Now What? Masonic Follow-Up to "The Lost Symbol"

By now, most everyone knows that the Masons are the good guys in Dan Brown's sure-to-be-blockbuster novel, The Lost Symbol.

Boy, there's sure a sigh of relief to be sighed there, huh?

So I guess we can just all go back to what we were doing, right?

Wrong.

There's more to do now than ever.

The publication of The Lost Symbol presents Freemasonry with an unprecedented opportunity. If we blow this, we have no one but ourselves to blame if, a generation or two from now, we are reduced to nothing but curiosities on the landscape of American life.

We need to understand the situation, brothers. There were basically two generations of American men--those who came of age in the 1960s through the mid-1990s or so--who simply didn't get involved in Freemasonry, anywhere near the degree to which their ancestors had.

This is why we see some lodges with the same brethren rotating through the chairs for a second or third time. This is why we see lodges consolidating and closing. This is why we see new brethren in some lodges thrust into the chairs of leadership prematurely, with all sorts of unfortunate consequences. This is why we see the major Rites languishing. This is why, with American population at an all-time high, Freemasons comprise a smaller fraction of the population than at any time in the last century.

But now Dan Brown comes along, writes a novel that is likely to see 60 to 100 million sales worldwide--30 to 50 million of those in the United States--where the Masons are the heroes!

You know what I say, brethren?

This is our opportunity, our once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, to make up for lost time.

But we have to do our part.

The Lost Symbol will bring those men who are interested in the search for Masonic light to us -- if they know where to find us. The Lost Symbol will bring the right candidates to the Western Gate -- if we present ourselves well, in the finest tradition of our Fraternity.

So let's do this:

1. Let's hold those Open Houses and let people know where we are, what we stand for, and how to apply.
2. Then, after they have entered the Journey, let us be sure to give our new brethren the kind of instruction and quality Masonic experience that will encourage them to be active in the Fraternity.

To assist in this endeavor, I'll be doing the following:

• On my blog devoted to Dan Brown's novel, "Discovering The Lost Symbol: The Blog" (http://lostsymboltweets.blogspot.com/), I'll be focusing many of my blog posts on the items of Masonic interest that show up in The Lost Symbol. These posts may be of interest to brethren and interested members of the general public alike.
• On this blog, "Freemasonry: Reality, Myth, and Legend" (http://themasonicblog.blogspot.com/), I'll focus many of my posts over the next three months or so on material that might be of use in preparing Masonic open house presentations, how to handle publicity, and so forth.
• On another blog, "Freemasonry 101" (http://freemasonry101.blogspot.com/) I'll be focusing on material for the interested member of the public. You may wish to refer people here.
• I will dust off another blog that I have had in mothballs for awhile, "The Masonic Education Cabal," regarding tips about Masonic instruction.
• I will also be writing a manual with "lessons for the Lodge": instructional material, handouts, and so forth -- that will be available through a shopping cart on the blog. (Yes, LVX Publications lives!)

We say a lot about the glorious history of our Fraternity. This is our moment in history. Now is our time to shine. Let us build up our Fraternity in such a way that we can be a greater force for good in our country and in the world.

Or are you thinking there is enough democracy in the world today? Enough focus on wisdom, duty, and honor? Enough emphasis on a balance between reason and devotion to the divine?

I didn't think so.

Do feel free to comment with your questions and ideas.