THE BUILDER JULY 1929

How to Organize and Conduct a Masonic Study Club on the Round Table
Discussion Plan

By BRO. HERBERT HUNGERFORD

Help to Make These Pages a Real Forum for Discussion

All brothers interested in any phase of Masonic Education,
especially those who believe in fostering the Masonic Study Club
movement are invited to send criticism, comments and, particularly,
practical suggestions for furthering this movement. Those who are
willing to help organize Round Table Discussion Groups or other
Masonic Study Clubs in their Lodges or their districts are invited
to send for Membership Blanks, etc., which will be supplied free of
cost.

Address:
HERBERT HUNGERFORD
General Campaign Manager,
The Masonic Study Club Campaign 
Harrisonburg, Virginia.

YOU must first be prepared in your heart by having a sincere and
enthusiastic conviction of the benefits that your Lodge and your
fellow-members will derive from a Round Table Study Club. If you
are simply luke-warm towards the idea, merely thinking that it
might be a good thing, it would be far better if you do not attempt
to start a Study Club. A halfhearted attempt to form a club among
your brethren would be doomed to failure at the outset. Unless you
are filled with contagious enthusiasm for the project and go into
it with a zealous determination to carry it through to a successful
conclusion, it would be a mistake for you to start anything. If you
think that you can give the idea a little push and leave it to go
ahead on its own steam, you have the wrong notion regarding the
Study Club movement.

When you yourself have a clear vision of the benefits each of your
brethren will gain through his study of the history, symbolism and
principal teachings of Freemasonry, and when you appreciate the
advantages your Lodge will derive from having more members who are
better educated in the fundamentals of Freemasonry, you will not
have the least difficulty in obtaining all the cooperation and
support you need for organizing a Study Club in your Lodge.

You must realize, of course, that our Round Table Study Club
program is not another auxiliary Masonic association. It is not a
side-line or a diversion from regular Lodge activities. On the
contrary, when rightly understood and properly organized and
conducted, a Study Club should be regarded as a regular and
essential feature of the program of every live Lodge. The time will
come, we hope, when it will be the usual custom for the Master of
each Lodge to appoint an Educational Committee, similar to the
Entertainment or Finance Committees, the principal purpose of such
Educational Committee being to assist the Master to encourage and
promote Masonic education through Round Table Study Club programs
and in various other ways.

After you have caught the vision of the good that will be
accomplished among your brethren and in your Lodge, the next step
is to secure the support and enthusiastic cooperation of the Master
of your Lodge. Providing you present the project properly, so that
the Master will see that, instead of competing against or
interfering with other Lodge activities, a Round Table Study Club
is bound to stimulate increased interest in all other Lodge
affairs, you will have little difficulty in persuading the Master
to back up your endeavors. Moreover, a properly conducted Study
Club will help the Master solve one of the major problems of many
modern Lodges, namely, how to discover, develop and train the
future leaders and officers of the Lodge. In some Lodges today,
there are officers whose ignorance of the real fundamentals of
Freemasonry is almost appalling.

FIRST SECURE APPROVAL OF THE MASTER

Without the full approval and sincere support of the Master, of
course, there should never be an attempt to start a Study Club in
any Lodge. It will be a rare exception, however, to find a Master
who will not heartily approve and support the Study Club program,
providing its principles have been properly set forth and its
advantages clearly presented.

Naturally, if you bring the Study Club idea to the attention of the
Master of your Lodge, he will be apt to insist upon your accepting
the appointment as Chairman of the Educational Committee. Unless
you feel that you can render better service by remaining in the
background as an unofficial sponsor and guide for the Study Club
project, you should accept the chairmanship. In some cases, of
course, you may find it better to urge the appointment of another
as chairman; but you certainly should stay with the project and
help carry it through to a completely successful establishment.
Simply to take the initial steps of starting the club and then
leaving it to fend for itself would be almost like abandoning your
own baby.

Before any formal announcement is made, after the proposed Chairman
of the Educational Committee has agreed to accept the appointment,
in conference with the Master, a small group of key men for your
Study Club group should be selected, each of whom should be
personally interviewed and interested in the project.

Do not disregard this preliminary personal work, if you wish to
insure the permanent success of your Study Club program. An offhand
announcement of the Study Club idea in your Lodge may arouse some
interest. It may even get some sort of a program started; but, if
you want to build your Study Club plan on a firm foundation, you
must make these preliminary preparations that have been herewith
outlined.

After these necessary preliminaries have been arranged, an
announcement of the appointment of the Educational Committee should
be made in the Lodge bulletin, also announcing that a Round Table
Discussion Club will be organized for those who may be interested.

