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MW Brother Jason Jefcoat, Grand Master of MWPGM Brother James Ratchford, of Alberta,
Mississippi, said it this way: “I truly believe that right said: “As we progress through our Masonic career
now the single biggest problem we as a fraternity face we will have many opportunities to take on di erent
is a lack of leadership. Leadership is not about a title. o ces, with di erent roles and responsibilities. We
It is about doing what we say we will do and keeping sometimes accept these without really understanding
our word. It is not about being popular. It is about the duties associated with the o ce. However, we are
accomplishments. What have we accomplished? expected to be able to ful ll all the obligations of that
o ce. If this scenario sound familiar, you should not
Harry Truman said, “Men make history and not be surprised to hear that some of you should have said
the other way around. In periods where there is no “no” to accepting the o ce.
leadership, society stands still. Progress occurs when
courageous, skillful leaders seize the opportunity to is problem is particularly serious at the Worshipful
change things for the better.” Master or the Most Worshipful Grand Master level. We
have many people who, because of their personalities,
MW Brother Jefcoat continued: “News ash, should not be pushed to through progression to o ce.
getting elected or appointed to an o ce is not an We have seen members pushed because there was no
accomplishment. It is only an opportunity. Too many one else to take an o ce.
times, we witness members who are installed to an
o ce, and their only accomplishment is showing up. e right thing would be to either accept the
shortcoming of a Brother or advise him not to
As long as I have been participating in Congressional take o ce or continue in a progression. It is the
Schools and attending Grand Lodge, I have heard responsibility of every member to carefully and
about membership numbers declining. To the Master thoughtfully select those who will lead, direct, and
Mason that has never had the opportunity to see how nurture the health of a Lodge and Grand Lodge.
grand we remember our former Masonic Temple, this
is the equivalent of the old men crying at the laying of “My Brethren, lack of leadership, is the downfall
the foundation stones. of every organization. It is the responsibility of each
member to recognize their strengths and weaknesses,
Fifty years ago, we had 50,000 Master Masons in to better enable them to assist the management of
our great State. Many of you were not only alive; you growth of our Lodges, Districts, and Grand Lodge.
were active members of our fraternity at this pinnacle
of our Masonic history. ink about everything you If a Brother desires to become a leader in any area
have witnessed throughout your Masonic careers. I of the Craft, then how do we train them? Is it done
believe that in many ways, we have witnessed the by just going through the chairs? at is the usual
destruction of our rst Masonic Temple. progression, but Brethren that is an error on our part.

Freemasonry tomorrow probably will not look like George Tootoosis, portraying Cecial Delaronde said,
the Freemasonry some of us remember. e days of “leadership is about submission to duty,” and I agree,
attending Lodge for the sole purpose of conferring but leadership is also a duty to our membership, our
degrees are over. roughout the majority of the Lodges our Districts and the Craft in general.
twentieth century, our Lodges were conferring so
many degrees that we forgot there is much more to Remember we are all leaders, but not necessarily
Masonry than degree work. Our members today care Masters of our Lodges (or of Grand Lodge). We have
much more about Masonic Education. Today’s new a duty to every Brother in our Grand Lodge to know
Master Masons are in general, more educated. Most ourselves and know the limits of each other so that we
have at least some college. ey are starving for the may become a true and faithful servant to our beloved
fellowship and the light we have promised. ey will Craft.”
not continue to come to our meetings to vote to pay
the bills, read the minutes, and go home.”

Leadership is about Submission to duty Not
elevation to power.

Montana Freemason Page 23 July 2019 Volume 95 No. 5