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MENTORING IN THE
SOUTHPORT GROUP -
'A DIFFERENT APPROACH'
The accompanying paper was presented to the PGM, Group
Chairmen and Mentors by W Bro David Bradbury and Bro
Peter M. Martin, the Group and Assistant Group Mentor,
on 15th January 2010 at Leyland Masonic Hall. It was very
well received by everyone, including the PGM, who is a
passionate supporter of the principles and benefits to
be advanced through Mentoring.
Brethren,
I am sure that we are all well aware of the principles
of mentoring within our Lodges, either through a Brother's
proposer or his own Lodge Mentor.
Today I would like to take a look at a different aspect
of mentoring and group mentoring in the truest sense of
the word.
In 2005 a club was formed within the Southport Group,
to be known as the Three Degrees Club. This is
a club for new Freemasons within the Group; membership
is free, lasting for the first three years of a Brother's
Masonic career. The objectives of the club are :-
• to welcome Initiates into the Southport Masonic
community.
• to enable new members to meet counterparts in other
Lodges, foster peer group relationships
and encourage inter-Lodge visits;
• to give Initiates opportunities to learn about
the history of Freemasonry and the meaning
of our ceremonies;
• to provide opportunities to meet Group Officials
and senior members of Provincial Grand Lodge;
• to make new members feel valued and give them a
voice.
At the end of a Brother's initiation, he is handed a Welcome
Pack, containing an introductory letter from the Club
Chairman, a copy of the First Degree Charge, the words
of the Opening and Closing Odes, a layout of the Lodge
Room and a who's who of the Officers and their duties.
Also it contains general Masonic information, to which
can be added information relevant to his own Lodge.
The Three Degrees Club organises two very successful social
evenings each year, one a themed evening and one a formal
dinner. Both events are well attended, not only by Club
members, but Masonic Brethren within the Group and non-Masonic
guests.
The Club is very successful and embodies the theme of
mentoring, aimed particularly at a Brother's first three
years in Masonry, whereas mentoring through our Lodges
is more specific to individual Brethren and carries this
theme throughout a Brother's Masonic career.
Mentoring within the Southport Group has taken this one
step further by working closely with the Three Degrees
Club. As a Group Mentor 'team' we have access to the full
details of every initiate joining the Group. Also, arrangements
have been made with every Secretary in the Group to receive
a copy of their Lodge Summons, therefore, we have full
details of newer Masons and a record of ceremonies planned
in the Group.
Whilst there is no intention of taking responsibility
away from a Brother's proposer or his own Lodge Mentor,
we have realised that individual Lodges do not always
have the information concerning which ceremonies are to
be worked by other Lodges within the Group. We are also
very aware that there may be restriction, personal or
otherwise, on a Brother's proposer to arrange or oversee
visits to other Lodges working ceremonies of interest.
The Assistant Group Mentor, Bro Peter Martin, who makes
the time, and more importantly has the inclination to
visit regularly, will contact newer Masons with an invitation
to join him on Lodge visits.
This initiative has proved very successful in encouraging
newer Brethren to visit, view lectures, talks and ceremonies.
Although basically the same, new members experience the
unique features and ceremonies of Lodges other than their
own. There is, of course the added advantage of smaller
Lodges having additional Brethren in the Lodge Room and
at the Festive Board.
VISITING
Visiting other lodges is a very important aspect of freemasonry.
Although the majority of Masonic knowledge is obtained
through learning ritual for use in the temple we believe
that a very important part of a mason's advancement is
achieved by visiting other lodges.
The knowledge and sense of belonging secured from such
events is invaluable in expanding a brother's development
and Masonic fulfillment.
AIMS
Our aim, in the Southport Group, is to encourage every
new member to visit other lodges in groups further afield.
We hope that in the near future, by the time a Brother
in the Southport Group has become a Master Mason, he has
visited at least one other lodge. We believe this will
create a firm foundation in his Masonic career. Because
visiting alone, especially for the first time, can be
an extremely daunting event, we have initiated a scheme
whereby new masons will not have to undertake this event
alone thus aiming to make this additional 'first step'
as stress free as possible.
THE VISITING SERVICE
This is a service whereby a new member will be invited
to visit with myself or, if I can't make it, David Bradbury
our Group Mentor.
This initiative was born from my own experiences when
visiting alone as an Entered Apprentice, not through lack
of mentoring or offers of help from within my lodge, but
of my own determination and desire to experience every
aspect of Freemasonry first hand.
I quickly determined there was much to learn about visiting.
Many small but important things, issues that after a few
visits become commonplace e.g. signing in as a visitor,
where to sit in the lodge, how to hold your hand in prayer,
when to salute, sit or stand are just a few of the many
things to learn, not just in the temple, but at the Festive
Board also. Things many Masons take for granted not realising
how daunting these might be for a 'first time' visitor!
Thus the idea was born to contact as many new Brethren
as I could to ask if they would like to visit with me
to assist them with their first visit. This idea has developed
over the past few years into what we have today, a very
successful 'visiting service', which is improving all
the time.
In the beginning I would 'phone around 30 people …. getting
one member to accompany me on a visit [or often none]
was quite sole destroying to nowadays when regularly escorting
4 or 5 at a time! The most we have had at one visit is
9 E.A.'s. Quite a sight in the temple. We have every inclination
we will exceed this figure this season.
I think success is due to many factors, the main one's
being :
• I now have access to the 3 Degrees Club database,
which holds details of our new members;
• Summons are sent to the Group Mentor, which means
that we can forward plan;
• Having knowledge of events we can attend and enough
time to 'phone around new members and
invite them to visit and to book them in with Lodge Secretaries.
Ultimately, I believe, this service has now become established
in the Group and many members are now realising its potential
for our younger brethren.
W. Bro. David W. Bradbury P.Pr.G.Supt
of Wks Group
Mentor
Bro. Peter M. Martin Assistant
Group Mentor
15th January 2010
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©
The Southport Group 2004
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