Page 3 - Keystone Summer 2019 Issue 3

Visiting—DPGM Tony Guthrie

VISITING
It’s something that regular attenders at Lodge Meetings, be it Mark, Craft,
Royal Arch or any other order hear on a regular basis; “The lifeblood of
Masonry”, “an essential part of Masonry”, “if you’re not visiting other Lodges
you’re missing out”, does it sound familiar? We hear it so often at Toast Time
that perhaps the message has become a little lost and the words almost
become meaningless.
Certainly during my travels around the Province and beyond, I hear many
Masons extolling the virtue of visiting other Lodges whilst Proposing or Responding to the Visitors
Toast and there is no doubt, absolutely none, that visiting is an essential and very enjoyable part
of being a Freemason. It enhances Masonic Education, widens the Social Circle, promotes better
and increased Lodge attendances and improves the understanding of the ritual, particularly for
those who may not actually watch a Ceremony on a regular basis (as opposed to being directly
involved which, by definition will usually have a tendency to narrow one’s perspective).
Whichever Lodge you may decide to visit, the welcome will always be warm and the experience
will no doubt be very enjoyable. So if that’s the case, why aren’t there more visiting Masons?
Many Lodges host fraternal visits to Sister or Daughter Lodges and other Lodges with whom there
is some sort of affiliation. There are also initiatives at Provincial Level to promote visiting. In the
Mark we have the Travelling Keystone, the travelling Ark in the Ark Mariner Degree, Craft has
adopted the Travelling Trowel, Royal Arch the Somerset Sceptre and so it goes on. But for those
of you who have attended a Fraternal Visit, or a Travelling Keystone Visit, or a Provincial
Fraternal Visit or indeed any other organised visit I’m sure that you will have noticed that,
predominantly, it’s the same faces you encounter over and over again and whilst their company is
always very enjoyable, wouldn’t it be nice to see someone out and about whom you haven’t seen
visiting before?

If you take a look at your Lodge Membership list I’m sure you’ll find many names on there who
you may not see on a regular basis at your own Lodge Meetings, and many more again whom
you don’t see visiting other Lodges. Of course not everyone may have the time to spare for any
additional Lodge Meetings. Some may be unable to for reasons of work, ill health or other
personal reasons but I’m certain that throughout the Province, and beyond there are many
Masons who would find the experience enjoyable, and one that, once experienced they would
wish to repeat regularly.
Now for the difficult part then, how do we convert these “non-visiting Masons” into avid Visitors?
The current tools, the Provincial Visits, Travelling Keystones and the like play an important part
but think back to when you were first Initiated or Advanced. Some of us are very fortunate to have
already known many of the Masons with whom we have just joined but for those who aren’t, the
experience can be quite daunting. Proposers and Seconders play an important part here along
with Mentoring of course but I think we should be doing more, both individually and as an
organisation to promote and enhance visiting. Members in Lodges could be organising visits,
perhaps a nominated visiting representative could be teaching the newer Members about the
perks of visiting, the protocols of visiting, how to go about introducing yourself to a different
Lodge, using the Reference Book to aid your travels, the website and perhaps most important
making sure that any visitors received into the Lodge are indeed made to feel welcome and want
to return.

There is no doubt, in my humble opinion that visiting is indeed a wonderful part of Freemasonry,
particularly Mark Masonry. If you’re not visiting other Lodges and you can spare the time to do so
I would implore you to try it, I’m convinced that you will find it immensely enjoyable and rewarding.
Finally, the next time visiting gets mentioned at a Meeting that you happen to be attending, ask
yourself these two questions; When was the last time I visited another Lodge, and when was the
last time I invited someone to my own Lodge Meeting?

Summer Issue 2019 Page3