What Freemasonry can do for you if you would only let it. This subject came to mind when talking with one of our members concerned with the lack of those willing to take speaking assignments for our Lodge and Scottish Rite Temple. First, the "I just can't do it" crutch does not bear weight. Only by the good grace of my teacher did I pass oral English in high school. I was unable to communicate very effectively orally with anyone other than close associates. I was in extreme difficulty when my firm asked me to call on prospects outside our regular base of customers. Then I came into Masonry. When told I had to commit to memory a portion of what I went through, I literally told them they might as well give me my money back. I was convinced I could not memorize. They told me I could and that they would put me with someone who could teach me. To my amazement, they were right.

Glowing with success, I decided to put my new-found talent to a test by learning one of the prayers. I did. After some hesitation, I accepted the invitation to go in the line in my Lodge, telling the incoming Master I would go as far as I could, thinking I could never reach the Master's chair. Again, success.

During my term as Junior Warden, I learned of the Southern California Research Lodge and thought it could be an aid in Masonic information and education. It was, and, in addition, the Lodge put me to work on the panel discussions then in vogue. Each panelist had about a ten-minute paper to read followed by a question-and-answer period handled by the moderator of the panel. The association with the knowledgeable writers of the panels was in itself of great value.

With this under my belt, I accepted single assignments reading one of our papers. As some of these were for open audiences, my wife joined me. Following my reading one evening, my wife remarked: "Why don't you learn to make your talks without reading? Your presentation would be much better, more interesting, and you would have a better rapport with your audience." I followed her advice, using only notes to keep on the straight and narrow. It was, as she said, an improvement for both the audience and me.

Then one night, an open meeting with a musical program followed by my talk, horror of horrors, I was put up before a stand-up mike with no place for notes. I thought, could I do it without notes? I did, and what a tremendous satisfaction it was! Unless you have done it, you have no idea what an enjoyment it can be to face an audience and talk with rather than speak to them. And I learned how to do it in Freemasonry. This enabled me to take major parts in Degrees and serve as classroom director for 17 years in the Valley of Long Beach, California.

And what about the side benefits? I found I was able to call on strangers and be at ease talking to them. It made my work a pleasant experience rather than a not-so-pleasant chore. Changing positions took me from selling to buying. Again, meeting with others and dealing with them were now enjoyable experiences. I used to tease those who looked forward to Friday (the T.G.I.F. group) as the last day of a work week, telling them I, too, looked forward to Fridays because it was only two days until I could again work five days in a row!

Ralph A. Herbold  is a Past Master of Lynwood Lodge No. 600, Lynwood, Calif., and the Southern California Research Lodge. He served as Wise Master of the Chapter of Rose Croix of the Long Beach, Calif., Scottish Rite Bodies, and was coroneted a 33° I.G.H. in 1971. The then Sovereign Grand Commander of Brazil, Alberto Mansur, conferred their 33° on him on September 17, 1987. He has been active in civic affairs, serving as a member of the Planning Commissions of Lynwood and Buena Park, the Traffic Commission of Buena Park, and President of the Lynwood Chamber of Commerce. He retired from a career as a purchasing agent in 1980 and now lives in Ashland, Oregon.