The Trial of the York Rite in Iowa and beyond.

This is being posted as a courtesy to a Companion who wanted to respond to the Iowa York Rite Facebook page.  He wishes that the ideas speak for themselves and that he remain anonymous so that personality will not enter into it.

The Trial of the York Rite in Iowa and beyond.

This is meant to be a response to Jay’s question regarding posted on the Iowa York Rite Facebook group, which read:

“What are some things you think should be happening to make the York Rite stronger and more viable in Iowa?”

I think what Jay is really asking for is, what is the current state of the York Rite, and to try the case for its continued survival?

Here isone Companion and Sir Knight’s thoughts.

The York Rite is dying a very slow and painful death.  It is bleeding members, and not bringing in enough to clot the wound.  When the Shrine changed its membership requirements to no longer require membership in the York or Scottish Rites, the two Rites had a decision to make: 1) adapt to the situation and use it as an opportunity to provide value to its members, thus attracting new members and retaining existing members; or 2) keep doing what they’ve been doing.  The Scottish Rite took the path of change, while the York Rite remained stagnant.  The Scottish Rite took the opportunity to rebrand its place in Masonry as the University of Freemasonry.  It started pushing Masonic Education through the SRRS, the Master Craftsman Program, and through what has become a quality publication in the Scottish Rite Journal.  The Scottish Rite also harnessed new mediums to promote itself to the next generation of Mason, with a quality website, active Facebook page, daily tweets on Twitter, the Masonic Geocaching Club, and the WSB Club.  The Scottish Rite also engaged its newest members through the Knights of St. Andrew.

But what has the York Rite done?  The York Rite did noting.  Nothing to retain its current members, and nothing to organically attract new members.  There are three independent York Rite bodies, whose relationships appear strained at best.  The egos of those in charge have gotten in the way.  Many like to say that the York Rite has a membership problem, and that members need to be recruiting more members, but they couldn’t be more wrong.  What good is it to bring in members when they don’t last? When the Rite is losing more members than bringing in through suspensions for non-payment of dues and demits, there isn’t a membership problem, there is a retention and organizational problem.  The membership needs reactivation, they need to rediscover the York Rite’s place in Masonry.  The York Rite needs rebranded.

What makes the York Rite special? 

The ritual.  The Chapter and Council rituals complete the Master Mason degree.  That is where the rebranding needs to start.  Master Masons need to believe that they are not yet a complete Mason until they have filed their Mark, learned the True Word, and have walked beside HAB in his final few moments on this earth.  The Orders of the Commandery can tell a story of how the legends in Masonry were rediscovered, through the crusades and the Knights Templar.  Too much time is spent trying  to rebuke Chevalier Ramsey ‘s statement, when the Rite can embrace it, adding an air of mystery to the Rite and Masonry in general.

Additionally, the Rite can take the ritual into Lodges.  The installation of officers for Lodges is stodgy and boring.  Why not work with the Grand Lodge Custodians to integrate the story of King Solomon into the installation of the Worshipful Master?  It would make it a very special ceremony, and experience.  This would accomplish two things: 1) Make York Rite Masons be active, or at least show up once a year, in their local lodge, and 2) Create an air of mystery surrounding the York Rite.  It should cause those on the sidelines at the installation to ask, “what is it that makes these York Rite guys so special that only they can install the Master?”.

Second, the Rite has fraternity.  The smaller group organization at the local level of York Rite Masonry means that the Companions and Sir Knights have the opportunity to become close friends, to become true brothers, become paracletes.  Sure, one can call the members of your local Symbolic Lodge ‘brothers’, but the York Rite is intended to be an even smaller group, a more select group, a band of brothers.

Next, let’s take a look at the external or public face of the York Rite.

The York Rite publications are awful.  Knight Templar magazine has made significant strides in the past five or so years, but it is still not a magazine that one shares as a recruiting tool like the Scottish Rite Journal.  The publication needs to have articles about what Commanderies are doing, interspersed with educational articles.  The letters to the editor section needs to be done away with.  It’s become more of a place for bitching, whining, and ego stroking, instead of real news.  Get rid of the Grand Encampment Officer’s section, except for the Grand Master.  If the Grand Master wants the Grand Prelate or another officer to take his section for a month, that’s fine.  However, the last thing most want to hear about is their travels.  They need to be writing something to inspire members, to make members think.  Ron Seale does an excellent job of this with the Scottish Rite. 

The Royal Arch magazine is one of the worst publications I’ve ever seen. Some of the articles are mediocre, but for the most part, the Rite is wasting their money.  Why can’t the three General Grand bodies put egos aside, and put together one quality unified York Rite magazine?  This would save costs all around, and can be used as a good recruiting tool.

Dan Pushee has done a great job getting a York Rite presence on the internet, but it’s time to take it to the next level.  All three of the General Grand bodies (this also includes the Grand Encampment) need to put some money into a professionally designed and maintained website.  For Generation X and Y, the internet is the first place they are going to look for information, and if the website isn’t up to their expectations, with regard to design and content, they’re not going to seek more information and the Rite won’t get them as members.  Dan took the Rite into the new world, now it’s time to colonize it. 

