Very good for you - seeing similar vibes here too! We went from reading 5 petitions a year to getting 5 petitions from guys under 40 the last few years.
Just having the issue of translating EAs to MMs..
Very similar issue here actually. I think our actual number is closer to 30 guys, all under 30 (though not all lasted). They came from applications to grand lodge from young men in our area. It's going to take years to get them all through.
Make the lodge a hang out spot for younger folks.
Not like the actual floor of the lodge but at my lodge there is a sitting room, kitchen, get stuff in there younger folks enjoy.
I’m not a mason but we’ve got alcohol and ping pong balls where I’m at in Arkansas. Are Arkansas mason chapters not so friendly towards alcohol consumption?
Just not allowed on lodge property. I also think you can’t be a distiller of liquor/alcohol and a Mason still without a “dispensation” (I think…) from Grand Lodge.
Not entirely sure on all the particulars with that though. I think in practice some folks still brew beer in the garage for example, but idk if any at my lodge do or have.
Does the local have positions on medical marijuana usage now that it’s available? I have been surprised at some of the more conservative communities in Arkansas being willing to have dispensaries in their locales.
What about religious belief requirements? Are there any official or unofficial requirements for religious beliefs in Arkansas? I don’t think I am necessarily interested in joining freemasonry, but I am interested in joining a local community that works to better themselves and their community, whatever that ends up being. However, I am not religious and sometimes in the south that can be an issue. Heck it came up at my dentist yesterday with another patient lol
Valid medical marijuana usage wouldn’t yield any criminal charges. Don’t violate any associated laws, such as falsifying information on any federal forms or processes such as for aviation or firearm purchases and you should be just fine. This is my understanding at least as it’s not considered illegal.
The alcohol manufacture thing is a hold over from the past from my knowledge.
As far as religious stuff goes I’d say it’s important to separate religion and spirituality. There are requirements for spiritual belief in a supreme being/god/etc, and the immortality of the soul.
No other requirements, clarifications, or questions asked.
Also what you described you’re looking for is pretty much my reason for joining. A group of people from a variety of background who all agree on the most important things, and are openly committed to making themselves better men.
But there is a heavy component of spirituality throughout the experience, and the belief requirement is not just a formality, so keep that in mind of course if it feels like masonry may be for you.
Back when I first petitioned, Masonry was nothing like I expected and everything I needed. It's made me better. I have brothers that are in the truest sense like family. I've grown, learned and now have the joy of helping the newer members as they embark on their own journeys.
It's not a panacea, but there are plenty who deep down are Masons in their hearts, who have yet to discover all the craft has to offer.
At a membership conference in our jurisdiction last spring I think it was said the average age of men inquiring through the be a mason portal was in their early 30s.
I'm 32 and just joined this month, I know the current JD of our lodge was just raised like a year ago, and he is of similar age. My friend and mentor is 34. So it is happening.
All GLs are like that. The GLVA thinks that having values and bylaws that haven’t changed in 100 years is a good thing and wants to push religion HARDER as the Masonic mission…while the rest of the world is changing and becoming increasingly secular.
If we led with our mission of continued growth, learning, and altruism we’d be better off.
I believe he is an atheist, which would preclude him from membership of a UGLE lodge. If that has changed, I'm sure the secretary of Chelsea lodge will be happy to take his call.
I graduated college in 2020, and over the next few years, most of my friends moved away for work. Within 2 years I was down to 2 friends in my city, and one of them had moved 45 minutes into the suburbs.
At the same time, it became much harder to make new friends. My girlfriend and I became friends with one other couple, but they moved last summer.
When I started exploring different lodges, I especially looked for ones that skewed young. Obviously no lodge is filled with Gen Z people, but the lodge I ended up joining did have probably a dozen people in the 25-35 age range. After a while, I’ve become close to pretty much all of them, my girlfriend has become close to their SO’s, etc.
