Jack A. Hendee, 32°
1180 North Main Street, Apt. 101A-164
Bishop, California 93514-2472
cap.jack@verizon.net
To resolve the membership issue, Brethren
have "to start pulling
the wagon instead of just riding in it."
Ed had reminded Peggy that tonight was Lodge meeting so she
wouldn't need to cook, as they would eat at the hall. Stated
Meeting dinner nights were always looked forward to as it gave
the ladies a chance to chat while the men were in meeting.
Ed showered and changed early as he had scheduled a conference
with the Membership Committee prior to the Stated Meeting. It
was obvious to all that the Lodge was slipping dangerously low
in membership. At the same time, the average age was climbing
drastically. It was a chore finding members to fill the chairs.
Ed himself was a Past Master and was now occupying the Senior
Warden's chair. He was hoping for some creative ideas from this
committee tonight.
Ed told Peggy that he was going in early and that she could
come along later. Smiling, Peggy said, "Go get 'em tiger."
She really enjoyed her "night out with the girls,"
as she called it, and would be happy to see her circle of friends
grow with the addition of new members.
The Lodge was only a short distance from his home, but Ed used
the time to think about his meeting. He was so thankful for
his years in Masonry and all that it meant to him. Now if he
could just figure out ways to pass his feeling on to other qualified
men and get them to join.
As he turned the corner on the street where the Lodge was situated,
Ed was struck by the sight of a large sign on the building.
Driving closer, he could see the sign read "For Sale or
Lease."
tunned, Ed parked and got out of his car. He walked to the
front door and found his key no longer fit. The locks had been
changed. After trying the back door with the same result, Ed
knew something drastic had happened.
Back at his car, Ed dialed the Lodge Master for some clue as
to what was going on. Sadly, the Master informed him that the
Lodge was in such sad shape that the Grand Lodge had cancelled
its Charter. The Lodge was closed. This was the result of months
of investigation by members of a Grand Lodge committee. Their
findings showed great apathy with only a very few members taking
a hand in keeping the Lodge open. The rest were happy to "let
someone else do it."
Ed was stunned, and over and over he kept saying, "This
just can't be. This just can't be."
Ed felt a hand on his shoulder. It was Peggy waking him. "Ed,
you must be having a bad dream. You keep saying something over
and over again."
Wide awake now, Ed got out of bed saying, "Peggy, I just
had a sad dream that was all too real." With that, Ed put
on his robe, walked down the hall, and sat down with a pad and
pencil at the dining room table. He began to write his ideas
on how to increase membership in his Lodge. He also was eager
to meet with his committee on membership, stop talking, and
start putting ideas to work. The time was short, and the noose
was tightening.
Some who read this little tale will laugh at it as fanciful
or will ignore it. A few, thankfully, will take heed and start
pulling the membership wagon instead of just riding in it. Hopefully,
your efforts will cause others to join in and pull the wagon
up the hill. Every one of us can contribute something. You're
not just sitting in the wagon happy to let others do all the
work, are you?
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Jack A. Hendee
is an Iowan by birth and a Californian since 1952. He was
raised a Master Mason in Lorenzo Lodge No. 709 (now merged
with Acacia Lodge No. 243), Hayward, Calif., in 1959 and
is a member of the York Rite, Scottish Rite, and Al Bahr
Shrine, all in San Diego. He retired from a career in marketing,
sales, and distribution. A former Director of Boys and Girls
Mental Health Society, he now pursues several hobbies: writing,
fishing, ham radio, photography, and boating where he holds
a U.S.C.G. Master's License. He is much too busy in all
Masonic Bodies but looking for more to do. |
