Observant Masonry

The following information is intended to provide interested Lodges and Brothers an in-depth overview of the Masonic Observance initiative as practiced within the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of the State of New York. If you would like additional information on Observant Masonry or how your Lodge can vastly benefit from the program, please reach out to the Committee by email at OMCommittee@nymasons.org.

What is Observant Masonry?

Observant Masonry (commonly known in this jurisdiction as “OM” and elsewhere as “Traditional Observance” or “TO”) is a complex and multifaceted topic which can and has taken entire volumes to elucidate. Masonic Observance is a movement within Freemasonry which aims to revive and elevate what many consider to be the original intention of the speculative Craft as an initiatic, esoteric order for spiritual development. This is achieved by establishing an ethos and practices which complement or enhance the ritual and creates a strong, conducive ambience within the Lodge setting.

Observant Masonry is neither an innovation (in the Masonic sense) nor a concept separate from or above the Standard Work of a Masonic Lodge. It instead serves as a practical exemplification of what should ultimately be the goal of all Freemasons seriously engaged in their Craft. In other words, “Observant Masonry” is no more than “core Masonry” practiced with exactitude and driven by a culture of excellence intended to increase its efficacy by elevating the environment in which it is practiced. OM is a proven solution to the ongoing membership retention issues that plague the fraternity and, in some noteworthy instances, has elevated failing Lodges on the brink of closure to unprecedented levels of success.

A common misconception is that a Lodge so acutely focused on the ritualistic, educational, and esoteric aspects of the Craft tends to lack in the fraternal, social, and charitable pursuits that many Masons pride themselves on. This is mistaking the light for the flame. The fraternal, social, charitable and other elements of Masonry are natural consequences of practicing Masonry as Masonry was intended to be practiced. The innate culture of excellence that exists within Observant Lodges actually serves to strengthen and amplify these aspects of Masonic culture. Simply put; where Observance is present, Freemasonry thrives.

The GLNY Observant Masonry Committee

The purpose of this Committee is to:

Promote the Observant Masonry movement both within and beyond the jurisdiction while serving as a competent resource for accurate information on the subject.

Provide the leadership, guidance, and structure for Lodges to successfully establish practices related to Masonic Observance within their organization’s culture.

Serve as a certifying body to qualify applying Lodges as Observant and to ensure ongoing compliance with the program’s guidelines.

Periodic re-certifications will be required from OM Lodges to ensure ongoing compliance with the guidelines. A subsequent lapse in re-qualification should not be seen as a failure of the Lodge or its officers and is in no way permanent. A previously qualifying Lodge will find it easier to regain compliance with the OM program than one just starting out.

The (OM) Designation

GLNY has established the practice of granting qualifying Lodges the use of the title “(OM)” or “Observant Masonry” after their number: “Sample Lodge No.123 (OM) F&AM”. The purpose of the designation is exclusively to signify that a particular Lodge is governing itself according to the principles of Observant Masonry, so that visitors who wish to either experience or better understand the practices and benefits for themselves may easily locate such a Lodge through its OM designation.

It is a widespread misunderstanding that the OM title is meant to elevate a Lodge above its peers in either prestige or exclusivity. Quite the contrary, the intention behind this designation is that the adherent Lodge has dedicated itself to the service of the Craft at large as an exemplar and emissary of the Observant Masonry movement. An OM Lodge deliberately conveying “holier than thou” airs would therefore be acting in contradiction to the spirit and intention of this program.

The duty of a Lodge bearing the (OM) designation is to continuously exemplify the highest tenets of Observant Masonry through their practice of the Craft. An OM Lodge should serve as a practical resource to individual Brothers and Lodges interested in the subject, willing to unreservedly share their knowledge and experience in a constructive manner. It is imperative that this be done through the Lodge’s actions and deportment, not simply through words. As one Brother put it, “don’t tell the world you are Observant, show them you are and let success speak on your behalf”. OM Lodges should avoid proselytizing or evangelizing within their spheres of influence, but instead stand as a silent exemplar of the highest form of Masonic practice. (OM) is not simply another Masonic title to collect and covet; there is a considerable amount of commitment behind earning and, ultimately, maintaining the designation over time.

A Lodge not willing to dedicate themselves to the fulfillment of this mission in every facet of their Masonic activity should seriously assess whether pursuit of this designation is right for them. (OM) is a beacon, lit to signify to the Craft that a particular Lodge takes the pursuit of Masonic excellence seriously and has dedicated itself to the service of others navigating similar waters.

Observance without the Designation

There are many aspects of OM that are of immense value to the Craft which, even if implemented piecemeal, can significantly contribute to an organization’s enduring success. To that end, this topic bears relevance to every Masonic Lodge regardless of its current culture or trajectory. Masonic Observance is far more than a clearing house of best practices but, for those organizations seeking ways to improve their overall member experience and satisfaction, there is much to be gained from implementing even some of the practices described herein. Although a Lodge may not be looking to qualify for the OM designation according to the program guidelines, this Committee nonetheless stands as a resource to assist them in integrating various Observant practices without active pursuit of the corresponding designation.

