Masonic Education Active In Pursuing Excellence

(In photo) A room filled with lodge officers actively participates in the discussion on leadership in the lodges with Past Grand Master Weisser leading one of the seminar's several management topics.

Building upon the vision of Marvin A. Cunningham, Sr., R.W.G.M., of "H.O.P.E. -- Helping Others Pursue Excellence," the Committee on Masonic Education expedited its efforts to provide training for the future leaders of your lodges.

During the first three months of 2002, the Committee, chaired by Edward O. Weisser, R.W.P.G.M., has conducted one-day Lodge Officers Training Workshops for Senior and Junior Wardens in all of the seven Masonic Regions of Pennsylvania and held an information-packed Seminar for District Masonic Education Chairmen at Elizabethtown. The workshops and seminar provided the lodges' leaders with tools that will enable them to build a strong structure of Masonic Education and help their lodges grow and prosper.

Workshop for Wardens

Topics during the Workshops for Wardens included the definition of Freemasonry, how Masonic ritual provides a strong foundation upon which our Fraternity is built, why there are lodges, the role of various lodge officers, some of the Grand Master's programs, how to judge the quality and effectiveness of a lodge, and the important process for a senior warden to plan for his year in the East. Evaluations by the participants of the workshops indicate good progress in helping the brethren pursue excellence in the leadership of their lodges. Any warden who was unable to attend one of those workshops, or a brother who is in a position to move through the elected chairs, can contact his lodge Masonic Education Chairman to learn about next year's sessions.

District Education Chairmen's Seminar

All Masonic districts in Pennsylvania and the vast majority of the lodges have Masonic Education chairmen to help carry forth the programs to pursue excellence in Freemasonry. The Grand Master attended the district chairmen's meeting in the Masonic Homes at Elizabethtown in February where an introduction to the philosophy and the mechanics of Masonic Education was presented. Since that seminar, the district chairmen will have had opportunities to meet with their respective lodge chairmen and to start implementing the programs.

The Grand Master told the district chairmen that he believes the important jobs for each lodge is to get new members, to retain the members they have, and to educate the members about our Fraternity. To help accomplish those jobs, lodge Masonic Education chairmen have been asked to present a program that will help every member to understand more about the benefits of being a Mason in Pennsylvania. Among the goals is to have the members gain a full understanding of the Masonic Charities and a better understanding of what our Masonic Homes has to offer our Masonic family.