Page 11 - Jan 2021 MFM.indd

'Freemasonry provided a forum for social, people could satisfy their entertainment needs at home
commercial and political networking.' - and they did. Th is has not just aff ected Freemasonry,
but all clubs and associations that rely on people going
Eighteenth-century Masonic lodge meetings out to be entertained.
evolved to include education and entertainment.
- Ric Berman Currently we are trying to rescue
an eighteenth- century Masonic model
Freemasonry was the right product for a twenty-fi rst-century world
in the right place at the right time.
Th e marketing strategy was compelling. In modern terminology, Freemasonry is sold on
FOMO, the Fear Of Missing Out. Freemasonry is, and
Freemasonry Version 3 always has been, considered a society with secrets.
If you were not a member, you could not discover
Th is is the transition period from 1813 to the or participate in these ancient secrets passed down
present date - a stabilization period. Th is transition through the centuries. Th e only way you will fi nd out
period was initiated by the union of the two opposing is if you join.
English Grand Lodges.
Freemasonry is anxious to give of her secrets to
Th is version of Freemasonry launched with a global worthy men fi t to receive them, but not all are
standardization of the three Craft degree rituals, worthy, and not all the worthy, seek.
with the introduction of the 'Emulation workings' - Carl H. Claudy
and a carefully orchestrated 'leak' - Richard Carlile's
Manual of Freemasonry set the standard.
Aft er twenty-fi ve years membership of QCCC, the
next Masonic 'secret' I discover will be the fi rst.
Th ere was a shift from lodges meeting in taverns -Gerald Reilly
and inns, to meeting in dedicated Masonic halls.
No matter how you look at Freemasonry v3, it is more
In product life cycle terms - the continued take up about the packaging than the delivery mechanism and
- we saw the product mature in the fi rst half of the almost nothing about the content.
20th century, before a general decline in membership
in the latter part of the 20th century and into the fi rst Before I discuss Freemasonry Version 4, I would like
quarter of the 21st.
to discuss another simile.
'In the interest of the Brethern'
by Rudyard Kipling Who remembers Blockbusters?

Th e Square Magazine published an article in the Blockbuster was an international business
December 2020 Issue by Rudyard Kipling - 'In the established in renting out 'blockbuster fi lms.' It was a
Interest of the Brethren.' It was written by Kipling fantastic concept. Th e alternative to renting fi lms was
in 1917, set in London, and gives an inside look at to purchase them outright, which at the time was a
Freemasonry during that period. And demonstrates very expensive proposition - and how many times do
why camaraderie was the principle value proposition you want to watch the same fi lm? But for about the
for Freemasonry at that time. And demonstrates why tenth of the purchase price you could rent the fi lm for
camaraderie was the principal value proposition for the evening. Th e whole idea of renting blockbuster
Freemasonry at that time - not the 'contents' encoded movies became very popular.
in the allegory.
Blockbuster was a global franchise operation, with
A few signifi cant events had a very negative eff ect outlets springing up everywhere. At their peak they
on Freemasonry: the Morgan Aff air in the USA in had over 9,000 outlets and employed 84,000 people.
1826, the Nazi regime persecution in Europe, Franco's
dictatorship in Spain. Fortu-nately, there was enough Blockbuster was a global franchise operation, with
underground momentum to reignite Freemasonry in outlets springing up everywhere. At their peak, they
these jurisdictions. had over 9,000 outlets and employed 84,000 people.
We had a Blockbuster in the city where I lived; you
Th e general decline started with simply drove to the store, picked a movie on tape, or
the introduction of later DVD. Of course, more oft en than not, the latest
home entertainment products
releases were not available as they were all being
In times past, most people would have gone out rented out; it was more by luck than judgment if you
to socialize and to get their entertainment. But with could get the latest fi lm. Nonetheless, they had a large
the introduction of radio, television, record players, enough stock, so there was always something else to
telephone, canned beer, home delivery, etc., more watch.
Montana Freemason Page 11 Jan/Feb 2021 Volume 97 No. 1