William H. Wood, 32°, K.C.C.H.
5400 Water Oak Lane #206, Jacksonville, Florida 32210-8243

The author makes a case for directly inviting good men to become Masons.

Photo by Bro. H. Joe Tull, 32°, K.C.C.H.

Are you weary of hearing Masons bemoan our loss of membership? I know I am. It is time to realize circumstances have changed and we can no longer expect men clamoring to join an organization they perceive as antiquated and out of step with the world today. But most of us older Masons (and we are definitely in the majority) are unwilling to surrender some of our time-honored customs, even those most damaging to our survival. As the start of an effective compromise, I suggest we bend one of our rules a little bit while still retaining the essentials of the heritage we rightly hold so dear. I refer to the Masonic equivalent of the military's policy of "Don't ask, don't tell." Instead, let's ask good Masonic prospects to join and let's tell anyone who will listen about the good in Masonry.

For instance, the Proceedings of the Florida Grand Lodge (1996, page 319, Section 44.10) read as follows: "It is not unlawful for a Mason to ask a non-Mason if he would like to apply to become a Mason and offer to furnish a non-Mason information about Freemasonry including the procedures to be followed to become a Mason and offer assistance in the event the non-Mason should desire to become a member of the fraternity, nor will it be unlawful for the Mason to remind the non-Mason of the offer, but if no favorable response is made to the offer and reminder, no further offer shall be made to the non-Mason." The Florida Grand Lodge has set a standard other states would do well to follow, and several have. Those that don't are missing the boat!

As a resident of Florida, I am relieved to know that we in the "Sunshine State" may now encourage good men to become Freemasons. We have often wondered how many qualified men in our communities would be among our Brotherhood if only they had been invited to join. Now, at last, we have the opportunity to find out. We have finally realized how archaic it was for us to wait until a man makes the initial inquiry. Although that procedure may have been valid 50 or 60 years ago, it will no longer fly!

Many contend the quality of our members has been sacrificed for the benefit of sheer numbers, yet we have failed in the numbers game, too. Masonry and all its Concordant or Appendant Bodies still see dramatic decreases in membership. Happily, some Masonic Bodies, like the Scottish Rite, are demonstrating strong leadership and developing programs both to sustain and enhance membership. Surely, direct inquiry to good men is a way to increase our numbers and our quality.

Today we have quite a few Brothers who were introduced to our order by a loyal, albeit silently invitational, father or other family member. My exposure to the Craft, for instance, came from my father, a non-Mason. He told me upon my graduation from college that there was something he never did that he earnestly desired I would do, and that was to become a Mason. He had many Masonic friends and colleagues who had set a guiding influence for him just as many of them did for me. Thanks to my dad, I completed the Degrees as soon as it became practical and financially possible. He died several years later, but not until after he had seen some of the satisfaction I had acquired through the Blue Lodge, Scottish and York Rites, and Shrine. Alas, if only it had been permissible at that time for me to have reminded him that it is never too late to become a Mason.

As a teenager, I can remember noting that many of the quintessential leaders of my church and community wore a small special pin in the lapel of their coat. It led me to ask more about its meaning, since I also noticed that these men were often wearing a ring with peculiar inscriptions and driving a car with an identifying decal, emblem, or license plate marking what I now know is related to membership in the Masonic Fraternity. Why do we now see so vastly fewer of these very meaningful icons? It is not only because there are fewer of us but also because the average member today appears to take less pride in his Masonic membership than Brothers did previously.

It is up to those of us who survive to recruit new members openly not only by extending an invitation but also by setting examples of worthy conduct, gentlemanly appearance, community service, and good citizenship. Our Order is too great to see it diminish due of acts over which we can exert control. Improvement may be made in many ways, and direct solicitation is, at last, a first step toward Masonic renewal and an act within the control of every Brother. This is eloquently stated in our Scottish Rite Fourth Degree: "Labor by precept and example to elevate the standards of Masonic character-to enlarge its sphere of influence-to popularize its teachings and make all men know it for the great apostle of peace, harmony, and goodwill on earth among men-of Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity."

William H. Wood holds a B.S. Degree from Jacksonville University and an O.D. Degree from Southern College of Optometry. Bro. Wood headed a professional Optometric practice in Jacksonville until retirement in 1991. He married his Methodist minister's daughter in 1945, and they have two daughters, whose husbands are Scottish Rite Masons, and one son, John H. Wood, who is also a 32°, K.C.C.H., Scottish Rite Mason. Bro. Wood is a member of Arlington Lodge No. 309, Jacksonville, Florida; Scottish Rite Bodies of Jacksonville (32° 1957, K.C.C.H. 1980, active in the 4° and 21°); Royal Order of Jesters Court No. 90, Director in 1971, and currently Emeritus Representative; Morocco Shrine Center, Potentate in 1981 and currently Emeritus Representative. Email: Docwoodroj90@aol.com