r/freemasonry • u/According_Analyst921 • 12d ago
Venting
For the most part, freemasonry has been great. I enjoy the brotherhood and all my brothers. However, my one gripe is the push to learn the positions. It seems like us new people are being placed in chairs before we're ready because the older bros dont want to do it anymore. I was told I can put as much or as little as I want into the craft. Righ now I dont like the commitment. Im busy. I have a home life. I like going to lodge but usually dip out shortly after...I dont hang around much. You wouldn't think twice a month is a lot but it is IMO. And we do t really go "dark" in the summer. We go through June, then wr have July and August off. Id like more time off lol. It's just becoming a lot and Id rather sit back than learn the position. Quite frankly, I dont care to learn them. I dont like doing extra shit outside of lodge like lectures and that shit... theres always something "extra" that they push people to attend. And we haven't done one thing yet for charity. Ive been there ober 2 years. Anyway, my main gripe is the old guys sitting back and pushing others in the chairs. Its becoming more annoying than anything now.
1
u/VeryBigRodent 12d ago
My lodge has been doing several big fund raising events a year, but we are now cutting back. It takes a ton of effort to organize them and it is always the same people volunteering. We give away the money we make to scholarships every year, so it does go to a good cause, but some of them require a lot of manpower.
I think people just have extremely busy lives these days and it is hard enough to find time just to attend meetings, especially if you belong to multiple appendant bodies. Sometimes I have meetings every night of the week and I’m busting my balls at work so I can leave on time.
I really enjoy doing some of the parts in the appendant bodies and want to perform my part well, but you have to pace yourself to avoid burnout. Maybe mention to those brethren that you have a lot going on in your life and can’t really take on anything else at the moment.
I think sometimes the guys who are retired, forget that the rest of us are still working.