The one day Master

In investigating Freemasonry, before I petitioned the lodge for membership, I had read a bit here and there about “one day wonders” or “one day Masons”. I have to admit I would have considered it had it been offered to me. In previous blogs I had written that once I’d decided to pursue membership I had asked my Pastor if he knew any Freemasons. He had and as I previously stated I was surprised to learn who it was. It turned out to be a gentleman who I’d spent many a weekend working alongside in setting up all sorts of church events an afterward having a beer with when the work was done. After I was raised and began to get involved with lodge events I always wondered why he never before even mentioned the Freemasons to me. Just for the record he still has not given any explanation other than I didn't know you were interested.

In subsequent conversations over the past year he relayed to me that his father was a Mason and I believe so was his grandfather. My friend and sponsor, I was surprised to find out had only joined about 5 or 6 years prior. He also relayed to me that he was a “one day Mason”. He spoke about this to me and a few others after a meeting while cleaning up the coalition hall. I found it a bit odd that with the family tradition in Freemasonry that he would have opted for the one day class. Still very new to Masonry I didn’t really grasp the significance of it or the debate around it.

Since that time I have been a faithful student of Freemasonry and I have endeavored to learn all I can. I had come across several references to “one day Masons” and the arguments pro or con and the debates about should we or shouldn't we. The debate that has been sparked about the “one day wonders” as opposed to traditional ritual seems to pop up every few years due to what is perceived as declining membership. Well my humble opinion may not be as weighty as others who have spent a lifetime in the Craft, I have one nonetheless. In my case my brother and friend had his legitimacy challenged by other “older” brethren early on. In one instance an ‘old Past Master’ had made some scurrilous comments to this brother on more than one occasion. Finally after a year or two in the lodge the new brother had had enough. And in a stern voice he looked him in the eyes and set the record straight. He stated unequivocally, “Tom and I went thought the one day class together and we have been at almost every lodge meeting and almost every lodge function since we joined the lodge. How many of the traditionally raised brothers since we joined can say the same thing?” The old ’Past Master’ realized that he was right and never made another comment again and the two have become great friends and have a mutual respect for each other.

Our lodge’s next stated communication will revolve around a “brother bring a friend night”. I believe we could use more membership or at least more current members showing up and getting involved. This theme is also echoed in the church I worship at. So I don’t think Freemasonry is fading out or is no longer relevant in society. I believe that most just don’t have the time.

As an aside I was driving in my car last year around Thanksgiving time and I had the radio on and a commercial for a church was played. Since this seemed unusual my ears perked up a bit. The commercial was an invitation to worship at a church not too far from my home and the ‘pitch’ was that the service would not interfere with watching the Sunday football game and you can enjoy your beagle and coffee during the service. Believe me I wondered if I had just heard that right. After some thought I came to the conclusion that now even God was competing for time with PTA and soccer games and alike. I am not the best Christian in the sense that I sometimes skip Sunday services in order to catch up on my loafing hobby. But my family and I do try to be good Christians in practice.

In the end, after experiencing the ritual of all three degrees the traditional way I would not, given the choice, have it any other way for me. In a way I feel bad for my brothers and my friend who really never experienced the beauty of it. But in the final analysis all is right with the universe. The brother and friend mentioned above is now the Master of my lodge and has, as he has in the past, done a great job so far and I cannot wait to see what GAOTU has in store for him for the rest of his term. The other brother who also was a one day wonder is now the Senior Warden and I expect will make an excellent Mast next year. One day Masons can be great Masons and Brothers or can come once or twice a year and very little heard about. Whether you do it traditionally or not makes no difference in the type of Mason. As I have been told in many undertaking in my past as well as Masonry; you get out of it what you put into it. I accept that as an axiom.

Brothers, Meet on the level…always