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            Masonic Clearing House: What? Why?

                 by Allen E. Roberts, FPS

[The brief item about a "Masonic Clearing House" has brought in several
comments and questions. This is an attempt to answer some of them.]

A disclaimer. An egotist I am not (at least I hope I'm not)! At no time
have I ever believed I have ALL the answers to any question, proposal or
proposition. No one man ever has all the answers, although there are those
among us who truly believe they are infallible. There is nothing on which
a team working together cannot improve. So it is with this proposal .

The "wheel" was invented at the dawn of history. It revolutionized motion,
industry, and just about everything that came before it, and would come
after it. Wise men improved on this crude wheel continually. The wisest of
these men didn't waste time and money to reinvent the wheel--they worked
to improve it!

Within Freemasonry we have some of the wisest of men. We also have some of
the most egotistical. The latter aren't interested in improving on what
has been accomplished by others; they insist on "proving" they are more
intelligent than their predecessors. What they are proving, of course, is
that they are not as brilliant as they think they are.

On the other hand, many leaders are truly interested in enhancing the
image of the Craft. They have spent an uncountable number of hours working
on formulas to accomplish this goal. Little do they realize that over the
past two centuries others had done the same thing, and often with a great
deal of success .

For example: In the 1960s the Grand Lodge of Virginia had an excellent
group of men working in the field of Masonic education. In the early '60s
they developed a weekend workshop for Lodge officers, District officers,
and Grand Lodge officers. They realized that continuity was all important.
They were determined to achieve it. And they did. (Were they the first? I
doubt it.) Their results were made known throughout the Northeast
Conference on Masonic Education. Did other Grand Lodges adopt the plan?
No. Was it widely reported?

In 1970 I was asked to meet with an education committee and the Grand
Lodge officers in another jurisdiction. Why? Because I had written a book
calling for Freemasonry to adopt the principles of management (Key to
Freemasonry's Growth). And I had started developing a series of films
slanted toward the development of Masonic leadership. When asked, I
suggested this Grand Lodge follow much of what Virginia had done with what
came to be known as "Wardens' Workshops." It did, and it proved most
successful during the years the workshops were promoted. I stressed the
need to give this at least a five year commitment. Few regressions can be
reversed in a year or two.

A year or so ago another Grand Lodge proudly proclaimed it was committed
to something "new" --Wardens' Workshops! It evidently knew nothing about
what had been tried and accomplished within the Craft previously. How many
hours, and how much money, was spent on developing this program I have no
way of knowing.

This is a long way to point out why a Masonic Clearing House (or call it
what you will) could have saved this latter Grand Lodge time, money and
manpower. And this is merely one of many many cases of the early wheel
being reinvented instead of being improved.

Almost 35 years ago I suggested that the Grand Lodges unite to form a
central depository for all information concerning Masonic education and
leadership. This material was to be fully cataloged and be made available
to all Grand Lodges that would contribute material' and finances toward
this "bank." What happened? Nothing.

Was this a new idea? Nope. The fellow a couple of thousand (or so) of
years ago who started the first library deserves the credit. So do the
thousands who followed him to build and furnish other libraries. Then
there are those who created specialized archives for specific professions.
Libraries are excellent sources for a wide range of information. But
except for the most avid researcher, the range is too wide. So, the
specialists improved on the wheel's invention .

About ten years ago I again made the same suggestion about a Masonic
Clearing House during an address in another educational conference. This
time I went into much more detail. I outlined what I thought should be
done. It was ignored.

During a lengthy conversation, after John Robinson and I became "cussin'
buddies," we discussed this idea of a depository for Masonic knowledge. He
said it was by far the best suggestion he had heard for making Masonic
information easily accessible. John was a marketing genius (I'm not). He
was an advertising expert (I'm not). He said he'd see what he could do. He
was in the good graces of, and was listened to by many within the Masonic
hierarchy (I'm not). So, there was hope.

About this time a fellow was able to convince the "leadership" of a large
religious organization that Freemasonry was evil and should be condemned
and banned. Robinson was called on to fight this latest battle. Although
I have no way of knowing what he and the Masonic leadership discussed,
John did tell me of several plans of defense (attack) that had been
suggested. Because it would take too long to develop a clearing house on
the scope we had agreed should be established, he had suggested they form
a Masonic information group.

A little earlier the leadership of some appendant bodies, and some Grand
Lodges, decided Freemasonry must be renewed. Money was appropriated. A
consulting firm that knew nothing about Freemasonry was hired. Surveys
were made. Plans were developed. Books and booklets, along with videos
were produced.

There was nothing "new" in all of this . Throughout the years, thousands,
perhaps millions, of man hours had produced far better Masonic material at
no cost, or but little, to Freemasonry. Knowledgeable and dedicated
Masonic educators had presented excellent data for others to use to
enhance Freemasonry. Educational Conferences the Midwest, Northeast, Four
Corners

Grand Masters, Grand Secretaries, and others for fifty or more years had
made concrete suggestions, and all for free!

But, the improvements made to the "wheel" (Masonic education and lead-
ership) have been buried! This is the problem that must be solved.
Dedicated Masonic educators have been "spinning their wheels. "

Now, how can we stop reinventing this wheel? By seriously developing and
promoting a Masonic Clearing House. By having a depository for everything
that has been written concerning Masonic education and leadership.
Yet, having a depository isn't enough. This information must be easily
available. As every businessman knows nothing can be sold or utilized if
it's not known that it's accessible.

I'll go into this availability in more depth in another article. For the
present let me suggest that the Masonic leadership find a location for
this depository. One where there is plenty of room; where a top-notch
computer operator is available an operator who is knowledgeable about
Freemasonry as well as electronic communication. It will be necessary to
index and cross-index all material available. It must be readily
accessible via telephone, fax and modem. It also must be available on
computer disks, video tape, and CD disks.

This information must be distributed at cost to those Grand Lodges and
other bodies that contribute to the clearing house. Nothing developed to
improve or enhance Freemasonry should be a profit making product for the
contributors.

So, where will the money come from to pay a fair salary to the supervisors
and workers in the depository, and for the necessary tools to accomplish
the purposes? From Grand Lodges and appendant bodies that are truly
interested in working for the Craft.

It can be done! IF the Masonic leadership has the will to do it.
   To Be Continued