1. The Art of Presiding

The first principle of successful presiding is to use authority without any one being conscious, of it !

2. Bro. Bring A Friend

Brother Bring a Friend Night was a vehicle which was employed by Ancient Craft Lodge #943, Rochester, NY, in its desperate days when the Lodge faced the real choice of survival or death. The program is now utilized annually because it is fun and provides a constant potential source of new candidates.

3. Creating Interest

To create interest is like building a structure; first, you must lay a good foundation. Consequently, to create interest in Masonic affairs, the foundation should be the newly-raised Master Mason.

4. Freemasonry & Religion are Compatible

Freemasonry is not, in and of itself, a Christian organization. Rather, it is one that numbers among its members many who are Christian. One of our great strengths is the ability to accept those of differing faiths into our fellowship

5. Innovations

"You admit that it is not in the power of any man or any body of men, to make Innovations in the body of Masonry

6. Leadership is Expected & Respected

One of the most irritating and disconcerting things during any Masonic meeting is when two or more Brethren on the sidelines get into a sotto voce discussion. It's even worse when one of them is hard of hearing. When this happens during degree work, it can throw off even the best of ritualists. We've all seen - and heard it happen.

7. Lodge Courtesies

Conventions are the rules which society makes for itself, without the force of law, by which its members live together with the least friction. It is not a sin to eat with one's knife or to keep one's hat on in the house. But these are not "good form" or good manners.

8. Masonic Clothing

How did the Ancient Craft get its distinctive dress? Whence the apron, collar, jewel, raiment? Why do we put so much emphasis on being "properly clothed"?

9. Masonic Manners

Much conduct in lodge is governed by tradition, Custom, and usage, with no force of law to enforce or penalty for infringement. Masonic manners, like those of civilized society, are rooted in the dictum that conduct which makes for the comfort and pleasure of others is good.

10. Masonic Philosophy

Because the human soul is akin to God, and is endowed with powers to which no one may set a limit, it is and of right ought to be free. Thus, by the logic of its philosophy, not less than the inspiration of its faith, Masonry has been impelled to make its historic demand for liberty of conscience, for the freedom of the intellect, and for the right of all men to stand erect, unfettered, and unafraid, equal before God and the law, each respecting the rights of his fellows.

11. Motivating Lodge Members In Masonic Activity

MOTIVATION is the word. It is hoped this paper will create interest, debate, discussion, and possibly even a good argument, whereby together we may begin to see the light that surely appears at the end of a dark tunnel through which our Craft seems to be traveling.

12. Our Most Valuable Asset: Friendship

Freemasonry has many facets which have attracted men of good will of every race, religion, political view, and social position into its ranks throughout the world for many years.

13. Response to Critics of Freemasonry

From Northern Ireland to Iran. from the Middle East to the United States, religious extremism is a growing force throughout the world.

14. Sugar Coating Masonic Education

HOWEVER improper curiosity may be as a principal motive for applying for the degrees, it is probable that no man ever passed through the West Gate for his initiation as an Entered Apprentice without an eager desire to know "what will happen next ?"

15. The Master's Hat

How many times do newly raised brethren ask the question, and how few of the brethren interrogated can give a satisfactory answer!

16. The Powers of the Worshipful Master

The incumbent of the Oriental Chair has powers peculiar to his station; powers far greater than those of the President of a society or the Chairman of a meeting of any kind.

17. To Set the Craft to Work

No statement of the Worshipful Master's duties is more familiar (or more comprehensive) than the oft-repeated phrase of our title.

18. What do you know about Masonry?

GENERAL MASONIC QUESTIONS

19. What's your Answer?

A Mason is sometimes asked by a friend, a neighbor, or a business associate, "What do the Masons do?" The question may be worded more generally, "What are the Masons?"

20. Who Leads the Leader?

What is effective leadership? Who provides Lodge leadership?

21. A Year's Program

This is a true story. It is the report of a Masonic educational program carried out in 1964

22. An Action Team In Action

Just before closing John Blair Lodge No. 700 in its last meeting of the summer, Bro. Hugh Jones spoke up when Worshipful Master Dick Smith asked if any brother had anything to offer.

23. Attracting Masonic Leaders

… in most Grand Jurisdictions, we find year after year an alarming loss in membership.

24. Charter-Warrant

Among several meanings of the word "warrant", the Standard Dictionary gives the following: "That which gives authority for some act or course; sanction; authority."

