Newsletter from the Grand Secretary
Hollis G. Dixon, Grand Secretary
April 2009
Education: “Brethren, it is up to the membership to insist that leadership implement the teaching of Masonry as part of the fraternity’s program of making Masons.”
For decades, and maybe longer, Grand Masters of every jurisdiction, and by extension their Grand Lodges, have advocated Masonic education. Some Grand Lodges even have programs of Masonic education. Then, I ask, why does almost every lodge have no Masonic education? If it weren’t for the likes of National Treasure and The Da Vinci Code, Freemasonry’s fraternal membership would still be in decline. Only the excitement of perceived mysteries and secret cabals has caused the craft to experience a membership surge.
The above paragraphs were copied from the February, 2009 edition of the Southern California Research Lodge bulletin.
I think that this points out a very interesting fact. I‘m sure that most of our lodges do not have any regular program of Masonic Education. Perhaps you could encourage the Master of your lodge to initiate a practice of having sections of the Constitution read at your Stated Communications each month.
Advisory Council: At a recent meeting of the Advisory Council, it was suggested that we need to encourage our lodges to study the Constitution and Standing Regulations of the Grand Lodge of Maine. During the Installation Ceremonies, the Worshipful Master is told, “The Book of Constitution you are to search at all times. Cause it to be read in your lodge that none may pretend ignorance of its requirements.” How many of our lodges have a Section of the Constitution or a Standing Regulation read at their Stated Communications? As a matter of fact, many of the Masters, Wardens and Secretaries do not study the Constitution or refer to it when a question arises as to the proper procedure to be followed in a certain situation.
Charitable Foundation: Brainstorming by the Directors of the Masonic Charitable Foundation of the Grand Lodge of Maine at a meeting on Jan 13, 2009 focused on education of the craft regarding knowledge of the Charitable Foundation as critical to the success of the goals of the Foundation. It was suggested that a Special Edition of the Maine Mason would be the quickest and most effective way of educating the craft on the value and purpose of the Charitable Foundation.
Watch for this Special Edition of the Maine Mason Magazine. It will be interesting, informative and educational.
Fraternally,
Hollis G. Dixon
Grand Secretary
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