Larry E. Yandle, 32°
10807 Hayes Drive, Burnsville, Minnesota 55337
lyandle@msn.com

Reducing the requirements to become a Mason weakens, rather that strengthens, the Fraternity.

An acquaintance of mine and his wife were having a garage sale some years ago. As garage sales go, it was pretty much standard with the usual array of household castoffs and "trash" waiting to become "treasure," as the old saying goes. What caught my eye was an old, white, box-type radio sitting rather forlornly in one corner of the garage. It had a price tag of $2.00. It was a nice radio, had an excellent quality of sound, and had obviously withstood the test of time, as all quality things seem to do. Alas, all day Friday it sat unsold.

I returned the next day to visit with my friends and noticed that the radio was still there. No thrifty buyer had scooped up the $2.00 bargain. The next day, I was at my friends again and happened to glance at the space where the radio had been. It was bare. The radio had finally sold. I made mention of this to my friend and made the statement that someone had got a good deal, spending only $2.00 for such a good radio.

"Not so!" said my friend.

When he noticed that the radio had not sold at the end of the first day, nor the second, he raised the price to $20.00 whereupon the radio sold immediately!

The trend in most Masonic Jurisdictions today is to make it easier, more convenient, and cheaper to petition for membership: one-day Classes or Reunions, shortened memory work, Lodge dues less than $50.00 per year. While well meaning, these ideas, in my opinion, weaken rather that strengthen the very fabric of the Fraternity. I sure would like to obtain an academic degree in, say, one year. But then again, most everybody would have such a degree and the value would be diminished. I would like to become a doctor if I could do it with about two years of training, but I don't think many people would want to be treated by such a person. How desirable would diamonds be if one could just bend over and pick them off the ground? What would you think of a Medal of Honor winner if one could just write to Congress and obtain one?

Please understand that I am not one to fall back on the "We've always done it this way" or "I had to memorize this much" type of argument. I am not opposed to change. I am opposed to selling short the ideals and esteem and honor associated with membership in the world's oldest and greatest fraternity. How much is it worth to you to be a Mason? Certainly more than the price of, say, a magazine subscription. But that is for each Mason to decide. I, for one, am very proud of the fact that the Brothers ascertained that I am worthy enough to hold membership in the Masonic Fraternity. For this privilege, price is no object, and I am willing to expend a great deal of time and effort to deserve the honor of being a Mason.

I get a little tired of men stating that "I just don't have the time." Yes, you do! One can always find time to do what one really wants because he recognizes the worth in what he is doing. In short, I submit that it should require more, not less, to become and remain a Mason!

Make no mistake about it. We certainly do need to fill our diminishing ranks. We are not going to accomplish this, however, by selling ourselves short. We could sell a lot of "radios" if we would just put a true value on them! On December 23, 1776, in his revolutionary pamphlet titled Common Sense, Thomas Paine said it best: "The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly."

Larry E. Yandle was born in Charlotte, N.C., in 1947, the son and grandson of Masons. He was employed by Piedmont Airlines (now merged with US Airways) in 1969, transferring to Minneapolis, Minn., in 1985 as Station Manager. With his wife, Connie, he has three children, a son recently raised to Master Mason and two daughters, both Past Honored Queens, Bethel No. 65, St. Paul, Minn., I.O.J.D. He was raised in 1983 in Steele Creek Lodge No. 737, Charlotte, becoming a 32° Mason in the Valley of Charlotte in 1984. A Past Master of Lebanon Lodge No. 346, Eagan, Minn., and a Capitular Mason, Minneapolis Chapter No. 9 Royal Arch Masons, Minn., he has served on the Board of the Minnesota Masonic Foundation and currently serves as the Associate Bethel Guardian of Bethel No. 65.