Jornada Masonic Lodge No. 70 AF & AM

06/17/2026

Guide for the Next Worshipful Master

Section 1: How to Be a Good Leader
Introduction
The moment the Installing Officer declares the officers of the Lodge duly installed, a new chapter begins. As Worshipful Master, the honor, reputation, harmony, and usefulness of the Lodge are placed in your hands. This is not merely a title—it is a solemn trust.
Your portrait may someday hang among those of Past Masters. The question is not whether it will be displayed, but what it will represent. Will the Brethren remember a year marked by vision, harmony, growth, and service? Or will they recall missed opportunities and neglected responsibilities?
A Worshipful Master has only one year in the East. That year should be viewed not as a period of privilege, but as an opportunity to leave a lasting legacy. Every decision, every meeting, every degree, and every interaction contributes to how your administration will be remembered.

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The Foundation of Leadership
Successful organizations, whether fraternal, civic, or corporate, thrive because they place people first. Lodges are no different.
A Lodge exists for its members, their families, and the community it serves. The success of your term will largely depend upon the care and attention you give to those entrusted to your leadership.
Consider the following questions:
• Is the Lodge clean, orderly, and welcoming?
• Are meetings conducted with dignity and efficiency?
• Are meals and refreshments prepared with care?
• Are new members welcomed warmly?
• Do members and their families feel appreciated?
• Are the needs and aspirations of the Brethren being addressed?
The quality of service your Lodge provides directly influences participation, retention, and satisfaction. A Worshipful Master who genuinely cares for his Brethren will rarely struggle to gain their support.

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Authority Versus Leadership
By Masonic law, the Worshipful Master possesses extensive authority. No officer within the Lodge equals his authority while presiding.
Yet true leadership extends beyond authority.
Authority may compel obedience. Leadership inspires cooperation.
The wise Master understands that the gavel is not a weapon but a symbol of responsibility. While he possesses the power to direct, he succeeds by encouraging, teaching, motivating, and uniting the Brethren toward common goals.
In thriving Lodges, the Master leads confidently. In struggling Lodges, leadership vacuums emerge and others assume influence unofficially.
The lesson is simple:
Exercise your authority with humility. Lead with firmness, fairness, courtesy, and Brotherly Love.

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The Buck Stops Here
One of the greatest lessons in leadership is accountability.
Former U.S. President and Freemason famously displayed a sign reading:
"The Buck Stops Here."
For the Worshipful Master, this principle must become a daily reality.
When the Lodge succeeds:
• Share the credit.
When the Lodge struggles:
• Accept the responsibility.
The Master cannot blame committees, officers, or circumstances. Ultimately, the Lodge looks to him for direction and accountability.
A respected Master is one who can confidently say:
"I will gladly share the praise for success, but I will personally accept responsibility for failure."

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Building Your Team
No Worshipful Master can succeed alone.
One of the principal duties of the Master is:
“To set the Craft at work with proper instruction.”
This charge emphasizes the importance of teamwork.
Your Lodge consists of:
Active Officers
The Brethren serving in official capacities.
Active Members
The Brethren willing to assist when called upon.
Inactive Members
The Brethren who may be waiting for a meaningful opportunity to become involved.
A successful Master engages all three groups.
Every Brother possesses talents, experiences, and abilities that can contribute to the welfare of the Lodge. Your responsibility is to identify those strengths and place them where they can best serve.
Remember:
• People support what they help create.
• Participation generates commitment.
• Recognition encourages continued service.
When assigning work, clearly communicate:
1. The goal.
2. The plan.
3. Individual responsibilities.
4. Expected results.

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The Art of Delegation
Delegation is one of the most important leadership skills a Worshipful Master can develop.
Delegation does not mean abandoning responsibility. It means empowering others to perform specific tasks while maintaining oversight.
Principles of Effective Delegation
1. Delegate Authority, Not Responsibility
You may assign a task, but you remain accountable for the outcome.
2. Keep Instructions Simple
Explain clearly what must be accomplished.
Avoid micromanagement.
3. Provide Necessary Resources
Ensure the Brother has the manpower, materials, finances, and support required.
4. Establish Deadlines
Every assignment should have a reasonable completion date.
5. Follow Up Regularly
Monitor progress without interfering unnecessarily.
6. Recognize Achievement
Public appreciation motivates future participation.
Praise is among the most effective leadership tools available to a Worshipful Master.

