Membership Trends

Masonic Matters
February 10, 2009
By Ed Halpaus

“The economy depends about as much on economists as the weather does on weather forecasters.” Jean-Paul Kauffmann

This publication is printed with the permission of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of A.F. & A. M. of Minnesota. The opinion and writings in Masonic Matters are the writings and opinions of Ed Halpaus, and are not in any way representative of any opinion or position of the Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. of Minnesota.

“Members of groups that do not meet regularly together usually do not feel a strong sense of belonging and do not take ownership for the success of the group.” Unknown

I bring you greetings from Most Worshipful Brother Thomas C. Jackson, Grand Master of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Minnesota, and all of the Grand Lodge officers, elected and appointed, of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota.

Membership Trends
By Ed Halpaus, MPS (Life)

Copies of Grand Lodge Proceedings are good references to have on hand for research; because some Grand Lodges are publishing them on their web sites as PDF files they’re available to more Masons than ever before, and are much easier to store than the books ever were. Now is a great time to begin a collection of proceedings of your Grand Lodge in electronic form.

Proceedings are good tools to use to track membership trends. Recently I looked at the number of demits and stricken Masons from 1927 through 1944 in my Grand Lodge. Those 17 years represent a lot of changes; part of the Roaring 20’s, the Great Depression, and World War II. I thought; possibly there might be something to be learned by looking back into that period of membership history.

In 1927 there were 60,769 Master Masons in my jurisdiction: That year 1,423 of them either demitted or resigned (withdrawn) or were stricken from the rolls for non-payment of dues. In 1929 the total withdrawn and stricken went up by 70; but the total number of members increased to 61,917; the last year for an increase in members until 1945.

In 1930 (I was unable to view 1928,) the number of stricken rose to 1,032; then 1,336 in ’31; then 1,802 in ’33; finally topping out at 2,239 in 1934. Overall, the total number of Master Masons went from 60,769 in 1927 to 46,689 in 1942, (slightly more than a 23% total decline.) By 1944, (I could not view 1943,) the total number of Master Masons began to increase slightly; 46,689 in 1942 to 46, 727 in 1944; by 1946 the number grew to; 48,660. It might be safe to say that the Great Depression was devastating to membership, and the period after WWII helped it to recover. It took until 1951 to exceed the number in 1929; in ’51 the number of Master Masons was 62,531.

In 1962 the Grand Master stated: “from 1943 to 1953 there was a net gain of 19,464 members. In 1954, the gain was 895, and each year since then, [to 1962,] the curve of net gain has wavered and dropped down until today we show our first loss.”

Freemasonry has been in a period of membership decline that dates back to 1962 in my jurisdiction for a variety of reasons that we don’t seem to be able to get control of. But this trend is not peculiar to only one jurisdiction, it is similar to many if not all jurisdictions in the U.S., and possibly in other parts of the world as well; it began slowly and has continued for over 40 years, with more noticeable annual declines in recent years. Through the years there have been times of prosperity and recession. Now, however, we are facing the most severe recession since the Great Depression.

Gaining control of the drain on membership can be the difference between survival and closing.

With the present economy occupying the minds of many of us it seems prudent for Freemasonry, and all of its appendant and concordant bodies, to come to grips with the reality of the economy, and its possible effect on our brethren.

It might be prudent for lodge government, (the Master and Wardens,) the appointed officers, along with the lodge membership committee, to research the membership numbers and trends in their lodge, to see what the number of withdrawn and stricken are; then brainstorm ideas to reduce them. Some drains on membership, such as deaths cannot be controlled but, the lodge can have a positive effect on stemming the tide of demits, resignations and NPD’s: It takes work, it’s not easy, but it can be done.

When families watch the household economy, (being uncertain about the future,) they tend to reduce the amount of money expended; they prioritize in order of importance. Individuals & families will continue to put money into things that are important to them. Maybe some questions to ponder are;

1. How important is membership to our members, especially the non-attendees?
2. What can we do to increase the importance?
3. What can we offer to our members to increase the importance and the value of their membership in the eyes of their families?

Many families today view the money they spend as belonging to the family, not just the husband, so they look at value and enjoyment very closely.

Some things that might be worth examining are:

1. Is the lodge friendly and pleasant to come to? Pleasant enough so they want to come back?
2. Why are they members, and what do they hope to derive from being a Mason and being a part of our Lodge, or Masonic group?
3. Do our members need this lodge to enjoy being a Mason? How relevant is the Lodge in the lives of our members?
4. What do, or what can, we offer to help our members to derive what they want from membership?
5. What do they want?
6. Is there another group offering what we offer, are they doing it better than we are?
7. If attending lodge is unimportant, how long until continuing with dues payments becomes unimportant?
8. Is managing our membership important to us, can we survive while continuing to lose members through withdrawals and by striking them?
9. Do we care if our lodge or group survives for the next 20, 30, or 50 years, or do we only care that it survives until we’re out of office?
10. What can we do to manage our weaknesses, (the drain of our membership,) and provide more of what Freemasons are looking for by being a member of our lodge or group?

