“I saw your car in the parking lot. Boy, can I use your help.” Although he stopped at this combination gas station and sandwich shop each day for lunch, the Lodge’s Master was enormously relieved to find The Old Webmaster inside. They’d met here accidentally many times as it was a favorite of both but today the meeting was not simply fate. The Old Webmaster had deliberately planned to be here at just this time.
“I noticed that your e-mail last night wasn’t received very well in some quarters.” The Old Webmaster said quietly while continuing to survey the many candies he shouldn’t be eating. The Master’s angst arose from a stern rebuke he’d received just a few hours ago from one of the ‘pillars of the lodge’, a long-serving member who’d been Master several times during ‘the lean years’ and had also served a term as District Deputy Grand Master.
The Master nearly erupted: “Damn it, I explained what I wanted to do at the last meeting. It’s really pretty simple. We’ve got a bunch of new guys coming in. They need stimulation. They’re clamoring to learn the ritual. I want them to know that they’ll be able to perform those parts once they learn them. Heck, Brother Adams does a great job but he’s been doing that same charge for umpteen years. He did it when I joined and he’s still doing it. It’s time we got some new blood in there. I explained this whole thing at the end of the last meeting. If he’d been in the room, he would have heard it.”
The Old Webmaster looked back at the candy display in order to allow the Master sufficient opportunity to breathe after this outburst. Clearly the man was shaken – a good sign it would seem. Had the Master been more callous – or furious - about the matter, The Old Webmaster’s planning might have been for naught.
“I really like these Milky Way Midnight bars. How about you?” The exasperation on the Master’s face showed clearly but he held himself in check. There always seemed to be a purpose for such questions. Was the man trying to be a Taoist or something? He could never quite figure it out.
“You want me to say that I’ve never had one, right? Or maybe you want me to say that I like the traditional one better….” The Old Webmaster turned to him and smiled slightly. The point had been made.
“You did know that Brother Adams had volunteered to help out in the kitchen because a Steward wasn’t feeling well, right? I just assumed that you had spoken with him about this well before you broached the idea in Lodge.”
“Oo…” The Master stopped short. He’d thought that Phil had just left to go outside for a cigarette as was the man’s custom towards the end of the meeting. It suddenly became clearer why he’d reacted so badly to the e-mail the Master had sent to the entire lodge membership last night explaining the way he’d be assigning ritual parts for the balance of his term.
The Old Webmaster resumed his scan of the candy array as he spoke. “Brother Adams has been doing that particular charge – as you said – for an awfully long time. When his wife died just before you joined, he threw himself into Masonry to help him deal with her loss. He went to meetings for miles around primarily to have supper just so that he wouldn’t have to eat alone. Did he want recognition for the good ritual he delivered when called to fill in at these meetings? You bet! It was, after Shirley died, the only thing in his life – the only time people talked to him it seemed. It was either going out to lodge and chatting with the guys or sitting alone in a cold, dank house. With a simple e-mail you’ve taken about the only thing he had away from him. I can see why he reacted as strongly as he did to your e-mail. He’s angry and hurt – and he probably doesn’t realize fully why it bothers him so much.”
There was a long pause. The Master picked up one of the Milky Way Midnight bars and stared at it intently.
The Old Webmaster watched – and then continued. “Look, Worshipful: I know what you want to accomplish. It’s certainly laudable and makes perfect sense for the Lodge. But Brother Adams has a lot to give us still even though his time of relevance is quickly passing. My opinion….” The Master stepped forward in order to look him squarely in the eye. It was quite rare that The Old Webmaster was so direct, nearly always encouraging members to think for themselves.
“My opinion…” he repeated “is that you should call him on your cell phone right now, apologize for perhaps causing a problem – and I’d say it in those terms because, sadly, his reaction has added to this – and tell him that you’d like to meet with him down at the Lodge Hall tonight to talk things over. Tell him you’re sorry and that you hope he’ll agree. He might hesitate at first and you might feel uncomfortable apologizing for something that you know in your heart is ultimately done for the best interests of the lodge but why not bring EVERYONE along on this and not leave someone shattered along the way? That’s my two cents at least.” A pause. “Remember, though: this is NOT some Past Master trying to run the Lodge or telling you what to do.”
The Old Webmaster had spoken sensibly and the last few words were unnecessary because the Master knew in retrospect that he’d erred badly. Staring at the candy bar he was still holding, it occurred to him that some day he might be in Brother Adams’ shoes. Having himself become the go-to guy for the Emblems lecture, he’d be crushed if one of his successors decided to replace him – and yet he’d done this to another Mason, by e-mail no less! Damn! He owed any Mason more than that!
“But how do I get the new Brothers motivated to do ritual if he’s going to continue doing a premiere piece that everyone longs to do?” It was a quandary the Master had pondered as he approached his term. Now he wished he’d talked with some of the Past Masters before sending that e-mail…. Maybe this could have all been prevented.
“It’s a thorny problem…” said The Old Webmaster “but I’m willing to bet that if you and he talk this through you’ll find common ground. In the process, you might want to think about something major to task him with – and you can also put him in charge of the mentoring program for the Brethren who want to work on this. We’ve talked about a new building for a long time now. Perhaps you’ve found the Fundraising Chairman? And I think I know Brother Adams well enough that when he sees the enthusiasm and eagerness of these newer members, he’ll relinquish his position and retire to the sidelines with fatherly pride. He’s up for his 50 year pin later this year, you know: ask him how he’d like to celebrate the occasion.”
“Don’t buy all of these!” the Master said, setting the candy bar back down. “Leave a couple for me. Right now, though, I need to step outside and make a phone call.”
The Old Webmaster looked longingly at the Milky Way Midnight bars as the Master rushed outside. He wondered how many he could sneak into the house….
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