THE BENEFITS OF MASONIC MEMBERSHIP
With pleasure we present this Short Talk Bulletin prepared by the noted
Masonic scholar and author, Brother Alphonse Cerza. He brings into perspective a
variety of the answers we can all use in answering the title question .
Occasionally a member is asked by a non-Mason "What benefits do you receive
from your Masonic membership?" Most members when asked this question for the
first time have difficulty knowing what to say. This is especially true if the
member has not given the matter any thought or he has had no experience
explaining things to others. The situation can be further complicated for the
member who erroneously believes that Freemasonry is a "secret" society and that
the answer he may give might be disclosing a Masonic "secret." We also must
recognize that Freemasonry has so many facets and attractions that each member
has sought membership in the Craft for a reason personal to himself. Each has
entered the lodge in search of something that is probably different than
another member.
It is hoped that he has found in Freemasonry that which he was seeking. This
facet or attraction is intimately connected with the specific benefit which
the member logically would explain in his answer to the question if he is not
prepared to answer the question as a result of careful thought and consideration
of all the possible benefits that have come to him as a result of his becoming a
Mason. Every member should be aware of the possibility that such a question
might be asked of him and he should be prepared to answer it fairly, truthfully,
and completely. Here are some observations on the matter that will help you
answer the question under consideration.
A benefit may be considered as anything which is helpful, profitable,
favorable, and advantageous to a person. A benefit may take many forms such as
improving a person in some way, promoting his happiness, raising his status
socially, increasing his personal contacts with others, or assisting him in any
number of other ways. In a general way the benefits of Masonic membership are
both tangible and intangible.
Here are a few of the tangible benefits that come to mind at once. Many Grand
Lodges maintain a Home for the needy members in their Golden Years. Some
maintain a Home for the children of deceased members. It is a comfortable
feeling to know that if you have minor children, and with an untimely death that
your children will be taken care of by the Craft; and if you are unable to take
care of yourself in your declining years, it is a calming feeling to know that
there will be help available for you and your wife. In some areas the Craft
maintains a hospital for the public and takes care of the needy members of the
Craft as well when they require medical attention.
Most lodges have sick visitation committees. When a report is received of a
sick member, steps are taken to have someone visit him. These visits are good
for the person who is sick as well as for the one who is doing the visiting. If
you are sick in bed or home bound, it is a great feeling to know that out there
is someone who cares enough to take time to visit you. All members are taught to
be charitable in word and deed. The word "charity" is used in the Craft in its
broadest sense. When visiting a sick Brother you are urged to listen to his
troubles, sympathize with him, and to help him unburden himself. Often the
faithful breast and the listening ear can do more good than all the medicine
in the world to improve one's spirits.
Many lodges have Low Twelve Clubs in which members make a nominal payment
each time a member passes away. The money is deposited in a bank account and
when word is received that a member has died, the treasurer immediately
presents the family with a check for the prescribed amount so that it may be
used to meet expenses at once.
Some lodges and some Grand Lodges conduct a blood bank program. Members of
the lodges volunteer to give blood to the bank. When a member or someone in his
family are in need of blood to regain their health, the blood in the bank is
made available to them without cost .
If a Mason finds himself stranded in a strange place and is in need of help,
there is always available help not too far away. In some areas there are
Masonic Boards of Relief to help in such cases. In other places the needy Mason
can contact the local lodge which will render whatever assistance is necessary.
Many illustrations can be given of how Masonic charity has been dispensed to
members and their families. Here are a few of them. A widow of a deceased member
was in need of her house being painted and she called the secretary of the lodge
for a recommendation of a painter who could do the job at a reasonable price.
Knowing the tight financial condition of the caller, the secretary informed the
Worshipful Master and a meeting was called at which the officers met to discuss
the matter. As a result, several members donated the necessary material to paint
the house for the widow. In Canada several years ago a widow called the Masonic
Board of Relief and requested help in an unusual situation. A family of skunks
had settled in the crawl space under her house and she needed help to remove the
new tenants. A number of lodge members were enlisted to bring this about.
(Many fascinating examples of Masonic Charity can be found in prior Short
Talk Bulletins. Indexes are available at no charge.)
Clearly, the intangible benefits predominate over the tangible ones. In some
instances the benefits defy classification because they are a blend of both
general benefits. The first benefit received by a candidate for the degrees is
the contacts he makes with those that recommend him and those who investigate
his petition. The next benefit is the receiving of the three degrees and the
friendships that develop with the poster and others connected with his securing
the needed proficiency to advance from one degree to the other. The ceremony of
receiving the degrees together with the lectures is a new experience and
hopefully the candidate has come to the meetings in the spirit of anticipating
an important event with a receptive heart and mind. The impressive presentation
is bound to have an important effect on him. He is bound to observe that he is
the center of attraction, that the degree is conferred on him alone, and that we
are concentrating our attention on him. This should convince him that we are
devoted to the importance of each person who joins us in our work.
