The following material has been prepared under the direction of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Texas, and the Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters of Texas.
Those who have attained the degree of Master Mason may petition for all the York Rite Degrees and Orders at one time. Please ask a York Rite friend for a petition or see the Secretary of any of the bodies. Degrees and Orders are conferred in Festival Style with multiple candidates at one time.
ENTHUSIASM IS THE KEY!!!
Whatever you do, whatever you try,
DO IT ENTHUSIASTICALLY!!!
These suggestions are just a few of the many ideas used successfully by presiding officers before you. Read them with an open mind, apply them with an enthusiastic spirit, pursue them with all your heart, and reap the reward of a job well done.
BRASS TACK SUGGESTIONS
Plan your program -- then program your plan.
Know your opening and start your meetings on time. Then, be sure to close at a reasonable hour.
Enlist your resident members to personally contact those in their circles of friendships among Master Masons, to invite them to York Rite membership. Freemasonry is a progressive science.
Talk York Rite Masonry. There are many day to day opportunities to discuss the beauties of the degrees and orders and explain their merits. Do not hesitate to do so. Be prepared to answer questions or to secure the answers.
See to it that your candidates are not disappointed in the degrees. Hold regular schools for those who will take part in the ritualistic work. Local certificate holders can help in this; or, the Chapter and Council Education Committee, through its sub-committee on Schools of Instruction will provide a competent instructor for a week's school without cost to you. Contact them through P.O. Box 296, Waco, Texas 76703, and work out a mutual date for instruction. Plan to have someone attend the week-long school conducted by the Committee on Work in Waco in late November just before the Annual meeting.
Talk York Rite Festivals and participate in them. They have been proven effective for successful growth. This does not mean that you should not have degree work in your own Chapters, Councils and Commanderies. Your York Rite Festivals can, and will, be a great asset to you provided you work at it.
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ith all the enthusiasm you can gather, secure new members. Set as your goal a 10% gain; when you reach this goal, set a new higher mark. Every Mason in your community should be invited and encouraged to become a York Rite Mason. |
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rganize your meetings to promote the interest of not only your regular membership but to capture the enthusiasm of new members. |
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ecover those suspended members. Better still, don't lose them. Appoint a committee well in advance of the deadline to visit them personally. Tell them you have something to offer -- and make good this promise. They will respond. |
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eep working. Don't become discouraged! Be enthusiastic! Don't ask anyone to do anything that you yourself are not willing to do. You are the leader. |
(WORK) -- (There is no shortcut or substitute for it if you are to be successful.)
Basic Methods of Communicating Masonic Knowledge and Information
1. The lecture
2. The live demonstration
3. Audio-visual aids - Movies, film clips, slides, records, tape recordings, charts, photographs and paingings.
4. Discussion groups
5. Printed materials such as books and pamphlets (there is a wealth of material available though the Grand Lodge Library.)
Public Relations and Publicity
THe public relations of any organization is in part dependent upon the impression the members of that organization make upon the people they are associated with in the outside world. If we actively demonstrate in our daily lives the principles on which our fraternity is founded, which we obligated ourselves to uphold, our public relations will be excellent.
If we established good public relations, then we may seek to publicize the fraternity in the knowledge that it and its members are worthy of public recognition. News releases for the press, radio and television are the most accepted outlets for reaching the public at large as well as our next door neighbor.
What Is News
Elections; installations; awards -- 25 and 50-year pin presentations; charter anniversary programs; father-son or father-daughter or family night programs with special entertainment or speakers; planned religious observances such as Easter Affirmation day, Thanksgiving or Christmas; district meetings and festivals.
A stated or business meeting does not qualify as news. The conferral of degrees on a few candidated is not news.
How to Present the Information
Assemble all of the facts -- date, place, time, purpose of event, names (addresses may be requested by the media).
Then write your story in clear, concise language and short sentences. Tell WHAT is going to happen, WHEN and WHERE, and WHO will be involved in the program. You may find it helpful to explain HOW and WHY in the event of awards (the manner in which they are earned or won -- service to the organization, outstanding member for the year, etc.).
ABut never forget, good public relations -- Mason to Mason and Mason to non-Mason - is essential before we will find the doors open for good publicity concerning the fraternity.
R E M E M B E R !!!
Your Elected Grand Officers, your District Deputy Grand High Priest and District Deputy Grand Master, your appointive Grand Officers, your Committee on Work, Chapter and Council Education Committee and your Grand Secretary-Recorder are all ready to help you in any way possible to make your year outstanding. And, no one is more ready and willing to assist in any way possible to make your organization grow than is your Grand High Priest, and your Grand Master. Every best wish for a successful and pleasant year!
