Freemasonry being more open about itself?

[free thinker]

This is all part of our vision for recruitment and retention. Personally, I see recruitment as a public relations and marketing exercise and the best public relations we can ever have is the individual Mason talking to his friends enthusiastically about his Masonry. The best marketing will, I hope, soon be our Grand Lodge website. This is the single most important public face of English Freemasonry. It is the easiest way for men to find us, and it is where we should be laying out our stall to attract quality candidates. It is then up to Lodges to ensure their interview process sifts out unsuitable men. A lot of effort has been going on behind the scenes to develop a first class website, aimed at men in the 35-50 years old age range. This will include some video element and is due to go live in March. I am very excited by its potential.

For retention, we have the Mentoring Scheme. Every candidate should be given a Mentor to help him understand what we do and why, and introduce him to the other members of the Lodge. Nothing puts a candidate off more than a holier-than-thou approach from more experienced Brethren who should know better. Arrogance has no place in an organisation which teaches Brotherly Love as its first Grand Principle. A candidate should be encouraged to ask questions - and if we do not know the answers we should point him in the right direction to find out

http://www.ugle.org.uk/news-events-page/all-quarterly-communication-speeches/dec-2008-pro-grand-masters-address/