The Path to Observance

There are Observant Masons and Observant Lodges. Observant Masons are individual Brothers or groups of Brothers who hold the tenets of Masonic Observance in great esteem and have adopted it as a personal ethos, manifested in the intensity and excellence of their own Masonic work. Oftentimes these Brothers are instrumental in improving a Lodge’s culture and practices through active participation in ritual and other initiatives. When enough Observant Masons are actively engaged in a Lodge and a certain critical mass is reached, the Lodge itself may qualify as Observant.

There are two common paths toward establishing Masonic Observance within a Lodge. Neither is easier than the other per se, but one or the other may not even be possible within a particular region or district. The first is to “convert” an existing Lodge to an Observant model, which requires a culture shift of some magnitude depending on the composition and trajectory of the membership. In this case, achieving a critical mass of members in favor of the initiative becomes of utmost importance. Conversion basically entails modifying the culture of a Lodge over a period of time to come into alignment with the guidelines and requirements of Observant Masonry in our jurisdiction. This is an excellent way to ensure the long-term success of a Lodge or it can be an effective way of “rescuing” an otherwise failing Lodge at risk of dissolution by converting it to the Observant model.

The second is to establish a new Lodge based on the Observant model from its inception. This is far more laborious as it requires the formal warranting of a new Lodge and the immense amount of work that goes along with it, not only clerically but the acquisition of ceremonials, securing a meeting place, overcoming potential political opposition, etc. Sometimes though, this may be the best or only option available in a particular region. Once the Lodge is formally established, careful and selective increase through affiliation and initiation is necessary to maintain Observant culture over time. The Lodge needs a clear plan for growth and succession to sustain itself past the initial enthusiasm of its founding members as well as a strong inculcation of the tenets of Masonic Observance to maintain critical mass.

A note on the concept of “critical mass”; this has repeatedly shown itself to be the determining factor on the success or failure of implementing and maintaining Observant Masonry within a Lodge. If just a few Brothers are adverse to the notion, particularly more so if they occupy positions of leadership or influence, there is little hope of establishing or maintaining these practices. If the Observant movement is strong enough within a Lodge to prevail, some of the detractors may see the considerable benefits and “convert” along with the Lodge, but others may display ongoing resistance, a reduction in active participation from those Brothers, or perhaps even a loss of their membership. This is an unfortunate byproduct of any culture shift within an organization but one that should be understood in advance. Likewise care must be taken when considering new members to ensure they understand and intend to contribute to the culture of the Observant Lodge. Although critical mass cannot be absolutely defined as it depends on the specific composition of the organization, expect the number to be around 90-95% to gain traction.

Meeting frequency, ritual proficiency, educational resources, meeting location/space, and financial resources are a few concerns to consider for Observant lodges. Are there a sufficient number of dedicated ritualists available to perform to Standard Work of a Lodge in an exemplary manner? Are there a sufficient number of lecturers available to the Lodge to regularly provide impactful educational programming? Is there a meeting (and storage) space available conducive for Observant work? What meeting frequency is required to support these activities? An Observant Lodge requires enormous effort and energy to manage, and while some established Observant Lodges can support more frequent meetings (monthly, bimonthly) others may find it more conducive to hold Communications every other month to maintain the quality and enthusiasm. There is no right or wrong answer, only the one that fits a particular organization and its membership.

Once a Lodge is either created for this purpose or has decided to “convert” its culture toward Masonic Observance, the next step is deeply establishing the practices and inculcating the ethos among the membership. The guidelines that follow are just that; a guide. They are intended to offer ideas and suggestions which can then be adopted in a manner that is most effective for the culture of a particular Lodge. The GLNY Observant Masonry Committee is willing to help, aid, and assist each Lodge along their path regardless of where they’re starting at.

An unfortunate statistic is that most OM Lodges last an average of about 5 years before they either dissolve, merge, or convert back to a mainstream Lodge culture. Feedback suggests the reason behind this is that the initial enthusiasm which propelled the Lodge forward eventually waned, particularly as the original “movers and shakers” moved through the chairs and were replaced by others who were less versed in Observant Masonry. This is why a Lodge-wide inculcation of the tenets of Masonic Observance and a strong plan of succession is critical to its longevity. As previously stated, the level of excellence an OM Lodge aims for requires an enormous amount of energy to maintain. If it is not a larger ensemble effort, those who primarily shoulder the burden can only do so for but so long.

After a period of successful implementation of Masonic Observance within a Lodge and establishing a plan of succession to foster its longevity, the Lodge needs to decide whether they wish to pursue the OM designation in order to be of greater service to the Craft as an exemplar of the movement. By that point it is likely the Lodge will already have had regular interactions and familiarity with the OM Committee, who will provide an application for qualification to be completed and returned. A thorough review will be conducted which may involve a combination of subsequent inquiries (Lodge officers/members, other Lodges in the District, or familiar District and Grand Lodge officers) or an in-person visitation by Committee members or designees. Upon qualification, an official Grand Lodge of NY “Certificate of Masonic Observance” will be issued, including the privileges and responsibilities related thereto.

Periodic re-certifications will be required from OM Lodges to ensure ongoing compliance with the guidelines. A subsequent lapse in re-qualification should not be seen as a failure of the Lodge or its officers and is in no way permanent. A previously qualifying Lodge will find it easier to regain compliance with the OM program than one just starting out.

For more information on the Observant Masonry initiative or details on how to get started, please reach out to the committee by email at OMCommittee@nymasons.org.