leadership and the survival of freemasonry
by M. W. D. A. Bruce, P.G.M.
Brother President, Most Worshipful Grand Masters of Freemasonry in Canada,
Grand Lodge Officers, Guests and observers.
Thank you very much Most Worshipful Brother Lusk for your kind introduction. You
kept it reasonably short and I will see to it that the penalty is not inflicted.
That is a little bit of a private joke.
Brethren, I certainly consider it an honour and a privilege to have been invited
here tonight to talk to this august body, to this very important conference
perhaps one of the most important conferences for Freemasonry in our great
country and I thank you very much for the very kind invitation.
Brethren during the past several years, both in my profession and in Freemasonry
I have had the opportunity of listening to many outstanding, inspirational, and
dynamic, speakers. But there is one who has had a most significant impact on my
life. Some of you may have heard him, at the Conference of Grand Masters in 1988
at Cedar Rapids Iowa. I talk about a Freemason, I talk about a man of the cloth,
the man of positive thinking, the late Dr. Norman Vincent Peale who passed away
very quietly on Christmas Eve 1993. He had a very strong impact on my life. I
believe that I have changed its direction, because of reading the books that he
wrote, The Power of Positive Thinking, the Power of Positive Living, Enthusiasm
Makes the Difference, The Power of Ethical Management, You Can if you Think You
Can and many others. It had always been my dream that I could bring Dr. Peale to
Calgary. We almost made it; but unfortunately he's now in the Grand Lodge above
and he certainly will have an impact wherever he is. Now Brethren, I don't
pretend to think that I am going to have the same impact on your lives as he had
upon mine. But if I can get one person here tonight to reflect about and act
upon what I might say then I will not have laboured in vain or spent my strength
for naught.
Leadership! It is loyalty, it's energy, it's attitude, a positive attitude, it's
dynamic, it's enthusiasm, risk-taking, it's strategy, honesty, it's inspiration
and it's prestige. Certainly if you pull all those words together you will come
up with the word leadership. Granted that is an acronym, which kind of reminds
me of a little story about the guest speaker. The after dinner speaker got up
and he said, "Ladies and gentlemen I graduated from Yale Y A L E Yale." He began
and took 40 minutes and talked about Y for youth then he went on and he talked
about another 30 minutes about A for attitude, the positive one, and then L for
being a good listener and the audience listened for another 45 minutes, and
finally he finished with E for example about 1 1 /2 to 2 hours later. There were
two gentlemen sitting beside him discussing the speech. One said "well I'm
certainly pleased he wasn't a graduate of the Ryerson Institute of Science and
Technology and the other one said yes, he was certainly full of sincerity,
honesty, integrity and trust; wasn't he.
Brethren, I submit to you tonight that never before in the history of mankind
has there been a greater need for leadership. Never before in the history of
churches, of schools, of service clubs has there been a greater need for
leadership. A few years ago a University of Michigan researcher, did studies in
terms of the greatest fears and the greatest problems in society. He had ten of
them but let me just mention the first three. The first one was the fear of a
nuclear war. Now granted, with the reduction in world tension, the nuclear war
fear is somewhat subsided, but I was listening to a radio broadcast last night
and it was mentioned that the fear is still present. The second problem or the
second fear was that of a world wide famine and as we see the problems in the
third world countries, that fear is still present. But the third fear or problem
that was recognized by this researcher was the lack of leadership in today's
society. If I was to ask each one of you here tonight to identify the greatest
leaders of our times what names would you come up with. Think about it. If we
surveyed the literature on leadership we will probably identify 3,4, or 5; Sir
Winston Churchill, Franklin Delano Roosevelt; Mahatma Gandhi; two of those of
course were Freemasons; Schweitzer, Einstein, and some of the literature even
states the late John F. Kennedy and Dr. Martin Luther King who were both slain
in their prime, may have made their mark on leadership. It really is a sad
commentary in this world that we can only identify 5 or 6 great leaders.
