A Traditional Observance Lodge: One Mason's Journey to Fulfillment

by Cliff Porter

The author's home lodge is different. They suffer from higher than 100% attendance, men wait periods of longer than a year to get initiated, they have never lost a single Entered Apprentice, they have nobody on the roles who is NPD or has been dropped for NPD. Men arrive on lodge days at 8:00 a.m. and are often reluctently leaving for home near midnight or 2:00 a.m. Their dues are high by American standards, the background check is rigorous, and the initiations are solemn and serious. Every lodge meeting is treated as an event and celebrated as such. Dinner is treated as a feast with all its positive connotations. Freemasonry is celebrated in every aspect of the lodge. From the artwork, the furnishings, the set up and the atomosopher; all aspects of the lodge meeting are intentional and meant to create an experience. The Lodge is a Traditional Observance Lodge or T.O. Lodge as it is called by some. Like all labels, the Traditional Observance label has caused fear and fright, anger and frustration, confusion, and edicts. It has also helped to define the practices that make the author's lodge one of the most successful lodges in the United States by any standard one might choose to measure it. This book does not claim to provide a Masonic magic pill for the ailing lodges of the world. Nor does it claim in any fashion or form that the way this author's lodge operates is the only way or the best way to operate. What this book does is explain the the Traditional Observance model and encourages ideas in the area of increasing the lodge experience and allowing quality to become the watchword over every aspect of Freemasonry. The writings contains a mixture of personal experiences, practicle advice, and real life examples for creating a Traditional Observance lodge or increasing your lodges fulfillment.

Genres: Nonfiction

244 pages, Paperback

First published May 4, 2013

About the author

Cliff Porter is a founding member and Past Master of Enlightenment Lodge 198 in Colorado where he works as a homicide detective. Cliff Porter is also recognized nationally for his work in teaching and presenting on the areas of subconscious communications as it relates to personal interactions and communications. He has worked cases gaining international attention, been featured by the Biography Channel, and has lectured Internationally for the United States government and military, state and local law enforcement, private corporations, churches, and spiritual centers. He has had published a number of writings and is the author of the books The Secret Psychology of Freemasonry: Alchemy, Gnosis and the Science of the Craft, Masonic Baptism: A Postmodern Ritual for an Ancient Craft, and 10 Easy Steps to Being a Heretic.

Reviews

[Christian D · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a useful articulation of the “Traditional Observance” concept, with helpful descriptions of the practices employed, and real world anecdotes about the challenges and rewards of pursuing this type path for your Lodge.

This book would benefit greatly from an editor. The typographical, spelling, wording, and grammatical errors are numerous and distracting, and take away from the message of “quality” espoused by this author.

[Andre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book and ideas about TO lodges and how to generally make your lodge better with ritual, education, and ambiance. This specific version I read was riddled with grammatical errors. It’s written like Brother Cliff Porter had a few quality scotches, wrote his thoughts down, and then published the book without any copy editing. I got the overall message, but this consistently threw off my concentration on the content presented.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting read. I agreed with most of the concepts, but not all. It did give me ideas and an incentive to look toward changes in my own Lodge. The one negative is the lack of professional editing, which can be distracting, but manageable.

[Hans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brother Cliff Porter is a Champion of Freemasonry. He understands all too well the frustrations and disappointments of many modern Freemasons as we join the fraternity with high hopes only to have them dashed soon after joining. After I joined Freemasonry the biggest problem I saw was that most Freemasons didn't understand what a true treasure they actually had. Freemasonry is not only misunderstood by the public it is even misunderstood by the majority of Freemasons themselves. Its true value being lost and diluted overtime to the point where many have thrown up their arms and said "whats the point it's just another obsolete old man's club". This is a true tragedy, as freemasonry is absolutely priceless. It is the cultural DNA of Western Civilization, it houses all of the greatest philosophical and spiritual traditions in one body.

Those who don't understand Freemasonry tend to be the most dangerous, especially when they are Freemasons because they destroy the fraternity from within trying to re-create it into something other than what it was always intended to be, a place of transformation.

Ultimately Freemasonry is a Transformative Art, that turn Good spiritually inclined men into Great men.

Brother Cliff Porter I tip my hat to you, keep fighting the good fight.

[Nicholas Ives · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has spoken so much truth to me I am completely energized by its words. If you are a mason, this is an absolute must read. Cliff Porter dissects many of the great issues the craft faces, and actually proposes solutions. I will be reading this again very soon.

[Scott Sherman · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent book for those interested in learning about how successful a Traditional Observance Lodge can be.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

For Brethren, this book is an excellent guide on how to restore Freemasonry to its original purpose and give the lodge its reverence back. I can't recommend this book enough.

[Scott Lamb · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great read. Full of information about rejuvenating a lodge of Freemasons.