Bridging the Generation Gaps in the Craft

We recently caught up with Bro. Matthew Brockbank for an episode on the generation gap inside our Lodges and how Brothers can work together across different ages. Bro. Matthew has strong opinions, and he believes it is best to face uncomfortable situations head-on.

An Insightful Lodge Experiment

The inspiration for the conversation came from a unique program at a recent Lodge meeting. A Brother had the youngest Master Mason in the room, who was only 19 years old, sit right next to the oldest Brother, who was in his late 80s. The program compared how these two men talk. The 19-year-old Brother does everything on his cell phone, filming videos and using social networks. The older Brother uses a basic flip phone and prefers to rely on his memory instead of digital images. Even though they seem different, they share a powerful bond because both are Master Masons.

RW Michael described the middle generations, like Gen X and millennials, as the creamy filling in an Oreo cookie. These middle-aged Brothers must serve as the bridge that connects the youngest guys with the oldest patriarchs.

The True Age of a Lodge

Bro. Matthew has visited many Lodges across the jurisdiction. Generally speaking, he finds that the median age in most rooms skews toward 60 years old. This age trend has become more noticeable recently because many older Brothers fell out of the habit of attending meetings after the pandemic.

“We are at the age where we’ve been doing this for 10 plus years. So we’re kind of still physically young, but Masonically old.”
— RW Michael Arce

However, biological age is only half of the story. Brothers must also look at Masonic age. A man can be 70 years old when he takes his first degree, making him a very young Mason in terms of experience. On the flip side, Bro. Matthew joined the Craft at age 21 and has been a Brother for nearly two decades. This mix creates a strange environment where a young guy can be a senior leader to an older man.

Mentoring versus Managing

When disagreements happen, age itself is rarely the real cause. The trouble usually starts when older Brothers try to act bossy under the guise of giving guidance. Bro. Matthew expressed frustration with senior Masons who use their years in the fraternity as a badge of absolute authority. Time spent in a seat does not automatically make someone a good man or a wise teacher. True mentoring requires listening and helping, not barking orders.

“When there are uncomfortable situations, when there is conflict, the best thing to do is just to face it head on and have those difficult conversations.”
— Bro. Matthew Brockbank

Finding the Right Communication Channels

Different generations prefer different ways of sharing details. Senior Brothers love traditional paper bulletins and printed notices mailed to their homes. Younger Brothers prefer digital chat apps and quick text notifications.

Bro. Matthew suggested emailing a digital agenda to the younger folks while printing out a few paper copies for the older crowd. Having a physical paper in hand also cuts down on people staring at screens during the meeting.

The Friction Over Finances

Money is another area where the generation gap shows up clearly. Older Brothers often live on fixed retirement incomes and treat Lodge money tightly. When a Lodge proposes spending $5,000 on a dinner, senior Masons might worry and ask if the group can afford it. Meanwhile, younger Brothers see a big balance in the bank and assume everything is fine.

RW Michael shared an example from his own Lodge where officer aprons were falling apart. The Lodge eventually spent $900 on the project. By putting the oldest and youngest Brothers together on the committee, they found a creative solution: the new aprons included custom pockets on the back to hold cell phones. That combined effort is what Bro. Matthew calls a golden nugget.

“The nugget of gold in this story is that when you have those committees and when you do things like a dinner or buying new aprons, you get the youngest person in the lodge and the oldest person in the lodge in the room together.”
— Bro. Matthew Brockbank

Conclusion

Bridging the gap requires respect from every side. Older Brothers bring decades of knowledge that we cannot afford to lose. Younger Brothers bring the energy and fresh ideas needed to attract the next generation. When we combine their strengths, the entire fraternity grows stronger.

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