From The East December 2024

Brethren,

this is my penultimate article as WM and once you stop cheering in relief at that news, I do have a few things to share still. Last month we celebrated Thanksgiving and as part of that giving of thanks, we gave out food to 48 needy families. In our abundance, we are taught to give, and be thankful. Last month I shared with you an article on Gratitude. Hopefully that came in a timely manner and you are actively practicing gratitude and appreciating the blessings which surround you. In practicing that gratitude, it is easy to see those brothers around you who work hard to improve our fraternity and our lodge specifically. However, sometimes we look around and think “why isn’t anyone helping me?” Brother Matt Gallagher has a lesson for us in that which I want to share with you.

Sincerely and Fraternally,

Brian Viehland, PM
Worshipful Master
Pentalpha Lodge No. 194

How to Get Everything You Want excepted from “Practical Freemasonry” by Matt Gallagher

There’s a thing called the 80/20 Rule, which states that 20% of the people do 80% of the work. No organization can escape this societal law, not even a masonic lodge, and this causes no end of resentment. Those who work, resent those who watch. Those who watch, abdicate their granted authority to those who work. This is an imbalance which causes disharmony in a lodge.

Of course, lodges have sustained this disharmony for centuries, but there are still permanent effects. When the only brother who cooks for lodge stays at home, dinner fellowship falls apart. When one of the three or so brothers who consistently show up to clean the building decides to go fishing instead, the others get disheartened. The building starts getting cluttered. Maintenance goes by the board, and the business discussions turn from charity and relief, to keeping the lights on, and repairing the air conditioning. The costs stack up, and meetings become a chore no one looks forward to.

But this isn’t to put any blame or shame on the 80%. They’re not bad people. They’re not lazy. They’re your brothers. The fact is, most any of them, if asked to do something, would do it. Freemasons like working together. We like helping our brothers. The problem is covert contracts.

A covert contract is just like a regular contract, except it only exists in your head, and the other party doesn’t know it exist. Apart from that, it’s basically the same. For example: I’m in the kitchen after a lodge dinner, scrubbing dishes. The rest of you are laughing and talking in the other room. When I picked up the dishtowel, I signed a contract with you in my head that, as no one brother should bear this burden alone, and brothers help each other, you will come into the kitchen and help. After all, masons take obligations to help, aid, and assist each other. You are in breach of contract.

On the other hand, you’re drinking coffee in the other room, and you don’t want to get in anyone’s way. Too many cooks in the kitchen spoil the broth, they say, so you signed a contract that lets you wait in reserve. After all, masons take obligations to help, but only when applied to, and no one is applying to you, so from your point of view, I am in breech of contract for not asking.

I resent you for being a lazy, no good, mooch, and you resent me for being passive aggressive, and we’re both miserable. But, be honest...aren’t we kind of happy about it too? Because we both feel so justifiably indignant? That’s why we sometimes act this way. Because all human beings want is to think of themselves as good men, and we’re conditioned to think injustice only afflicts the innocent, and all innocent people are good, right? And this is very faulty reasoning, but it feels right to so many of us, and it’s a convenient shortcut to our goal.

But that’s not why we’re masons. Masonry isn’t the belief that we’re the judge of our own rectitude, or that right and wrong behavior is learned from the deep recesses of our heart. The process of freemasonry hinges on the belief that our goodness can be measured in our actions, and our measuring stick is the character of other good men of virtue, as best judged by the continued acceptance of the masonic lodge. It’s counter-intuitive by today’s standard and deemed an old-fashioned throwback to honor cultures. But if you could be a good, virtuous angel all by yourself, why did you ever join? Because here we’re part of a team.

Improve your lodge by depending on each other. And that means asking each other for help. Brothers, ask your lodge for help. Masters, ask your brethren for help. And most importantly, name names. Whenever possible, ask a person face to face.

“Mark, can you dry dishes?” “Rob, can you meet me here this Saturday to clean out the rec room? If that doesn’t work, tell me when you can do it, and I’ll be there.”

It’s important for the 80% to remember to ask others if they can help, and how, and to be as specific as possible, but the onus is generally going to be on the man doing the work and seeking the help. Because ambiguity is the enemy in this. Never give anyone an opportunity to shrug off a need.

Asking “Is there anyone who can help with the fair booth this weekend?” is not the same as “We need five guys for the fair booth this weekend? Brian? John? Tony? Can I count on you?”

It isn’t shaming or guilt, it’s confrontation. That word has a bad association today, but confrontation is not about rudeness, or aggressiveness, any more than it’s about passive aggressiveness. It’s about meeting your responsibilities, which isn’t just the chores of lodge; it’s meeting your brother on the level, acting on the plumb, and parting on the square. And that can’t be done passive aggressively. It requires guts.

Matt Gallagher, Practical Freemasonry
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