There are a number of intangible benefits that do not readily meet the eye,
but they do exist in ample measure. Freemasonry is a selective organization
and not everyone is accepted as a member. The mere fact that an application for
membership has been filed indicates a desire to belong to something and to be
associated with something worthwhile. He may not recognize this intangible
element but he is seeking to "belong" to a worthwhile organization and to make
his contribution to the work of the group. Let us recognize that there is
nothing more destructive of one's happiness than the feeling of being alone, of
not being a part of anything worthwhile. When he becomes a member he acquires a
large number of new Brothers bound by a solemn obligation to do everything possible to make this a better world in which to live. I know of one case where an
only child joined a Masonic lodge and after he became a member was filled with
joy for he was no longer an only child but had acquired Brothers that he did not
have before.
Joining the Craft immediately gives the new member a new identity. He becomes
a member of a world-wide fraternity dedicated to the Fatherhood of God and the
Brotherhood of Man. Non-members are aware of the many fine charitable projects
supported by Masons, and when a member is identified as such it is bound to
reflect favorably in the eyes of the nonmember. There is also the matter of
securing identity with other Masons and creating warm friendships. Each member
knows that in common with all other members he has taken a solemn obligation to
be a good man and true. As a result, when meeting another Mason there is
immediately established a close sense of friendship resulting from the
unexpressed knowledge that they both have a common philosophy of life which
makes them better men and that they can help and trust one another. This matter
of identity is indicated by the many Masons who wear a Masonic pin and thereby
tell the world of their identity with the Craft.
The member who becomes active in the work of the Craft acquires some degree
of leadership and eventually develops a feeling of "importance" because he is
serving the organization in worthwhile activities. Every person, in order to
be happy, must feel that he is important to his family, his employer, his
community, or some other group. The more experiences exist in one's life the
happier that person is bound to be. Sometimes we complain about the many persons
who are introduced at Masonic meetings, but this is one way that we show our
appreciation for work done and making the worker feel important because of
services rendered.
Even the inactive member who pays his dues and attends Masonic functions
occasionally will get a glow of satisfaction as he hears of the many activities
being supported financially and otherwise by the Craft.
One of the most valuable benefits that is secured by being a Freemason is the
unlimited opportunity to make deep and abiding friendships. Working with other
good men on worthy projects has a way of developing into close friendly
relations with a feeling of mutual respect for one another. You know that in
case of need you can speak safely in confidence with a brother Mason. In case
you are dejected you know that you have someone to speak with and unburden
yourself as you pour your troubles into a sympathetic ear. I know of two cases
of bachelors who lived in a single room each in separate boarding houses. Each
night they went to a different lodge meeting with regularity so that over a
period of time they virtually adopted certain lodges as their own. The
friendships that they developed and the visiting they were able to do each night
enriched their lives immensely and saved them from the boredom of sitting in a
single room looking at four walls night after night.
Active members receive the greatest benefit from their connection with
Freemasonry. Opportunity is afforded to develop one's memory, working with
others, learning to organize projects, develop speaking ability by making re
ports and presenting lectures, and learning how to work with others. There are
many members who have no opportunity for an extensive formal education to thus
secure considerable educational training.
The intangible benefit that is often overlooked is that the Craft teaches
its members a philosophy of life. The importance of this benefit should not be
overlooked because every person needs a philosophy of life to guide him or her
in the journey through life. In past years a great deal of the turmoil with our
youth was the confusion relative to an absence of a philosophy of life as they
floundered around seeking something but not knowing what it was. Sometimes
these young folks spoke of high ideals but really had nothing that would guide
them into meaningful activities to make these ideals a reality. If we could only
reach the minds of these young people they and the Craft could profit greatly.
Another intangible benefit is the opportunity which the Craft offers its
members to become associated with worthy projects that help make this a better
world in which to live. These consist primarily of the many charitable projects that are supported by the lodges, the Grand Lodges, and the appendant
bodies of the Craft.
Non-members are aware of the spirit of friendship that exists between members
of the Craft. The question is sometimes asked out of curiosity whether Masons
are required to patronize other Masons in their business transactions. Every
Mason knows that there is no such rule of the Craft. But we must recognize that
when one is considering entering into a business or professional relationship he
is more likely to select someone that he knows and trusts. If you need the
services of a real estate broker, for example, and you have been working on a
project with a fellow member of your lodge, there can be little doubt that all
things being equal your Masonic friend will receive your patronage. Personal
contacts, working together, developing friendships is bound to result in
business and professional relationships in many instances even though no
Masonic law requires this to be done.
For the member who is interested in intellectual pursuits, the reading of
Masonic books especially in the area of Masonic philosophy and history, can be a
valuable experience. These books, of course, can be read by non-Masons but they
will not be able to receive full benefit of the material in these books because
of their lack of complete information about the Craft .
Each member, if he gives this matter some thought, undoubtedly can recall
instances in which his Masonic membership has proved to be a benefit to him.
Above all else, it is well to be prepared to answer the question should the
occasion arise, "What Benefits do you receive from your Masonic membership?"
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