It's a phrase that has been used for as long as I can remember, “Freemasonry is only one night a month”. At least that's how it was often pitched, then it becomes one night a week, and then as a wise Past Master once told me, that phrase is only half the statement, it should be "Freemasonry is one night a month, at home."
I know I've stood with many and often joked about it. We pass verbal jabs at each other about how many nights we're away from home for Freemasonry. For some it's almost a badge of honor, so many meetings, degrees, and events, that they rarely see their families or the inside of their homes and they often look critically at those that don't follow suit. There's a sentiment out there with some that if you don't join and participate in everything that you're not doing it right.
While I'm still out several nights a month for my Masonic endeavors, I've slowed down a bit why?
Because, going to more meetings does not make you more of a Mason than the Brother next to you.
I know I will catch heat from some with my last statement but over the course of the last few years I've really begun to believe that we have our priorities backwards. We're putting the emphasis on going to meetings and degrees to spend time with other Masons, which is great, however, how are all these events helping you grow and become better? Why should they be more important than our families?
Think about it for a moment, how many meetings do you go to where you truly feel inspired afterwards? How many do you go to that cause you to think about things in a different light or from a different perspective? Then think about how many you go to where other than the fact that everyone there is a Mason, could just be a social event or yet another business meeting?
Maybe we need to have less meetings which contain more substance than form. A discussion that makes a Brother think about where they are on their journey, something that makes reevaluate how they handle things in their own life - more thought provoking topics than just the important historical dates recited from memory. Provide each Mason with something to mentally chew on and then discuss it further at your next gathering.
At that point we're each helping one another work towards that perfect ashlar and providing the material that we need to be better outside of the Lodge with our families and friends. The work needed to be a better and more productive member of society.
Yes, Freemasonry should be one day a month - in a Lodge room, but the practice of Freemasonry should take place 365 days a year.