A core theme of the episode was the importance of early and comprehensive planning for a successful Masonic year. Worshipful Brother Rivas revealed he began planning his “trestleboard” (a strategic plan) as a Junior Steward, looking seven years ahead. He emphasized that this plan, which Justice Columbia Lodge now develops every three years, is a “living document” that adapts to the lodge’s needs and ensures continuity for future leaders. Worshipful Brother Freeman similarly started his planning as a Senior Warden, drawing inspiration from visits to other lodges and conversations with past and sitting masters. Worshipful Brother Ouellette, driven by a “perpetual fear… of failure due to lack of planning,” began mapping out his year in April 2024, nearly a year in advance. He highlighted the importance of defining an “end state” and reverse-engineering the plan, identifying leaders, and involving them as committee chairs.

The Worshipful Masters also shared their perspectives on what constitutes a “win” in their roles. Worshipful Brother Ouellette defines a win as having visiting brothers express strong appreciation for a program, with some even wanting to affiliate with the lodge. For Worshipful Brother Freeman, a significant success has been the return of absent members to Hiram Takoma Lodge, spurred by a “call log” initiative where every brother was contacted. He recounted a particularly touching instance where a brother returned and brought his father, both of whom have been consistently attending since. Worshipful Brother Rivas emphasized that a true win is about “collective growth,” where brothers feel heard, valued, and find their voice within the lodge, leading to a natural desire to participate.

The conversation also touched on balancing tradition with innovation. Worshipful Brother Rivas noted that while core traditions and rituals must be preserved, the lodge’s culture should allow for new ideas. He cited the example of incorporating a “Gerald Ford Table Lodge” and a trip to the Smithsonian Planetarium alongside traditional events. Worshipful Brother Freeman highlighted Hiram Tacoma’s history as a “festive lodge” and his efforts to restore that balance between education and fun, including innovative programs like a rum-tasting event that fostered personal connections.

“My best advice and recommendation to every future master and any sitting master that hasn’t done this, speak with your junior warden, speak with your senior warden, plan three years ahead of what our junior warden is gonna look like when he’s sitting in the East and have that momentum keep pushing forward to drive success for the lodge,” advised Worshipful Brother Derek Rivas. Worshipful Brother Jesse A. Ouellette added, “What defines what leadership is in masonry is how we take the Masonic values that we’re taught in this society of ours and we spread it throughout the community”. And Worshipful Brother Ed Freeman underscored the importance of inter-lodge support: “Unlike previous years, in a recent memory that I remember, the 2025 sitting Worshipful Masters across this jurisdiction (Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia) have made a concerted effort to support one another”.

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Bro. Gorham, a close friend and Brother, shared his long-standing interest in the play. His journey with the play began through a fellow Brother, Major West, in his district, the Noble 9th Manhattan. The play, while not canonical Masonic ritual, offers an “interesting look into the background of especially Jubalum.”

Bro. Arce highlighted that the play is not part of standard Masonic work or ritual, making it openly discussable without revealing any secrets. Instead, it enriches the understanding of the Hiramic Legend by exploring the inner world of Jubalum, particularly his internal dialogue with his conscience. Bro. Gorham finds this conversation “actually really familiar,” drawing parallels to his own daily introspection and personal growth. He sees Jubalum not just as a villain, but as an “exemplar of a person” we can find commonality in the ongoing work of self-improvement, even outside of Masonry.

The conversation also touches upon the broader implications of the play, particularly the concept of Justice. Bro. Gorham introduces two types: “distributive justice,” which Jubalum sought in terms of opportunity and reward, and “retributive justice,” the punishment for his wrongdoing. This dichotomy, he explains, “rings true in this play,” highlighting the tragic clash between perceived entitlement and deserved consequence.

Ultimately, “The Defense of the Ruffians” serves as a “cautionary tale” that delves into themes of perceived injustice, entitlement, and the consequences of unearned gain. Bro. Gorham encourages a deeper look into the play, suggesting it can inspire “a deeper look within our ritual and ourselves.” He believes Jubalum’s inability to correct himself stems from his self-centeredness and a lack of belief in anything beyond his own universe. This fascinating exploration of a non-canonical work provides a rich opportunity for Masons and non-Masons alike to ponder universal questions of morality, ambition, and the true meaning of deserving.

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The Significance of the “Lost Word”

Brother Schick begins by drawing a parallel between the historical “Mason’s Word” and the concept of a “lost word” in Freemasonry. Historically, stonemasons developed a secret word or cipher system to communicate about labor costs and working conditions, especially during times like the plague when skilled labor was scarce. This secret allowed them to aid each other and maintain fair practices. If a master mason died before the annual communication, the word could be lost, severing that vital communication.

Allegorically, this “lost word” represents a disconnect from the divine. Just as the operative masons lost communication without the word, we, as speculative masons, can lose our “grand communication” or communion with the divine. The pursuit of this lost word, and the subsequent “regaining of the word” in higher degrees like the Scottish Rite and Royal Arch, symbolizes our journey to re-establish that connection.

Divine Madness and the Proofs of Moses

A fascinating concept introduced is “theomania,” or divine madness, as described by Plato. In antiquity, hearing voices or experiencing wonders, like Moses at the burning bush, wasn’t necessarily viewed as mental illness but as a divine gift and an opportunity for profound transformation. This “ecstasy”—being “out of your normal mind”—can lead to beneficial outcomes for an individual or their community.