I also submit Brethren, that never before in the history of Freemasonry has
there been a greater need for effective, dynamic, prestigious leadership;
particularly at a time when we have Freemasons staying away in droves from our
Lodge meetings. I have not always been convinced that we have a membership
problem. We have 156,000 Freemasons in this country that not even the Skydome in
Toronto could accommodate. Yes, never before in the history of Freemasonry has
there been a greater need, particularly when we have more Freemasons going out
the back door than we have coming in the front door; and we have to ask
ourselves why? and also particularly at a time when the average age in
Freemasonry is increasing at an alarming rate. Yes Brethren, leadership, is so
desperately needed for the survival of Freemasonry. That is why I have chosen as
my topic for tonight: Leadership, and the survival of Freemasonry.
Let me pose one or two questions, before I begin and go off in various tangents.
Can Freemasonry, as we know it, survive well into the twentieth century? I
recall Dr. Peale, standing on that platform and I believe these were his words
"As long as there are God fearing, moral man, Freemasonry will exist well into
the twenty first century". --- I fear not. Can Freemasonry under its present
form and structure exist well into the twentieth century? --- I fear not. How
can Freemasonry survive well into the twenty first century. Yes, with God
fearing and moral man, --- and leadership, Leadership!
What do we mean by the term leadership? If you look at the literature again on
the topic of leadership you will find many definitions. I've come up with two
more common ones, the long and the short of it. Leadership is the exploitation
of every opportunity to take people forward towards the common goal, although
known by all, often grows dim or gets lost in the challenges and the problems of
our day to day operations. Taking people forward!! The short of it; Leadership
is the art of causing others to want to do what the leader thinks needs to be
done; causing others to want. Causing and want; terms that go together.
Leadership and management, is there a difference? Yes Brethren, I think that
there is a significant difference; they are not synonymous terms; they are not
interchangeable. The leader inspires, the manager maintains. The leader is the
original, the manager is the copy. The leader does right things, the manager
does things right. The leader looks at the horizon, the manager looks at the
bottom line. The leader is concerned with people, the manager with form and
structure. The leader paints creatively, the manager paints by numbers. What are
you? Are you a leader or are you a manager? Do you paint by numbers or do you
paint creatively. Do you inspire or do you maintain? Do you challenge the status
quo or do you accept it. As a Grand Lodge Officer, have you caused others to
want to do what you think is necessary for Freemasonry. Are you causing others
to want to do what you believe is necessary for the survival of Freemasonry. How
do you cause others to want to do; to take people forward toward that common
goal which often grows dim or even lost in our day to day operations. I submit
Brethren that there are five crucial ingredients of effective, dynamic,
enthusiastic leadership; - challenging, inspiring, enabling, modelling and
encouraging.
Challenging the process! Challenging the status quo; examining carefully the
very form and very structure of an organization. John F. Kennedy once said that
there are risks and there are costs in a program of action, but they are far
less than the long range risks and costs of a program of inaction. Great leaders
cause things to happen, they don't wait for things to happen. Some may compare a
leader with an orchestra conductor; sometimes you have to turn your back to the
audience and face the music. We too, in Freemasonry require that same kind of
leadership. Leaders that are prepared to challenge the status quo; keeping in
mind and building upon the strengths; -- moral truth and virtue; the four
cardinal virtues and the theological values, -- they have been the strengths of
our organization.-- I think it is important for leaders to shake up those in the
comfortable pews; to make changes; not to accept the status quo. I know there
are a number of things that I would like to do particularly in Freemasonry and I
will tell you what they are. Certainly they would disturb a few people, but
there are risks and there are costs in that program of action. I would see the
formal structure of Freemasonry being divided into three separate branches: the
ceremonial, the administrative and the fraternal or what I call the leadership.
