By: W. John Barling, Secretary of Hyde Park Lodge 370
Last time, we talked about mentorship, leadership, and succession. These are the building blocks of a strong and lasting Lodge. But even with the best plans for the future, we still have to ask a deeper question: What kind of culture are we creating?
Freemasonry isn’t just about ritual or business meetings. It’s a way of life. A living culture. Every word we speak and every decision we make, both inside the Lodge and out, shapes that culture. The values we model, the traditions we protect, and the changes we accept all play a role in what our Lodge becomes.
It’s not enough to raise new Masons. We have to make Freemasonry matter.
Here’s what I’ve come to believe about Lodge culture, based on years of reflection and experience.
1. Culture Grows Through Repetition and Intention
In Masonry, repetition is not meaningless routine. It is how we shape character and values.
Every time we open a Lodge with care and reverence, we do more than perform a ritual. We remind ourselves of what we stand for. Every handshake and every kind word tells a Brother that he matters and that he belongs here.
Culture is built not in grand gestures but in the small, consistent things we choose to do:
- Starting meetings on time and coming prepared
- Treating ritual with respect, even when it’s imperfect
- Reaching out to a Brother who has been absent, not out of obligation but from genuine concern
- Honoring and actively remembering those who came before us and fulfilling our responsibilities towards their widows and orphans
When these actions become habits, they form the heartbeat of our Lodge.
2. Culture Shows What We Will and Will Not Accept
There is a saying in leadership that, “the worst behavior you tolerate becomes your real standard.”
The same is true for us. If we ignore apathy, we breed indifference. If we turn a blind eye to cliques or petty politics, we weaken Brotherly Love. If we treat our traditions as burdens instead of blessings, we send a message to new Masons that our heritage is unimportant.
The opposite is also true. If we celebrate learning, we inspire scholars of the Craft. If we value service, we nurture leaders. If we live Masonry with humility, joy, and consistency, we create a Lodge worth belonging to.
The West Gate must protect more than just our entrance. It must also guard against the wrong attitudes that can grow inside our own hearts.
Take, for example, the so-called “Transparency” page on Facebook. While the intention behind that page claims to be to foster openness, It has become a breeding ground for resentment, conspiracy, and suspicion. Instead of promoting the shared values of the Craft, it encourages negative behaviors like gossip and divisiveness. This page can create an environment where Brothers feel isolated or distrustful of one another, undermining the sense of unity we work so hard to build in our Lodges.
What we share online should reflect the same respect and commitment to the Craft that we practice in our meetings. “Transparency” doesn’t mean airing grievances publicly or creating an atmosphere of division. It’s about keeping the lines of communication open and respectful, where constructive dialogue is encouraged and the values of Brotherly Love and respect remain at the forefront. By fostering a culture that focuses on solution-oriented discussions rather than negativity, we build a stronger, more united Lodge.
3. Culture Needs a Shared Purpose
Every Lodge, no matter its size, needs a reason to exist beyond just surviving.
Some Lodges are deeply focused on esoteric study. Others make their mark through community service or strong ritual work. Some focus on building close bonds of friendship. There is no single right answer. But there must be a shared reason for coming together, or we will forget what we are here for.
Ask your Lodge:
- What are we known for?
- What do we truly care about?
- What are we building together that will still matter when we are gone?
Once you find your Lodge’s purpose, commit to it. Let it influence your decisions, your events, and even who serves in leadership. When men know they are contributing to something that matters, they give their best. Not because they have to, but because they want to.
4. The Worshipful Master Sets the Tone, but the Brethren Create the Culture
A wise Master understands that he does not control the culture of the Lodge. He guides it. His words, his actions, his patience, and his priorities all send signals. But it is the behavior of every Brother that truly defines what the Lodge becomes.
We each have to ask ourselves:
- Am I helping build the kind of Lodge I hoped to find when I was initiated?
- Am I stepping up to serve, or am I waiting for someone else to carry the weight?
- Am I living out the meaning of our working tools, or just reciting them?
Just like Most Excellent King Solomon’s Temple was not built by one man, the culture of a Lodge is built by all of us, one stone at a time.
A Culture Worth Preserving
As we talk about mentoring, leading, and preparing others to step up, we also need to protect something just as important. We must preserve a Lodge culture that is kind but not soft, strong but not rigid, traditional but still alive.
We are the stewards of something old and beautiful. Let’s treat it that way. Not as something to lock away behind glass, but as something living and breathing. A tradition that stays alive because we breathe life into it every time we meet.
Build a Lodge that helps good men become better, and that inspires better men to stay.
And as we continue to build that kind of culture, we need to ask another important question: Where does all of this take place? What kind of space are we creating for this work, not just physically but emotionally and spiritually?
That brings us to the next chapter.
Chapter 6: The Lodge as a Sacred Space
As always, thank you for reading and being apart of my Masonic journey.
Humbly and Fraternally yours,