Youngstown is among 10 cities chosen for a unique, one-day membership event publicized on the Web

Youngstown is among 10 cities chosen for a unique, one-day membership event publicized on the Web site.
By LINDA M. LINONIS
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
WORTHINGTON -- Faced with a long-term trend in membership loss, the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Ohio decided not to play the part of a once-great organization. Instead, the leadership decided to try an innovative program and the Internet to generate interest.
Using the instant-information source of our time, the World Wide Web, the organization set up a Web site, www.freemason.com, about two years ago.
"The Web site, by itself, will not create any new membership trends," wrote George O. Braatz, executive secretary of the Grand Lodge of Ohio, in an e-mail response to questions about the organization. "But it is one of a variety of 'tools' to help the fraternity change with the times, particularly in the area of communications, and to allow us to relate to a whole generation of young people."
The Web site also is publicizing a unique event planned for April 27. That's when one-day classes to become a Mason are planned in 10 Ohio cities. The sites are Akron, Cambridge, Canton, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Steubenville and Toledo and Youngstown.
Traditionally, new members participate in three progressive initiation ceremonies, or degrees, that teach lessons in character improvement. Usually the process has taken two weeks to two months. That was before. This is now.
Spreading the word: The Grand Lodge is using the one-day initiation as one way to spread the word about the Masons. The program has been held in other states, and the Grand Lodge adapted the concept for Ohio use. Braatz admitted members have mixed feelings about the new idea. He said most lodges are looking at the one-day event with "much enthusiasm" but conceded that some more traditional members are opposed.
The event has a goal of 5,000 new members to bolster the 129,000 membership in 570 local lodges in Ohio.
Howard Bodine, executive secretary of the Scottish Rite at the Youngstown Masonic Temple and secretary of Western Star Lodge 21, said that information about the one-day initiation event is being spread by members via word-of-mouth, though some people have visited the Internet site.
Local lodges: The Youngstown Masonic Temple will be the place where candidates converge from area lodges. Bodine noted that prospective members still must petition the individual lodges for memberships, go through the screening process and have a recommendation for membership before the April 27 event. "We don't know exactly how many people will go through the process yet. It's too early to tell," he said.
"We need to attract more members and keep up with the times," Bodine said. "We're in competition for people's time, but many organizations are experiencing the same thing."
Mixed emotions: G. Edward Humphrey, master of Western Star Lodge 21, said he is anticipating 15 candidates going through the process. "I'm excited about it," he said, "but I also have mixed feelings. You see old traditions maybe going by the wayside. That's hard to see. But I'm for getting new people involved."
He also mentioned the time element. "People don't have the time they used to spend on (social and civic) organizations." So organizations face the challenge of coming up with new ways to pique the interest of would-be members. "Change is inevitable," Humphrey said.
Gary Brant, past master of Sulgrave Lodge 696, said his lodge has one candidate, so far. "I think it's good," he said of the initiation event. "We're living in fast times and groups have to keep up."
Brant said the one-day event will give a general idea of the principles of Masonry and may not be an intensive as the lengthy process. He sees it as a "positive thing" that will help the Masons' overall membership. Over time, the new members will gain more knowledge.