Three Burning Tapers

I’m leading a project at work that lets customers assemble their dream product, option by option. They’re creating their “wish list” of what they’d love to build.

I’ve started to think about this into my Masonic experience, and it’s made me wonder: if I could configure a Masonic lodge in the same way, which features would I insist on? What would my wish list look like? What is my wish list for a perfect Lodge?

So here goes: my 1^st attempts at a perfect Lodge:

A perfect Lodge would…

1. A perfect lodge welcomes Brothers of every age, profession, ethnicity, culture, and worldview. Diversity keeps conversation lively and ensures that the lodge never becomes an echo chamber. Exposure to unfamiliar perspectives stretches the mind and deepens empathy, giving each Brother a broader understanding of the human family.
2. No one joins Masonry to listen to bills be read aloud. In my ideal lodge, officers manage a transparent annual budget and publish quarterly statements, so members stay informed without drowning in procedural minutiae. Business that requires deliberation is handled at a separate, if even needed, a shorter meeting, keeping stated meetings focused on fellowship, education, and ritual.
3. Money is the lifeblood of any organization, but dues should be a tool, not a barrier. They should be high enough that each member feels a stake in the lodge’s success yet low enough that a good man of modest means can still knock on the West Gate. A clear allocation plan: a building overhead, quality meals, charitable outreach, and an investment fund ensures that every dollar advances the lodge’s mission. The dues should be high enough to provide an elevated experience to all Brothers.
4. A perfect Lodge would have a well‑cooked meal shared in a pleasant setting. This does more for brotherhood than a dozen speeches. Think linen tablecloths, real silverware, candles, and menus chosen with care. On special nights the lodge might adjourn to a nearby restaurant’s private room, trading the din of the dining hall for quiet conversation and laughter that lingers.
5. A perfect Lodge has ritual with reverence. Ritual is Masonry’s common song. Officers in a perfect lodge rehearse continuously so that each word is pronounced correctly and each gesture carries weight. The aim is not theatrical perfection but clarity, the kind that allows a candidate to sense the depth of centuries behind the ceremony.
6. There should be a sacred silence during degrees. Great ritual can be ruined by whispered prompts, candy wrappers, or side conversations. During degrees, the lodge room should be still, allowing candidates and sideline Brethren alike to meditate on the symbols unfolding before them.
7. Attendance expected at my perfect Lodge. When the doors open, the room should fill. A lodge that values presence makes attendance habitual by offering something worth showing up for: inspiring ritual, meaningful education, and genuine fellowship. Officers schedule around their lodge duties, and members treat the summons with the same respect they give family obligations.
8. Officers lead by example: Look, I get it, life happens, but responsibility remains. If an officer truly cannot attend, he is responsible for a substitute and notifies the Master in advance. This culture of preparedness ensures the ritual proceeds smoothly and teaches accountability to newer Brothers. If you’re an officer, you show up early and ask the Worshipful Master if there’s anything he needs.
9. Education nights rotate through history, symbolism, philosophy, practical skills, and even physical well‑being. A presentation on the navigation stars might be followed next month by a workshop on mindfulness. Such range reminds Brothers that Masonry aims at the complete man: mind, body, and soul.
10. The perfect lodge practices philanthropy without trumpets. Scholarships, food‑bank deliveries, and help with utility bills are offered discreetly. The beneficiary’s dignity is preserved, and the community quietly learns that Masonry stands ready to serve.
11. My perfect Lodge has a responsive website, active social channels, and perhaps a monthly podcast that allows the lodge to reach seekers where they are. Digital tools also keep far‑flung Brothers connected, share minutes and education, and broadcast upcoming events without spamming inboxes.
12. This Lodge should provide every new Mason a single Brother charged with guiding his early journey: answering questions, checking on progress, and ensuring he never sits alone. This one‑on‑one model forges friendships and prevents the common problem of new members drifting away.
13. The Lodge organizes regular visits to nearby Lodges and hosts return visits with warmth and ceremony. Traveling breaks routine and exposes Brothers to different traditions, while hosting deepens pride in one’s own lodge.
14. My Perfect Lodge has lighting that is dimmed or brightened, music chosen carefully, and even moments of total darkness employed to highlight specific points in ritual. Such sensory cues elevate the candidate’s experience from mundane to memorable. Remember, to the Candidate, the ritual is a radio play, not a TV show.
15. A perfect Lodge guards the West Gate: A man who would not thrive in the lodge environment is politely directed elsewhere. In my  perfect Lodge, membership remains selective, not from snobbery but from respect for the obligations that bind us. A handful of engaged Brothers is healthier than a roll of names no one recognizes. My pefect Lodge is in charge of making good men great and not projects.
16. Progression through degrees is paced to allow genuine absorption. A candidate may spend months mastering the ritual meanings, participating in events, or attending study circles before petitioning for the next step. Understanding outranks speed.
17. In any perfect Lodge, if the lodge cannot guarantee a meaningful experience every month, it might meet quarterly, with each gathering planned like a miniature Table Lodge complete with ritual, education, and formal toasts. Too many Lodges meet twice a month even though they can only be prepared to meet once a month.
18. A perfect Lodge cannot be held down because of an outdated, hard to maintain building. Rent instead of own real estate can become an anchor. Renting a suitable space frees the treasury from hidden repair costs and property taxes, redirecting resources to programs that benefit members and community. A perfect Lodge knows when it’s time to give up their outdates Lodges and instead, moves to a meeting area more suited to their needs.
19. The meeting place must be safe, well‑lit, wheelchair‑friendly, and within modest driving distance. Ease of access says, “We thought about you before you got here,” and sets the tone for the evening. Brothers, if you are under age 60, please remember: your time will soon come.
20. A Lodge education program should encourage discussion amongst the Brohers. A perfect Lodge should inspire Brothers to have an active, thought provoking conversation during Lodge.
21. On non‑degree nights, the Master trims business the absolute minimum and hands the gavel to the Education Officer. Learning, not administration, becomes the nightly focus.
22. In a perfect Lodge, all business is kept brief. When significant deliberation is required, a special meeting is called. This honors those Brothers who attend primarily for the moral and intellectual purpose.
23. The progressive line is not automatic. Junior officers are evaluated on performance, commitment, and growth. A Brother may remain in a chair for an extra year if needed, ensuring that when he reaches the East he is truly prepared.
24. In a perfect Lodge, widows and families are remembered. The lodge maintains a calendar of widow birthdays, sends greeting cards, and organizes assistance when needed. Family picnics and holiday dinners remind loved ones that their sacrifice of time is valued.
25. Excellence as habit: whether it is the crisp folding of the flag, the polish on the jewels, or the courtesy shown to visitors, the lodge aims for excellence so consistently that it becomes second nature.

Yes, I’m sure that to achieve all of these is impossible. Maybe if each of our Lodges strives to attend half of them then our own Lodges would be improved upon.

Brothers – if your Lodge isn’t’ doing these, then choose a single item, implement it fully, and then reach for the next. Perfection may be unreachable, but excellence is always within our grasp, and every incremental improvement brightens the light we take back into our families, workplaces, and communities.

P.A.B.