Jay did a great job by starting the Iowa York Rite Facebook group, but keeping it active is the biggest challenge. 

The Iowa Grand York Rite website is okay, it has the basics, but there really needs to be some money put into having a professional take it over.  At present, there is no budget for the website, and the Joint Technology Committee has been paying the costs of hosting and the domain registration out of their own pockets.  The Grand Chapter and Grand Council are the bodies that are participating in the Iowa Grand York Rite website at present.  The Grand Commandery is not presently participating in the Iowa Grand York Rite website.  The information for the Grand Commandery on the website is a courtesy to the Grand Commandery.  Again, the internet is the first place that Generation X and Y will look for more information.

The Rite needs to engage and activate its membership. 

Why not start something similar to the Scottish Rite Knights of St. Andrew?  Maybe call it a Mark Master’s Lodge?  Mark Master’s Lodges could be throughout the state, where they serve as an entry point for new members that want to get active in the Rite.  Once one is an officer in a local RAM Chapter, they become an emeritus member of the Mark Master’s Lodge.  Allow Mark Master’s Lodges to open and close on the Mark Master degree, to confer the Mark Master Degree, hold separate events, both social and ritualistic.  Make membership in these Lodges optional, but make it clear that it is the expected path to leadership in the Rite.

Push education.

The York Rite College has taken the first big step through their Companion Adept of the Temple program.  However, the resource books are nearly impossible to find.  If one signs up for the course, they should also get the resources to complete the course as a part of the fee.  Making them available electronically is a cop-out.  Think of the price, for $30 you get sent exams.  That’s it.  Comparatively, for $35, one can take the Scottish Rite Master Craftsman course, and get the Scottish Rite Ritual Monitor and Guide, a gargantuan book that they sell separately for $50.  So, you get more value from the Scottish Rite with the educational program.

Push leadership.

The program that the York Rite is using at department conferences is a total waste of time.  If one haven’t read Stephen Covey’s “7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by now, they shouldn’t be in a leadership role in any organization.  Making that the key resource for the course is too basic.  If that is the caliber of leaders that being promoted in the Rite, the Rite is in more trouble than originally thought.  Identify leaders and get them in positions of leadership!  Don’t just put someone in a leadership role because he shows up; mediocre and poor leaders can do more harm than good to the organization.  Not everyone can be a Chief, Indians to lead are also necessary.

Modernize Grand statutes and codes.

While Charlie Smithson was GHP, the Grand Chapter took a giant leap forward by modernizing the Grand Chapter Code.  It brought more decision making authority and flexibility to the local Chapter, allowing them to do what works best for them.  However, the Grand Council and Grand Commandery have not yet followed suit.  In York Rite bodies where the Chapter, Council, and Commandery operate as one, they haven’t been able to modernize their by-laws, because of the Grand Council and Grand Commandery have not yet followed suit with the Grand Chapter. 

Allow for things that have become commonplace in today’s society, like email as an acceptable form of communication.  (Postal mail is most appropriate for some things, like dues notices and other important information.  However, items dependant on timeliness should go out via email.)

Truly operate as one Grand York Rite. 

There are several facets needed in order to accomplish this: 

The first is holding our Grand Sessions at the same time.  Why not have an Iowa Masonic Week?  The Grand Chapter could meet on Thursday, the Grand Council on Friday, and the Grand Commandery on Saturday.  Installation of officers would be immediately following the conclusion of each session, and have a large joint York Rite reception and banquet on Saturday evening.  Receive and introduce all visiting dignitaries at the banquet, which would save a lot of time in each session.  By doing it all together, it would also add more pomp and circumstance to the banquet.  The other appendant bodies (York Rite College, KYCH, RCC, KM, AMD, SRICF, etc.) would have Monday through Wednesday to meet, along with other activities and committee meetings of the three Grand Bodies.

Second, have a unified Grand Secretary/Recorder and staff.  With the salaries of all three bodies combined, the Rite could really provide for professional, full-time administrative management of the Rite.  This would provide for accurate record-keeping for the entire Rite, and unified communications.  This person would not necessarily have served in the Grand York Rite bodies before, but should be a member and hired based on their professional credentials, not Masonic credentials.  Their term should be at least five years, to allow for continuity in the office.

Third, form a joint executive committee of the MEGHP, MIGM, and REGC to manage the Grand York Rite administrative staff.  This committee would ensure that the office of Grand Secretary/Recorder is being completed to expectations.

Finally, give the Grand York Rite bodies a home.  This would be the headquarters for the York Rite in Iowa, and would serve as a place to operate.  Having the Grand Secretaries and Grand Recorders operate out of their respective homes is disrespectful to their private space.  It also means that the records need to stay fairly mobile, as the office may move depending on who is elected.  Suggestions include renting space in the Des Moines Scottish Rite Consistory (deMolay room?), or the Sioux City building that currently houses the Sioux City York Rite bodies.

Copy what works.

The York Rite needs to set itself up for another century of Capitular, Cryptic, and Chivalric Masonry; and without a strong foundation, similar to what is proposed, that will just be a fading dream.

 We’re at a turning point here, Brothers, Companions and Sir Knights, and it is time to choose what direction will lead us to the future.