Is Publicly Talking about Freemasonry Allowed?
29 July 23
How sharing our Masonic life with others can lead to a thriving brotherhood
In the arid landscapes of an Indian desert, Jadav Payeng, a lone man with a vision, knelt down to plant a seed in 1979.
His mission seemed improbable, his path solitary.
But this humble act grew into an unimaginable accomplishment over the next four decades as he planted seed after seed, day after day.
Today, that barren desert thrives as a verdant forest, stretching larger than Central Park in New York City. This seemingly unrelated tale to Freemasonry struck me with profound implications for our brotherhood.
This led me to ponder: How can we, as Freemasons, embody the humility and persistence of Payeng in nurturing our fraternity? I believe the answer lies within our daily interactions, in the seemingly casual conversations we have, which are opportunities to share with others about our Masonic life.
🌱 These simple chats can indeed be an opportunity to plant the seeds of Freemasonry’s future.
Often, as Masons, we hesitate to bring our association with Freemasonry into everyday conversations.
I've observed this time and again, where fellow brothers including myself, would evade questions about our plans with ambiguous responses, veiling our Masonic duties behind a generic shroud.
How many times, whether we have been asked what we did over the weekend or if we were available, but because it was or clashed with lodge we responded:
- “Not much”
- “Sorry, I can’t, I have something on”
But had this been a more common part of everyday life, such as a family member’s birthday, a friend’s wedding, going to the movies or a sporting event, we would have been more transparent.
Except, what if we embraced this same openness with our ‘normal’ life to our Masonic life instead?
What if we planted seeds of curiosity about Freemasonry in every conversation?
Let me explain how this works, drawing from my own experiences.
I found that the simple phrase, "Sorry, I have Lodge," opens doors to being asked about our Craft by the people within our social circles. Repeating these exchanges over time is akin to watering the seeds we've sown in the minds of the people in our life.
Not all will sprout, admittedly, but the few that do, hold the potential to profoundly shape the future of Freemasonry.
I've come to term this phenomenon as 'Masonic Multiplication'.
Picture, if every Mason managed to plant enough seeds in their lifetime that at least two Men became Freemasons (although the chances are that over a lifetime, it would be more)
Those new Masons, in turn, plant seeds, and bring two more Masons each.
From one brother speaking openly, we've now expanded to six Masons.
If we replicated this pattern throughout our fraternity's vast global brotherhood, we'd create a robust ecosystem of Freemasonry akin to Payeng's thriving forest.
The power of conversation extends even closer to home, within our families.
In my own lineage, my Grandfather was a Mason with two sons, two grandsons (including myself), and a multitude of potential Masons (16 by count) from the next two generations alone.
Despite this potential, the silence surrounding his Masonic life has resulted in just one Freemason - me. However, I'm determined to change this narrative, slowly cultivating curiosity in my younger family members (all under 16), the potential Masons of tomorrow.
When I reflect on this and on the other Masons in my Grandfather’s generation, how many of them passed to the Grand Lodge above, with the desperation of hope that their sons would ask them to become a Freemason, but never did? So, why are these open dialogues about our Masonic lives so crucial to Freemasonry's growth?
From my journey, I've learned that clearing misconceptions about our fraternity is vital.
It fosters understanding, dispels fears, and invites those who resonate with our principles of brotherly love, truth, and relief.
Each conversation becomes an opportunity to plant a seed, which, over time, can sprout into a new Mason.
The path to implementing this growth strategy lies in everyday interactions. Here are a few actionable steps we can take:
- Be open about your Masonic duties:
The next time someone asks about your plans, tell them if you're heading to a Lodge meeting. Use it as a springboard to talk about Freemasonry. - Share your experiences:
When asked about your weekend or your past week, share some highlights from your Masonic life. - Nourish the seeds:
Regularly revisit your Masonic life in conversations with the same person. This will help the seed you've planted take root and potentially sprout. - Invite questions:
Encourage people to ask questions about Freemasonry. Be open and patient in your responses.
With these actions, we can turn our casual chats into powerful tools for fostering Freemasonry's growth.
Looking ahead, I envision a future where Freemasonry flourishes like a lush forest.
But for that, we need to be proactive gardeners, sowing seeds in our daily talks, nourishing them with openness and patience.
This way, we can witness the rise of new Masons, carrying the torch of our fraternity's legacy forward.
Let's move away from the silence that cloaked my grandfather's Masonic life.
Let's share our honour in being a Freemason, seizing every conversation as an opportunity to plant a seed. Who knows, with time and nourishment, it might just transform into a mighty tree in the flourishing forest of Freemasonry.
RW Bro Darren Allatt PJGW,
Chairman for Membership & Education Board of Management UGL NSW & ACT