Either
Or
A
Brother Asks: Coach! I have a comparative question I’d
like to run by you.
Coach:
Sure. What is it?
Brother:
Which one of these is true for Freemasonry?
a.
It trains a man to become a "much
better version of himself” after a series of well-structured degrees.
b.
It educates a man to understand how he
can find his own way to become a better variation of himself in a lifelong
continues process.
Coach:
Neither!
Brother:
Why do you say this?
Coach:
Thanks for wanting to know my thoughts on this. Let me tackle the first option.
Brother:
Okay.
Coach:
In most United States jurisdictions, there’s little to no training provided
along these lines.
Brother:
Little to no?
Coach:
Yes. And when it is offered, most are uninterested much less prepared to take
advantage of it.
Brother:
I’d have to agree with your assessment.
Coach:
Why?
Brother:
I’ve seen the same lack of interest in my area as well. What about the second options?
Coach:
It’s closer.
Brother:
What would you change to make it accurate?
Coach:
I’d not use the word "educate".
Brother:
What would you use instead?
Coach:
I would use the word "inform" to indicate the information to improve himself was communicated toward him.
Brother:
That’s it?
Coach:
Yes.
Brother:
Why?
Assessments
Coach:
There’s no follow up process.
Brother:
None?
Coach:
None!
Brother:
Would you please expand upon this?
Coach:
Sure. There are no universal methods employed within the USA to assess whether
candidates actually understand the basis, reasons and applications for what was
conveyed to them before, during and after the degrees.
Brother:
I’d have to agree.
Coach:
Why?
Brother:
Most all of what I have seen being done by lodges has to do with assuring candidates
can repeat back and act out what was provided to them.
Coach:
Like learning scripts and choreography?
Brother:
Exactly!
Coach:
Sadly, this is almost universal in the United States.
Brother:
Why is it this way?
Coach:
Primarily it’s due to those members who communicate this information being
themselves ignorant of the meanings, concepts and applications intended by its
conveyance…
Brother:
…coupled with their lack of interest in
changing this reality?
Coach:
Yes!
Brother:
So, instead of providing a process which engages them in improving their person…
Coach:
…it engages them in maintaining degree machines.
Brother:
yeah…
Coach:
yeah…
Playing
Around
Brother:
So Coach! What is true for Freemasonry?
Coach:
Freemasonry within the United States is a morality play system…
Brother:
...Theater!?
Coach:
Yes.
Brother:
How so?
Coach:
Patrons to it are trained to replace those who run the machine of making members.
Brother:
So, all benefits provided by this focus are secondary.
Coach:
Yes. Please understand that this is not a bad system.
Brother:
I’ll say! There are a lot of great
perks!
Brother:
Yep. But it’s just the reality of the system.
Brother:
A morality play system?
Coach:
Yes. And it you know anything about
morality plays, they are only performed for moral purposes.
Brother:
Ah! Their primary intent is to
communicate morality!
Coach:
Yes. It’s a great way to communicate it too!
Brother:
Why?
Coach:
They’re structure pulls upon the audience’s imagination and are performed in
such a way as to convey to patrons on multiple levels with the hope that some
of what they offer will be understood by those experiencing them.
Brother:
May I take liberty with your last statement?
Coach:
Please do!
Brother:
So, they are performed in faith, conveyed in hope and founded upon love?
Coach:
Yes! I like that!
Brother:
Wow! This is deep.
Coach:
Sure is. And far too many members haven’t
even begun to step into the oceans these plays offer much less thought to
explore their depths.
Change
Brother:
What do we do to change this?
Coach:
Change what?
Brother:
The system?
Coach:
Why would you want to change it?
Brother:
To better enable men to improve themselves.
Coach:
A lofty goal my Brother. However, let me ask you a question or two first.
Brother:
Okay, what are they?
Coach:
How successful have you been in changing one thing about yourself?
Brother:
Somewhat.
Coach:
Why only somewhat?
Brother:
Because it takes a lot of time, energies and commitment to bring about change.
Coach:
I agree.
Brother:
And your second question?
Coach:
Knowing how difficult it is to change yourself, how much more difficult do you
think it would be to change someone else?
Brother:
That’s impossible!
Coach:
Why?
Brother:
Because you’re not in control! And might I add,
you’re hardly in control of yourself!
Coach:
I agree.
Brother:
So, the systems shouldn’t be change?
Coach:
Yes. They shouldn’t be changed
Exemplification.
Brother:
But what can we do then?
Coach:
Change yourself.
Brother:
Me?
Coach:
Yes. Show the world what can be done when time, energies and commitment are put
forth in an improving manner.
Brother:
And lead by example?
Coach:
Yes! Exemplify what Ritual directs us to do and do so with the zeal of a man whose
hair set on fire for a bucket of water.
Brother:
Wow! That’s passion!
Coach:
When you willing suffer to get what you want, your priorities become pretty
clear.
Brother:
And you accomplish things others can only dream of?
Coach:
That’s the idea.
Brother:
And when others who are like-minded and like-hearted see what can be done, they
pursue the same course of actions, when they are so inclined.
Coach:
What do you think the impact will be on the system?
Brother:
Well, with more men improving themselves, the quality of system support will
improve…
Coach:
…and?
Brother:
And candidates going through the system are more likely to see Brotherly examples
of what the system offers…
Coach:
…and?
Brother:
By seeing exemplifications of what the system offers, they are likely to realize
that they are not just going through a series of plays.
Coach:
How so?
Brother:
The improvements the plays point patrons toward will be on display for them
before, during and afterward. It makes improvement possibilities real!
Where
to Focus
Coach:
So, what needs to change?
Brother:
Me!
Coach:
So, what’s true about Freemasonry?
Brother:
It’s a system to points its members toward improvement only. It’s up to the members to make that change
happen!
Coach:
And?
Brother:
The more members change for the better, the more likely new members will do the
same!
Coach:
And the downside?
Brother:
When members don’t take the time to improve themselves, their example sabotages
the very reason for putting on these plays.
Coach:
Yep.
Brother:
So, we can be our own worst enemies or our greatest marketing asset!
Coach:
How so?
Brother:
Why would you stick around when what you bought into was an improvement society
that doesn’t support improvement beyond pointing out how you can improve?
Coach:
Exactly!
Brother:
But when there are shining examples of improvement, it’ll not only attract
members who want to improve, it’ll provide incentive to each to continue the
course of improvement actions.
Coach:
Yes. So?
Brother:
It’s back to me. The truth of
Freemasonry is it offers opportunities to improve. And those opportunities rest squarely upon my
shoulders.
Coach:
They sure do. And the same goes for
every other member.
Brother:
Agreed!
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