The Purple of the Fraternity

Many of us have had interactions with brothers in leadership positions within the fraternity. Some have been memorable for all the right reasons being a respectful exchange with a knowledgeable brother who understands his role and the best course of action for executing his duties in a way consistent with Masonic teachings and philosophy. And then there are all the rest.

Leadership is an elusive quality that few understand yet many are expected to develop. In the corporate world, formal education and leadership is an expected part of your development as responsibilities grow. There have been many resources developed to assist them promote someone obtaining and honing their leadership skills to best serve the organization.

Freemasonry, notwithstanding, has none of these qualities. It is an all-volunteer organization comprised of men who have the time and willingness to assume duties and responsibilities sometimes regardless of their capabilities.

This results in the potential for many disasters. If you have been around the fraternity for more than a few years, you have no doubt heard of is not personally experienced these disasters. It is most important to note that these disasters could be avoided if those assuming the responsibilities would study and inculcate the teachings of the fraternity into their interactions with brothers and lodges.

The Purple of the Fraternity is a book written to provide an overview of a particular model of leadership that fits well with volunteer organizations that being Servant Leadership. This model recognizes that the most effective leader is the one who serves and fulfills the needs of those with whom he is working so they are properly trained, equipped, and supplied with what they need to be productive.

That is not a model that focuses on power, control, or the use of threats. Being in all-volunteer organization, we have none of these within Freemasonry. Instead, all we have is our knowledge, skill, and credibility.

The Purple of the Fraternity takes the key principles of servant leadership and parallels them with the teachings from Masonic rituals showing that there is a high level of consistency and agreement between this approach to leadership and the lessons provided to us by Masonic philosophy. It then goes a step further and provides three archetypes of how Masonic leaders may act to provide a clear example of what to do and, more importantly, what not to do.

These archetypes, the best friend, the cop, and a good coach, offer clear examples from our lived experiences and assist us in developing and improving our own personal style of leadership within Freemasonry.

Although the subtitle specifies District Deputy Grand Masters, Grand and Lodge Officers, it actually applies to anyone in a leadership role from Lodge officers, district officers, committee chairman, or even that person in Lodge who is willing to step forward and actively participate in making good things happen.

It is my hope that this can be part of your personal library to provide guidance as you continue on your Masonic journey and develop more confidence at actively taking part in becoming a leader and making good things happen as you promote the philosophy of Freemasonry.

This book is available from the Coit Masonic publishers.