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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We recently sat down with Bro. Sean Moody on the Craftsmen Online Podcast. Bro. Sean is a traveling Brother whose mother Lodge is in Florida. He moved to the Washington, D.C. area and began visiting local Lodges to find good food and make new friends. Online, hundreds of thousands of people know him by the name Seanald Connery. He creates videos that show us "regular people" how to handle daily issues with computers and websites.

Learning the Craft in a Broken Building

Bro. Sean started his path in Freemasonry back in 2013. His experience shows how the fraternity brings different men together as equals. The Brother who taught Bro. Sean his lessons was completely homeless at the time. This coach was a highly respected Mason who lived on an air mattress inside an old, burned-out restaurant. Bro. Sean would bring snacks and drinks to the empty building, and they would sit together for hours to study the ancient words. This early experience taught Bro. Sean that the true value of a Brother does not come from his wealth or his house.

,Becoming the Tech Robin Hood

Bro. Sean never expected to find fame on the internet. Six months ago, he filmed a short video showing a simple way to fix a frustrating website error. The video quickly went viral and got 6 MILLION views. Since that day, Bro. Sean has gained more than 850,000 followers across his online profiles. On some days, he gained as many as 450,000 new followers at one time. People started calling him the Tech Robin Hood because he shares his knowledge freely with everyone.

Bro. Sean does not make complicated videos for computer experts. He keeps his lessons simple so a child can understand them. He shows people how to remove annoying web advertisements, skip past ticket scalpers, and unlock features on their devices. He even shared a unique opportunity where regular people can buy a small share of real dinosaur bones from an excavation project. His videos give everyday folks a little bit of help when dealing with massive companies.

A Second Chance at Life

Bro. Sean carries a deep sense of positivity because of a major health scare from his past. Seven years ago, a medical doctor told Bro. Sean that his liver was failing. The doctor gave him only five years left to live. Facing death forced Bro. Sean to look at the world with completely new eyes. He chose to change his habits, quit drinking completely, and focus on what truly matters in life. His body healed entirely, and he treats every single day as a beautiful gift.

This near-death experience taught Bro. Sean to live with deep gratitude. He does not let small daily worries cause him stress or anxiety. RW Michael noted that facing a major crisis can give a person a clear sense of meaning. Bro. Sean encourages other Brothers to stay positive, even when times get tough, because your mind guides your energy.

Why Modern Scrolling Protects Ancient Secrets

In college, Bro. Sean was a philosophy major. He loves to look deeply at how people view reality. He believes that Freemasonry holds the deep wisdom of the ancients. Many people worry that the internet has exposed all the secrets of the Craft. Bro. Sean disagrees with this fear. He explains that regular internet use has ruined the human attention span. The average person today can only focus on something for about eight seconds, which is less than a goldfish.

Because people scroll so quickly through videos, they no longer have the patience to sit down and study deep truths. The ancient secrets stay safe because modern people do not want to put in the hard work required to understand them. In the past, a man had to work for free for years just to learn how to make shoes from a master craftsman. True knowledge takes time and effort to obtain, and quick internet clips cannot replace real study.

Leaving the Daily Grind Behind

Bro. Sean used to hate riding the bus to a standard nine-to-five job every morning. He felt exhausted and trapped by the routine. Today, he manages his own time by mixing video production, real estate work, and his online channels. He often spends between 10 and 20 hours working on a single video. Some special projects take three weeks of continuous effort to finish.

Bro. Sean values his freedom more than a steady paycheck. He likes waking up without feeling guilty about the time. He believes that working out of love instead of fear allows a person to think clearly and focus on their dreams. His online followers can support his work through a special page called Patreon, where members can pay a small fee of $5 or $20 to see his videos one week early. This system allows him to keep creating helpful tools for the public while staying free from the daily grind.

In the end, Bros. Sean and Michael remind us that fellowship and a curious mind can completely change your life. By focusing on gratitude and helping others, any Brother can find true happiness.

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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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