By lifting the veil of secrecy, Masonic membership rebounds

NEWBURYPORT — The Freemasons have long been known as a secretive organization, with many people questioning what goes on behind the closed doors at Masonic lodges.

It is known that the Masons are a social organization and a charitable organization of men only, but for centuries, those who wanted to know more had to become members.

That secrecy gave rise to wild rumors about the group's true purpose — the group might be a cult or a global conspiracy trying to control all governments or possibly protecting the Holy Grail.

But over time, as membership dwindled and rumors were debunked, the Masons found they had to change their ways and open their doors. There aren't any grand secrets, said Ted Burnham Jr., secretary at the Warren Masonic Lodge in Amesbury, though Masons still hold some things confidential.

"We've lived under the misnomer that we are a secret organization," Burnham said.

Their Web site states that the goal of Freemasonry is to "make good men better." Masons improve their character by gaining the fellowship of other Masons at meetings and becoming involved in the many charitable events the Masons hold.

People will have the opportunity to find out for themselves on Saturday, March 8, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., when Masonic lodges statewide hold open houses in an effort to raise awareness about their organization and recruit new members.

But don't expect to learn about the few secrets that the organization still keeps tight-lipped.

Jon Williamson, junior warden and Masonic ambassador at St. John's Lodge in Newburyport, said some of the information, like rituals and initiation rites, are kept secretive so that when new members join it will still be special to them.

"It's like telling somebody what their birthday present is before they open it," Williamson said with a laugh. "It's not really interesting when you do that. We do keep certain things to ourselves."

However, what you can expect to do at the open houses is tour the Masonic Lodge, learn information about the organization and have time to meet with officers, as the Masons continue their efforts to bolster membership.

Although the Masons have seen membership numbers dwindle, the more-open approach and policy changes in recent years have turned that around.

The membership age requirement was lowered from 21 to 18 in Massachusetts, and Masons now allow members to invite other men to join. The Masons have also held several one-day membership initiations over the years that have drawn those who lack the time for the traditional initiation that can last up to three months.

Burnham said the latest one-day initiation that was held a little more than a year ago allowed men to take all three initiation degrees in one day. The initiation drew more than 150 new members, including two members who joined Burnham's lodge.

Massachusetts Freemasonry, which has 40,000 members, is one of the few states chapters where membership has been increasing steadily. In the last three years alone, membership has grown by about 4,200 new members and averages 1,400 new members each year statewide, according to Robert Huke, director of Communications and Development for Massachusetts Freemasonry.

"Over the last four years we have had more men joining than the previous year," Huke said.

In Amesbury, the two Masonic Lodges have more than 250 members, while in Newburyport there are more than 400 members in the two lodges, with the average age of their members in the 30s.

Williamson said his lodge has seen an increase in membership over the past few years as the organization has been reaching out to the community through various activities to attract more members. They use charitable events such as the child identification program (CHIP), which they conduct every year, and blood drives, among other events, to reach out to the community. The organization also anonymously donates more than $10,000 a year to benefit area children.

Each year the St. John's Lodge in Newburyport gains between 20 and 25 new members who are made master Masons, including younger people who are increasingly becoming interested, Williamson said.

"I think that a lot of people that are between the ages of 20 and 30 are taking more of an interest," Williamson said. "They really like the history, most of the things they are involved with are those with a historical nature, and it's become very appealing."

Burnham, who has been a member of the Masons since 1971, has seen membership go up and down over the years as it runs through cycles, but he has also begun to see a youth movement.

"Because of attrition, we were on the decline for a while," Burnham said. "A couple of years ago, we were losing members. It was relatively old persons for a long time because it dates back so far to a time when they didn't have much to do in their daily lives, so they ended up going to fraternal organizations such as the Masons. Right now it's younger people."

Burnham attributes the rise of membership to the new flashy Massachusetts Freemasonry Web site, new radio and television advertising campaigns conducted by The Grand Lodge in Boston, and the open houses that continue to be held statewide.

"A couple of years ago we started noticing when they put up massfreemasonry.org on the Web a lot of people began inquiring about [freemasonry] and how to join and what they need to do," Burnham said. "The last three candidates we got that are just coming in now reached me over the Web."

Masons are happy with whatever it is that attracts potential members to the Masons because they say they have a lot to offer.

"The benefits are different for everyone who joins," Williamson said. "It can be personal. We're a character-building organization. It can be rewarding as far as charitable events, and it can be social from fraternal events. There are some organizations that just focus on one of those three aspects. We focus on all three."

Williamson and Burnham said they don't foresee an end to Freemasonry in Massachusetts, and they both predicted growth for their organization.

"It's growing — it's back to growing again," Burnham said. "It's a really bright future; I have all the faith in the world."

Area Masonic lodges where you can attend an open house on Saturday, March 8, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Photos

Worshipful Master Brian McMenimen poses in the temple at Masonic Lodge in Newburyport. The lodge will be holding an open house March 8 as part of a nationwide drive to increase its membership. Staff photo