RW Michael Arce sat down with Bro. Garrett Pottmeyer on the Craftsmen Online Podcast. Bro. Garrett serves as the Senior Warden and Lodge Education Officer of Grants Pass Lodge No. 84 in Oregon. They discussed how to fix Lodge education. Good education gives Light to the Brothers. Bad education feels like a dull chore. Every single Lodge faces this issue today.

The Trouble With Routine Readings

Many Lodges struggle to keep Brothers active. This problem happens because of poor education. Too often, a Brother reads text straight from a book. He speaks in a flat, monotonous voice. This routine repetition ruins the promise of the Craft. Brothers check out mentally when education is just a task on a list. Lazy habits kill the excitement of the meeting.

Bro. Garrett wants to change this pattern completely. New Brothers join our fraternity to find truth. They want a clear path to improve their character. Dull readings destroy their initial drive. True Masonic education must move past old theories. It must become a real search for meaning. We must engage the mind of every Brother in the room. The WM must support this effort from the East to make it work.

Brothers do not want long white papers. They do not want dense historical essays. They want real life proof that Masonry works. Good education provides those proof points clearly. It shows that our symbols have real power to change lives.

Lessons From Classic Masonic Writers

Bro. Garrett found great ideas in classic books to build a better system. He reads W. L. Wilmshurst, who wrote "The Meaning of Masonry." He also reads Kirk MacNulty, who wrote "Working the Way of the Craftsman." Both authors show that Masonic symbols are blueprints. They guide internal growth and self-improvement.

Bro. Garrett uses these books to connect ritual with daily life. Our ceremonies are not just historical plays. They are practical guides for living. This method requires trial and error. It creates a strong, steady plan for the Lodge. Brothers learn to look at old symbols with fresh eyes. The Past Master who sits on the sidelines can also share his years of wisdom during these talks.

Apply the Tools Every Day

The discussion focused on how to use symbols daily. Bros. Michael and Garrett talked about giving old tools a modern purpose. They discussed the 24-inch gauge as a prime example. In the first degree, Brothers learn that this tool measures time. The real lesson teaches balance.

A Brother improves his life when he divides his day correctly. He must balance labor, service, and rest. Bro. Garrett gives the Brothers Masonic homework. Brothers must practice the lesson during the week instead of just memorizing words. Finding balance is hard for the modern man. The 24-inch gauge makes it simple.

Lodges that use this method see a 100% increase in participation. Brothers gladly pay their dues because they see the immense value of the experience. The education is worth more than a $1000 seminar. It changes how a man carries himself out in the world.

A Plan for Lasting Growth

Fixing a Lodge takes time. Bro. Garrett treats this change as a long journey. It requires patience and consistency. Lodge leaders must expect some ideas to fail. Failure is a natural part of the process. Leaders must stop the lazy habit of reading words without context.

High-quality education changes the entire Lodge. The Lodge becomes a strong center for the community. Brothers become better fathers, better husbands, and better citizens. This active growth is the true purpose of our meetings. It builds a bond that bypasses normal distractions. The Lodge grows stronger because the Brothers are truly united.

Bring the Light Home

Brothers must share these lessons with their families. A spouse should know why the Lodge matters. A Brother builds a strong trust relationship at home when he shares his good intentions. Support increases when the family sees the positive impact on his character. The work inside our sacred space changes our daily lives for the better.

Insights From the Speakers

Both Brothers shared powerful ideas during the talk.

"The deep promise of the Craft gets lost in the routine repetition of words without an exploration of their meaning."
— Bro. Garrett Pottmeyer

"The take-home is key, some sort of Masonic homework, some sort of application to bring old things into daily life."
— RW Michael Arce

Conclusion

Masonic education must never be dull. Focus on practical action. Read deep philosophy. Involve the family. These steps make a Lodge thrive. Bros. Garrett Michael show that the tools of the Craft make life easier. When we find balance, the rest of life runs smoothly. Every Brother leaves the meeting eager to return next time.

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Masonic Lodges operate as volunteer organizations. Elected officers cannot command performance through salary or professional leverage. True leadership in this environment requires a deep understanding of human character, clear communication, and structured execution. The United States Marine Corps relies on a time-tested leadership philosophy that translates seamlessly into the context of a Masonic Lodge.

The Foundation of Character: Leadership Traits

The Marine Corps instills a core group of fourteen leadership traits from the first day of training. Marines use the mnemonic acronym JJ DID TIE BUCKLE to remember them: Justice, Judgment, Dependability, Initiative, Decisiveness, Tact, Integrity, Enthusiasm, Bearing, Unselfishness, Courage, Knowledge, Loyalty, and Endurance. These traits define the individual character of a leader.

In Freemasonry, these traits align with the ongoing work of self-improvement. They serve as benchmarks for a Brother as he works to shape his rough ashlar into a perfect ashlar. A Worshipful Master can use these fourteen traits to gauge his own conduct and to scope educational programs for his Lodge. True leadership begins with personal accountability and moral alignment.

