How Freemasonry Can Fulfill the Needs of the 21st Century Man

How Freemasonry Can Fulfill the Needs of the 21st Century Man

By. Worshipful Brother Nathan A. Shoff, Master of Harmonie Lodge in 2010

Despite the seemingly immutable qualities of Freemasonry (those unchangeable Landmarks), our Fraternity has in fact evolved dramatically over the centuries to account for social and political changes, thereby preserving itself as a useful – indeed necessary – social construct.

            One of the most historically curious things that distinguished the English Free Stone Masons guilds of the late 16^th and early 17^th centuries is that, unlike many of the other artistic and mercantile trade groups (guilds), the operative lodges of medieval stone cutters allowed (perhaps reluctantly at first), non-tradesmen – the “speculative” Freemasons – to affiliate with their lodges.  This first act of evolution of purpose ensured that, while actual work in physical stone faded from architectural fashion, the symbols and traditions of Free Stone Masons would be perpetuated for future generations.

During the growth of Speculative Freemasonry in the 17^th and 18^th centuries, the Masonic Order focused on the intellectual development of individual brethren, and the democratization of society at large.  While these are still laudable goals for men of any time period, they seem less pressing today.  To an 18^th century English Freemason, the zenith of the educated man was knowledge and understanding of the Seven Liberal Arts and Sciences; an education scarcely available to any but the most affluent families.  Although these arts and sciences still represent a well-rounded education, any man or woman in America and Europe today has the capability – through free public education – to learn the rudiments of grammar, rhetoric, logic, arithmetic, geometry, astronomy and music, and, in fact, many more disciplines not even conceived of during the early centuries of the Fraternity (scientific chemistry, physics, social science, economics).  Similarly, although the strength of our democratic system of government can (and is) much debated today, liberal and conservative amongst us can agree that we no longer suffer under the cruel and arbitrary rule of an hereditary sovereign like our English, American and French brethren of the 17^th and 18^th centuries.  And none of us in the West need fear death or other reprisal at the hand of Government for the promotion of our personal religious beliefs (or the rejection of others’ religious beliefs).

When, at least in America, the goals of universal education and representative government were realized in the early days of our Republic, the focus of Freemasonry appears to have again changed in emphasis.  That is, in the 19^th and 20^th centuries, Masonry came to be known as a fraternity that preserved and improved its members’ material well being in addition to their intellectual growth.  For example, the Fraternity excelled in building hospitals, orphanages, convalescent homes, and provision of other non-institutional care for the neediest of society (especially the widows and orphans of fellow-Masons).  Also, in the post-World War II boom in fraternal membership, many Freemasons sought out the brotherhood to make good business contacts and to further their professional careers.  Whether or not the latter is a noble goal is beyond the scope of this essay.  Nevertheless, just as the political/governmental upheavals of the 18^th century forced Freemasonry to redefine itself to a certain extent, the dire need for Masonic philanthropy has been somewhat mooted in the 20^th century through the advent of New Deal safety net programs (Social Security, Social Security Disability) and later President Johnson’s Great Society programs (Medicare / Medicaid), which all help to alleviate the suffering of the poor, widows and orphans.  Additionally, the global corporatization and bureaucratization of modern business allows much less room for the informal aid of one Brother helping another Brother advance his career.  Now, at the beginning of the 21^st century, the Fraternity sells itself short when defining its purpose as merely (or predominantly) philanthropic.  As has been described extensively elsewhere, the confusion surrounding what Masons do, and why we do it, has lead to a decline of membership numbers in many lodges.

But what does a 21^st Century man need?  How can Freemasonry still be relevant to young men of the Millennial generation?  To understand how, I believe, Freemasonry should develop to meet the needs of modern brethren, allow me to identify some of the challenges facing men today.

First, across the globe, we have an extremely mobile society.  Many young men move hundreds of miles around the country (and even abroad) in search of post-secondary education and meaningful work.  This has largely severed the traditional means of establishing trust.  That is, our trusted friends we may have grown up with over decades and have known in high school or college are often a great distance from us and can’t help with building our life in a new community.  Similarly, people rarely work for the same employer for very long today, and someone with whom one may build a rapport could be in another company (and a different city) tomorrow.  Thus, it is very difficult for a young man to have, or find, lasting friendships with individuals he knows he can trust.  Freemasonry, however, can fill that void.  As a universal brotherhood, not only are there lodges in most cities and towns to which a person might eventually move for work or school, but the shared morality and ritual helps to provide a base of common understanding (and trust) that a man might not otherwise have with someone who grew up in a completely different state, or with a very different personal or professional background.

Closely related to the mobility of our society is the concomitant issue of technological fragmentation.   While it is usually pleasant to connect with old friends and co-workers on Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn, or other social media environments, these virtual interactions do not bring the immediate tangible benefits of real personal communication.  In their more social aspect, active Masonic lodges provide a sure remedy to the isolation inherent in our modern technological society.  Regular meetings, the Agape, special events, and other occasions provide brethren time to have face-to-face interaction with each other and revel in conviviality.  This is something which modern man not only craves, but also truly psychologically needs.

Finally, as many anthropologists and psychologists have aptly pointed out, most organized religion is today devoid of true initiatory ritual, and, couched as it might be in symbols and stories pegged to an alien culture (the very ancient pastoral Middle East), curious modern men are left with an unfulfilled spiritual yearning.  Again, in this regard, Freemasonry can be of service.  Not only are Masonic lodges founded with the very purpose of perpetuating initiation rituals for new brethren, but the universal symbols used by the Craft helps to maintain that initiative mythos and re-awaken spiritual thirst within our men.

While Freemasonry has always been about making “good men better,” the needs of those men have changed dramatically over the years.  As such, the Fraternity must continually keep up.  Just as in past generations Freemasonry sought to improve men’s education, political rights, and material care, today, good men need the Craft’s help to improve their social and spiritual lives.  As long as Freemasonry adapts to these newer needs of modern men, I have no doubt it will be around to address the needs of the men of the 22^nd Century.