Let's take a minute and talk about the ceremonial; or the ritual work. Brethren
during the past few years I have been somewhat concerned about the quality of
the ritual work in lodges. Just three or four weeks ago I was in a Lodge meeting
where the North East Angle Charge was given (it is the same in both rites). It,
to me, is the most important charge in all of Freemasonry. The man giving that
charge was prompted every third word; the Worshipful Master was squirming; the
Director of Ceremonies was squirming; I was becoming very embarrassed as was
everyone else, but the man was doing his level best. Brethren, we need to
concentrate on the ceremonial part of Freemasonry by having those Brethren who
do ritual well do it all the time, because they can do it best. Let those who do
ritual do it because they strive for excellence; and they succeed in portraying
excellence. Too often we are forcing brethren to participate in ritual work,
that neither have the ability nor the talent, nor the energy, and sometimes not
the time, to do that work well. I once heard someone say, you give him a piece
of work and if he does it enough times he will get it right eventually. But what
kind of message are we leaving with the candidate. You know I saw a little
picture sometime ago and there was a man with a baton directing a pig and the
caption underneath stated; Don't try to teach a pig to sing it wastes your time
and annoys the pig. I submit that we want to have excellence in our rituals and
our ceremonial work. Let those who do it well, continue to do it well and not
belabor those who neither have the talent nor the ability to do it.
Let's look at administration. Now we are very fortunate in our Craft. We have
many talented, expert, and knowledgeable Brethren, who could do great service to
the Craft; in the administration of the Craft. But we don't always get the right
people doing it. Sometimes we hang onto prerequisites; they must have a rank or
a title in order to serve on a Grand Lodge committee or some other committee.
I'm not sure that prerequisites make them any better a person when it comes to
administering. We have that talent our there and we need to use it. Talent is
just like muscle either you use it or you lose it. We have driven away many
outstanding Masons because we have not given them the opportunity; a rank and
title should not be necessary before they can do that. I could go on with that
topic for days.
Fraternal leadership! As I said before it is the most crucial need of
Freemasonry. We have some very capable leaders in our Craft and they are well
represented tonight. If they are going to be leaders they should be out there
leading not being in the Grand Lodge offices administrating. Let those who lead,
lead and those who can administer, administer. I often wonder if we should have
a little sign for every Grand Secretary's door. "Italiano Granda Secretarya -
Keepa youra handsa offa. Yes, let those who can administer, administer, and
allow those Grand Lodge officers to get out into the Craft leading, directing,
causing the lodges to develop what we want for Freemasonry. I am going propose
one other thing that some of you may not like; but I'm going to say it anyway.
For years it has been traditional in Grand Lodges to have appointed officers.
They are usually appointed because of the contribution they have made to their
Grand Lodge. 1 think that has been wonderful but in today's society when
leadership is so necessary, out in our craft, I think we should be selecting the
best possible leaders for the appointed Grand Lodge officers and let them go out
and do the fraternal work; the leadership work which they are capable of doing.
There may be other ways to recognize the contributions of the older Brethren who
have contributed so much to their craft.
We seem to look down upon animals, don't we. Those dumb old animals. But have
you ever seen a fish walk, or an squirrel fly at great heights, or a rabbit
swim? No. You've seen fish swim, you've seen rabbits hop and run, and you've
seen squirrels climb trees, and you've seen eagles soar at great heights. That's
what we should be doing in Freemasonry; Building upon our strengths; looking at
the form and the structure; and let the fish swim, and the rabbits hop and run
and the squirrels climb trees, and the eagles soar to great heights. Soar with
our strengths, let those who can administer, administer well and let those
leaders lead who can lead well because strong leaders are so necessary. We must
challenge the process not only within our own organization, but throughout
mankind if we hope to succeed.
Not only must we challenge, but we must inspire. We must inspire what is called
the shared vision. But before we can inspire that shared vision we must have a
vision. We must have a plan of action; a long term plan. Organizations don't
succeed because they plan to fail, they don't succeed because they fail to plan.
