"In the first place, I believe we are reaping the harvest of what we did not sow. In Oklahoma we have neglected - yes, woefully neglected - our public relations and proper publicity. Our Lodges have Communications without anything to communicate. our Lodges never, if they can possibly avoid it, permit any publicity or any information to leak out concerning the teachings and objectives of Freemasonry and thus never give those fine men even an opportunity to learn anything about the Craft. Here in Oklahoma we have too many unkempt Lodge Halls, cob-webs and bird's nests in the windows, unswept stairs and hallways, undusted furniture that is, to say the least, unattractive, and a myriad of other shortcomings.
"There is seldom an incentive for non-Mason to petition for the degrees because he knows nothing about our purposes, teachings or objectives. A school superintendent was interviewed by our Senior Grand Warden about American Education Week activities, in which Oklahoma Masonry has begun to participate, and at the conclusion of the interview he asked if this was a sample of what Masonry believed in and worked for, and in being assured that it was he immediately asked for a petition. He stated that he had been around Masons all his life and this was the first time he ever knew that Masons did anything except go to the Lodge Hall and confer some degrees and now he had learned something and wanted to be a member.
"There is no need for me to harass you with a lot of detail about my ideas. You are much more conversant with our manifold problems and shortcomings than this writer. However, it has come to my attention so many times that if and when a Lodge gets enough ambition, vim and vision and begins to do something for the community there is immediate response in new petitions and the reinstatement of those in arrears. There seems to be no way in which you or I can be induced to offer our money for membership into some unknown organization.
"In Oklahoma Freemasonry has been on the bargain counter. I almost said the 5 and 10 cent counter, for so long that it just does not arouse the interest that it should have. You could probably put a genuine diamond on the counter of a local variety store amidst the "Kress diamonds' and it would be passed up by those who don't know values. We need to let the world know, in a proper and discreet manner, just what Freemasonry teaches, what it stands for and what it can do for the community and then we shall have petitions for the degrees...We don't have enough activity to keep the public informed as to what we are doing and what we believe.
"Our fathers and grandfathers were always doing something for their neighbors and gave Masonry the credit. They waited on the ill, buried the dead, cared for the destitute. We don't get that publicity any more. I merely say: Take him to the hospital, I don't have time to fool with him. Call the undertaker, I don't have time to bury him. In fact, we have just about quit doing anything for anyone other than our selfish selves and then wonder why the public doesn't recognize our great vision and great purposes and teachings. I just wonder.
" Dear Broher Morris, this will show you that i know little about the reasons for the decline in membership and have not even answered your question. Frankly, I don't know any method by which the downward trend can be stopped and turned upward except by letting our purposes, our beliefs and our objectives be known. If Freemasonry is good, let us talk about it and advise our friends. If we are ashamed of Freemasonry let us keep quiet (about like many of us have been doing) and membership will continue to decline."
This letter is signed by J. Fred Latham, Grand Secretary, Grand Lodge of Oklahoma.
I think we NEED to tell the world about US!
I think we NEED to BUILD and IMAGE - an image in the mind of the public that Freemasonry is a great institution, a most valuable asset for the community, a tremendous influence for public good - and above all, an institution of DIGNITY, QUALITY and SUBSTANCE.
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