Ronald A. Seale, 33°, Sovereign Grand Commander

What will happen to our new member, and what will we do to be sure
that he gets the most out of his Scottish Rite experience?

There he stands, off to the side and keeping to himself. In his hand is a cup of coffee and on his shirt pocket a plastic badge identifying him as a member of the class. It’s the first day of your Valley Reunion, the Fourth Degree is scheduled to go on in forty-five minutes, and the Class Director is scurrying about seeing that all class members are present and in their places. Your candidate, one among several Master Masons in “the class,” is an interesting individual to observe. Have you stopped to give him much thought?

Do we know anything about him? Do we know what motivated him to petition the Scottish Rite and to show up on this early Saturday morning willing to give us at least a day, maybe more, of his precious leisure time? Do we know anything of his background, his interests, his life? What strengths and assets does he bring to the organization? What talents? For what is he searching? What does he expect to find as he enters the darkened auditorium and takes his place to witness the Fourth Degree, Secret Master?

When the degree concludes and he returns to the candidates’ area, what did we deliver? Have we imparted some truth to our Brother Candidate, a rule and guide by which to live his life? Equally, are we sure that he has heard us? Does he understand and will he retain the lessons of the degree?

We can’t pause too long as the Fifth Degree is just about ready to begin—coffee cups down, restroom breaks done, and here we go again. Another great lesson of Freemasonry about to be given and compacted nicely in a time slot of forty minutes! Ready, Set, Go!

Reunions are often about time—tight schedules, much to do, and very little time to get it all in. In our hurried march to the Thirty-Second Degree (We’ve got to be out of the building by 8:30 P.M.!), we must guard against insulting the reason for which we first assembled.

Are we not about teaching our brother the lessons that the Rite has to offer? Are we supporting him in a fraternal bond as he seeks to assimilate these principles into his life and conduct? At the end of the day, have we done so? Have we delivered on our promises to him?

Well, there he goes. A new Master of the Royal Secret with dues card, ring, and cap in hand. Was it a successful day? Perhaps so … perhaps not. Will he return to our meetings, take a role, and be an active participant? Will the next Reunion find him hard at work, seeking to share with others that which he has received? Will the Scottish Rite Research Society find a new member, thirsting for more knowledge of the Rite? Will he enroll in the several online opportunities to broaden his Masonic knowledge? Will he discover the wonderful work of our RiteCare philanthropy and seek to support its outreach to children and their families?

Here are the essential questions: What will happen to him, and what will we do to be sure that he gets the most out of his Scottish Rite experience?

Was it a successful day? You know better than I. You were there.