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The Importance of Follow-Up
Delegation without follow-up often results in unfinished projects.
A Master should:
• Review progress regularly.
• Identify obstacles early.
• Offer assistance when needed.
• Ensure projects remain aligned with Lodge goals.
Effective follow-up demonstrates interest, commitment, and leadership without becoming overbearing.
The best leaders guide rather than command.

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Training Future Leaders
One of the greatest responsibilities of a Worshipful Master is preparing his successors.
Many Lodges struggle because officers receive ritual instruction but little leadership training.
A strong Lodge develops leaders intentionally.
Methods for Officer Development
Provide Written Job Descriptions
Each officer should understand his duties and expectations.
Conduct Regular Officer Meetings
Discuss plans, decisions, and Lodge operations openly.
Establish Mentorship
Encourage each officer to train the Brother who will eventually succeed him.
Encourage Practical Experience
Allow junior officers to perform duties of higher offices when appropriate.
Utilize Educational Resources
Take advantage of available leadership programs, educational seminars, and Grand Lodge training opportunities.
Train Beyond Ritual
Officers should learn:
• Leadership
• Communication
• Administration
• Budgeting
• Event planning
• Conflict resolution
A successful Worshipful Master prepares his replacement before his own term concludes.

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Make Your Lodge Known
Freemasonry should never isolate itself from the community.
While maintaining proper traditions and dignity, Lodges should actively demonstrate their principles through visible service and engagement.
Possible activities include:
• Community service projects
• Participation in local celebrations
• Educational programs
• Open houses
• Public presentations
• Support for charitable initiatives
The goal is not self-promotion but public awareness.
People cannot appreciate the values of Freemasonry if they never encounter them.

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Managing Your Most Valuable Asset: Time
Every Worshipful Master receives:
• 365 days
• 8,760 hours
• 525,600 minutes
How effectively those minutes are used will largely determine the success of his administration.
Time Management Principles
Be Master of Your Schedule
Control your calendar rather than allowing it to control you.
Set Aside Dedicated Lodge Time
Reserve specific periods each week for Lodge business.
Eliminate Distractions
Work in a quiet environment whenever possible.
Prioritize Tasks
Create daily and weekly task lists arranged by importance.
Avoid Procrastination
Difficult tasks rarely become easier through delay.
Learn to Say No
Not every opportunity aligns with Lodge goals.
Make Decisions Promptly
Indecision wastes valuable time.
Delegate Appropriately
Do not spend your time on tasks that others can perform effectively.
Respect Appointments
Honor commitments and encourage others to do the same.
Evaluate Your Time Usage
Regularly review how your time is being spent and make adjustments as needed.

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Final Reflection
The Worshipful Master's authority is significant, but his influence is even greater.
A successful Master:
• Leads by example.
• Accepts responsibility.
• Builds strong teams.
• Delegates wisely.
• Trains future leaders.
• Serves the Brethren faithfully.
• Manages time effectively.
• Places the welfare of the Lodge above personal recognition.
At the conclusion of your year in the East, the true measure of success will not be the number of meetings held, degrees conferred, or reports submitted.
Rather, it will be found in the strength of the Lodge, the growth of its officers, the harmony among the Brethren, and the legacy you leave for those who follow.
Lead with wisdom. Govern with justice. Serve with humility. These are the enduring marks of a worthy Worshipful Master.

06/08/2026

Finishing Is Rare
by Ron C. Nischwitz Sr.
6-7-26

Beginning is easy...
Ideas rise like sparks...
Enthusiasm burns bright at the first blow of the gavel...
Any man can step into the Lodge of Entered Apprenticeship with energy in his stride...
and ambition in his heart...
But finishing...
That is the rarer labor...
To carry a task from rough ashlar to perfect stone...
To remain faithful when the Work grows dull...
When the edge of excitement wears off...
When the room grows empty and no Brother is watching...
This is the mark of a different kind of Mason...
It is the quiet...
disciplined pride of a craftsman who honors his obligation...
not with speeches...
but with steady hands and a faithful heart...
In a world overflowing with beginnings...
true completion shines like a polished jewel in the East...
You notice it...
You trust it...
For these days...
it is no small thing to find a man who simply does what he said he would do...
who follows the line laid down on the trestleboard...
who finishes the labor properly...
without spectacle...
without excuse...
without seeking applause...
Just the Work...
Done well...
Done fully...
Done with integrity...
Such a man is not loud...
but he is solid...
a cornerstone you can build with...
a Brother whose word is as firm as the gavel that shaped him...
For in the Craft...
anyone can begin the journey...
but it is the TRUE Master Mason who completes the Work...
who proves himself worthy of the Light entrusted to him by the Great Architect of the Universe...
and in today's world this is sadly rare...
So take up your tools...
Labor diligently...
and work until the Great Architect of the Universe calls you to lay down your tools...
and says those words we lond to hear...
Well done my good and faithful servant.

