The Silent Generation of Freemasons

Freemasonry has been a significant part of my life, offering fellowship, personal growth, and opportunities for service to my local community but also the wider masonic fraternity.

For more than a year, I have been writing Daily Masonic Progress and just a few months ago it also became a Youtube Channel and a Podcast. Both are now starting to really gain traction, there are over 1,100 subscribers on Youtube joining the hundreds of listeners on the podcast and readers of this very newsletter.

But, being what sometimes feels like the public face of Freemasonry can be tough. There is a lot of misinformation out there, and the internet is the Wild Wild West of civil discourse.

But this a comment recently caught my eye and made me think. The comment was:

"You've earned my respect for being open about your Masonic background. A lot of hate and fear towards your group would go away if more members were open about their membership."

What this very comment encapsulates a challenge that has been brewing in Freemasonry for decades – the impact of what I call the "Silent Generation" of Masons. These are the Masons, like both my grandfathers, who joined in the mid-20th century and inadvertently created a communication gap that we're still grappling with today.

---

So are we guardians of sacred mysteries, or unwitting architects of our own decline?

The interpretation of Masonic secrecy by the Silent Generation, while well-intentioned, has led to membership issues, but more significantly the greater public misunderstanding about Freemasonry, and missed opportunities for connecting with the good men who’d get so much value from the Craft.

This misinterpretation manifests in various ways:

1. The "I'm going to Lodge" syndrome: Many Masons of this generation would simply state they were going to Lodge without elaborating, creating an air of mystery around their activities.
   

2. Minimal discussion about Freemasonry at home: This approach left family members, including potential future Masons, in the dark about the fraternity's true nature and benefits.
   

3. Reluctance to engage in public discourse about Masonry: By avoiding open discussions about Freemasonry, we've allowed misconceptions and conspiracy theories to flourish unchallenged.
   

The consequences of this approach are evident in my own family story. Out of 12 potential Masons in my immediate extended family, just on my fathers side alone, I am the only one who joined the fraternity. Let alone my maternal grandfather and my great uncle, whom my grandfather went to lodge with when they visted each other between Australia/New Zealand.

This pattern is replicated in countless families across the Masonic world, contributing to our declining numbers and influence.

But what led Masons of the past, like my grandfather, to become the silent generation?

To understand our present challenge, we must look back at the societal and historical forces that shaped their approach to Masonic secrecy. The global conflicts of the mid-20th century, particularly World War II and the Cold War, created a culture of discretion and heightened awareness of the power of information. However, the impact of these conflicts on our fraternity goes much deeper.

Many, if not most, of the returned servicemen who swelled the ranks of Freemasonry in the post-war years were grappling with what we now recognize as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). In an era when PTSD wasn't yet understood or acknowledged, these men sought solace and understanding in the familiar rituals and brotherly bonds of the lodge. Freemasonry became a proxy for therapy, offering a safe space where men could find camaraderie and support among others who had shared similar experiences.

Moreover, the Masonic lodge was one of the few places where men could gather and enjoy a beer after 5 pm. This social function further enhanced the lodge's role as a refuge - a place of normalcy and relaxation in a world that had been irrevocably changed by war.

The combination of undiagnosed PTSD, the need for a therapeutic outlet, and the lodge's function as a social haven likely contributed to the intensification of secrecy.

For many of these men, the lodge was a private world apart from the challenges of daily life, and the instinct to protect this sanctuary may have translated into an increased emphasis on discretion and privacy.

The societal norms of the era placed a high value on privacy and discretion in personal matters, including associations and beliefs. It's possible that in their zeal to honor their obligations, some Masons overextended the concept of secrecy beyond its intended scope.

Additionally, the clear delineation between public and private spheres in that era may have encouraged Masons to keep their fraternal activities strictly separate from their public lives.

Understanding these factors helps us see that the Silent Generation's approach wasn't born of malice or intentional exclusivity, but rather a product of their times and circumstances - a complex interplay of historical events, personal traumas, and societal norms.

Have we allowed silence to become our loudest statement?

The repercussions of this generational silence extend far beyond our lodge rooms. In today's digital age, where information spreads at the speed of light, Freemasonry's reticence has left a vacuum eagerly filled by sensationalism and conspiracy theories.

This misinformation doesn't just affect public perception; it seeps into our lodges, influencing potential members' understanding of the craft before they even begin their Masonic journey.

Moreover, this culture of silence has had a profound impact on Masonic education. Without open discussions and easily accessible information (which must remain within the compass of propriety and adhering correctly to our obligations) many Masons find themselves ill-equipped to understand the deeper meanings of our rituals and symbols. This lack of depth in Masonic knowledge can lead to a superficial understanding of our craft, reducing rich traditions to mere rote performances.