START SLOW AND GROW SOLIDLY

When the plan is explained at the regular meeting of the Lodge, let
us caution against spread-eagle oratory or too much emphasis of the
project. It is far better to begin with very small groups, each of
whom is sincerely and seriously interested in Masonic education,
than it is to start with a larger group, some of whom have little
or no heart interest in the idea but have come along with the
others through their casual curiosity or chiefly because their
interest has been overstimulated by some high-powered speaker.

At your organizing meeting, steer clear of red tape rules and
elaborate plans and programs. Stick closely to the main issue and
let informality be your guiding principle. A chairman to preside
and lead the discussions and a secretary to send out notices of the
meetings and keep the records are all the officials required. No
constitution and by-laws are needed, as the simple plan of
procedure for conducting each meeting, as presented herewith, will
be sufficient for all practical purposes.

The only necessary expense for each member of the Study Club group
is the small cost of enrolling for membership in The National
Masonic Research Society, which includes a subscription to the
official organ, THE BUILDER, in which each member of your Study
Club group will find full information regarding each course of
study taken up in a Round Table Discussion Program, as well as
other valuable information and aids towards Masonic Study.
Likewise, in THE BUILDER, each Study Club member will find
suggestions and ideas from others throughout the country engaged in
similar activities, which will be a constant source of inspiration
and stimulus for each member to attend regularly and participate
enthusiastically in all the meetings of his particular group.

While there is no iron-clad rule requiring every Study Club member
to enroll in the N. M. R. S. and thus become a regular reader of
THE BUILDER, we feel quite certain that you will find that the
modest sum required for such membership will do more than anything
else you possibly could do to insure the permanent success of your
Study Club program. Bear in mind that membership in the N. M. R. S.
also carries other valuable benefits and privileges, such as the
privilege of obtaining advice and information on any Masonic
subject from a staff of specialists in Masonic Research and
Education, backed by the resources of one of the most completely
equipped libraries of books and pamphlets on Masonic subjects that
can be found anywhere in this country. As you are aware, no doubt,
The National Masonic Research Society, through its official organ,
THE BUILDER, and other publications is the principal sponsor for
the Masonic Study Club movement and devotes its chief endeavors to
the fostering of this movement and the general advancement of
Masonic education.

How to Conduct Round Table Discussion Programs

WE are repeating, in connection with this article, the Topical
Outlines of the Seven Keypoint Introductory Programs for Round
Table Discussion Groups, published in a previous issue of THE
BUILDER.

While we believe that the logical plan of taking up these courses
is to commence with Masonic History, and then to take up Masonic
Symbolism, concluding with Masonic Teachings, there is nothing to
prevent any group from changing this order if it seems desirable
for one reason or another.

The principal point to be kept in mind in conducting every meeting
is that it is a Round Table Discussion, the chief objective being
to have every member participate in the program. If anyone is
permitted to make long-winded speeches, or even if you bring in
well-informed and highly talented speakers outside your group, you
certainly will defeat the main objective for which your Study Club
is organized.

It is admitted that often it is the easiest way to get some good
talker to tell your group what you think they ought to know about
these various subjects; but bear in mind the old tried and true
pedagogical principle, "Telling is not teaching." In a Study Club,
the prime objective is to encourage every individual in your group
to dig out as many facts as possible by his own efforts in his own
way. The job of the Chairman, leader or teacher of the group, is to
inspire, stimulate and aid in this personal study and research. A
good leader will never try to show off his own superior knowledge,
although it must be admitted that too many teachers, even in famous
institutions of learning, sometimes seem to disregard this
fundamental factor.

The big task of the group leader is, first, to get the discussion
properly started and, next, to steer it along right channels, so
that it will not run off into side issues, or get tangled up in a
lot of technical or unimportant details. Likewise, the discussion
must be kept free from personalities and must not be permitted to
become merely the voicing of unbaked opinions and personal
prejudices.


If you permit your Study Club group to become dominated by a few or
to become, in any sense, a "one man affair," you will soon defeat
your own purpose. Make every meeting a genuine discussion of all
possible phases of the subject, viewed from various angles and you
will have no difficulty in maintaining the interest of your group.

The simplest system for conducting each meeting is to have handed
out previously to each member of the group a written question on
some phase of the main topic, with the understanding that each
member is expected to dig up all the facts possible in answer to
his particular question and present his answer at the next regular
meeting. Members should be permitted to write out their answers and
read the same or make notes and present a verbal answer. Also the
same question may be assigned to several members, although it will
be best to confine each member to a single question.

