The Hothouse!

The Hothouse Debate
The Future of Freemasonry

How relevant is Freemasonry in today's world? Will it continue to be relevant as we edge further into the 21st Century? What role will it be able to play? How will it be able to appeal to young men who are busy with their work and family lives? What will make them want to join? What makes them want to leave? To what extent will Freemasonry have to change and adapt - if at all?

Surely, there should be a place in a world of intolerance for a body which advocates brotherly love, relief and truth - but are we communicating this effectively?

What are your views on the future of Freemasonry? How can we overcome these challenges?

Click here to send them. Please include your Lodge name and number and constitution.

As the esteemed brother from Oz points out, there has been a breakdown in society of both moral and social values. I however do not blame society, but rather those fraternities like ours, that have given up the rains of influence and guiding light. Here in the USA we Freemasons have not fielded a Presidential candidate since the early 70's. Yet prior to that there had only been a handful of Presidents that were not Masons.

As our fraternity has aged within its ranks we have simply retired, now as we sit on the edge of our deathbeds we act like Constantine pleading for salvation! We must be prepared to Lead! Plain and simple. We must be prepared to WORK. Freemasonry has not only a duty to its charities but to mankind. We are the ones that built the city on the hill...We must maintain the city if its walls are not to come crashing down! Work gentlemen and your labors will be rewarded in heaven!

K. John Wood
Mosaic Lodge #184, A.F.A.M. Colorado USA
26th January 2005

I have only recently gotten re-engaged in Freemasonry (after an absence of roughly 40 years.) I found it rather difficult to get into my local lodge. I finally found a short list of brothers responsibly for certain related organizations (such as Job's Daughters) and found on that list one name I recognized. I called him simply hoping he would be willing to talk to me and possibly even invite me to visit the lodge and introduce me to others. (He was and he did.) This was well beyond his responsibilities as listed on the sheet I found next to the door. How hard would it be to post a list a dozen or more members on a sheet which simply said something like "The following members of this lodge will be happy to answer any questions you have about the lodge or about Freemasonry in general? Please call on any of them!" I think we are so concerned about not "selling" Freemasonry to men who are supposed to come of their own free will that we actually erect unneccessary barriers.

Never underestimate your importance!

Grover Partee, EA
25th January 2005

I have written a paper about 3 years ago posing the question "is Freemasonry Relevant in the 21st Century? It was written specifically for an APGM when he was master of the Bucks Masters Lodge. The conclusion reached is that it is more relevant today than it ever has been but the Admin needs to be bought up to date!

Since the original date of writing it has been used all over the South of England by members of the Buckinghamshire Lodge for Masonic Research No 9585 and its Correspondence Circle the Buckinghamshire Association for Masonic Research.

Nigel Beaven
24th January 2005

In reply to the latest poser from the Hothouse, I'd like to chip in my two penn'orth.... Why have we been experiencing a downturn in the number of Candidates? I have to go back to the days before I was initiated and knew anything about the Craft. Freemasons were "loaded".. they were men amongst men.. Lords, Earls, Judges, High Ranking Police Officers, Higher Clergy etc etc. They wouldn't look twice at "the likes of me" as a member.... I am a working class man. I work shifts and have only one holiday a year with the family. Besides..I was raised as a Catholic... they only have Church of England men...

It was of course, ignorance of the facts that led me to think this way. I hadn't asked the relevant questions. But if I didn't know anything about Fremasonry, how do I know what to ask?..don't forget I had preconceived ideas like most people have and if I don't know WHO is a Mason..I didn't know WHO to ask.

I have found that an alarming number of Masons STILL think they MUST keep their membership a secret from as many people as possible (I have even come across a man whose own grown up sons didn't know he was a Mason). Lots of men don't realise that it is quite permissable and indeed encouraged, to talk about a lot of what happens in meetings. There are very few actual "secrets" in the Craft.... this should be explained to them! As long as those non Masons think they way they do, then we will have the problems we are having today.

It is time to, for the want of a better word "advertise" freemasonry and put the record straight. So far, the Craft has, to it's credit, produced some very good P. R. material. However.. this is passive. It's there if people already have an interest. I'm certain there are lots of good men who would make excellent Masons who have never even thought about membership. In my opinion, we need a more PROACTIVE approach. I'm not saying we get "Pearl and Dean" on the case and have the Grand Master smiling forth from a cinema screen singing, "Hey, join the Masons.. it's great"!.. dignity of course has to be maintained. But there HAS to be some way of ACTIVELY encouraging membership to the general populace.

I know a lot of Masons, especially of the "old school" will be tut tutting at this... but I have on average another 40 years or so left in me, I and others like me will have to deal with a continuing trend unless we act very very quickly to halt it. It's gathering momentum, Brethren and it's down to all of us to slow it down and eventually stop it.

W. Bro. Tony Christy, I. P. M., Wilbraham Lodge No. 1713, Province of West Lancs., UGLE.
12th January 2005

I have spoken to a number of people who have expressed some interest in Freemasonry but who want to know more about what is involved. In some respects, I feel somewhat unqualified to answer all their questions, but have found that by directing them to the UGLE website they can find the answer to most of their questions themselves.

I have recieved comments that this gives them time to do a little digging without feeling either pressurised or uncomfortable. In the fullness of time they will make their decision as to whether to proceed or not. I feel that after a long period in which Freemasons were on the defensive when asked about the Order we now have something to point people toward. Discussion is so much easier after people have visited the web site and the number of comments I have recieved along the lines of "Well, I just never realized that" is quite amazing.

Freemasonry will not return overnight to its previous numbers but I have noticed a slow increase in membership lately. The important thing is to encourage new members to remain members, and also to make Freemasonry more "visible" to the general public, many of whom have no idea of the charitable side of the organisation.

Bruce James, Tennant Lodge No. 1992, UGLE
4th January 2005

To be somewhat simplistic - I believe that the breakdown in social values that has plagued our current generation is a primary cause of the failing membership of all fraternities and service organisations worldwide. Young people are more inclined to do something for their own gratification rather than do something for someone else these days. This is even prevalent in the military and policing environments. I wish I knew the solution. Kind regards

Wayne Budgen, MM, Australia
3rd January 2005