Every organization needs a long term plan. I was so pleased in conversations
with a brother last night to hear what is happening with the Masonic Renewal
committee. I was also pleased in reading your agenda that you do in fact, at
this conference, have on the agenda, three and five year plans. I think it is
about time, because plans and visions are so necessary for the success of any
organization. Not one of you would build a house without having some idea in
mind what it would look like when it is finished, nor would you go on a trip
unless you knew where you were going. The same thing must apply to Freemasonry.
That plan must be a shared plan. It can't be one man's idea. It can't last for
one year; the theme or mission of one Grand Master. All Grand Masters must work
together on that plan or that vision. I believe it is quite possible that we can
have every Freemason in this great country of ours, participate in the
establishment of that vision. It can't be a committee vision, you can't have a
group of five or six sitting down then saying 'This is the Vision,' because
right away you will get the we\they syndrome. The 'We" may not want to be part
of THEIR mission - vision. One of the tragedies of Freemasonry in terms of
membership for the future is that we are still suffering from the yuppy
syndrome. Those who grew up in the 60's and 70's. What are they really looking
for? What are they looking for in Freemasonry? I think there are about five
things. Friendship, fellowship, enjoyable activities, community involvement,
leadership opportunities and perhaps the ability to network with their peers in
a prestigious organization. If we don't meet those particular needs; that 'me
first philosophy'; 'what's in it for me?' ' what do I get out of it?' If we
don't meet their needs I'm not sure how long we will survive. Keeping in mind of
course brotherly love, relief and truth and those other virtues; the strengths
of our institution. Once we have, that shared vision, one that reflects the
entire organization, and people feel part of it, by using the COMELY program;
Calling on Masons in Every Lodge Yearly; finding out how they are first, then
asking what they want to see for Freemasonry in the future; --- I believe we can
do it. Once we have the shared vision; leaders, it is then up to you. You've got
to go out there and share it. Gandhi, was a great man of inspiration. He took
people beyond their limit, he took them to a point that they would be where they
wished to be and that my Brethren is your task; to inspire, get to the heart of
the people; reach inside of them, help them to realize that this is their vision
that they are part of that vision that we are one great group, we are not a
we/they, it is our vision, it is everybody's vision. That, my Brethren is your
responsibility; to go out there and inspire the craft; that is why your
leadership is so necessary. It will not succeed without your leadership; -
Inspiring that shared vision.
Enabling. Enabling others to act; to give them the tools and the power and the
authority to work up the action plan for the vision. Some organizations develop
such a sterile environment that the people never have a chance for failure; it
always has to be based upon success. People have to learn to feel failure before
they can feel success. We need to rid ourselves of that mushroom effect. You
keep them in the dark, you feed them 'you know what' and you expect them to
grow. When people accept things, they are better prepared to act upon them. A
research experiment was done a few years ago where that involved two groups of
people. They were each given the same task. One group used the tool of
brainstorming. A chart was put on the wall and people came up with ideas, one
after the other for the implementation of the plan of action. There was no
judging, there was no evaluation of any of the ideas that came up. This brought
out the meek and the mild and the timid. Each person had the opportunity to
offer something because it was not to be judged or evaluated. At the end of the
session all the ideas were prioritized; they had an action plan because the
leader enabled the group to act; by getting everyone involved in the process.
But what did the second group do? Well they just had the task in front of them.
It was just wide open discussion. with evaluation and judgement, etc. The leader
did one more thing. He planted someone in the audience. The leader said "I want
you to record every negative word that comes out during the session". There were
several negatives. We can't do that; we can't change the constitution; we've
never done that before; it will never work; and onwards and onwards. You've
heard those words haven't you? In the final analysis, the second group never
reached a consensus and they never came up with a plan of action because the
group was not enabled effectively to act upon the vision. Lee laccoco, you have
all heard of him. He was the one who really brought Chrysler up from the ground.
He used to go into the trenches. He would talk to the men. He would give them
the authority, he would give them power, he would give them the tools, They
would come up with plans of action; and see what happened. Chrysler came up and
how well they succeeded, Brethren as Grand Lodge officer and leaders, you must
get into those trenches and give the members of the craft, who want to be part
of that vision, the tools and the authority to act.