25. Dare to be Different

Thoughts on increasing Lodge Attendance

26. Due Form

All Ritual is fortifying. Ritual is a natural necessity for mankind.

27. Formula

Lodge Member Who Would Be An Officer

28. Freemasonry & Religion

Freemasonry is not, in and of itself, a Christian organization. Rather, it is one that numbers among its members many who are Christian. One of our great strengths is the ability to accept those of differing faiths into our fellowship.

29. Freemasonry's Nuts & Bolts

While Freemasonry is a beautiful system of morality, it has its fraternal machinery, made up of many component parts including nuts and bolts.

30. From Left to Right

FOR some of us nothing in Masonry is more impressive than its very first rite, after an initiate has told in whom he puts his trust. It may be easily overlooked, but not to see it is to miss a part of that beauty we were sent to seek.

31. Ideas & Leadership

Leadership! This is the key to Freemasonry's growth.

32. Increasing Lodge Attendance

THERE are few more vexatious problems which the Worshipful Master has to meet than that of increasing the attendance in a lodge in which the members have to some extent, at least, lost interest.

33. Introductions

Dictionaries define the word introduce at much length.

34. Masonic Etiquette

Although Etiquette (Masonic or otherwise) is something that most of us practice at all times, it is a subject that we, as Masons, should review in our minds and hearts from time to time.

35. Masonic Investigation

This essay addresses itself to all Freemasons but more particularly to the Worshipful Masters of all regular Lodges and to those members of the Lodge who are, from time to time, honored by assignment to Investigative Committees.

36. Masonic Public Relations

37. Masonic Ritual as an Education

There was a time when the multitude made paths to the door of the man who made the best mouse-trap.

38. Masonic Titles

The words "worship" and "worshipful" as used in Freemasonry have no connection with their modern meaning of glorification, idolization, deification.

39. Masonic Education for Sojourning Masons

In a discussion on the subject of Masonic education for sojourners, we need, first of all, to determine what the word "sojourner" means.

40. The Future of Masonic Education

This Short Talk is not "a prediction of things to come". Nor is it a suggested program of Masonic education for constituent or Grand Lodges to adopt.

41. The Master as Manager

What are management tools?

42. The Relationship between Lodge and Grand Lodge

The relationship between constituent Lodges and their Grand Lodge is extremely important. A view from New Zealand

43. The Wardens Columns

One of the most frequently corrected errors in lodge procedure is the failure of a Warden to raise or lower his column appropriately.

44. Veiled in Allegory

In the examination before Passing, Masonry is said to be "a beautiful system of morality, veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols."

45. Thomas Webb

To evaluate the position any Masonic leader has held in the affairs of the Fraternity in the United States, or to place the importance -of his labors as compared with any other, is at best a thankless task which results in little if any good.

46. Well Informed Brethren

In the Charge of the first degree of Freemasonry as printed in the manual in many Grand Jurisdictions is the phrase "At your leisure hours, that you may improve in Masonic knowledge, you are to converse with well-informed brethren, who will always be as ready to give, as you will be ready to receive, instruction."

47. Why Didn't They Advance?

Why do candidates fail to advance after becoming Entered Apprentices?

48. Masonic Funerals

This is an open letter to clergy of all faiths concerning "Masonic Funerals."

49. Lodge Leadership

In far too many of our lodges, there is no effective leadership.

50. EGO

All-too-frequently we hear of Masonic leaders being on an "ego trip."

51. Lodge Visitation

A Privilege

52. Masonic Responsibilities

I have been speaking on this subject for over forty years.

53. Motivating the Mason

As A Private Citizen

54. Rule and Guide

In an ancient collection of Jewish literature appeared a statement by a teacher who lived some 2000 years ago, who was not very well known, and about whose real identity there appears to be some doubt.

55. Stemming the Flow

Most Grand Jurisdictions, if not all, are concerned with the loss of members.

56. The Office of Chaplain

The office of Chaplain was instituted in the early years of English Speculative Masonry.

57. Jack The Ripper

Efforts to link the infamous Jack the Ripper murders of 1888 to Freemasonry are nothing new.

58. Conducting A Funeral

Following is one version of the Masonic Graveside service used in Louisiana.  There are several variations designed to be used in case of bad weather or if the service is held in the funeral home, church or other location.