At the meeting, after each question has been answered by the member
or members to whom the question has previously been assigned, a
limited time not more than three minutes should be permitted for
general comment and discussion of that particular question.

After all the scheduled questions have been answered and discussed,
there should be a general discussion covering all phases of the
main topic and including any additional questions that may be
developed during the discussion.

Bear in mind, however, that the subjects of our Keypoint Programs
are so broad that it will be impossible to cover them completely
and exhaustively. Furthermore, the objective of the Keypoint
Programs is to stimulate a desire for further knowledge rather than
to satisfy fully the quests of those who join our Round Table
Discussion groups.

If you exercise reasonable skill in steering the course of these
discussions, you are likely to find that many of your group will be
anxious to prolong the discussions of mooted points. Above all
things do not permit this. In fact, the best possible time to break
up a meeting is when everybody is anxious to have it continue. If
the interest is strong at the close of each meeting, it will carry
through and sustain itself for the next meeting.

In fact, while simplicity and informality should be the general
keynote of your programs, this does not imply any lack of
orderliness or system. Particularly, it does not mean that you
should be informal or irregular as to the time and places for
holding your meetings. In assuring prompt and regular attendance,
nothing carries more weight than having and living up to a strict
schedule for opening and closing each meeting.

The final order of business at each meeting should be assigning the
question slips for the next meeting. Always have plenty of these
slips prepared so that every person present will be given one.

No specific recommendations are made regarding the frequency of
meetings, as this will naturally vary with local conditions. We are
always pleased, however, to answer inquiries on any feature or
phase of Masonic Study. Since our chief endeavor is to encourage
the organization of Study Clubs to aid every club in every way
possible to achieve the highest possible success, we esteem it as
a privilege as well as a pleasant duty to give free counsel from
our experience to everyone who seeks our advice. 

Pointers for Reading Service League District Managers and Other
Masonic Study Club Organizers

FIRST, study the whole proposition carefully and become thoroughly
familiar with the reasons back of the Masonic Study Club Campaign
and the advantages which every Lodge derives and each Study Club
member gains from participating in this program.

Note that a Study Club is not another auxiliary Masonic
association, but should be regarded as a feature of the regular
program of activities of each Lodge which fosters and supports the
Study Club idea. In fact, one of the best ways of forming a Study
Club in any Lodge is for the Master to appoint an Educational
Committee, similar to the Social, Finance and any other standing
committees, the objective of this Educational Committee being to
assist the Master in promoting Masonic Education through Study Club
programs as well as in other practical ways.

The advantages of providing the ways and means for encouraging
Masons, particularly newly-enrolled brethren, to make some further
study of the history, symbolism and principal teachings of the
fraternity, to supplement the somewhat superficial and casual
knowledge they gain from regular ceremonials and the occasional
lectures, are so obvious that most Masters, and others who have the
best welfare of the Craft at heart, will gladly cooperate in the
furtherance of any practical plan and program such as our Study
Club Campaign provides.

The first step, therefore, in starting a Study Club, is to explain
our plans and programs so as to gain the unqualified and
enthusiastic cooperation of the Master of the Lodge. No attempt
ever should be made to introduce a Study Club Program into any
Lodge, unless the full approval of the Master is first obtained.

If possible, as noted previously, you should persuade the Master to
appoint an Educational Committee with a Chairman who is definitely
interested in the Study Club Plan and familiar with its progress.

There should not be too much "horn-tooting" and "whooperup" talks
in getting your Study Club group interested, otherwise, you will
find that the overstimulated interest may die out before the
program gets fairly started.

The best way to bring the Study Club program before a Lodge is to
arrange with the Master to have a Chairman of the Educational
Committee explain the proposition at a regular communication of the
Lodge. There should not be any oratory and very little talking from
those who are not going to take an active part in the program of
the Study Club.

In any Lodge, however, no matter how quietly the Study Club idea
may be presented, there will be a few members to whom the idea will
make instant appeal. These naturally interested brethren will be by
far the best possible nucleus of the group to begin your Study Club
program. Better far to begin with a small group of brethren really
interested and let this group increase gradually than to work up a
big enthusiasm and get a large group to start and then have those
who were simply carried along by the tide of enthusiasm drop out as
soon as this tide ebbs, which, of course, it is bound to do when
you take up the routine work of your Study Club programs.

These words of caution and counsel, of course, are more or less
perfunctory, or what might possibly be called "glittering
generalities." You must be aware, of course, that we cannot hand
you an infallible formula that will enable you to organize a
Masonic Study Club in every Lodge you approach.

