What makes a successful Lodge?

I have been doing quite a lot of visiting recently. At the back of my mind I have been considering the question of what makes a successful lodge as opposed to one that is struggling. (Of course, the question of successful and unsuccessful is a very arbitrary one and there is actually a continuum of success.)

Among the successful Lodges around where I live would be Mirfield Lodge 1102, Lodge of Peace 149 and Rugby Football Lodge No. 9811. There is little to discern from the Lodge number as one is a very old Lodge, and one a very new one. All have high numbers of members and a number of regular visitors (we might say fans).

Amongst successful Lodge there appears to  be a virtuous cycle: its success leads to greater enthusiasm, this greater enthusiasm leads to more energy. This energy produces a greater attention to detail, which is rewarded by being part of a successful organisation, which then leads to greater enthusiasm.

Amongst the least successful Lodge there is the opposite: a viscous cycle. There seems to be an air of despondency and hopelessness amongst such Lodges. In a successful Lodge they will tell you how they are going to make it work: in less successful Lodges they will tell you why it will never work. This is underpinned by  some fairly internecine battles in less successful Lodge where it is clear there is never going  to be any consensus.

However, successful Lodges are not necessarily without their disagreements. The point is they can get beyond the disagreement to some form of accommodation.  As somebody one said, those who are ruled by their passions are sometimes marginalised by their passions. Passion is a good thing to have, in fact it is the first characteristic of a successful Lodge. However, it is of little use without some form of resolution amongst the brethren.

Successful Lodges are, therefore, successful  communities first and foremost. It is important not to put the cart before the horse. They are not successful because of the age of their warrant, whether they have a ladies circle, whether they meet on a Saturday, because they have stewarding or because they have an active social calendar. These are manifestations of success: it works because the arrangements are agreeable to the members, their partners and their friends.

The question one needs to ask oneself, therefore, is what can we do to enhance the masonic experience of our members? What can we add or subtract that will enhance people's engagement with the Craft? There is no universal answer to this, only what works for different people in different contexts.