Freemasonry has evolved over time. Read as Sovereign Grand Commander Walt Wheeler, 33°, discusses the need for adaptation and how we can ensure our Brotherhood thrives for generations to come.
Sovereign Grand Commander Walt Wheeler, 33°, reflects on how Freemasonry has evolved over time, and what innovative practices can secure the future of our Craft.
My journey as a Freemason began in 1977, a year when I was also part of a vibrant bowling league with my new bride, Vickie. Both hobbies fostered camaraderie among friends and neighbors. Unfortunately, bowling leagues, like Freemasonry, have endured steep declines in membership in the last 50 years.
Evolve or Turn in Your Bowling Shoes
While the popularity of bowling leagues may be on the decline, bowling as a hobby of mine has endured and evolved. The more formalized bowling leagues of yesteryear gave way to centers serving as gathering spaces for people from all walks of life to enjoy a cold beer, celebrate a birthday, or even memorialize a lost friend. The focus shifted from bowling as a formalized sport to bowling as an approachable hobby that people of all ages could enjoy. As the proud owner of a bowling center in Michigan that has remained a successful business venture for over 30 years, I witnessed this transformation first-hand.
Sovereign Grand Commander Walter Wheeler, 33°Just as bowlers adjust their stance and approach for a perfect strike, we as Freemasons also must adapt and ensure that our storied organization remains relevant in the future. Some Valleys’ gathering spaces have changed, and we have embraced technology with Rite on the Road to help bridge the gap.
Perhaps a growing number of Brothers in your Valley are younger professionals who can’t easily get to a weeknight event. That’s where our ever-popular Thursday Night at the Rite online degree presentations fulfill a need. Those programs only skim the surface of the ways that we can embrace technology, and the Supreme Council continues to explore other digital avenues. From perfecting a degree presentation by leveraging AI (artificial intelligence, for older folks) to embracing TikTok like our friends within the Scottish Rite Southern Jurisdiction, the possibilities are endless.
The Member Journey: Forging New Paths
No matter what technologies we embrace, the light of our Craft remains as bright as it was over 300 years ago. That is why our Brotherhood endures. Still, we need to take a long, hard look at our membership processes and assess whether they still work for us.
In the 1980s, joining my lodge required a significant fee of $100 (a pretty penny in the 1890s!), while annual dues were just $5. It’s disheartening to know that now, thousands of men leave our Fraternity each year due to financial barriers.
We have historically seen dues as a means of maintaining the organization, but we need to rethink this approach. Think about the thousands of men that we kick out of our Fraternity every year because they didn’t pay their dues. To me, that’s a sin; it means we failed. When we’re losing Brothers out the back door, that’s on us.
Maybe we need to look at a scenario where you pay a fee, and you become a member forever – like a prepaid lifetime membership. Imagine the countless hours and tens of thousands of dollars every year we would save by not having to track down dues.
A Shared Destination
With over a full year as your Sovereign Grand Commander in my rear-view mirror, a significant lesson I have learned is that while we may not all see eye to eye on any particular issue, we all want our organization to thrive. Just as bowling joins people together to share laughter and camaraderie, Freemasonry offers a path to connect, too. United, we can rekindle that spirit of togetherness, extending our bonds beyond the walls of our lodges and Valleys into the very fabric of society.
The future of our Fraternity rests with us. Journey On, my Brothers.
Walt Wheeler
This article originally appeared in the Fall 2024 issue of The Northern Light.