BROTHER BRING A FRIEND TONIGHT
W. Bro Richard Friedman is a Past Master of Ancient Craft Lodge #943
Rochester NY and currently is Assistant Grand Lecturer of the First Masonic
District (New York). He brings to us a program of how lo present the Lodge and
its purposes to the public! And the program works! If you consider presenting
such a program, please check with the Grand Secretary of your Grand Lodge for
approval. -- Editor
Background
Brother Bring a Friend Night was a vehicle which was employed by Ancient
Craft Lodge #943, Rochester, NY, in its desperate days when the Lodge faced the
real choice of survival or death. The program is now utilized annually because
it is fun and provides a constant potential source of new candidates.
The purpose of the evening is to expose qualified men to our gentle Craft. On
that night, if the program runs well, these men will be exposed to Masonic
History, a Masons Commitment to his Community through Masonic Charity and
Community Service, Masonic Literature, The Degree System and Masonic Costumes,
the uplifting symbolism of the Working Tools and last but perhaps most
important: Masonic Fellowship and Fun.
What follows is a SUGGESTED PLAN of action for your Lodge should you want to
pursue the program. Please feel free to be CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE SO AS TO
IMPROVE ON THE PLAN!
Steps to Arranging Brother Bring a Friend Night
Brother Bring a Friend Night consists of a dinner and a series of 3 five
minute presentations presented to your guests. The following is a guideline for
organization:
1. An Action Team is appointed with three or four Brothers responsible for
the following: A. Invitations, B. Reservations and Phone Committee, C. Dinner,
D. Arranging for Speakers and Audio Visuals, E. Display Tables, F. Supplies eg:
Petitions, Q&A's, Concordant Body Brochures and the like, G. Program Agendas.
2. The brothers must commit to bringing guests and should submit names and
addresses to the committee so that guests may be invited in plenty of time and
you will have a somewhat accurate count.
3. Let's break down each action team:
A. Invitations: Can be plain or fancy, but should contain an explanation of
the event and relevant information such as dress, times etc.
B. Phone Committee: should reach out to members and get a count of those who
will attend, also encourage participation.
C. Dinner: We have had good luck with a buffet prepared by the Brothers but
other Lodges have had the meal catered or put on by Star Chapters, with
excellent results.
D. Speakers and Audio Visuals: EXTREMELY IMPORTANT: Enlist Brothers who can
speak well and impress the guests. As an alternative, several good films and
slide shows are available such as "Brotherhood and Service", "The Quiet
Fraternity" and "Symbol of Pride" should the Lodge desire. We have done it both
ways with equal success.
E. The Display Table consists of several sections to be described later. The
tables are set up in the Lodge.
F. Supplies: We found that the Q&A (Masonic Information Brochure), and the
concordant body brochures were most informative and our supply was almost
depleted. Petitions should be at the end of each table and offered to viewers.
All guests should leave with one!
G. Agendas: Having a typed agenda can be snappy and classy. It also provides
for a tight structure.
The Program
The suggested program could go as follows:
ù Receive guests and dinner
(Dining Room) 7 pm-8pm
ù Program (In Lodge Room) consisting of the
following:
Welcome by the Master of Ceremonies
Sneaker 1: Masonic History and some Famous Figures
Speaker 2: Community Service: In your Lodge Masonry as a Whole 5 min.
Speaker 3: What Masonry offers you and why should you join this Lodge? How to
join, degree system, how to fill out petitions. 5
ù Last Word by Master/MC who then leads the procession to Display Tables.
INVITE QUESTIONS! The viewing of tables with Brothers behind them to invite and
answer questions gets the candidates talking Masonry Have a brother give a Q&A
along with a petition to each man.
ù Back to Dining Room for Dessert and FELLOWSHIP!
Suggested Outline for Speakers
Speaker 1: Masonic History and Famous Figures: This speaker touches on
Origins, Influence on America, What we stand for: eg. Friendship, Morality,
Brotherly Love. Note some famous figures from Q&A.