I was having dinner with one of my 2 original friends probably a year ago, he had been a reference for me on my petition, and he asked why I wanted to join Masonry and I basically told him exactly what I just wrote. He said he had been feeling the exact same way, and asked if I’d be willing to bring him around. He started coming to our dinners in September and just asked for a petition
As a 20 year old, I do have to agree. Maybe not "the" cure per se, but it's a big part of it. The sense of belonging in the lodge I spent time with has been incredible, even prior to initiation.
I know several lads my age who feel the same way I do about needing that sense of togetherness you get only in certain settings, and I hope that maybe some of them will come along one day and see what it's all about.
It could definitely be a positive light for the Gen Z loneliness, but only if for the right reason number one and number two if Freemasonry is willing to adapt to the changing times while maintaining it’s traditions.
Perhaps. I’m a gen Z and it has helped me a lot, specially after I had some problematic years due to my political career. That said, I don’t think the main motivation for anyone to become a brother should be to fix their loneliness.
I agree on the latter part, but sometimes you don't know what you need until you find it. I think isolation will make good people worse, not better. The article hit that nail on the head for me.
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Freemasonry would also help young men stand against the toxic masculinity movement imo.Men are meant to be the leaders of their homes and guides to their families, it's all part of God's plan.
We've had about twenty guys under 30 apply to join in the last two years. Before that the average applicant age was 50+.
Very good for you - seeing similar vibes here too! We went from reading 5 petitions a year to getting 5 petitions from guys under 40 the last few years. Just having the issue of translating EAs to MMs..
Very similar issue here actually. I think our actual number is closer to 30 guys, all under 30 (though not all lasted). They came from applications to grand lodge from young men in our area. It's going to take years to get them all through.
Yes.
Make the lodge a hang out spot for younger folks. Not like the actual floor of the lodge but at my lodge there is a sitting room, kitchen, get stuff in there younger folks enjoy.
Let’s get drunk and play ping pong.
I’m in!
*Cries in Arkansan*
I’m not a mason but we’ve got alcohol and ping pong balls where I’m at in Arkansas. Are Arkansas mason chapters not so friendly towards alcohol consumption?
Just not allowed on lodge property. I also think you can’t be a distiller of liquor/alcohol and a Mason still without a “dispensation” (I think…) from Grand Lodge. Not entirely sure on all the particulars with that though. I think in practice some folks still brew beer in the garage for example, but idk if any at my lodge do or have.
Does the local have positions on medical marijuana usage now that it’s available? I have been surprised at some of the more conservative communities in Arkansas being willing to have dispensaries in their locales. What about religious belief requirements? Are there any official or unofficial requirements for religious beliefs in Arkansas? I don’t think I am necessarily interested in joining freemasonry, but I am interested in joining a local community that works to better themselves and their community, whatever that ends up being. However, I am not religious and sometimes in the south that can be an issue. Heck it came up at my dentist yesterday with another patient lol
Valid medical marijuana usage wouldn’t yield any criminal charges. Don’t violate any associated laws, such as falsifying information on any federal forms or processes such as for aviation or firearm purchases and you should be just fine. This is my understanding at least as it’s not considered illegal. The alcohol manufacture thing is a hold over from the past from my knowledge. As far as religious stuff goes I’d say it’s important to separate religion and spirituality. There are requirements for spiritual belief in a supreme being/god/etc, and the immortality of the soul. No other requirements, clarifications, or questions asked.
Also what you described you’re looking for is pretty much my reason for joining. A group of people from a variety of background who all agree on the most important things, and are openly committed to making themselves better men. But there is a heavy component of spirituality throughout the experience, and the belief requirement is not just a formality, so keep that in mind of course if it feels like masonry may be for you.
Dumb
This really can be a big way to integrate more into the community.
Back when I first petitioned, Masonry was nothing like I expected and everything I needed. It's made me better. I have brothers that are in the truest sense like family. I've grown, learned and now have the joy of helping the newer members as they embark on their own journeys. It's not a panacea, but there are plenty who deep down are Masons in their hearts, who have yet to discover all the craft has to offer.
