Waco Journal
Tuesday, September 16, 2025
  • Local News
  • Crime
  • COVID-19
  • Texas
  • Education
  • Politics
No Result
View All Result
Waco Journal
  • Local News
  • Crime
  • COVID-19
  • Texas
  • Education
  • Politics
No Result
View All Result
Waco Journal
No Result
View All Result

Despite dwindling membership, some Free Masons in Central Texas are optimistic about the future

by Gavin Wright
January 3, 2021
in Crime
Despite dwindling membership, some Free Masons in Central Texas are optimistic about the future

WACO, TX — 25 News recently reported the concerning decline in Masonic membership and the concern some Masons feel over their future. Since that time, several Mason has reached out to share a different perspective about why they’re optimistic for the future.

Masons of the Baylor Masonic Lodge #1235 in Waco say that while there’s certainly been a decline in numbers from a long-term perspective, there’s also been an improvement in the organization’s ability to attract younger talent.

“We are very excited about the things going on in our lodge right now,” Past Master Scott Irwin said.

Age is the primary factor in the decline of dwindling membership. 25 News previously reported that the average number of members within some houses is above 70, with thousands of members passing away each year.

Overcoming the age cap is a massive obstacle in attracting new members, and based on the crowd at Baylor’s Masonic Lodge on Wednesday, they’ve seen some success in jumping the hurdle.

Among the crowd is Andrew Patterson, a law student at Baylor University in his early 20s who’s recently obtained the title of Master Mason at Baylor Lodge. Patterson says he inquired about membership because he wanted to learn more about the city of Waco, from where he’s not from initially.

“I’ve met a lot of good guys,” Patterson said. “With me being younger, they have a lot of experience that I can learn from.”

Jason Williams is a veteran and became a member of the Masons in his early 30s.

“I’m 34 and I became a Mason in 2018,” he said.

The secret for recruiting a younger pool of members? Spann says in many ways, it comes to getting your brand out front and center.

“I wear something as much as I can that signifies I’m a Mason,” he said.

While Masons can outright solicit new members, it can be a challenge in having someone ask about membership first. Spann says something as small as a coin can go a long way towards initiating a conversation with someone towards becoming a member.

“I’ll carry something, even if it’s just a coin with the Masonic emblem on it,” he explained. “I can’t ask you to be a Mason, but I can certainly inquire as to the knowledge you have of our fraternity.”

As for whether he’s concerned about the existence of Free Masons in the future, Spann says he’s not.

“Absolutely not,” he said. “One thing that I want to make sure that everyone realizes is that within the community, Masons have continued to work. We continue to do good work over the years, and we haven’t diminished our footprint in the community, We’ve just diminished out presence.”

Related Posts

Parent Iocked his chiId, who has speciaI needs, and Ieft the home for nearIy 8 hours, Ieaving the 2-year-old all aIone in a fiIthy home, only for the child to be found by his father
Crime

Parent Iocked his chiId, who has speciaI needs, and Ieft the home for nearIy 8 hours, Ieaving the 2-year-old all aIone in a fiIthy home, only for the child to be found by his father

April 20, 2025

OHIO - An Ohio man, identified as 35-year-old Josh, was arrested earlier this month and charged with child endangerment after...

Child was severely injured and her hand began to peel away after her mom’s husband became upset the girl shoved her sibling, before he placed her palm onto a hot cooktop
Crime

Child was severely injured and her hand began to peel away after her mom’s husband became upset the girl shoved her sibling, before he placed her palm onto a hot cooktop

April 20, 2025

Florida – A parent and her spouse from Florida were arrested last week and now face charges of child abuse...

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department invites public to East Texas Fire and Nature Festival to learn about benefits of prescribed fire
Crime

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department invites public to East Texas Fire and Nature Festival to learn about benefits of prescribed fire

February 21, 2025

Waco, TX - Texas Parks and Wildlife Department invited the public to learn about the importance of fire in nature...

Public Safety Commission honors Texans for service and bravery at first meeting of the year
Crime

Public Safety Commission honors Texans for service and bravery at first meeting of the year

February 14, 2025

Waco, TX - The Public Safety Commission (PSC), along with Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Colonel Freeman F. Martin,...

Waco honors Pet Circle Road for its life-saving mission at animal center
Crime

Waco honors Pet Circle Road for its life-saving mission at animal center

February 9, 2025

Waco, TX - The City of Waco celebrated the honorary renaming of a portion of Circle Road to Pet Circle...

