Finishing the Trilogy - The End is in Progress

Brethren, I've begun work on the third paper in my current series that started with "Winds of Change" and continued with "When Can We Start Making Good Men Better?". Now, I will wrap up this trilogy with "What Comes After "Better?"

I started this series almost by accident when I wrote "Winds of Change" which examined the desire to "change" masonry to accommodate the desires of a generation born in a new time with new burdens.

As I wrote "Winds of Change", I realized I never addressed a question at the core of masonry - how exactly masonry can make good men better and how its current construct facilitates that objective. So I set out to write "When Do We Get to Make Good Men Better?" to discuss the meaning behind the masonic motto "Making Good Men Better". I examined the intent behind the charge regarding recommending a man for the masonic degrees to: "...be particularly attentive not to recommend him unless you are convinced he will conform to the laws, customs, and usages of the Order..." and the centrality of that charge to reception of a new man at the West Gate and his journey to become a better man.

And now I am working on the third and final article in this series called (as of today, but subject to modification) "Living the Journey: What Comes After 'Better'"? In this paper I will examine paths and options for the newly minted "good man" and how he takes control of his journey and ensures his continued betterment. This article rounds out an overall study of how and why masonry is suitably structured, as is, to achieve its stated objective of making good men better and defends my position that other than minor adjustments, major changes to the craft are not only not needed, but would destroy perhaps the world's most effective system of self examination and self improvement.

I hope and expect to finish work on this third article, and thus the series, by October 22, 2021. In the meantime, please read "Winds of Change" and "Living the Journey: When Do We Get to Make Good Men Better", both of which are available for download on my website.

Thank you for your time, my brethren and please... journey on!

As always, sincerely and fraternally,

Bro. Bill