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Re: Masonic & Shrine

Membership Extravaganza
This Masonic/Shrine Membership Extravaganza proposal was conceived and suggested
by the former Shrine Membership Chair, to a then future Shrine Potentate, while the
proposer was visiting his Noble Son and family in Germany and contemplating what
would be the state of the Worlds Greatest Fraternity when his new born grandson
would be eligible to join.
While it has not yet been implemented, the future Shrine Potentates initial reaction
was Well, I've pondered your ideas for a couple of weeks, and am interested in
implementing them . This Proposal is presented here to all Shrine and Masonic
Leaders in the hope that it will aid the survival and growth of the Worlds Greatest
Fraternity.
The Shrine Membership Challenge Slide Show referred to can be found at:
https://www.scribd.com/doc/243280719/Shrine-Shrine-Membership-Challenge-Slideshow-Noble-BarryJ-Lipson-Membership-Chair
And a discussion of Father & Son Masonry and the Masonic Father-Son Lewis Medal At:
https://www.scribd.com/doc/243259841/Masonry-Son-Of-A-Mason-A-Challenge-To-Grand-LodgesAll-Masonic-Bodies-by-Barry-J-Lipson-33-PM

Potential Potentate, Greetings!

During the long German night my mind turned to a possible Membership Extravaganza that
might be a showpiece of your year. Problems were envisioned and ways of dealing with
them explored, the more envisioned the more interesting the project became.
While I still believe for the long haul Membership Programs of the types outlined in the
Slideshow and in my earlier appended e-mail (Re: Membership Plan) are what are needed,
this Membership Extravaganza could make a real difference in your year if we begin to
work on it NOW, and could be used to kick start some of the long term programs.
What is proposed is a one day class organized by Syria with dual themes, conferred together,
but advertised separately, starting with the conferral of the Blue Lodge Degrees and
concluding with optional Scottish Rite Degrees, to wit:

ONE DAY SHRINE NON-MASONS CLASS

ONE DAY SHRINE FATHERS & SONS CLASS
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PLEASE READ TO END BEFORE DECIDING IT SHOULDN'T/CANT BE DONE
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Of course, as outlined below, cooperation, support and dispensations will be required from
Grand Lodge and/or Imperial; and especially as these are test programs, this should warrant
both advertising and financial support.
Advertising needs to be of professional quality and specifically targeted to non-Masons,
stressing not only the Shrines good works with kids, but the special Units, Clubs, Groups
and Caravans, and how they will bring new enriching experiences into their lives, together
with much FUN & Fellowship. Imperial could be of much help here through the
participation of its corporate advertising assets and/or grants to assist this worthwhile test
program to do so.
Envisioned Program

AM - Blue Lodge Degrees (1st, 2nd & 3rd) by Shrine Degree Teams (if available) or
Schools of Instruction
LUNCH - Masonic Instruction Luncheon, hosted by Grand Lodge/Schools of
Instruction/Blue Lodges to impart Masonic Knowledge on the newly raised Brothers, and
award Lewis Medallions to Masonic Fathers & Sons & ?
AFTERNOON - Shrine Non-Masons & Fathers & Sons Class
DINNER - Scottish Rite Dinner, hosted by participating Scottish Rite Valleys for all
members of class where new Shriners will be Fezzed and given a last opportunity to join
the Scottish Rite Class if they had not done so already.
EVE - Scottish Rite Conferral
Likewise, Grand Lodge could be of much help in reaching non-Mason fathers and sons, and
Masons with non-Mason sons, fathers, grandsons and grandfathers and/or grants to assist this
worthwhile test program to do so.

