Supporting Candidates and Personal Mentors
by John Kisbey Asst.PGM
Historically, Freemasonry has suffered a loss of members during their first three years following Initiation. This is true across all UGLE provinces. Whilst some of these resignations were unavoidable, a number were due to a lack of involvement and engagement.
With the success of Warwickshire’s digital marketing campaign, we have a number of new Masons who may not know anyone in their new Lodge to support them. Further, the requirements of the campaign’s Charter mean that a proportion of Personal Mentors may not have years of experience in the role.
To address these issues, the new candidate welcome pack has been launched. For Candidates, it contains a wide range of information, including the rewritten ‘Degree Booklets’, to be received after each of the ceremonies. It also contains a range of tips and pointers for new members, designed to prevent early social ‘embarrassment’ and enable them to feel involved. It also has a suggested Learning and Development programme, covering the three degrees. The aim is to engage and involve candidates from the outset.
For Personal Mentors, the Welcome Pack provides a basic structure for their work with the candidate, from which they may add, subtract and adapt to the requirements of their particular Lodge. This is especially true of the Learning and Development elements.
Whilst all of this is designed to support Candidates and their Mentors, it is not intended to replace the warmth, welcome and help all good Lodges give to new members. Rather, it provides guidance in producing confident and competent Master Masons at the beginning of their journey in Freemasonry.
The welcome pack is intended to be the first of a number of support materials for Masons who are progressing towards the Chair of their Lodge and work has begun on other areas.
Contained within are guides and narrative cards for all three degrees, mentoring and introductory resources, learning and development materials, etiquette and regalia guidance, odes card, digital QR access to key platforms, and an introduction to the Royal Arch.
Logistically, welcome packs will be dispatched to Lodge Secretaries, prior to Initiation ceremonies. N.B. The pack carrier will need assembling! (Having personally assembled over 100, I can testify it’s not too difficult). The Secretary will need to remove items that will be required at future meetings, for example, the second and third-degree booklets, and retain for later use.
Couldn’t Make the Welcome Pack Launch?
For those who were unable to attend the launch seminar for the new pack at the end of July, a repeat session is being held at Knowle Masonic Centre on the evening of 29th October 2026.
Download the Welcome Pack
Members can view and download PDF copies of all the resources included in the Warwickshire Freemasons Welcome Pack from the Craft Resources section of the Members’ Area.
The Members’ Area is password protected. If you do not have the current password, please ask your Lodge Secretary or Chapter Scribe E.