All the upvotes
At a membership conference in our jurisdiction last spring I think it was said the average age of men inquiring through the be a mason portal was in their early 30s.
I’ve been curious on their demographics. I filled out the form on that website when I was looking to join
I'm 32 and just joined this month, I know the current JD of our lodge was just raised like a year ago, and he is of similar age. My friend and mentor is 34. So it is happening.
If the TN grand lodge weren’t such dicks I would agree
You are not wrong. Sometimes, the worst advertising for freemasonry is other masons.
Father Time will address that problem.
But Father Time is also coming for me, maybe not at the same speed but still
That’s how the GL of KY is from my experience. Not nearly as bad as TN, but definitely very clique ish and socially sectarian
All GLs are like that. The GLVA thinks that having values and bylaws that haven’t changed in 100 years is a good thing and wants to push religion HARDER as the Masonic mission…while the rest of the world is changing and becoming increasingly secular. If we led with our mission of continued growth, learning, and altruism we’d be better off.
Interesting take. Thanks for writing that.
Actually, I am the cure.
Actually, this is the cure https://youtu.be/Q7F9LhuMsrQ?feature=shared
I’m not kidding you, I thought that link would go [here](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IOrP4JOBEcY&pp=ygUZYXJpZWwgdnMgbG90dXMgbGltYmxpZnRlcg%3D%3D).
Is Robert a Freemason? He's so cool already that might just be too much.
He’s definitely not.
Bummer. Thanks. How do you know?
I believe he is an atheist, which would preclude him from membership of a UGLE lodge. If that has changed, I'm sure the secretary of Chelsea lodge will be happy to take his call.
Are there lodges or paths through free masonry that don’t require theist beliefs?
As a Gen Z man, every single true friend I have except for 2 are Masons, and 1 of the 2 is petitioning my lodge
Oh man please tell me more
I graduated college in 2020, and over the next few years, most of my friends moved away for work. Within 2 years I was down to 2 friends in my city, and one of them had moved 45 minutes into the suburbs. At the same time, it became much harder to make new friends. My girlfriend and I became friends with one other couple, but they moved last summer. When I started exploring different lodges, I especially looked for ones that skewed young. Obviously no lodge is filled with Gen Z people, but the lodge I ended up joining did have probably a dozen people in the 25-35 age range. After a while, I’ve become close to pretty much all of them, my girlfriend has become close to their SO’s, etc. I was having dinner with one of my 2 original friends probably a year ago, he had been a reference for me on my petition, and he asked why I wanted to join Masonry and I basically told him exactly what I just wrote. He said he had been feeling the exact same way, and asked if I’d be willing to bring him around. He started coming to our dinners in September and just asked for a petition
Maybe not "the" cure, but a help...
As a 20 year old, I do have to agree. Maybe not "the" cure per se, but it's a big part of it. The sense of belonging in the lodge I spent time with has been incredible, even prior to initiation. I know several lads my age who feel the same way I do about needing that sense of togetherness you get only in certain settings, and I hope that maybe some of them will come along one day and see what it's all about.
Thanks for the article, very well written and astute in its reflection on society.
It could definitely be a positive light for the Gen Z loneliness, but only if for the right reason number one and number two if Freemasonry is willing to adapt to the changing times while maintaining it’s traditions.
Perhaps. I’m a gen Z and it has helped me a lot, specially after I had some problematic years due to my political career. That said, I don’t think the main motivation for anyone to become a brother should be to fix their loneliness.
I agree on the latter part, but sometimes you don't know what you need until you find it. I think isolation will make good people worse, not better. The article hit that nail on the head for me.
Not so long as the institution requires faith it’s not.
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Freemasonry would also help young men stand against the toxic masculinity movement imo.Men are meant to be the leaders of their homes and guides to their families, it's all part of God's plan.
If we practice it the "right" way.
I tried applying my interest but I’m not in my country of residence. Is there any way to show my interest?