Modelling the way. What do we mean by modelling the way? Modelling the way means
to me that the leader, the great leader is the true and living example of the
vision. He lives it, he breathes it, he talks about it, he inspires it. Gandhi
once said, My life is My message. We cannot praise in public and condemn in
private. We as Freemasons must be the living example of what we mean. If we are
going to talk moral conduct, we must be seen to be practising moral conduct.
Brethren I have been somewhat saddened in the last couple of days. I read in the
newspaper a report of a Freemason being charged with fraud. Perhaps defrauding
not only, the welfare department, but possibly, also his own Grand Lodge. And
there it appears in the press, a mason convicted of fraud; if that isn't a
double standard for the public to see.
Sometime ago at a little gathering where there were both masons and non-masons
present, there was a mason who had the floor. He was using language that was
totally unacceptable. He probably swore steadily for two minutes and didn't use
the same word twice. Sometime later he stood on the floor of a lodge and he
talked about the charge from the book of constitution in the E.A. Degree. He
talked about temperance and he talked about prudence and he talked about using
the Lord God's name in vain. If that wasn't a double standard, I don't know what
is. Brethren, I'm saddened by the fact that we are having more and more and more
of this in the craft. As leaders it is your duty, and your responsibility to
model the way for others because, after all each of us joined Freemasonry, no
doubt, because of an outstanding model in our lives; someone you wanted to be
like. That's the reason I joined Freemasonry; because I had both a father and
grandfather who were exemplary models of what Freemasonry should be all about.
Yes, we must practice what we preach. I have a little poem; a lot of you may
have heard it before; I believe that it best summarizes everything about the
concept of modelling the way for others; of being the best possible example for
the conduct of others. It was written by a Freemason, Edgar Guest:
I'd rather watch a winner, than hear one any day
I'd rather have him walk with me, than merely show the way
The eye's a better pupil, more willing than the ear
Find counsel is confusing but example's always clear
The best of all the coaches, are the ones who live their creeds
For to see the good in action is what everybody needs
I can soon learn how to do it, if you show me how it's done
I can watch your hands in action, but your tongue too fast may run
The lectures you deliver may be very wise and true,
But I'd rather get my lessons by observing what you do
For I may misunderstand you, and the high advice you give,
But there is no misunderstanding how you act and how you live,
Yes, I'd rather watch a winner, than hear one any day
I'd rather watch a leader, modelling the way.
Encouraging. Encouraging the heart, I believe it was James Barrie who once
said. The first secret, to total success is self esteem; --- feeling good about
oneself---. That is the role of Leaders; to help people to feel good about
themselves; to know that they are part of the process; that they are part of the
organization; that they count; that they are appreciated. I must relate a little
story that took place in a restaurant. A man went up to the cashier and said
"Can I use your telephone?. "Oh, certainly by all means," so the conversation
went a lot like this, "I understand that you are looking for an executive
assistant. Oh, have you, I'm glad to hear that. Are you satisfied with his
performance? Oh, I'm pleased that you are satisfied with his performance. Oh,
thank you for your time." The cashier overheard the conversation and he said
"I'm sorry you didn't get the job". The young fellow said "Oh, that's alright I
got the job I was just phoning my boss to see how well I was doing". Isn't it
sad that a person has to resort to such tactics to find out how well he is
doing. Where was the leader, was he encouraging the heart to tell that person
how great he was.
A number of years ago at an opera house in Paris, there was great excitement for
a particular performer to come. They had sold out the audience. On the night of
the performance, everything was sold, they were standing up, great excitement
prevailed. The manager of the opera house came on and said "Ladies and
gentlemen, I'm sorry to inform you but the performer is unable to be with us
tonight." Immediately that feeling of excitement changed to groans of
disappointment and those groans did not allow the audience to hear the name of
the substitute. The substitute came on and gave a great performance; the best
performance he ever had. He finished and there was no applause. All of a sudden
up in the balcony of the opera house a little boy jumped up and he said "Daddy I
think you are wonderful". Immediately the applause burst forth.
