Law and Jurisprudence Committee
What is a good man? It’s a simple question, but ask an attorney, and you’ll get the standard answer: “it depends.” And thus another debate began.
My home Lodge had two candidates tonight that were submitted for review by an assigned investigative committee. The Grand Lodge has a form entitled the “Subordinate Lodge Investigation Committee Form.” The description states that “this form is intended to be used by a Subordinate Lodge Investigating Committee, a type of ‘Quick Start Guide’ or Checklist to assist the Investigating Committee. It is provided and endorsed by the Education Committee; but, is not mandatory for the Local Lodge to download, print, and use.” If you have not seen it, it is worth printing and providing to your secretary as a quick desk reference for committee use.
Both candidates were interviewed simultaneously, and neither candidate answered the questions remarkable different from the other. They were both qualified, so to speak, on paper.
I have been reading a rather recently published book by Martin McConnell, titled Successful Masonic Lodges and Grand Lodges, Learning to Thrive. There is a section in the book dealing with member selection, which, when I read it, I did not give much credence to because I intuitively felt that we were doing an adequate job. We were, after all, following the Grand Lodge form.
As the night went on and we examined these candidates, I was reminded of the member selection section of the book. Titled “Managing Member Section,” part of it states:
“Entrance to Freemasonry is, or should be, selective. Since the Craft is only as strong as its members, steps should be taken to ensure candidate compatibility with Freemasonry and the existence of mutual interests and expectations. With an increasing number of prospects contacting lodges via websites, a more thorough assessment of these men is necessary prior to petitions being offered or submitted…Freemasonry should not be ‘sold’ to inquirers…”
This was fresh on my mind, perhaps because I had also recently received an inquiry online via Grandview from a prospective candidate, just as the book stated.
We all start with the premise that, as a fraternity, our chief aim is to make good men better. But what is a good man? YMMV. But, that is not an adequate answer.
After adjourning from labor to refreshment, Lodge brethren discussed this topic. One asked, “is a good man a model citizen, a role model for others?” “No,” another said, “that’s too high a standard.” One brother reminded the group, when the candidates were asked, “why are you interested in joining Masonry?” one candidate laudable answered, “self-improvement, to make myself better.” But, yet another Brother rightly opined that aspiration alone is insufficient to make a man a good man.
General parameters are easy. A good man is one who satisfies his obligations. A good man is one that is functional in society. A good man is one that has not shown a recent disregard for societal standards, such as a recent criminal conviction. Beyond that, what is a good man? Would he be a man that you would not hire as an employer because he lacks a proven track record; but rather has a history of job hopping? Would he be a man you would loan money to because he has satisfied his debts and has a reasonable credit score? Would he be a man you would recommend your daughter to marry, even though he had several failed marriages of short duration?
During a recent education presentation on Lodge education, a Brother at my lodge spoke about the historical qualifications of a Mason. With military experience, he likened the financial obligations to that of the screening requirements for a top secret clearance. If a government agent is unexplainably wealthy, he owes no allegiance and is unqualified. Conversely, if a man has large liabilities, he might be bought by the highest bidder, owes no allegiance, and is equally unqualified.
Debate and opinions continued late into the night, and we eventually settled on the top secret clearance as being the easiest answer. Joking aside, financial oblations were actually considered, as one candidate mentioning the possible strain of budgeting for the initiation fee. One Brother’s past words rang loud in my mind, as I remembered him saying, “are we positioned to be charitable or are we the charity.”
A good man. I feel the committee diligently investigated the candidates tonight. This included extensive social media research and a background review of court records (that did exist). Yet, perhaps the most important investigation tonight actually happened outside the Lodge, under the portes-cochères, when one of the candidates accidently let slip a recent substantial lapse in judgment, corroborating prior evidence that would reflect negatively on the Craft.
What makes a good man is a case by case determination, but we should endeavor to spend the time with potential candidates to make sure we are not simply selling Freemasonry for want of a new member. While we may decide culturally to not go into the homes of potential candidates like our forefathers, we do not have to simply make a cursory examination in one night. McConnell suggests in his book to diligently review the candidates, perhaps over pre-meeting dinners. Dinners plural. He proffers that “inquirers who undergo this process and, after many months, wish to petition are far more likely to become long-term dedicated masons.” It is an empirical fact we have too many EAs that never become MMs. Rather than letting all candidates in and hoping a few rise to the top, perhaps let’s strive harder to select the top in the beginning. Reasons for selective membership are interesting, worthy of discussion, and are time immemorial.
A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold. Rich and poor have this in common: The LORD is the Maker of them all. The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.
R. Lane Dossett, Esq.
Grand Lodge Law and Jurisprudence Committee
