Functions
of a Masonic Lodge
MASONIC LIGHT - 5950
It is not the
primary function of Masonry to initiate candidates, or to enlarge
its membership. Were it so, there would be no basis for our
laws against proselyting. The ordinary function of a Masonic
Lodge indeed, the primary function of our Craft, is to train
its members to an understanding of the truths which its rituals
and its ceremonies are calculated to inculcate, to develop
its members as benevolent men, to cultivate the social virtues
among men, and to propagate the knowledge of the art. The
chief concern of the Lodge is with its welfare, the happiness,
the Masonic development of its members, not with the admission
of those who seek entrance to its doors. Its success as a Masonic
Lodge cannot be gauged by the length of its membership roll or
by the size of its accumulated funds. The beauty of our
ritual, and the good fellowship among the members of our
Lodges cannot be conserved when the chief aim is to make
Masons and money - "for a man's life consisteth not in the
abundance of things which he possesseth" - and a Lodge's
life does not consist in its acquisitions, but in the
contribution which it makes to civilization and society through
the influence to those whom it has helped to train to what we
call Masonic character. Therefore, it should be the duty of
every Masonic Lodge to put in action a plan for the education
of its members in Masonic history, symbolism and philosophy,
devoting more of its meetings to this much neglected
function. - Wenatchee Masonic
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