Isn't it important and isn't it great when someone in our life will stand up and
say I think you're wonderful. It encourages the heart. During the past two or
three weeks I've had the opportunity to be involved in two separate and distinct
cases. Being chairman of the COMELY committee, I was informed of a particular
lodge doing an excellent job with the COMELY program. 1 had the opportunity to
speak at a district meeting and I said how pleased I was about the work on the
COMELY program from a Lodge in the district. You could see the man who was
responsible for that COMELY program. His eyes just lit up; he had a smile; he
felt good with himself; somebody recognized him. Nothing sounds as sweet to a
person's ear than the sound of his own name and secondly the sound that someone
is saying you're wonderful; you're great; we appreciate what you have done. On
the other hand, again with the COMELY committee, the coordinator sent me a
report of a visit made by a member of the Grand lodge of Alberta to a member who
is from the Grand Lodge of Manitoba. It stated that the brother from Manitoba
was very disenchanted with Alberta Masons; was very discouraged with what was
happening; very disenchanted with Freemasonry in Alberta. So I immediately
dispatched the coordinator of our program to call the brother. He talked with
him at length and one of the reasons he was disenchanted was when he moved to
Alberta he called the Master of a lodge close to his home and said "I would like
to come to lodge" and the Worshipful Master said 'I'll get back to you.' 'It's
just like it's in the mail,' ' I'll see you tomorrow. Well that Worshipful
Master never got back to that brother and I think we've lost that brother as a
result of it. A lot of work has to be done.
Leaders, there's a job for you. A few years ago 1 sat at a conference, with an
excellent guest speaker present. His theme address was 'Give them the flowers
now.' He began with a short four line poem:
What to closed eyes are kind sayings?
What to hushed heart is deep vow
Naught can avail after parting,
So give them the flowers now.
He went on and talked about how important it was for leaders to encourage
people; to tell them they are wonderful; how much they are appreciated. I carry
around these little drops for buckets that I give to people to encourage them.
We need to be a bucket filling organization; that when someone does something
great we let them know; we fill their buckets; because when you're filling
somebody else's bucket you are also filling your own. We need to encourage the
heart.
The speaker finished with another poem;
If you have a tender message,
Or a loving word to say,
Don't wait until you forget it,
Just whisper it today.
Those tender words unspoken,
That letter never sent,
Those long awaited messages
That wealth of love unspent.
For these some hearts are breaking,
For these some loved ones wait.
So give them what they are needing
Before it is to late.
Yes, give them that encouragement; that they are important; that they are
appreciated; before it is too late; before we lose too many Brethren in
Freemasonry.
Brethren, any business that is short on capital can borrow, any business that
has a poor location can move, but any business that is short on leadership will
not survive in the long term. Leadership, is necessary to establish the vision
and it is necessary to translate that vision into action. Great leaders do not
go where there is a path and lead. They go where there is no path and leave a
trail.
Will Freemasonry survive well into the twentieth century? I believe it will, as
long as, as Peale said, "there are God fearing and moral men;" --- and there are
leaders. Leaders who challenge, who inspire, who enable, who model, who
encourage. And so I say to you my Brethren in closing, what are you? Are you a
follower, or are you leaving a trail? Do you challenge, do you inspire, do you
enable, do you model, do you encourage. Do you cause others to want to do for
Freemasonry what you think is necessary to be done. Can you provide that
leadership of loyalty, of energy, a positive attitude, being dynamic,
enthusiastic, risk-taking, strategist, honest, inspirational, and prestigious.
Can you provide that kind of leadership; so that our Freemasonry will continue
to be the most dynamic, the most powerful, the most prestigious and the greatest
organization in the world. I leave it with you. Thank you!
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