Most of us we do not consider ourselves as secret, mysterious or mystical. We speak freely to our wives, friends and workmates of Masonry. Many of our acquaintances know we belong to the fraternity and are aware of our involvement in the Craft as well as any community affairs we may be involved in. We are more open and approachable than at any time in our history yet we are still called a secret society.

Our fraternity, the gentle Craft, which will not permit, within the Lodge, arguments about war, politics or religion, has throughout the years been accused of many things. The very least of which is of being a secret society, or, those mysterious Masons.

It does appear we encourage the public to regard Freemasonry in just such a manner. It is only a short time ago that the petition forms in one jurisdiction welcomed the petitioner to the "secrets and mysteries of Freemasonry" and stated that Masonry is a religion. Very well intended when it was written, but it does not seem applicable in the nineties. Perhaps we could scrutinize our petitions, constitutions and other forms and delete some of the items that do not apply in this century.

We are called a secret society by many people, at times, by our friends and neighbours. It is true we do not consider ourselves as secretive but it must be somewhat of a mystery to many people how we can spend so much time away from home at our "Lodge Work" and yet show very few tangible results for our labours.

It is secrecy that prompts men to join our fraternity and do we exaggerate the sensation of secrecy. Are we really those "Mysterious Masons"?

It is said that there is a basic human need for secrecy. Without the ability to keep secrets man could not develop a distinct personality, and without the ability to respect the secrets of others, he would not make an acceptable member of any society.

There are four main groups or societies that we can join: The open group, anyone can join, anyone can belong; it has no secrets from its members or outsiders. The limited group selects its members according to particular rules or objectives, but it doe not mind outsiders knowing its business. A private group is much more exclusive. Its membership is restricted, its affairs are not usually published, and some of its activities may be kept secret. The secret society however is organized around the principles of exclusiveness and secrecy. In reading of societies, secret or otherwise, it is interesting to note that most secret societies are exclusively or predominantly male. Masonry as we know it, not only excludes females but it is only in recent years we would share Masonic experiences with the ladies. There are many cases of fathers not telling their sons anything of Masonry, of husbands locking up the regalia and sternly forbidding anyone in the family to go into the closet or desk where all the "secret stuff" is kept. In the past we certainly earned the title of "Mysterious Masons".

Prevalent among many Masons of today is the "membership mystery". How do you become a Mason? The majority of people outside Masonry believe the only access to membership is to be asked by a Mason. The Mason is told by many constitutions that improper or undue solicitation is not permitted. In jurisdictions where the constitution does warn against undue or improper solicitation, does this mean that proper solicitations permitted? If so, then let us define proper solicitation and remove one more mystery.

Let a man's religion or mode of worship be what it may, he is not excluded from the order. We all know Freemasonry is not a religious sect or cult. But we forever seem to be defending what we are. Perhaps the fact we are determined to call our meeting halls "Temples" has some bearing on this misconception. There are instances where non-Masons assume that the name "Masonic Temple" means a place of worship. Drive into any small town and ask the man on the street where the Masonic Hall is located and more often than not the person does not know. The redeeming factor is that the person you are seeking information from usually knows a Mason who can give you directions. The only answer that can be more annoying is when you are told that it may be the building across from the Elk's Hall or across from the Lion's Den. Is it perhaps time we designate our meeting places as the Masonic Hall or the Freemasons Hall? Will that help to solve our identity problem? Perhaps we move in such a mysterious manner that we have become not only secret but invisible as well. Or is it just possible that, as Masons, we do so little work in most communities that we arouse little passion, good or bad, in the hearts of the citizens?

Eighty-five percent of our members are content just to be known as Masons. They just want to be a Mason, passive, inactive, a dues paying non-participant. What "Mystic Tie" keeps these members paying dues year after year? There are a multitude of members with thirty and forty years of service and many have not attended a meeting in the past twenty or thirty years. Admittedly there are several who keep up their dues and while not active in the lodge are very active in concordant bodies. In reality there are far more who, for some mysterious reason, just want to be known as Masons. Lodge secretaries will tell us that the non-attenders, for the most part, are truly non-participant. They tend not to support the lodge in their local or provincial Masonic charities, they are never in attendance when the mite box is passed and rarely do they attend a work party. Yet, in our mysterious method of money management, we offer the non-resident, non-participant member, a reduced membership rate. Many of our new members are appalled at the dues structure of most lodges and are talking of dramatic increases in fees and dues if we want to maintain any presence in our communities. We should be prepared to bear the loss of many of our "I just want to be called a Mason" members when dues skyrocket past the fifteen to thirty cents a day we now pay. In many lodges throughout the country dues cost less than thirty cents a day. Many of us spend more each day for our coffee breaks than we pay for Masonry.

It is time for us to take some bold strides forward and attempt to get in step with the twenty first century. We must make our presence known in a positive manner. Our communities must know not only the location of our Masonic halls but that Masons are working towards the betterment of the citizens in their communities. Throughout the years in our attempts to conceal the secrets and modes of recognition we have perhaps succeeded too well. In our zealousness have we laboured so well in the quarries of mystery and secrecy that indeed we have become nearly invisible?

To test our visibility there are four questions that could be asked in any lodge and they are as follows:

• Is the lodge providing a service in the community?
• Would that service to the community be missed if the lodge closed?
• Would the community know, or care, if the lodge did close?
• Are the brethren of the lodge willing to pay, in trine and dollars, what it takes to make this lodge a strong and active force in the community?

If the answer is no to the first three questions then the secrets and mysteries have truly worked and made us not only "those mysterious Masons" but nearly invisible as well.

Brethren, the future lies in our hands.

If we are willing to give of ourselves and the necessary money we shall regain our visibility and our role as leaders in the community.

We should work toward the day when we will be seen not as the man carrying the little black case to a secret meeting. We should be seen as a Mason going to a meeting that is committed toward the betterment of mankind in general and his own community in particular. Then, and only then, will we cease to be known as those mysterious Masons, and become known as a good men, good citizens and good Masons.

Presented at the 1994 Inter Provincial Conference of Officers of the Four Western Masonic Jurisdictions by RW Bro Roy M. McMillan, Grand Senior Warden of the Grand Lodge of Manitoba.

Bibliography:

• Constitution of the Grand Lodge of Manitoba
• Secret Societies edited by Norman Mackenzie
• Masonic Poems from the Masonic Service Assoc. of the United States