The following is an archived copy of the first release of the Members’ Pathway and is provided here to preserve it for reference and research purposes.

The Members’ Pathway was first published in 2017, as a single PDF file with links between the eleven Steps and their good practice and support documents. The final version of that PDF file, dated April 2019, can be downloaded here.

Later in 2019 the Members’ Pathway was repackaged, retaining the eleven step model but as a series of interlinked online documents accessed from a webpage. This version was in keeping with the original concept.

The following is the final published version of the first release, dated 20th June 2020. Each document bears the initials of the author(s) in the footer.

Please click on the links to access the material.

Welcome to the Members’ Pathway

A structured step-by-step approach for Lodges to attract, introduce and retain members.

Get an overview of the Members’ Pathway
Introduction to the Members’ Pathway	Executive briefing	Members’ Pathway introductory leaflet	Quick Start Guide

Read about the key stages in the Members’ Pathway
Attract new members to my Lodge	Introduce new members to my Lodge	Support and retain members	Retrieve lost members

Dig deeper into the Members’ Pathway
Introduce the Royal Arch to new members	Find out about good practice and the support documents	Monitor progress and review success of the Members’ Pathway	See the suggested Reading List
Review Lodge practices and plan for the future	See example letters to applicants

Understand the roles & responsibilities in the Members’ Pathway
My role in the Members’ Pathway	The Lodge Membership Officer’s role	The Lodge Mentors’ role	The Personal Mentor’s role
The Provincial Membership Officer’s role	The Provincial Grand Mentor’s role	Local Mentoring structures	Self-learning guide for Provincial Officers

Attract new members to my Lodge

You can start attracting new members to your Lodge by following Step 1: Lodge planning, to make sure your Lodge is “fit for the future”, attractive and relevant to potential members.

In this Step, the Lodge prepares and agrees a plan comprising:

a review and update of its current practices
a Lodge profile
if appropriate, a profile of its “ideal candidate”
how it will increase its visibility in its local community
the assignment of specific responsibilities related to the introduction of new members.

When the plan is complete, you can go on to Step 2: Identifying prospective candidates, to consider people who might become future members.

In this Step, Lodge members use various techniques. One very successful approach is to create “long lists” of people members know from different aspects of their lives (eg, Family members, Work colleagues, Social club members, Friends, Fellow worshipers, etc), and then, using the profiles compiled in Step 1, they prepare a “short list” of appropriate people who might be approached with a view to joining the Lodge.

Introduce new members to my Lodge

If you have already identified prospective new members (Step 2), Step 3: Approaching prospective candidates will guide you through how you can raise the topic of Freemasonry and discuss it with them.

In this Step, a member or members approach a prospective candidate to find out whether he might be interested in Freemasonry and to help him learn enough about us to decide whether he wishes to pursue membership. Note: this is not an invitation to join; the candidate must still ask to become a Freemason and acceptance will depend upon suitability.

If someone approaches you with an interest in Freemasonry, or you receive a referral from another body in Freemasonry, Step 4: Responding to enquiries, will help you follow up the enquiry and decide whether you wish to consider them for membership of your Lodge.

This Step is an alternative to Step 3 and is followed when a “potential candidate” approaches the Lodge, or is referred to the Lodge, with an expression of interest. Such approaches need to be validated and sponsors found.

After using either Step 3 or Step 4, then use Step 5: Preparing the applicant for interview, to check the applicant’s suitability and to progress his application for membership.

In this Step, sponsors discuss Freemasonry and membership in detail, to screen the prospective candidate, to determine whether he meets the qualifications for membership.

Finally, use Step 6: Interviewing the applicant, to plan, run and follow-up the applicant’s interview.

In this Step, the prospective candidate is now an “applicant”. He completes a Grand Lodge Registration Form and goes to formal interview. A small permanent interview panel conducts the interview on behalf of the Lodge Committee.

Support and retain members

The first step in this section, Step 7: Preparing the Candidate for Initiation, marks the beginning of mentoring.

If the Interview Panel recommends him as a suitable candidate then he is proposed, balloted for and prepared for initiation. This Step provides guidance on what you can do to prepare the candidate and begin the mentoring process.

That is continued in Step 8: Supporting the new Freemason, which provides a framework for meeting the needs and interests of the new member.

The Personal Mentor, whether he be a sponsor or another experienced Freemason, provides the new member with support tailored to his individual needs, as he goes through the ceremonies and experiences aspects of Freemasonry for the first time.

Step 10: Retaining our members, outlines how continued mentoring will build members’ interest, confidence and commitment.

Retention involves a series of positive activities a Lodge can undertake to help the new member gain enjoyment and satisfaction and to grow in his commitment, and preventive activities to respond to any signs of dissatisfaction.

Retrieve lost members

If a member is at risk of resigning from the Lodge, Step 11: Retrieving members, explains how we can retrieve his interest and retain his membership.

In the regrettable event that a member submits his resignation, there are also activities to retrieve his membership. This Step is co-ordinated by Metropolitan / Provincial / District Grand Lodges.

Members’ Pathway good practice

The following “good practice” documents provide further guidance and explain how actions mentioned in the Step Guides can be carried out.

Support documents

The following “support documents” provide reference and background material and support the guidance in the Step Guides.