Brethren, after providing the Secretary’s membership report in August, I’m glad to witness that we have accomplished many things, since our inception, to keep our lodge alive and flourishing.

Over the past several years, however, we’ve seen members come and go for a variety of reasons. These observations continue to remind us that there are still some areas that need improvement. Some of us may contemplate the questions, “What can we do to improve our membership experience?” or “How can we evolve as a fraternity, while upholding our core Masonic traditions?”

Although every lodge is externally diverse with its own unique identity that displays our differences and has shown a variety of special ways that connect and resonate with each member of our society, it is important to self-reflect internally that in each of us, we are so similar. It is these similarities that connect us together and relate to those moments and circumstances.

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Recently, I’m excited to say that we have experienced an influx of new applicants that showed interest in Freemasonry and Washington Lodge No. 20, in particular. The initial process of an applicant’s masonic journey is crucial, and it involves every member’s attention and participation. Each of us has our role in this process, which also includes the new applicant.

Establishing new relationships takes Time, Patience, Perseverance, Emotional, and Mental Energy, and most importantly, exercising your gifted power of Free Agency, (power of free will and choice), to develop the desire to start the relationship.

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I would like to share with you the following information, with courtesy from the Grand Lodge of California, who has provided all lodges a guide to assist with integrating an Entered Apprentice into the lodge and how to find ways to develop the appropriate programs and activities to further enhance the interests and involvement for each member.

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Guide #1:

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First impression leaves a lasting impression. One of the ways to set the stage for a good first impression is providing the appropriate levels of information at the right time during each phase of the process. Every member operates at their own pace and rate of learning, however, we all follow the same process.  

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Guide #2:

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One of the great ways to help new Entered Apprentices feel welcomed and increase their willingness to participate and integrate themselves into the lodge is to immediately notify the Grand Lodge that a new Entered Apprentice was conferred. 

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Additionally, immediately assigning the Entered Apprentice a candidate coach to mentor him to the next degree is paramount. When a lodge creates and adds photos and biographies of new Entered Apprentices on the lodge’s trestle board, bulletin boards, and the lodge website, new members will feel tremendously welcomed. A new addition to a lodge family is not only an exciting moment for the new member and the fraternity but also for our family and friends.

An Entered Apprentice’s family and friends are an integral part of their lives, and it is this extension that provides the strength and support of Freemasonry. Inviting their family members and friends to public lodge events is a great way to make their loved ones also feel welcomed and part of the new member’s amazing journey.

Freemasonry is best known for its degrees and ceremonies that only a few are permitted to attend. When appropriately accompanied, what better way to allow a newly Entered Apprentice to be fully welcomed by encouraging them to attend other upcoming Entered Apprentice Degrees.

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Guide #3:

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Conducting weekly or monthly new member orientations can be truly valuable for the new Entered Apprentice and other members within the lodge. Creating small groups for learning and discussion helps inspire innovative thinking, involvement, and productivity in the learning process and personal self-development as a mason. These orientations or sessions is a great place to discuss and review the “Member’s Guide to Masonry in California” and informative topics such as the lodge’s vision statement, vision, and goals, explain the various ways of opportunities of involvement and how to participate in programs such as community service, committees, open events, ritual teams, lodge trestle board, and website, to name a few.

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Lastly, one of the most important activities a new Entered Apprentice is encouraged to do is complete a “Member Skills and Interest Survey” at orientation. The interests gathered from the new member provides an opportunity for the lodge to not only get to know him more and see what services we are able to provide to meet his needs of growth and development but also expand our newly Entered Apprentice’s expectations of us and what Freemasonry can bring for our communities that we have probably never done before. This will allow immense creative involvement from Entered Apprentices as they prepare to establish their role as future leaders of Freemasonry one day and by our example, it is our confidence and trust that they will continue to emulate that same example for others.

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In conclusion, Brethren, many of us may still remember our first experience as a newly Entered Apprentice Mason and how much of an impact it has made for us, our families, and those we engaged with daily.

Sometimes we may forget where we came from…sometimes we may forget our purpose and directions in life…sometimes we may even forget to add an important attachment to the body of an email…however, it is our hope that sometimes we can continually remind ourselves that engagement and developing relationships is an ongoing shared process that is created and sustained not by the years, months, weeks, or days - it is created and sustained by the moments of each shared interaction.

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