Jeffrey A. Bolstad, 32°, K.C.C.H.
1101 University Street, Helena, Montana 59601-6070
norwegian007@msn.com

Change in Freemasonry, as in baseball, is essential for success.

Change is the only constant in life, and Masonry is no exception. The only questions are: "Are we going to change for better or worse? Are we going to succeed or just fade away?"
I have a passion for baseball. Change is certainly evident in this sport. Teams never stay the same from year to year. They are continually trying to achieve their ultimate goal, winning the World Series. Granted, free agency has played a major role in retooling teams, but do you remember the Yankees during their dynasty years between 1949 and 1964? They were always picking up role players whether it was a fresh bullpen pitcher or maybe a new lefty in the starting rotation. Their nucleus of guys-like Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, and Whitey Ford-remained constant. The surrounding cast was always changing. Thus they were able to stay on top.

Masonry is no different. Change is going to happen. Society changes, and we have to change with it. It does not mean our nucleus, our core values and what we are about, is going to change. However, some of our ways of doing things will have to change if we expect this wonderful Fraternity to continue and prosper. What is there about the Blue Lodge, Scottish Rite, York Rite, Shrine, and Eastern Star that will attract young people? It's not the meetings, which tend to be mostly ritual and minutes that go on for too long. Judging by declining attendance, not even our older members are attracted to this format. At best, they seem to come for the fellowship before and after meetings.

We need to go to work, find new, younger members, and encourage them when they want to try new things that appeal to their age group. Only in this way can we breathe fresh life into our Masonic organizations. We can't afford to be oblivious to the fact that what we have been doing is no longer working. Get involved in your local membership program, send in those nominations from your friends, relatives, and business associates, the men you know will make good Masons. We can't sit back and do nothing. The Yankees didn't sit still, and they were the best team in baseball, year in and year out. We can't sit still either. Those that do are not contenders, but pretenders.

Our great Fraternity deserves better.

Jeffrey A. Bolstad is a member of the Scottish Rite Bodies of Helena, Montana, chairs the Valley's Leadership Training Program, and is the Director of the Helena Valley's Scottish Rite Easter Tableaux. A member of the Divan of Algeria Shrine Temple in Helena, he is also editor of that Temple's newsletter, The Algerian. Bro. Bolstad serves on the Board of Governors of the Shriners Hospitals for Children, Spokane, Washington, is a member of three York Rite Bodies, and is the Associate Grand Patron, Grand Chapter of Montana, Order of the Eastern Star. He is also on the Board of Trustees, Masonic Home of Montana, and currently the W.M. of Helena Lodge No. 3. A lay pastor for Valier Lutheran Church, Valier, Mont., he was invested with the K.C.C.H. in 1999.