Square & Compasses Day

To Be One Ask One Square and Compasses day is another outreach program to our community to engage and educate the public at large on Masonry. As such we should act, walk and conduct ourselves in an appropriate manner.

Planning Statement This day should be planned with events that not only showcase the Lodge and Free Masonry but also tie in with a community event, provide opportunities for involvement and include demonstrations.

Who & How To Invite By Trestle Board, word of mouth or any other means, invite your members to bring at least one acquaintance who would make a suitable candidate to your lodge’s open house. Have members think about who they know might be curious about our fraternity or interested. Invite family members even if they think there is no interest. Bottom line is within your field of contacts, invite and bring at least one person, plan on two in case one cancels. Urge all active members to participate in this program. Have them bring the wives. Potential candidates can bring theirs.

Who & How to Invite Call members within the vicinity of the lodge that have not attended in ages. Invite them to the open house as a refresher, meet & greet. Post invites to the open house at libraries, town halls, send out invites to rotary, lions clubs, local police, EMS, ect. Let your community now that you are holding an open house.

Press Release Saturday Oct. _, 20XX from 11am to 3pm , We invite respectable men and their families to come along and discover the truth about Freemasonry. "There's no reason to be apprehensive. You could be pleasantly surprised and you might even find a new group of friends." If you want to know the simple and surprising truth about this and other aspects of Freemasonry, come to _____________________Lodge located at _________________on October 3, 2009 from 11am to 3pm.. You are invited to visit our lodge for an interesting and revealing visit which will include a look around a Masonic Lodge Room and an explanation of the origins of Masonic `secrets', regalia and practices. You can ask any questions if you like and you can have an informal chat with Lodge members

The Program As people arrive, form groups; start with an introduction in the collation room. Give a brief introduction to Masonry (no more than 20 minutes). Use a past master or warden, if possible. The introduction should touch on a brief history, explaining that we have no secrets except those of recognition. Next bring your group to the outer door of the lodge. There give a brief (15 Min) talk, the initiation process (degrees), what you can tell them a candidate can expect, without revealing ritual. Using the youngest suitable member for this presentation would be ideal.

Lodge Room Next, bring your group into the lodge room. There have a younger member in the west and an older member in the east, on the level, and have them alternate in a 20 min max presentation on the lodge room, regalia, and how the lodge meets. Lay out the jewels, rods and aprons at the appropriate stations.

The Close This is followed by the group returning to the collation room where a 10 minute presentation on our charitable involvement, learning centers, shrine hospitals, ect.(folks don’t know they are Masonic), talk about your lodges charities, follow by famous masons, how in masonry good men are made better men, yet we don’t solicit members, one must ask one to be one. Last, finish with a question and answer period, light refreshments, and a one on one especially if they show interest. Have applications and literature available!

Options Possible options to attract community members can include: flower sales; model train displays; pumpkin painting; blood drives; and the CHIPS program. Use your imagination

Save the Date Believe it or not it is not necessary to have Square and Compasses on the same day as it is held state wide. If your community is having an event try to hold Square and Compasses Day on that date. Make sure you inform your District Deputy in planning this so you receive the proper dispensation. It’s not what you do but how you do it.