The Execution of Authority: Leadership Principles

While traits define who a leader is, leadership principles define how a leader acts. The Marine Corps teaches specific principles that ensure the welfare of the team and the success of the mission. Key principles include knowing yourself and seeking self-improvement, setting the example, keeping your team informed, and ensuring the task is understood, supervised, and accomplished.

One of the most vital principles is to know your men and look out for their welfare. Translated to a Masonic Lodge, a Master must know his Masons. He must understand their backgrounds, professions, passions, and limitations. By recognizing individual skill sets, a Master can delegate responsibilities effectively. Placing a computer programmer in charge of the Lodge website or a photographer in charge of social media ensures high engagement without overextending the volunteer.

Disaggregated Leadership in the Lodge Room

The Marine Corps relies on the concept of disaggregated leadership. This framework empowers lower-level small unit leaders, such as corporate-level sergeants or corporals, to execute the overarching intent of higher command if the leadership chain is broken. Every Marine understands the ultimate goal, enabling seamless continuity under stress.

A well-run Masonic Lodge functions the same way. If a Worshipful Master includes his Senior and Junior Wardens in the annual planning process, the entire line understands his vision. If the Master falls ill on a meeting night, the Wardens can step in and run the communication effectively. Disaggregated leadership builds confidence throughout the progressive line and ensures the Lodge achieves its operational objectives without dependency on a single individual.

Strategic Planning Frameworks: BAMSIS and SMEAC

Successful Lodge management requires structural discipline. The Marine Corps utilizes specific operational steps to plan and execute tasks. The acronym BAMCIS represents the troop leading steps: Begin planning, Arrange for reconnaissance, Make reconnaissance, Complete the plan, Issue the order, and Supervise.

A Worshipful Master can apply BAMCIS to organize his upcoming Masonic year. The planning begins months before installation. Arranging and making reconnaissance involves contacting vendors, booking venues, and securing guest speakers. The Master then completes the plan, puts it on paper, and issues it to the brethren as the Trestleboard.

The final letter in the framework, the S, stands for Supervise. This is the most critical phase in a volunteer organization. Brethren are busy with careers, families, and external obligations. Without consistent, respectful supervision from Lodge leadership, administrative tasks easily fall by the wayside. Leaders must follow up regularly to ensure execution matches the original design.

To communicate the plan clearly, leaders use the five-paragraph order known as SMEAC: Situation, Mission, Execution, Administration and Logistics, and Command and Signal. Whether welcoming the Grand Master or conducting a degree, breaking down the event into these five distinct paragraphs ensures total clarity. It outlines who is in charge, what the contingent plans are, and exactly what success looks like.

The Decision Cycle: The OODA Loop

When unexpected issues or contentions arise during a meeting, a leader must process information quickly. The OODA Loop represents the continuous decision-making cycle: Observe, Orient, Decide, and Act. A leader observes the immediate stimulus, orients himself by considering the cultural or personal contexts of the individuals involved, decides on a course of action, and executes the decision. In a Lodge setting, this structured thinking allows the Master to adjudicate disagreements calmly, maintaining fraternal harmony within the West.

Conclusion: Serving the Institution

In the Marine Corps, promotion signifies a recognition of future potential rather than a reward for past performance. The focus remains entirely on the preservation of the institution, not the individual. Freemasonry demands a similar perspective. While the Masonic path involves an internal journey of self-discovery, leadership within the Craft is an act of pure service to the collective brotherhood. By applying structured principles, clear communication, and deliberate supervision, leaders can build an active, harmonious, and enduring Lodge.

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On this episode of the Craftsman Online Podcast, host RWB Michael Arce welcomed three Worshipful Masters: Ed Freeman (Hiram Takoma Lodge No. 10), Jesse A. Ouellette (William R. Singleton Hope Lebanon Lodge No. 7), and Derek Rivas (Justice Columbia Lodge No. 3). This marked the first time the podcast featured three guests simultaneously. The discussion centered on strategic planning and leadership within Freemasonry, offering unique insights from each master's experience.

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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On this episode of the Craftsman Online Podcast, host RWB Michael Arce sits down with RWB Don Gorham, Grand Tiler of the Grand Lodge of New York, to discuss "The Defense of the Ruffians", a thought-provoking one-act play by Bro. Thomas B. Davis. This discussion offers a unique perspective on the motivations of the "ruffians" in Masonic lore, moving beyond traditional interpretations to explore deeper psychological and moral dimensions.

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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Have you ever wondered about the deeper meanings behind the biblical stories woven into Masonic degrees? In a recent episode of the Craftsman Online Podcast, Worshipful Brother Nathan Schick, a Master Ritualist and Lecturer under the Grand Lodge of Arizona, sheds light on the profound connections between the story of Moses, ancient mysteries, and Freemasonry. His insights reveal how these timeless narratives serve as allegories for our personal and Masonic journeys.

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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