The problem compounds itself: less-informed Masons are less able to combat misinformation, leading to a cycle of misunderstanding both within and outside the fraternity. We find ourselves in a position where sometimes the loudest voices speaking about Freemasonry are those with the least accurate information.

How can we reclaim our narrative and deepen our understanding?

To address these challenges, we must look beyond traditional solutions. The digital realm, which has been a breeding ground for misinformation, can also be our most powerful tool for education and outreach.

Platforms like podcasts, YouTube channels, and interactive websites can serve as gateways to Masonic knowledge, both for members and the curious public.

By creating engaging, accurate content about Freemasonry, we can start to reclaim our narrative in the public sphere. These platforms allow us to share the depth and beauty of Masonic philosophy and symbolism in accessible ways.

Shameless commerical for the Daily Masonic Progress YouTube Channel and Podcast

The internet has revolutionized our access to Masonic knowledge, creating a global marketplace of ideas that spans centuries of Masonic thought and tradition. This digital age has opened up a vast treasury of Masonic literature that was previously hidden away in obscure libraries or out-of-print volumes. Now, at the click of a button, Masons can access books, articles, and scholarly works that cover every aspect of our craft.

For instance, I recently discovered and have been reading Brother Carl H. Claudy's "Introduction to Freemasonry," a seminal work that I might never have known existed were it not for online resources.

This accessibility can transform the landscape of Masonic Education, Membership Engagement, and Courses. We don't need to reinvent the wheel. The internet has thrown open the doors to a vast vault of Masonic wisdom accumulated over centuries.

This wealth of existing material is our golden opportunity. Instead of developing new educational programs, we can curate and adapt the best of what already exists.

Renowned Masonic scholars have laid the groundwork; their insights and curricula are now at our fingertips. By tapping into this treasury, we can offer our members a depth of education that surpasses what any single lodge could develop independently.

How can we be open without giving away our secrets?

Embracing transparency doesn't mean revealing our modes of recognition or the details of our ceremonies. Instead, it means being open about our principles, our philosophical teachings, and the personal growth opportunities Freemasonry offers. We can discuss the moral lessons of our degrees, the historical context of our traditions, and the relevance of Masonic teachings to modern life without compromising the initiatory experience that makes Freemasonry unique.

Moreover, this openness extends to our very identity as Freemasons. Gone should be the days when we hesitate to mention our Masonic membership or mumble vague excuses about our lodge nights. We should feel proud to say, "I'm going to my Masonic lodge tonight," just as we would announce attending any other respected organization. By being forthright about our involvement, we normalize Freemasonry in the public eye and provide opportunities for curious individuals to ask questions and learn more.

This transparency about our membership also allows us to be living examples of Masonic values in our communities. When people know we are Masons, they can see firsthand how Freemasonry positively influences our actions and character. This visible representation of Masonic principles in action is far more powerful than any written description.

Are we content to remain behind the sealed lips of the Silent Generation, or are we ready to become the Generation that both Illuminates and Speaks?

Darkness is merely the absence of light. Similarly, the ignorance surrounding Freemasonry is simply the absence of knowledge. We know how to solve both of these, it’s taught to use in the Initiation!

It’s also no wonder that both Light and Sound are waves - they are the very means by which we can break the bonds of ignorance and silence.

Breaking the cycle of silence is not just about speaking up—it's about radiating our light, reclaiming our narrative, and revitalizing our Freemasonry. So here are three tangible steps every Mason can take to amplify our light and voice:

1. Be proudly visible: Wear your Masonic ring, mention your lodge activities, and be ready to engage in open, honest conversations about Freemasonry. Let your light shine in your daily interactions.
   

2. Educate yourself deeply: Leverage the vast online resources to deepen your Masonic knowledge. Share interesting findings with both Masonic and non-Masonic friends, spreading illumination.
   

3. Create or curate content: Whether it's a blog post, a social media update, or simply sharing reputable Masonic content, contribute to the positive online presence of Freemasonry. Be a beacon in the digital world.

Remember, every time we choose openness over silence, we emit a wave of light that chips away at misconceptions and builds bridges of understanding. The future of Freemasonry doesn't just lie in our ability to preserve secrets, arts, hidden mysteries and maintain our ancient usages and customs, but in our courage to share our light and let our voice be heard.

As Masons, we are called to dispel darkness. Let us now also break the silence, for in the harmony of light and sound, true enlightenment is found.