Ralph A. Herbold, 33°
PO Box 939, Ashland, Oregon 97520–0032

Recently, an article in Fortune magazine (May 15, 2000) titled "CBOT Gazes into the Pit," literally brought me to attention. First, understand my premise that Freemasonry, if it is to survive, must be viewed as a business and that the proper running of a business is central to its survival.

The Fortune article on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) described in detail how the Board is facing the necessity of significant change. It said "CBOT's response to the competition has been hamstrung by a century or more of monopolistic complacency and by its own cumbersome governance structure in which every major decision must be voted on by 2,171 contentious, opinionated, tradition-bound exchange members."

Later, after an explanation of gains by other exchanges, the article states: "Members who haven't gone electronic will see a huge loss of income, and thousands of jobs on the trading floor will disappear. In the process, the Chicago floor trader will be set on the road to extinction, and that will be a shame."

A parallel between CBOT and Freemasonry suggests the Craft's response to competition (those diversions that take the attention of our members away from the Lodge or Temple) has been hamstrung by years of complacency fostered by our refusal to tell others what Freemasonry is and does. Instead, we concentrate our educational process on catechisms which cannot be used by our members in talking with others. Thus, we generate an aura of secrecy, while neglecting a general education that would enable our members to discuss Freemasonry with others. Also, the Craft's cumbersome governance structure has every major decision voted on by a large number of tradition-bound Grand Lodge members, so almost nothing gets done.

Clearly, Freemasonry, like CBOT, is on the road to extinction, if we continue to neglect the general Masonic education of our candidates and members. Inevitably, we will see a huge loss of applicants, and membership will continue to decline. Sounds brusque, but let's face it, CBOT and Freemasonry are not that different in their present state—and perhaps their future—and that's a shame. It is time to wake up, face change, and make it work for us in securing our future!

Note: This article is reprinted in edited form with permission from the materials distributed on November 1, 2000, to members of the Southern California Research Lodge F.&A.M. by Ill. Ralph A. Herbold, 33°, who is the Corresponding Secretary of the Research Lodge.