About Us

VISION/MISSION/STRATEGY/ORGANIZATION

VISION

The world is awaiting the renewal of Hope. Hope that each human’s life will result in a successful existence that contributes a legacy of improvement to society. Hope that individuals once again accept responsibility for their own actions and responsibility for steering their own lives toward success. Hope for the civility of neighbor to neighbor and brother to brother. Hope that we all profoundly understand our meaningful place in the Cosmos within the single Being from which we have all sprung. This Hope resides in the principles, tenets, and practices of Freemasonry, but is concealed by mankind’s diversions of the material world. The Masonic Builders have a dream.

One day, humankind will act as brothers. One day each man will recognize that his true success in life is not measured by material accumulation, but by how well he has developed his God-given potential and then provided service to others.

One day, Freemasonry will be renewed and recognized as being the ancient preserver of these values and now is the place where men can go to regain this wisdom and implement it in their lives and the lives of others.

The Masonic Builders believes that through dedicated and systematic EDUCATION, One Day can be achieved. Through a three-fold strategy The Masonic Builders will energetically work to lead the restoration of the general body of Freemasonry to the place of prominence it once held.

How? The Masonic Builders has one focus: Building Masonic Leaders. By infusing effective leaders throughout Masonry, our Lodges will once again flourish and accomplish the true mission of Masonry - which in our humble opinion and belief is to: Build a Better Society by Building Better Men and Preparing and Charging them with their responsibility to Model Masonic principles in all walks of their lives. The Masonic Builders' Mission/Purpose and Strategy is discussed below.

MISSION/PURPOSE

Why does the Masonic Builders Exist? The mission/purpose is clearly integrates with that of general Freemasonry but is somewhat more specifically focused. While the mission/purpose of general Freemasonry is to improve society by building better men, The Masonic Builders is dedicated to assisting general Freemasonry in attaining their mission by building Better Masonic Leaders who then lead better Masonic Lodges toward Freemasonry's mission and purpose. The Masonic Builders mission/purpose is reflected in its motto: Building A Better Masonry By Building Better Leaders ©

The Masonic Builders are Mainstream Masons. The motto of The Masonic Builders reflects a mainstream and general Freemasonry mission/ purpose that was succinctly stated by several great Masonic thinkers in the past including:

1. Brother Melville Rosyn Grant, 33 Degree, and Sovereign Grand Inspector General in Mississippi in his 1916 book, True Principles of Freemasonry, wrote: "Freemasonry is a great Fraternity, whose aim is to widen, make richer, and more worthy, the lives of its Initiates, and through them the character of the State and the Nation (Grant, 1916, p. 104)."

2. Brother Oliver Day Street wrote in his 1922 book, Symbolism of the Three Degrees: "It should never be forgotten that Masonry is not a reform society, it is not a relief society. Its original and primary purpose was and still is to take men who are already “good and true” and, building on that foundation, to make of them men of such perfect minds and characters as will encourage others to follow in their footsteps (Street, 1922, p. 93)."

Return to Top of Page

STRATEGY

The Masonic Builders achieves its Mission/Purpose through a Three-fold Strategy developed in the Builders' Curricula: Discover, Develop, and Disseminate Masonic Leaders (The 3-D's):

1. Discover Potential Builders

The Initiate Forum - Curriculum I - (Click Here for More Information)

This Cu provides intellectual stimuli that allows potential Builders to "Knock-on-the-Door" of their own free will and accord. In other words, potential Builders will Self-Identify. This basic Masonic Education will attract both potential Masonic Builders (those wanting to deeply immerse themselves) and other Brothers who simply are seeking Masonic education opportunities. We welcome both to this monthly four-part workshop series.

We hope that this first taste of Masonic Builders' education (Initiate Forum) will attract new Masonic Builders to join us. We will primarily target new recruits in the 21 to 40 age group cohort (secondarily in the 41 to 60 and 61 to 80 cohorts). However, we welcome all interested Masons to become Builders since young in chronological age doesn't necessarily mean more commitment - the Committed, Fire-in-the-Belly Mason is who we are looking for.