Moses’ demand for a “name” and “signs” serves as a crucial test to discern genuine divine communion from mere delusion. The revelation of “I am that I am” and the secret four-letter name of God, the Tetragrammaton (Yod-Heh-Vav-Heh), are presented as proofs of legitimate divine communication.

A Legacy of Transformation

Brother Schick emphasizes that the story of Moses, ubiquitous even among those who aren’t religious, speaks to a transformative divine communion that profoundly changed history. Moses’ initial feelings of inadequacy, coupled with his eventual cooperation with his brother Aaron, serve as a model for Masons today.>

Just as Moses and Aaron, with their diverse skill sets, brought about great transformation, so too can Brothers in a Lodge, by working together on community projects, create meaningful change. The story of Moses, therefore, is not just a historical or biblical account, but a timeless allegory that inspires Masons to understand their journey, embrace personal transformation, and collectively impact their communities.

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In this Craftsmen Online Podcast episode, RWB Michael Arce discusses what constitutes effective leadership, exploring whether leaders are naturally inclined or developed through experience and training. He highlights key elements of leadership, including the importance of communication, vision, delegation, and receiving feedback. Bro. Arce emphasizes that successful leadership is often learned through observation and mistakes and underscores the crucial role of understanding and engaging with the people being led. He specifically connects these leadership principles to practices and roles within Freemasonry, advocating for a greater focus on leadership development within lodges alongside traditional areas like ritual and history.

RWB Arce’s insights on leadership themes:

• Defining Leadership: The source explores the question of whether leaders are born, made, or a combination of both, arguing for a combination. It emphasizes that observing poor leaders can be a valuable learning experience.
• Leadership in Freemasonry: A significant portion of the discussion focuses on how leadership manifests within Masonic lodges, particularly through the progressive line of officer roles and the transition into leadership positions.
• The Transition to Leadership: The speaker highlights the changes that occur when someone moves into a leadership role, including physical changes (attire), how they are addressed, increased responsibility, and exposure to information beyond the average member.
• Key Responsibilities of Leaders: The briefing outlines several core responsibilities of leaders, such as leading from the front, motivating others, clear communication, and project management

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Setting the Historical Stage: Perceptions and Precedents

Ruli emphasized that every generation often feels it’s living in the most divisive times, a notion quickly dispelled by a look back at history. “I don’t think, I think it has been a pretty crazy couple of decades since 9-11. I’ll say that. I think that’s probably the most certainly for my generation, the Millennial generation, that is absolutely the Pearl Harbor of the events of that.” He highlighted the ebb and flow of economic and social shifts throughout American history, from the Gilded Age to the Civil War, and the early 19th-century economic crashes.

A key theme was the shifting perception of history itself. Ruli noted, “Our perception, and this is an issue in Masonry, our perception is we’ve been taught something, we assume that that is accurate and true. And then as we grow up, we find through education, through experiences, through perhaps just living life, that we find that the things that we’re taught were not necessarily true, or perhaps there’s a shift or a turn or a tinge that’s off.” He views Freemasonry as an undercovered “arm of American history.”

George Washington and the Whiskey Rebellion

The discussion kicked off with Brother George Washington, the most famous Freemason and the nation’s first president. Washington’s decision to use a large militia to quell the Whiskey Rebellion in 1794 was a pivotal moment. Ruli explained that Washington knew “everything he would do would set a precedent moving forward.” He also noted that Freemasonry’s principles were “very fashionable, it was very hip, it was very modern” at the time, attracting respectable gentlemen who contributed to public welfare.

On the issue of presidential pardons, initiated by Washington, Ruli pointed out that criticism was inherent, regardless of the decision. “Even George Washington had detractors, right? Even, Harry S. Truman had detractors. Whoever the best presidents, know, of course, obviously Lincoln had his own distractors.”

Manifest Destiny and the Charge of Citizenship: James K. Polk

The conversation then jumped to James K. Polk, the 11th president and also a Freemason, known for popularizing the concept of Manifest Destiny. While Masonic lodges emphasize being good citizens and respecting the law, Ruli argued that Manifest Destiny is not inherently a Masonic idea. “Where in Masonry does it say we must accumulate all of our resources? We must… contribute, we must pool our resources together, we donate 10 % of our income to the Lodge, we must have Masonic buildings, we must have all of these things. There’s nothing in Masonry that says about the idea of wealth generation, of political generation, certainly of political capital. There is nothing in Masonry that explains this. There’s nothing that validates it.” He concluded, “Manifest Destiny is based on Masonic principles, because to me it’s inherently a political action. And what do we say? Don’t get involved in politics, and yet, be a good citizen.”

The Power of Pardon and Quiet Engagement: Gerald Ford

The podcast concluded with Brother Gerald Ford, the only man to serve as president without being elected to the office, and his controversial pardon of Richard Nixon. Ruli believes Ford, a product of a Masonic family, embodied a “Masonic politician” trying to balance contemporary views with traditional practices.

Ford’s statement that his pardon aimed “to change our national focus” and that the American people “have a long record of forgiving even those who have been our country’s most destructive foes” resonated with Masonic principles of reconciliation. Ruli stated, “I think that level of reconciliation is important in Freemasonry. I’ve seen it personally. I’ve seen situations where we could make a big deal about this, but maybe we don’t. And maybe we find ways to privately deal with this. when we do privately deal with it, it turns out to be the best thing to do.” He emphasized the “benefit of quiet engagement, of engaging with brothers quietly,” a skill learned through the Masonic journey, particularly in the First Degree which emphasizes silence and listening.

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