Organization work of this kind requires tact, personality and good
judgment on the part of those undertaking it. So the best we can do
is to try to make the importance and value of the Masonic Study
Club movement as clear and plain as possible, offer you a few
general suggestions for introducing the movement in the Lodges of
your locality and leave the rest to your own best judgment.

One point, however, that we wish to impress as strongly as possible
is the urgent necessity that you keep as closely in touch with our
Reading Service League Office as you possibly can, letting us know
just how you are progressing and also letting us pass along for
your benefit our advice on any point that may come up during your
work. As you are aware, our main task is to help you do this
organizing work successfully. We have enjoyed considerable
experience, although we do not profess to know all there is to know
about it. But we do feel confident that we shall be able to aid you
on any matter concerning which you care to consult us.

Seven Keypoint Introductory Programs, Arranged for Round Table
Discussion Groups

MASONIC HISTORY

1-Primitive Origins of Masonic Activities. 
2-Legendary Forerunners of Freemasonry. 
3-Early Records of Operative Freemasonry. 
4-The First Grand Lodges of England. 
5-Beginnings of the Craft in America. 
6-Patriotism, Persecution and Progress. 
7-Historical High Spots of the Past Fifty Years.

MASONIC SYMBOLISM

1-The Origin, Development and Importance of Symbolism. 
2-The Major Symbols of the First Degree. 
3-The Minor Symbols of the First Degree. 
4-The Major Symbols of the Second Degree. 
5-The Minor Symbols of the Second Degree. 
6-The Major Symbols of the Third Degree. 
7-The Minor Symbols of the Third Degree.

MASONIC TEACHINGS

1-The Prime Importance of Character Building Through Self-Denial,
Self-Control and Self-Culture. 
2-A Reverent and Reasonable Faith in the Fatherhood of God.
3-The Practice of Brotherly Love in All Human Relationships. 
4-The Belief Life Is Eternal and the Soul of Man Is Immortal. 
5-The Profession and Practical Exemplification of the Spirit of
True Democracy.
6-The Practice of Universal Tolerance, Unlimited Charity and
Constant Loyalty.
7-The Ultimate Triumph of Truth and Righteousness.

QUESTIONS FOR ROUND TABLE DISCUSSIONS

Subject: Masonic History, 1-The Primitive Origins of Masonic
Activities

1-In what ways do certain Masonic activities cater to inherent
human instincts, traits and desires?
2-In what respects were the earliest social groupings of primitive
man similar to Masonic Orders of the present day?
3-Mention some of the earliest social orders from which modern
Freemasonry may have derived certain characteristics?
4-What are the grounds for the claim that architecture was the
first of all the arts?
5-To what original principles or fundamental factors do you
attribute the permanent growth of Freemasonry?
6-Point out some of the relations between the arts of building and
the development of principles of morality?
7-Trace the origins of modern educational principles and methods
back to the invention and use of tools and implements for
architecture and agriculture and to the employment of Symbols for
communicating ideas.

PRIZES FOR ASKING QUESTIONS

As has been repeatedly urged, we desire to make this department a
real forum, consequently we are anxious to receive comments and
contributions from everyone interested to aid the cause of the
Masonic Study Club Campaign.

First of all, we want our readers to help develop these Round Table
Discussion Programs. To stimulate further interest in this
particular matter, we will award a yearly subscription to THE
BUILDER, either as a renewal or extension of your present
subscription or as a gift to one of your friends, for the seven
best sets of seven questions apiece on any of the topics named in
our Keypoint Discussion Club Programs. As a suggestion regarding
the sort of questions desired, a set of model questions are
presented. Remember, we will award seven annual subscriptions to
THE BUILDER, for the seven sets of questions that our editorial
staff judges to be the best submitted. This contest is open to
everyone, whether subscribers or not. Contributions must be
received not later than Sept. 1, 1929, and announcement of prize
awards will be made in the November number of the THE BUILDER. Send
all entries for prizes to address below.

All brothers interested in any phase of Masonic Education,
especially those who believe in fostering the Masonic Study Club
movement, are invited to send criticism, comments and particularly,
practical suggestions for furthering this movement. Those who are
willing to help organize Round Table Clubs in their Lodges or their
districts are invited to send for Membership Blanks, etc., which
will be supplied free of cost.

Address:
HERBERT HUNGERFORD
General Campaign Manager 
The Masonic Study Club Campaign, 
Harrisonburg, Virginia.
