MASONIC LEADERSHIP FROM A CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE
by Alva N. Rogers
Presented to Ed N. Eubank Council #75 Allied Masonic Degrees, 2
March 1996 by Alva N. Rogers
The past decade has underscored the need for the continuing development of
Masonic
Leadership, if the Masonic Fraternity is to survive. I ask my
non-Christian Brothers tolerance
since as a Christian, and as a member of a predominately Christian Lodge, I have
written this
paper from that perspective.
All active organizations undergo change. Changes come from pressure
from within and
without. Periodically almost all organizations become unable to accept
change or react in a
positive manner to forces acting on them. Normally when such problems
surface it is an
indication of failed or failing leadership.
Now when Masonic leadership fails is it the fault of the
leader, or the Lodge? I contend
it is the failure of the Lodge, for the Lodge is charged with Masonic
leadership development.
Such failures are predictable when a Lodge departs from the rule and guide and
elects
individuals to leadership based on the good old boy system and not on displayed
leadership
ability. Election of an individual to the line because he is a good
painter or cook, but has
displayed few if any indications of knowledge of Masonic ritual work, or of our
rule and guide
is one example of this system. Another is allowing an individual to
continue through the line
when he has displayed that he is not committed to the responsibilities of
Masonic leadership.
Sufficient knowledge to obtain a certificate is not alone evidence of the
qualities needed to be a
Masonic leader. Regular attendance in one's Blue Lodge, we should expect,
so alone it is not
evidence of leadership. Neither is attendance in district training
sessions such evidence.
Collectively they are indicators that this individual may be a candidate for
consideration as a
Masonic Leader. We should also evaluate how a candidate for Masonic
leadership is recognized
among his business peers for leadership and honesty. Since the Holy Bible
is our rule and
guide how one practice his religious faith is an indicator of his knowledge of
that rule and
guide. Granted, it may have been far easier to make such an evaluation
during earlier times,
however, such increased difficulty does not relieve us of the responsibility.
As Masons we need to understand:
a.
The leadership role of the Master
b. The leadership role of the Wardens and
Deacons.
c. The leadership role of other lodge officers.
d. The leadership role of the members of the lodge.
I know of no better model than those outlined in the
scriptures of the Christian New
Testament.
The Colossian model (Colossians 1:18 ) indicates that the
Master should be the Head of
his Lodge, and he is preeminent within his Lodge. The Master in his
symbolic position is the
supreme head of the Lodge.
Matthew's model indicates that each lodge must be built
upon a strong foundation
(Matthew 16:18). How can we build our lodges on such foundations?
Each member of the
lodge, but more especially the Master and Wardens, must be well grounded in the
Holy
Scriptures of his faith. Let us pause a moment and reflect upon the
mantle we place upon each
new Junior Deacon. We are in essence electing a future Master for he will
normally rise as
cream in milk. It is an unusual event to set aside that current that moves
him to the East. So it is
essential that we look well to the benefit of the order when we elect a new
Deacon.
The Wardens, Deacons and Stewards in our fraternity have
many duties in providing
proper leadership within each lodge. They are to teach and guide the less
informed members of
the craft. The accomplishment of these duties must be done willingly and
in a disciplined
way. Likewise they must be willing to serve subordinates as well as
superiors, for their duties
are to the Lodge, not just the Master. These duties are clearly modeled in
the third chapter of 1st
Peter and in Acts 6:1-7.
The Christian Apostle Paul in his letter to the Ephenians
(Ephenians 4:11-12) explains
that we all do not have the same talents, but should use the talents God has
given us. When we
seek Secretaries and Treasurers we should seek examples of trust, reliability,
and devotion to
duty. The Director of Work should be an able and dedicated teacher,
willing and able to give
freely of his knowledge, as a leader and teacher. The Craft has always
looked to him as a
standard and as an example. It is not necessary to enumerate all the
positions in the lodge.
Suffice it to say that attention to our rule and guide will provide guidance in
the selection of
any position within the lodge.
Now to the greatest role of leadership in each
lodge......To be a successful leader one
must first be a follower. The followers in Masonry are the members on the
side line. Paul the
Apostle admonished Christians to follow their leaders in Hebrews 13:17. We as
Masons should
apply Paul's model to our lodge. We should obey those appointed over us,
for they must give an
account for us, let them do it with joy not grief: for their grief is not
profitable for you or the
Craft. Paul admonished Christians to properly use his God given talents in
Ephesians 4:7, and
we as Masons should apply our talents to our obligations as Masons.
The Body of the Craft is what the World sees of this great
fraternity. We set the table of
how the uninitiated view the Craft. The question then becomes: shall
we continue along the
path we have been traveling, or shall we return to the models and foundation of
our rule and
guide? We must look well to the benefit of the Craft when we elect our
leaders, and measure
candidates by the models of our rule and guide, if we are to prosper.
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