We cannot expect Freemasonry to have value unless we establish
its level of quality and the criteria to attain it.

We have developed a paranoia that seems to keep expanding as we shrink in numbers. We are beginning to think that since we are shrinking, there is something wrong with us that can be corrected by becoming more attractive to general society. And we are beginning to believe that since general society has less time to devote to our requirements, the solution is to lessen the requirements.
Why were we attractive to the general public in the first place? If we were of such large numbers at one time, what were we doing right then? If what we were doing right then isn’t right now, is it because there is something wrong with those things? Or is it because society has changed? Aren’t we supposed to be leading society? Aren’t we supposed to be setting the standard? Were the centuries of Masons before us all wrong? Were they supposed to leave us a legacy of conforming to society so that we would grow by acceptance?
When was the last time you voted for a political candidate because you were certain of his integrity because he was a member of one of the Bodies of the Family of Freemasonry?
When was the last time you purchased something from a merchant because you were certain of his honesty because he was a Mason?
When was the last time you mentored a subordinate because you were certain he, as a Mason, had a strong character?
When was the last time you were selected for a position of leadership because of your reliability as a member of the Craft?
Could you sell more Lincolns or Cadillacs if they were priced the same as Fords and Chevrolets? Would you still be able to make Lincolns and Cadillacs with the same level of value if you did that? Not for very long.
We are not losing our recognition in society because we require a strong commitment from Candidates; we are losing the recognition because the majority of us no longer display a strong commitment to anything.
The foundation of Freemasonry is the local Lodge and the other Masonic Bodies that meet at that local level. That is where our commitment must begin and be applied. If there is no strongly supported Lodge in your community, there is no other Masonic Body either. If there is no Lodge, there is no Shrine, no Scottish Rite, no York Rite, no High Twelve, no Eastern Star, no Masonic-sponsored youth groups. There is no other Masonic Body if there is no Masonic Lodge.
It makes no difference how much any part of this Fraternity spends each day for charitable projects if there is no Lodge presence in the community to tell the community. It makes no difference what our ideals are if we have no one on City Council to focus the Council on those ideals. We cannot promote brotherhood among our religious institutions unless we are members of our faith tradition and its organizations on the local level. We cannot expect the young of our society to know what is worthwhile unless we are the Scout leaders, athletic coaches, Council members, and Advisory Board members. When will we quit expecting the Grand Master and Grand Lodge to make improvements when, instead, each of us should take up the reins wherever we are? This is a task for each member, not one for the organization.
We cannot expect Freemasonry to have value unless we establish its level of quality and the criteria to attain it. Where is the line? When do we stop lessening our requirements to become a Master Mason and determine that we are becoming something far less than what we have been for centuries? When will we acknowledge that we are supposed to lead society and not allow society to lead us? How much will we lessen our value to maintain numbers? Will lessening our value gain us meaningful numbers?
Our Fraternity has never been about numbers. It has always been about the quality of our descendents’ future and the dedication of our membership to ensure it. Will requiring less dedication from a Candidate bring us members willing to dedicate themselves to improvement of society? Where is the line that we dare not cross? Have we already crossed it? What is each member doing to see that we don’t? What are you doing?