Masonic Musical Chairs and The Past Master Paradox

Masonic Musical Chairs and The Past Master Paradox

Author: Justin Jones February 7, 2021 Duration: 4:09

We often see Masonic Lodges advancing officers each year like they're playing a game of musical chairs and often without much regard to the leadership capabilities of the brethren.  

Many lodges (and masons) seem to think that putting Past Masters in any office, especially serving as Worshipful Master again, is a sign of an unhealthy lodge.  

This creates somewhat of a paradox where we have two mindsets that seem to contradict each other. On one hand we want to keep advancing everyone through the chairs but on the other hand, we become distraught when we have nobody but Past Masters to take an office.


Justin Jones hosts Masonic Improvement, a thoughtful space dedicated to the ongoing growth of Freemasons and their communities. Rather than focusing on history or ritual, this podcast digs into the practical, everyday questions of how lodges can become more vibrant, engaging, and meaningful for their members. You'll hear conversations that feel like a talk in the lodge room after a meeting-discussions about mentorship, effective communication, planning memorable events, and fostering genuine brotherhood. Each episode offers tangible ideas and perspectives that any member, from new Entered Apprentice to seasoned Past Master, can bring back to their own chapters. It’s for those who believe the fraternity can always evolve and who are looking for that spark to initiate positive change. Tune in for a candid, forward-looking dialogue that turns inspiration into actionable steps, making this podcast a unique resource for personal and organizational development within the craft.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 89

Masonic Improvement
Podcast Episodes
The Deal With Dues In Masonic Lodges [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:04
Your dues are too low. Freemasonry isn't a service club and our primary focus shouldn't be fundraising, however this is the model for the majority of US lodges. As men, we should be willing to invest in ourselves and cov…
Generational Differences In Freemasonry - A Compilation [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:37
Freemasonry is in decline because of generational differences. I strongly believe that generally speaking, what many Grand Lodges (and lodges) assume Millennial masons want does not reflect what we actually expect and de…
Why I Returned To Freemasonry [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:00
This episode goes into detail about why I returned to Freemasonry after I originally left it. If you haven't listened to my earlier episode, "Why I Left Freemasonry (2018)", then you might want to listen to it beforehand…
Masonic Etiquette For The Modern Freemason [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:40
The world is a different place than it was fifty years ago and, in this current day and age, change happens more quickly now than ever before. Is Freemasonry and it's membership ready and able to properly represent the f…
Does Freemasonry Have Secrets? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:28
Masonic Improvement is a blog and vlog dedicated to producing content that brings more value to the Masonic experience. In this short video, I share my thoughts on the question: does Freemasonry have secrets?
Freemasonry Explained - Baphomet, Lucifer, & The Devil [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:39
Do the Freemasons worship Baphomet, Lucifer, or the Devil? Is there a hidden nature to Freemasonry that only the highest level Freemasons are aware of? In this episode of Freemasonry Explained, we talk about Baphomet, Lu…
Why I Left Freemasonry (2018) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:36
Shortly after I became a Master Mason, I came to the realization that Freemasonry was NOT the type of organization that I thought I had joined. I was expecting something deep, meaningful, and important...but all that I f…
How to Become A Freemason [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:50
Are you interested in becoming a Freemason but don't know where to start? I have been a Master Mason in Texas for over 15 years and I'll tell you everything that I think you'll need to know so you can start the journey.…