Young Masons in Ghana and their old brothers are playing a funny blame game. And it appears to me, as it may to many young Masons that the old men are fast losing it, because of the truth in the accusals been laid against them. I am also playing the game and I am much aware that am right in front of the goal posts, but until today, I have never paused to think in my thinking that all should be blamed on the Old folks.
It is a plebeian veracity that, the recent issue of membership declivity should be blamed on the inability of the old Masons to sustain the interest of new made brothers, and also that they have allowed brotherly love, which was sometime ago, one of the pillars on which the order was founded, to die with the nippy demise of the nation's economy. Oh I have just been reminded that brotherly love is still among the three founding pillars of the order. Okay, thank you, I only thought it collapsed in today Masonry in Ghana.
A lot of young Masons have their own stories to tell in relation to uncongenial encounters with the craft and old Brethren. I have mine too. They are many but one should suffice the moment. I was added in a whatsapp group of experienced Masons by a middle aged Brother who was cock-a-hoop about his ten years experience in the craft as compared to my two years. One afternoon, when I thought the group had been quiet for long, I posted a question which was suppose to spark a fruitful debate. I asked; 'Should smoking be encouraged among Masons, especially when we are employed in the building of moral self?'. Then, the reply came from a senior member whom I have so much respect for; "That is rubbish, is a rubbish question, you don't have any right to question another's habit". Instantly I realized where I was and where I stood as a young mason. In my mind, it was only a question which demanded a constructive response, but to go to the extent of attacking me, I thought, was way too far. And the Worshipful brother who had added me to the group worsened the situation, he called me on phone and spoke angrily at length while I listened attentively in utmost appallingness , after which he removed me from the group and blocked me. Such an unjust and a bully. I was not given the slightest opportunity to justify my stand. I felt very bad that whole week. I felt Masonry in Ghana wasn't worth my time. Oh Yes, I said it, MY TIME. And it didn't end there, the hostile bumps, thereafter, occurred almost everywhere with most brothers. But, in as much as I would love to quit, so do I,love to be a part of the process of the eventual flip-flop to the good old days of Masonry in Ghana, which we can now only read about.
But this afternoon, just when I was chatting with a much older brother but newly initiated about the situation, I had a shift of paradigm. I decided to, for the first time, put on the suits of the old men, and analyzed the situation. I had never thought of how hard they might have struggled to keep the craft and the other orders alive up to now. Unattractive as it may be, they have still sacrificed a lot to uphold the art for us to enjoy today. They have kept on to hoist the flags of Masonry and sailed the craft through tumultuous waves to a peaceful one. Through the regime of Rawlings, where we learned that Masonry was strongly frowned upon in the country and temples were being burnt. They deserve a pat on their shoulders for once. They cannot be entirely blamed for the membership dwindling away. I asked myself that, what have I also done to better the situation?
Though I have proposed and initiated a quite a number of newly made brothers to the craft, I am still challenged above all things about how am I sustaining their interests in the craft? Have I also been a mentor in my own small way? Or because the mentor of the lodge is not doing his work, I also feel relaxed? I dare you, young Masons, to better the situation of membership now while we are young. We can join in the recruitment of members. They say a candidate must come of his own free will and accord, but it doesn't mean we cannot talk about our freemasonry with non-masons, we can. Let us do it more often and leave the decision to join to their own volition. That way, we are still making the candidate come to light out of his free will and accord.
The least said about brotherly love, the better. This is where the old Masons are losing the points. Old brothers, let me tell you something you probably don't know or have refused to know; young masons are not a group of hungry guys that are waiting to feast on your hard earned food, No. We are not that parasitic. However, we are too anxious a people. Yes, some of us are unemployed and may be searching for jobs, if it is in your connections or positions to help, please do. But that is not how we defined brotherly love after all.
And young masons, what love have we shown the craft and the old folks, that warrants us to expect same from them? I believe the world is not round but I know for certain that what goes round definitely comes round. It is GIGO.
I was privileged to travel with one of the assistant district grand masters as his personal assistant to a lodge meeting. And on our journey we discussed a whole lot about the craft. He asked me why some young masons are no longer active, to which I answered; "Master, some of them have lost interest because there seems to be nothing going on in the lodges. Perhaps the lodge have been narrowed to our ceremonies alone, no activities or initiatives. Lodge life may have seemed boring. But the majority of the inactive young men, have been abeyant because they can no longer keep up with the financial obligations expected of them. They are unemployed and are struggling to manage a living, and don't want to be a burden to their lodges."
Then he replied in a humble tone, -he sounded more sorry- "that is unfortunate. But the lodge is not only about money Cliff. And we can't all be rich at a time, so while some should be ready at all times to pay, others have to be also ready to sacrifice their time for the craft. Two resources are most needed in the running of a lodge; time and money. And some may have both, while others may have one. Whichever way, bringing your quota is what is important. You, Cliff, you are unemployed and don't have money right?" - there and then, I realized I had agitated too much about my worries and perhaps, those of other young masons- "Yes Master" I replied. "Have you paid your dues for the year?" He further asked me. "No Master" again I replied while avoiding his eyes. "But why are you still active?, You see, that's what I mean by service. Once you make time to volunteer to the service of a cause, you automatically find joy and all other benefit of it come later."
So the questions now come back to us, what have we sacrificed for Masonry? Are we a little patient in Life? Have we forgotten that we are virtuous men with a heart characterized by many virtues such as patience and selflessness?
Let me end here by giving you fellow young masons a testimony. I had been visiting my lodge secretary when I was in Ghana. He is an old man. I figured out that he might need my company more often, so I visited him more frequent than any other young mason in my lodge did. Now, that is brotherly love. And in return, he gave me more than relief. He had a guest house, and he had apportioned a particular room to me alone. He went further to ensure that I didn't need anything, needless to mention the monies he gave to me. So, I ask you, young Masons that, when was the last time you thought about visiting an older member of your lodge. Do we care at all, as we wished they cared about us.
Another, was the willingness of the Assistant District Grand Master to pay my air ticket to Russia. And it was not his first time doing this gesture, he also partly financed my travel to South Africa. Why?, just because to him, I was rendering myself more extensively serviceable to the craft in general. I was devoting my time to the ritual and was reading more.
I had enjoyed far too many as a Mason. In sight of medical care, a senior Mason who happens to be a Doctor and has his own Clinic, has been giving me free medical care. And the list is endless in truth.
So guys, I think we should all focus our attention on how best we can be to the well being of our noble craft and put every emotions behind us. Which of the resources we can offer; time or money or both. When some one wrong you, take it as a human error and that he must be forgiven immediately. We have no much time to fight, and yet we can't waste our youthful time in Masonry complaining. We must assume offices now, and act now. The old men also need love from us. And the good health, I have learned, is the richest. Let us communicate happiness, for we are but happy people.
So Mote It Be.
Brother Oppong Clifford Benjamin
Excelsior Lodge No. 7670 EC
Ghana.
