The true Freemason does more than the law requires. He goes the second mile, does the work of a Freemason the hard way because that's the only way a true Freemason can operate.

11 - Going The Second Mile

Dear Tom:

HE SANDS in the glass are running low, my lad. In just two months you will be presented for installation. After that the moving finger will begin writing the record of another Worshipful Master of Acacia Lodge, for good or ill. And this time it will be your record.

In one of our chats several years ago while you were receiving the degrees, I recall having said to you that the true Freemason does what he does because he doesn't have to do it.

Remember? We pondered over that one for an entire evening; how the true Freemason doesn't stop when he has fulfilled the minimum requirements. He does more than the law requires. Goes the second mile. That's doing it the hard way, but the hard way is the only way the true Freemason can operate.

Just a few nights ago I picked up my copy of that great book by Lloyd C. Douglas, The Robe. I wanted to read again the classic passage wherein the Roman emperor Tiberius makes his appraisal of the new Christian movement then getting under way.

"The Christian afoot is a formidable fellow," said Tiberius. "But when he becomes prosperous enough to ride a horse--"

The emperor paused a moment, fascinated with the thought, then threw back his head and laughed until he was purple in the face. "When he gets a horse! Ho! ho! ho! A Christian on horseback will be just like any other man on horseback! This Jesus army will have to travel on foot if it expects to accomplish anything!" [1]

It's interesting to repeat those words of Tiberius with just three minor alterations. Substitute "Freemason" for "Christian." Then change "Jesus army" to "Masonic army." Read it that way and you'll have the subject of this letter from your Mentor.

I think of old Dr. Bennett--a true Freemason if ever there was one. As long as I knew him he was figuratively traveling on foot, and therefore had time to see and know his Brethren. He went the second mile almost every day of his life. Did things the hard way. Put forth effort, listened more than he talked, had a genuine interest in his Brethren, always willing to undergo a little inconvenience if necessary, generous to a fault.

Suppose we apply the imagery of a man going the extra mile to the responsibilities of leadership in Acacia Lodge.

• In previous talks we have agreed that our Lodge needs a "better image." It does, indeed. And not only does it need a better public image, it needs a greatly improved image in the minds of our Brethren to the point that they will become fiercely loyal to the Lodge to which they didn't gave a second thought before. There are many ways in which a Worshipful Master can help to create a better image, but not one of them is easy and effortless, and not one of them involves "stunts" whereby we can attract attention. Here again, it has to be done the hard way.

Our physical quarters, for example. A Masonic temple and its Lodge hall creates a mental image that can be favorable or exceedingly unfavorable. We could start, then, by keeping the place clean and spotless. We could use paint, plant shrubbery, keep the grass well trimmed. We could remodel the front door to make it inviting, to give it a little "class."

We could take steps to improve the quality of our music if we're going to have it in the Master Mason degree or at any other time. And I would hope we might do something about those abominable Lodge dinners that are distinguished only for their cheapness in quality, their carelessness, their total absence of good taste, their general messiness. (We're paying a price that should give us the best; is there any reason why we should settle for less?)

• The Worshipful Master who thinks in terms of Brethren, and not members, has the battle half won. Here is where so many Masters fall down. We want our Brethren to come to Lodge, but we drive them away with our nagging, and we do very little to make them want to come. We think of them as members, statistics, not Brethren. It makes a vast difference.

On many occasions I have asked myself, What is there in Acacia Lodge that would cause a Brother to feel wanted, and needed, a necessary part of the Lodge who would be sorely missed if he were not in his accustomed place?

Perhaps we should do something about that, also. We could start with a greeting at the door, an expression of pleasure that the Brother is there. Carefully chosen Brethren who have a knack of radiating warmth and welcome could make every man present feel that the success of the meeting depended on him--and with never that first sarcastic comment about how long it has been since he was in Lodge.

If I were a lukewarm Freemason it would do wonders to have a personal telephone call sometime from the Worshipful Master himself. A special note with a personal invitation to attend Lodge on a certain occasion would be appreciated also.

And think of the good that might be accomplished if several of the officers and Brethren would only offer to stop by and take a Brother to Lodge, just for the sake of being thoughtful and friendly.

• But what do we have for our Brethren after they get to Lodge? One certain way to make a Brother feel like a fifth wheel is to nag him to attend Lodge and then have nothing for him to do that will make him feel needed.

There's no substitute for individual jobs, for some kind of assignment, large or small. The jobs can be found and the men to do them can be found.

Furthermore, there's no substitute for a stimulating and challenging program. To sit on the sidelines through the reading of endless minutes, the allowance of bills and other tiresome routine business is not enough. It may work once, but that's about all. Nor is it enough to sit and listen to the same Brethren recite the same portions of the ritual that they have been giving for years without number.

I'm convinced that the answer lies in special occasions, something out of the ordinary, as often as possible. We could celebrate the birthday of the Lodge (what an opportunity for an imaginative Worshipful Master!) We could have visitations from other Lodges. Confer a degree on a high hill or in a low dell. Have talks on Masonic subjects. Panel discussions. Observance of St. John's Day. A Masonic play now and then. Past Masters' Night, Craft Night, Recognition Night. Then what's wrong with paying a little attention to our newly raised Brethren with a New Members' Night?

Above all, Tom, I hope you'll never, never underestimate the importance of the festive board, even if it's nothing but a snack. It was Napoleon, I believe, who said that an army marches on its stomach. We're short-sighted in Freemasonry when we make it appear that food and fellowship are almost sinful. A Masonic Lodge needs the festive board. We need it for our survival, no less.

• Then we could open the lines of communication. Our Brethren deserve some kind of dignified news letter at least every quarter. Not the unsightly mimeographed sheet that nags the Brethren about attendance and paying dues on time, but a mature message that speaks to our Brethren as adults. It's an insult to send a Brother only one communication per year, and that to remind him that it's time to pay dues. Don't you think so?

• And finally, there are those who need most to be assured of the strength of the mystic tie. We must not forget them, even if they are bedfast and unable ever to come to Lodge again. It's up to us to manifest our personal concern for the sick, the lonely, the unfortunate, the bereaved, the Brother who is having financial reverses or domestic difficulties. If the situation appears a bit unseemly, brought on in whole or in part by the Brother's own indiscretion, he needs us all the more--and we are obligated, remember, to "stretch forth our hands."

Now, Tom, I trust you know what I'm thinking when I speak of doing it the hard way. Only by going the second mile are we really working at the job of being Freemasons.

"Give me but ten who are stout-hearted men!" says the Hammerstein-Romberg song, and soon there will be ten thousand more. Just ten Brethren of Acacia Lodge who are dedicated card-carrying Second Milers could work wonders!

--Your Old Mentor

[1] Lloyd C. Douglas, The Robe (Houghton Mifflin Company), Chapter 21.