Waco City Council appoints new City Attorney after unanimous vote
Crime

Waco City Council appoints new City Attorney after unanimous vote

February 6, 2025

Waco, TX - The Waco City Council has appointed Kristen Hamilton-Karam as the new City Attorney. With over 13 years of...

Woman dies while trying to help another femaIe stop or de-escaIate the aItercation with her partner, after a struggIe in which the man gained controI of a firearm she puIIed out when he brandished a utiIity tooI and kiIIed her: police
News

Woman dies while trying to help another femaIe stop or de-escaIate the aItercation with her partner, after a struggIe in which the man gained controI of a firearm she puIIed out when he brandished a utiIity tooI and kiIIed her: police

by Nolan Harris
September 13, 2025
0

Pennsylvania - A Pennsylvania man was arrested and charged with the fataI shooting of 33-year-old L. Jeardine outside store in Pennsylvania....

Read moreDetails
Woman who cIaimed the father of her baby threatened to harm her and she acted in seIf-defense when he charged at her after she kiIIed the man while he was Iying on the fIoor covered with a bIanket, was sentenced

Woman who cIaimed the father of her baby threatened to harm her and she acted in seIf-defense when he charged at her after she kiIIed the man while he was Iying on the fIoor covered with a bIanket, was sentenced

September 13, 2025
Governor Greg Abbott announces $17.3 million grant to SpaceX for expansion of semiconductor R&D facility in Bastrop

Governor Abbott announces winners of 2025 Lex Frieden Employment Awards

September 12, 2025
Commissioner Miller urges public to comment on seafood industry regulations

Commissioner Miller urges public to comment on seafood industry regulations

September 12, 2025
Texas DPS welcomes Class C-2025 recruits to trooper training

Texas DPS welcomes Class C-2025 recruits to trooper training

September 12, 2025
Woman dies while trying to help another femaIe stop or de-escaIate the aItercation with her partner, after a struggIe in which the man gained controI of a firearm she puIIed out when he brandished a utiIity tooI and kiIIed her: police

Woman dies while trying to help another femaIe stop or de-escaIate the aItercation with her partner, after a struggIe in which the man gained controI of a firearm she puIIed out when he brandished a utiIity tooI and kiIIed her: police

by Nolan Harris
September 13, 2025
0

Pennsylvania - A Pennsylvania man was arrested and charged with the fataI shooting of 33-year-old L. Jeardine outside store in Pennsylvania....

Woman who cIaimed the father of her baby threatened to harm her and she acted in seIf-defense when he charged at her after she kiIIed the man while he was Iying on the fIoor covered with a bIanket, was sentenced

Woman who cIaimed the father of her baby threatened to harm her and she acted in seIf-defense when he charged at her after she kiIIed the man while he was Iying on the fIoor covered with a bIanket, was sentenced

by Nolan Harris
September 13, 2025
0

California - A California woman was ordered to spend the next thirty five years behind bars for the murder of...

Governor Greg Abbott announces $17.3 million grant to SpaceX for expansion of semiconductor R&D facility in Bastrop

Governor Abbott announces winners of 2025 Lex Frieden Employment Awards

by Nolan Harris
September 12, 2025
0

Texas - Governor Greg Abbott announced the 2025 recipients of the Lex Frieden Employment Awards (LFEA), which recognize businesses and...

Commissioner Miller urges public to comment on seafood industry regulations

Commissioner Miller urges public to comment on seafood industry regulations

by Nolan Harris
September 12, 2025
0

Texas - Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller highlighted an opportunity for residents to influence the future of the American seafood...

About Us

A community needs news and Waco Journal is proud to serve 50,000 households each month through our website covering Waco and the other local counties.

Learn more

Recent Stories

  • Woman dies while trying to help another femaIe stop or de-escaIate the aItercation with her partner, after a struggIe in which the man gained controI of a firearm she puIIed out when he brandished a utiIity tooI and kiIIed her: police
  • Woman who cIaimed the father of her baby threatened to harm her and she acted in seIf-defense when he charged at her after she kiIIed the man while he was Iying on the fIoor covered with a bIanket, was sentenced

Categories

  • Local News
  • Crime
  • COVID-19
  • Texas
  • Education
  • Politics
Currently Playing

© 2023 Waco Journal

  • Local News
  • Crime
  • COVID-19
  • Texas
  • Education
  • Politics
No Result
View All Result