05/26/2026

05/26/2026

Between the pillars, we are reminded that life is both strength and humility. 🕯️

Today, extend your hand to someone in need, just as a true brother would. For in every act of kindness, we build a legacy that time can never erase.

Stand firm. Stay compassionate. Leave a light behind you.

05/24/2026

Harry S. Truman left the presidency on the morning of January 20, 1953, and quietly walked away from power in a way almost unimaginable today.

He had no presidential pension, no government office, no staff, and no official motorcade waiting for him. The Former Presidents Act — the law that later provided salaries and offices to former U.S. presidents — did not yet exist. His primary regular income was a modest military pension from his service as a field artillery captain during World War I: $112.56 per month.

He boarded a train at Union Station with his wife, Bess, and returned home to Independence, Missouri.

At the end of his presidency, Truman’s popularity was among the lowest of any modern American president. Much of Washington considered his administration a disappointment. Newspapers treated his departure almost as a relief.

So Truman simply went home and lived quietly.

That summer, he bought a Chrysler and personally drove with Bess across the country. A former President of the United States stopped to pump his own gas, signed autographs for truck drivers who recognized him, and was once pulled over in Pennsylvania for driving too slowly. Back in Independence, he answered his own phone, personally responded to thousands of letters, and walked through town every morning at such a brisk pace that reporters sometimes struggled to keep up.

He did not spend his retirement attacking his successors or trying to rebuild his public image. He remained the same plainspoken Missourian he had been before entering the White House.

But history slowly began to reconsider what he had accomplished.

As president, Truman signed Executive Order 9981 in 1948, ending racial segregation in the United States Armed Forces despite major political opposition. Through the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan, he committed the United States to rebuilding Western Europe after World War II and containing Soviet expansion during the early Cold War. Much of the democratic stability Western Europe experienced afterward can be traced to those decisions.

In November 1945, Truman also became the first U.S. president to formally propose a national health insurance program.

The idea was fiercely attacked. The American Medical Association condemned it as “socialized medicine,” and Congress repeatedly blocked it. Truman later described the failure to pass national healthcare legislation as one of the greatest disappointments of his presidency.

Still, he returned home to Missouri and carried on with his life.

Twenty years later, on July 30, 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Social Security Amendments of 1965 — creating Medicare and Medicaid.

Johnson chose not to sign the bill in Washington. Instead, he traveled to Independence, Missouri, and held the ceremony at the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum.

There, seated beside him, was 81-year-old Harry S. Truman.

Johnson publicly acknowledged that Truman had helped plant the seeds for the program decades earlier. After signing the bill, Johnson presented Truman with the very first Medicare card. Bess Truman received one as well.

The man many once believed had failed lived long enough to see one of his biggest unfinished ideas become law.

Truman died on December 26, 1972, at age 88. Today, historians commonly rank him among the most consequential presidents in American history.

He never aggressively campaigned to restore his reputation. He simply returned to the small Missouri town he came from and allowed time — and history — to speak for him.

History has a long memory.

For Harry Truman, it took about twenty years to catch up.

Truman was also a deeply devoted Freemason. Harry S. Truman became a Mason in 1909 and remained active throughout his life. He once said that becoming Grand Master of Masons in Missouri was one of the greatest honors he ever received — an achievement he valued even above the presidency itself.

Highlights of his Masonic life include:

* Founding member and first Worshipful Master of Grandview Lodge No. 618 in Missouri
* Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Missouri in 1940 while serving as a U.S. Senator
* Recipient of the 33° in the Scottish Rite
* Active participant in both the Scottish Rite and York Rite
* The only U.S. president known to have celebrated 50 years as a Freemason while still living

For many Masons, Truman remains an example of humility, service, integrity, and quiet leadership — a man whose work ultimately spoke louder than public opinion.