Speaker 2: Community Service: This speaker highlights I million a Day for
Charity, Charities of your Grand Lodge, Shrine Hospitals and other Concordant
Body efforts, Local Masonic endeavors with a focus on your Lodges participation.
Speaker 3: What Masonry offers and why should you join this Lodge? This
speaker focuses on: Fellowship, Friendships all over the country and the world,
Service to humanity, the chance for self improvement, Petitioning and the degree
process, and Time commitment.
Display Tables
The Display Table is one of the most important parts of the evening. We have
found that guests, escorted by the Brothers who invited them, are much more apt
to ask questions and seek answers. We usually set up the Display in an L shape.
Each exhibit should have a written explanation attached to it. Here are the
exhibits we recommend using.
The Degree System in Freemasonry and its Costumes. This exhibit should
include a full candidates costume including slipper, hoodwink and cabletow.
The Entered Apprentice Apron. We usually have a Past Master's and Purple
Apron on display as well, with a corresponding write up. This usually spurs
questions about the differences. Masonic Literature. This display should have a
wide range of old and new Masonic Books of all kinds, the Local Masonic News,
Grand Lodge Publications, Philalethes, Royal Arch, Scottish Rite, and anything
else you may think of. This display is meant to show the guest the richness of
our heritage and the extent of our doings.
Your Lodge's Working Tools and Volume of Sacred Law. A short explanation of
the working tools should be highlighted. The Volume of Sacred Law is
self-explanatory, however, someone should be prepared to answer questions about
its importance to Masonry. Note: Picture books of the Lodge in action, news
clippings and most importantly the Q&As and petitions should be available.
Each station is manned by a Brother and there should be plenty of interchange
as the guests go through the exhibits.
Fellowship
The fellowship following the formal part of the evening is our opportunity to
reveal in our own lives the lessons of friendship which we espouse. Make sure
the guests are attended to and are not left standing alone. Many people do not
join organizations because they fear the initial period of getting to know
everyone or are tense in strange social situations. Your brotherhood and
sincerity can turn the internal key for a man to really want to be a part of
your lodge and allows him to feel that it is really possible to do so!
Conclusion
All Lodges need new membership for various reasons, not the least of which is
that each new class of candidates gives us all an opportunity to once again be
exposed to the wonderful lessons within our Masonic Teachings. This program is
offered as an easy way to stimulate interest and has been proven to be
successful in garnering candidates. We have found that the unintended benefit of
the evening is that the level of pride stirred in Masons talking to guests about
their beloved Craft turns THEIR intensity level up a notch and the Lodge is the
recipient of a renewed and more vigorous Brother. Not convinced? Our Brother
Bring a Friend Night held in June 1990 brought 23 potential candidates to our
Lodge. At our first meeting in September 1990 SEVEN men made the commitment to
seek light in Masonry. We also received one petition for dual membership! Trying
this program is certainly a no lose proposition. Apply the following paraphrased
ancient wisdom of the great Rabbi Hillel to your lodges situation: If I am not
for me who will be? If I am not for others what am l? If not now when? The WHEN
for Masonry my Brothers is clearly NOW !
The Short Talk Bulletin Begun in 1923 as an experiment in Masonic education,
not even its proponents envisioned the speakers' library into which it would
develop, or prophesied the enthusiastic reception of these monthly pamphlets.
Not intended to be complete expositions of the various subjects--how cover
"The Holy Bible," for instance, in a dozen small pages?--the Bulletins are
popular interpretations of their topics. Written for the average Mason, the
Short Talk Bulletin has made its place in Masonic education. Lodges have them
read, memorized, and spoken, abstracted. Speakers here find addresses on more
than 660 subjects ready for use. Libraries use them to answer inquiries, writers
consult them for subject matter, educational committees use them in instructing
new brethren. The Masonic press continually reprints them for the enlightenment
of readers.
All back issues are in stock. They are reprinted often, as calls for them are
many, and a subscription list is maintained for those who wish to receive them.
(Now carried in data format on HIRAM'S OASIS, The Masonic BBS. 703-938-4990)
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