No one disagrees that the Fraternity needs younger men to fill the demographic gap of our membership distribution, thus The Masonic Builders will specifically nurture the new Brothers.

We will aim to do what Masonry claims it does now: to make good men better men. Through a reconstituted and rededicated educational effort and targeting these newest Masons, our Lodges will again become dominated by Brethren who will Walk-the-Talk. They will practice the principles of Masonry in all areas of their lives. And, by their example, induce other Brethren to do the same.

2. Develop Builders

After they have tasted the Initiate Forum education and once they have self-identified and voluntarily joined as Builders, there are opportunities for Masons to develop strong team-work skills and Leadership skills. Our purpose in developing Masonic Leaders is to help them rise in the officer-ship of our Lodges and hopefully guide Lodge management improvement.

TheTeam-Building Forum - Curriculum II - (Click Here for More Information) - Allows the Builders, scattered in Lodges throughout the state, to come together and form Special Interest Groups (SIGs). SIGs are small groups with similar special interests - These special interests may all be affinity through profession: lawyers, accountants, police & fire, military, etc. It may be affinity through hobbies: hunters, golfers, etc. Affinity by come from other like interests. Specific affinities will strengthen team-building and bonding.

These SIGs are like smaller clubs within the larger body of The Masonic Builders. SIG discussion groups are set-up on the web to facilitate virtual communication. Of course, these SIGS may plan to physically meet periodically.

Quarterly the total Body of The Masonic Builders will physically meet -an opportunity for fellowship among the entire body. And, there will be a general electronic discussion site for the total membership.

Team-Building is further strengthened by annual overnight retreats at our camp (shared arrangements with the Rainbow Camp) located near Flagstaff, Arizona. This is a type of Outward Bound bonding experience - a quasi boot camp - where physical exertion and mental exercises take place in an environment free of distractions from everyday life.

The Leadership Development Forum - Curriculum III - (Click Here for More Information)

Part One - Personal & Professional Leadership Principles (PPLP) is concerned developing leadership skills at a personal level - skills that are also transferable to the Professional Level: Writing & speaking skills, team-building, management, etc. that are transferable to the individual Mason's workplace. Thus, work here will pay off for his career advancement as well as help him be a better Masonic Leader.

Part Two - Commitment to Excellence - Leadership/Management/Planning is a personalized training program in Strategic Planning and Leadership. It incorporates the formal program now operating as a separate Grand Lodge Service - Commitment to Excellence (CE).

Masonic Builders who are in a position to rise in Lodge leadership are schooled in CE principles. When Masonic Builders do assume Lodge leadership (Dissemination phase of the Masonic Builders), they are prepared to immediately improve their Lodge's organizational effectiveness and efficiency using CE methodologies.

3. Disseminate Masonic Leaders.

Building a Better Masonry By Buildings Better Leaders is the major focus of the Masonic Builders. Thus, not only are we interested in accomplishing this by improving the Leadership of each individual Lodge, but also in identifying and helping rising Masonic Stars to be recognized at the Grand Lodge Level.

While there is no Curriculum corresponding to this objective, The Masonic Builders will provide Grand Lodge with a respository of potential rising Masonic Stars. We envision that Grand Lodge will at least take a look at our successful Builders and consider them for Grand Lodge testing in committees and other assignments.

Dissemination of Builder Talent is a major objective. Brethren who are graduates of The Masonic Builders will be known have been exposed to the solid Builder curricula. They will be versed in Masonic education as well as leadership skills. They will know each other and share a common culture of excellence and a commitment to restoration of Masonry. Committed and talented leaders will attract like kind. They not only will model Masonic behavior, as leaders they will increasingly gain the power to demand and enforce adherence to Masonic principles. Additionally, as elected officers and Past Masters, they will have increasing influence within Grand Lodge.

