So You Want to be a Grand Lodge Officer?

For those that actively seek a position in the Grand Lodge, I offer the “be careful of what you wish for” advice. Ideally, the office seeks the Brother – not the other way around. Appointment or nomination to a Grand Lodge office should actually come as a surprise to the Brother being so appointed or nominated.

There are many good reasons for this. First of all, seeking an office gives the impression to many other Masons that one is politicking, which is generally looked upon as un-Masonic activity. In addition, in the process of seeking an office, a Freemason can easily find himself in the realm of favor payback if he achieves that which he sought. This can cause a conflict of interest when it comes to decision making. Owing favors can easily cloud one’s good sense of fairness and execution of Masonic law.

As for “being careful of what you wish for,” service in certain Grand Lodge offices can be mentally taxing – if one has a conscious. It seems that this hits many Grand Lodge officers like a pile of bricks once their term comes to an end. I experienced this first hand and other past Grand Lodge officers have related the same to me. Trust me – it is not a pleasant feeling.

There is no doubt about it. Serving as a Grand Lodge officer is a great honor, however, it carries significant responsibility. It is a burden that no one should actively seek. The burden should seek the man. If one is Grand Lodge materiel, then the burden will find him.