Webster’s dictionary defines the word “volunteer” as, “one who enters into or offers himself or any service of his own free will and accord.” It defines the word “responsibility” as, “a moral, legal or mental accountability, something for which one is responsible.”

In Masonry, one often hears the remark, “this is a volunteer organization.” Many Masters make that statement when it is time to give constructive criticism to a line officer because a degree was not exemplified as well as it should have been. It might be heard when an officer was not proficient, his lecture was not given properly, or he did not attend rehearsals. “We cannot come down too hard on him because this is a volunteer organization,” is often heard.

When a vacancy in the officer line occurs, it is the Master’s responsibility to ascertain if a given brother is the right person for the position. Much damage can be done to the officer line and the lodge if a brother is appointed to the line simply for the purpose of having a “warm body” sitting it that particular chair.

Once the Master has determined that the brother will be an asset to the lodge, he should then ask this brother if he would contemplate becoming a line officer, fully informing him of the duties and responsibilities of that office, his obligation to participate in rehearsals, and regularly attend lodge. If the brother accepts, he is then appointed or elected. Once he has been installed volunteering ends and the assuming of responsibility begins. He is now an integral working member of a Masonic team, obligated to carry out the duties and responsibilities of his office or station. If, after being evaluated at regular intervals, his performance is less than acceptable, he must be informed that he is not performing his duties nor assuming his responsibilities seriously enough for the position he has accepted. If the situation does not improve, this brother has become a liability. He now must be informed he will not be progressing to the next chair. Allowing this brother to continue causes embarrassment not only to the brother in question, but also to the lodge.

The Salvation Army comprises of approximately 82 per cent volunteer workers. When we see one of those volunteers standing out in the icy, cold weather during the Christmas season guarding that little red kettle, they are not there because of any hourly wage but because they want to be there. The fact they are a volunteer or a paid worker is totally irrelevant. The fact they are volunteers does not justify them from ignoring their responsibility. If they vacate their post without permission, or do not put in the prescribed amount of time that is to be delegated to that particular post, they are reprimanded or even dismissed.

Certain jobs have to be performed and certain brothers will perform them, and accepting responsibility is attached to those jobs.

The statement that the Masonic Fraternity is a volunteer organization is false! If the individual brother is not made fully aware of what his duties are, what his responsibilities and obligations are for the position he has accepted and what is expected of him, no function within his Masonic Lodge will be performed properly.

This course of action may create problems for the lodge. But isn’t it more beneficial to the lodge and to the candidate to have a qualified brother fill an opening in the line than to jeopardize the quality of the ritual work? It should always be remembered that on a degree night, the most important person in the lodge room, IS THE CANDIDATE!

by S. Kenneth Baril
Reprinted from CT Freemasons, April 2016