Additionally, it is hoped that a successful Masonic Builders model proven in the state of Arizona will inspire of Grand Lodge jurisdictions to adopt a similar program.

Return to Top of Page

ORGANIZATION

The Masonic Builders is an organization composed of dedicated Masons who are committed to educating and developing other Masonic Leaders who in turn will lead and restore Freemasonry to its former health. This revitalized and healthy Masonic fraternity will once again return to its primary mission of developing Masons who will model Masonic principles within the larger Society. As a result, Masonry will once again become, be restored, and be seen as a major influence for Societal improvement. Quantity and Quality Membership concerns will vanish as the Fraternity once again provides valuable service to the world.

The Motto and Purpose of The Masonic Builders:

Building a Better Masonry By Building Better Leaders.

Organizational Authority The Masonic Builders is a Limited Liability Company (LLC) within which voluntary members gather and cooperate as a Masonic Club (Complying with Arizona Masonic Code, 2/2004 Section 60). The voluntary members operate as a Special Interest Group while the legal structure organizes itself to be able to attract and reinvest resources in order to accomplish its mission. We are not a new Masonic body. We are not officially sanctioned by the Grand Lodge of Arizona, however the current Grand Lodge leadership has been informed of our existence and efforts. Our purposes are the same as the larger Masonic World and voluntary membership as a Builder requires concurrent Masonic membership, in good standing, in a regular Grand Lodge jurisdiction.

It is important to stress, that the Grand Lodge of Arizona does not directly operate The Masonic Builders. The Grand Lodge must not single out any group of Masons for special attention. Operating separately from the Grand Lodge, The Masonic Builders is free (as a separate body) to focus on a vital resource needed for Masonic Restoration - Up-and-coming rising Masonic Leaders.

The LLC legal structure will permit The Masonic Builders disseminate its work to other Grand Lodge jurisdictions - This will operate similar to a franchise company that maintains standard products/services (in our case standard curricula and resources) and, at the same time, permit motivated Masons in other jurisdictions to build a Masonic Builder operation. NOTE: general Masonic Builder organizational structures would be similar in each jurisdiction but modified for the Masonic differences found in each jurisidiction.

Organizational Structure. Our organizational structure combines the models of an Academic University and that of the Building Trades. This reflects our educational purpose and our purpose of active building. We modestly have begun operations within the geographic territory encompassed by the Grand Lodge of Arizona. With success in Arizona, we hope to replicate our structure within the geographic territories governed by other Grand Lodges..

The University of Masonic Builders – Chief Architect is top officer – Worldwide Grand Lodge geographic territories. The University is governed by a triad of: Chief Architect, Associate Chief Architect, and Assistant Chief Architect. Regional Chief Architects coordinate groups of colleges.

he Arizona College of Builders – Architect is governing officer– State or Country Grand Lodge is geographic territory. The College is governed by a triad of: Architect, Associate Architect, and Assistant Architect. Regional Architects coordinate groups of schools.

The State Regional Schools of Builders – Superintendent is governing officer – Lodges within a state region is a geographic territory. The School is governed by a triad of: Superintendent, Associate Superintendent, and Assistant Superintendent.

The Curriculum Departments – The title of Foreman is given to the designated teacher, facilitator and coordinator for each of the three curriculums taught by The Masonic Builders. Currently, there are three Curricula: The Initiate Forum, The Team-Building Forum, and The Leadership Development Forum.

Note: All students as well as, officers are known (On-the-Level) as Builders. Formal titles (mentioned above) only designate their responsibilities.

LEAVING A LEGACY TO THE WORLD

New masons who decide that they want to make a commitment to and help restore Freemasonry will form a group of men who will dedicate themselves to becoming Masonic Leaders. These Leaders will Restore Masonry to achieving its Mission: Building Better Men who Build a Better Society/Community. Thus, these new Masons will leave a legacy for the betterment of the world. What better way to spend a life!

Return to Top of Page