Fraternitas. Societas. Fidelitas.

     Hello Brethren, and Happy July!  We have been graced with a mild and wet start to the summer. It has been a welcome respite from the relentless heat and dry conditions we've grown accustomed to over the past decade. I hope it is also a portent of positive change for Onion Creek Lodge.  Once again, the Brethren have entrusted me with the honor of serving as Worshipful Master.  Much has changed since my first term in 2018, and Onion Creek Lodge finds itself in a very different place today.

     Every Worshipful Master assumes certain responsibilities when he takes the East, and sometimes the needs of the lodge require him to take on additional ones.  This year, I believe one of those responsibilities is addressing the gradual decline in member engagement and retention; a challenge shared by many lodges throughout Texas.

     Over the past several months, I have worked with the Lodge Trustees to develop Vision and Mission statements for Onion Creek Lodge. These statements are grounded in the purposes set forth in our Charter when the lodge was first instituted. Throughout the coming year, they will serve as our compass, helping ensure that our activities align with our mission and that we remain focused on practicing Freemasonry as our founders intended.

Our Priority Should Be Inward, Not Outward

     These words are not intended to define only the coming year. My hope is that they become part of the identity of Onion Creek Lodge for years to come.  When I look around our lodge, I see something we've every reason to be proud of. We've invested countless hours improving our building, maintaining our property, and ensuring that this temple remains a place worthy of the Craft.  But I'd like to ask a simple question:

     As diligently as we've cared for our physical temple, have we given the same attention to the temple each of us is charged to build within ourselves? We have invested greatly in these walls; have we invested just as faithfully in the internal work of helping good men become good Masons?

     Freemasonry is far more than preserving a building. It is preserving a philosophy. It is a lifelong pursuit of knowledge, virtue, and self-improvement. No amount of paint, lumber, or brick can fulfill the charge entrusted to us by our Charter.  Our most important work will never be constructing this building; it is, and has always been, helping good men become good Masons through education and fellowship.

     I believe the time has come to renew our focus on that internal work.  If we do, I have every confidence that Onion Creek Lodge will remain the beacon of light south of the Colorado River.  My vision extends beyond the next twelve months.  I do not expect every goal to be accomplished during my year in the East, nor should I.  My hope is simply to begin a process that will continue long after my term has ended; to lay a foundation that future Masters will continue to build upon.

     I admire the medieval stonemasons who spent generations constructing the great Gothic cathedrals.  The architect who laid the cornerstone rarely lived to see the completed work, yet he labored with the confidence that others would continue what he had begun.  Likewise, I hope to plant a tree under whose shade I may never sit.

     I have shared this vision with the Brothers who may succeed me in the East over the coming years, and I am grateful that we are committed to pursuing it together.  That continuity gives me confidence that the work we begin today can become part of the culture of this lodge.

Brotherhood, Fellowship, and Fidelity

     Before we concern ourselves with attracting new members, we should first ask why a good man would want to keep coming back after he has been initiated or raised.  Have we cultivated a lodge where Brothers leave having learned something meaningful? Have they strengthened friendships?  Have they experienced the deeper lessons of Freemasonry?

     If we intentionally build that culture, good men will notice it.  They will want to become part of it, and they will help carry it forward.

      To that end, I hope we will:

• Explore Masonic symbolism, philosophy, and the deeper lessons of our Craft

• Create regular opportunities for fellowship beyond our walls

• Continue hosting social events that welcome our families and friends

     When we meet prospective candidates, we'll do so intentionally by getting to know them in a comfortable public setting before inviting them into our lodge.  Men should know who we are long before they submit a petition, and every petitioner should understand the kind of lodge he is asking to join.  Likewise, the investigation should begin the moment a man expresses interest; not after his petition is read in lodge.

     We'll also pursue responsible fundraising to provide the resources necessary to accomplish these goals while continuing to support our educational scholarships.  As our dues-paying membership has declined, we must explore new ways to sustain the lodge without placing additional burdens on our Brothers.   

     Some of our long-standing practices have simply become less effective over time. We should be willing to stop doing what no longer serves the lodge, continue doing what works, and thoughtfully explore new approaches where needed.

     None of this is the work of one Worshipful Master. It belongs to every Brother of Onion Creek Lodge.  If, years from now, Onion Creek Lodge is known as a place where men come not merely to receive degrees, but to become good Masons, build lifelong friendships, and faithfully practice the principles of our Craft, then the work we begin today will have been worthwhile.

     Our future lies before us.  The path we choose, and the labor we invest today, will determine the lodge we inherit tomorrow. My hope is that when we look back on this moment years from now, we can say that we chose wisely, labored faithfully, and laid the new foundation that made Onion Creek Lodge stronger than when we started.

     Thank you again, my Brothers, for the confidence you have placed in me. It is an honor and a privilege to serve this lodge once more.

Fraternally,

Christopher Dawson

Worshipful Master