APPLICATIONS - Special application to be used for this Class incorporating Blue Lodge,
Shrine and optional Scottish Rite, to be processed and administered by Shrine. Shrine section
to list all special Units, Clubs, Groups and Caravans and Petitioner will receive first year free
membership in each of the Units, Clubs, Groups and Caravans he checks. The Application
shall also ask the Petitioner to list his sons, father, grandsons and grandfathers who are or
who are becoming Masons in this Class so that the Lodge has the information it needs to
order the Lewis Medallions in time for the Class. A petitioning fee of $100.00 is to
accompany each petition for it to be processed, $75.00 for Shrine & $25.00 for Blue Lodge.
BLUE LODGE - The Petitioner shall insert the name of the Blue Lodge he desires to apply
to or indicate by check mark on the Petition if he prefers to join a Lodge nearer his home or
work. The Shrine will insert the appropriate Lodge on the face of the Petition and forward
the Petition to the appropriate Lodge with or without first and second line signers. The
Lodge upon receipt shall appoint the Visitation Committee. If the Visitation Committee
recommends in favor of the Petitioner the Committee members shall sign as first and second
line signers if needed. If the prayer of the Petition is granted by the Lodge the Petition shall
be returned to the Shrine together with a statement of what funds the Petitioner will owe to
the Lodge (unless a set payment is adopted for this class & it is suggested that the Lewis
Medallion should be a Lodge expense). The Shrine will credit the $25.00 Petition fee to the
Lodge and bill Petitioner for the funds he owes to the Blue Lodge and Shrine (and Scottish
Rite, if any). (Scottish Rite fees incurred at Scottish Rite Dinner shall be paid directly to
Scottish Rite.)
If the Petition is denied it shall be returned to the Shrine together with the Lodges denial
letter, which the Shrine shall forward to the unsuccessful Petitioner together with Petitioners
$100 Petitioning fee. (Grand Lodge my want to consider permitting such Petitioner to apply
to a second Lodge under these unique circumstances where a Lodge is chosen for him.)
For this Class, a positive Blue Lodge vote and his being raised as a Master Mason shall be
deemed to be a positive vote by the Shrine, as it will be by the Scottish Rite, NMJ.
Cordially & Fraternally,
Barry J. Lipson

Addenda
Re: Membership Plan
Potential Potentate, Greetings!
Potentates and Potential Potentates, "Impotentates ALL" unless membership is secured
long into the future! And to accomplish anything meaningful and lasting in the membership area,
it is never a one year project. Indeed, to show even minimal meaningful results several years are
needed for new "traditions" and "institutions" to take root and blossom.
To kick this off, the written commitment of the entire line (Divan) to support and adequately fund
these membership efforts now and in the future is necessary, as well as the acceptance by the
following officials of their following missions (as further embodied in the appended materials):
AMBASSADOR CHAIRMAN: Organize Ambassadors into Recruitment, Retention,
Restoration and Mentoring Committees and follow through in the performance of these
functions.
UNIT ASSOCIATION CHAIRMAN: a) Organize Syria SCOUTS and work with Public
Relations Committee in pro-actively arranging (or having SCOUTS arrange) speaking
engagements with Non-Masonic and Masonic organizations; and b) encourage all Units, Clubs
and Caravans to appoint their own internal Membership Chairman to solicit membership for
their group from active Nobles, lapsed Nobles, Master Masons and potential new Masons, and
attend and report at Unit Association meetings.
RITUALISTIC DIRECTOR: Between Rituals, organize and work with Syria Sojourners to
perform Shrine-like "ritual" at Blue Lodges.
PUBLIC RELATIONS CHAIRMAN: Organize a professional quality promotional and
advertising campaign specifically targeted to non-Shrine Masons and non-Masons, stressing
not only the Shrines good works with kids, but the special Units, Clubs, Groups and
Caravans, and how they will bring new enriching experiences into their lives, together with
much FUN & Fellowship.
DEPUTY UNIT PRESIDENT: Continuing current efforts to have at least one Lodge Deputy
in each Blue Lodge in the Oasis of Pittsburgh, and encouraging their efforts to "bond" the
Blue Lodges to the Shrine.
KNIGHTS OF MECCA PRESIDENT: Intensify pro-active recruitment of Past Master to join
Shrine.

Adequate funding for the above is, of course, imperative!

Cordially & Fraternally,
Barry J. Lipson
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