We may each have opinions on the above thoughts and questions, but the Masons who would best examine them or similar questions would be membership committees and elected and appointed officers. It is my opinion that if a Lodge were to engage in some serious research and soul searching, to see if there is a problem with declining membership; then analyze what part of the decline they could slow down or eliminate; then examine and implement what they could do to attract new, and restored members, and then keep them by adding value; then possibly all their efforts will make a positive difference in their lodge or group; if enough of us do this then maybe the economy we all face will have less of a negative affect on our membership than it otherwise would.

“It's a recession when your neighbor loses his job; it's a depression when you lose your own.” M.W. Brother Harry S. Truman, 33° & 33rd President of the United States

From the Great light of Masonry = “Hard work means prosperity; only fools idle away their time.” Proverbs 12:11 NLT

Words to live by: Much effort, much prosperity. Euripides

Some of Ed’s publications can be read on-line at http://www.halpaus.net

Please remember: if you would like to participate in the latest Masonic Monday Question, please go to http://www.lodgebuilder.org and click on the Lodge Education forum. When you have an answer send it to masonicmonday@gmail.com the question for the week of 02-09-09 is: On 12 & 13 April 1861 two Freemasons exchanged cannon fire that started the American Civil War. Who were these Masons, and where did the battle take place?

More Light – Mehr Licht ©, Masonic Matters © and T.F.S. ©, are sent out by E-mail at no charge to anyone who would like to receive them. If you enjoy these publications please share them with others. To subscribe to any one or all of these publications just send an E-mail to erhmasonic@gmail.com with Subscribe in the subject line and you will be added to the list to receive the publications.

“If there be light, then there is darkness; if cold, heat; if height, depth; if solid, fluid; if hard, soft; if rough, smooth; if calm, tempest; if prosperity, adversity; if life, death.” Pythagoras

With “Brotherly Love”,
Ed Halpaus

Political Freedom, Religious Tolerance, Personal Integrity; Freemasonry – it’s not for everyone.

The right to Instruction, and the Duty to Instruct

Masonic Matters
March 10, 2009
By Ed Halpaus

“Seeing much, suffering much, and studying much, are the three pillars of learning.” Benjamin Disraeli

This publication is printed with the permission of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of A.F. & A. M. of Minnesota. The opinion and writings in Masonic Matters are the writings and opinions of Ed Halpaus, and are not in any way representative of any opinion or position of the Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. of Minnesota.

“Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere.” Chinese Proverb

I bring you greetings from Most Worshipful Brother Thomas C. Jackson, Grand Master of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Minnesota, and all of the Grand Lodge officers, elected and appointed, of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota.

The Right to Instruction, and the Duty to Instruct.

It has been said that there are times when people, because they are about to receive something they have wanted, will repeat words, or agree to things, without really listening, or understanding the words they repeat and agree to. A reason for this is that many people tend to only hear what is being said, while some others actually listen to what is being said; there is a difference. Business Consultant Adam Lieberman says; “There is a significant difference between hearing and listening. Hearing means that someone ‘hears’ what’s being said and then translates the message into a meaning for himself. When [a person] ‘listens,’ however, [he] takes an extra moment to think about the person who’s speaking. It is [by listening] that you have a clear understanding of what is trying to be conveyed.”

Freemasons, as thinking individuals, should be taught the difference between simply hearing and actually listening, so they are enabled to better understand and learn what they need to know. This is important for the candidate in the degrees when he is hearing the dialog, the obligation, and the charge of each of his degrees; but it is no less important for the Master Mason about to be installed into a chair in his Lodge.

In my jurisdiction the Mason being installed as Master places his right hand over his heart, repeats after the installing officer and agrees with the following statement: “I solemnly promise, upon the honor of a Mason, that in the office of Master of this Lodge, I will to the best of my ability, strictly comply with the Constitutions, Laws, Rules and Regulations of the Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Minnesota, the by-laws of this Lodge, and all other ancient Masonic usages, so far as they shall come to my knowledge.”

In other jurisdictions this kind of statement of agreement is also made, (varying slightly in the dialog.) The injunction about complying with the laws, rules, and regulations is a universal theme in Freemasonry, which Masons subscribe and agree to.

One of the things that are important, and a part of the Constitutions and By-laws, is the right of every Freemason to be taught the lessons that Freemasonry has to pass on to its votaries. Sadly there are times when it appears that some Masons consider the learning of the proficiency lectures and the mentoring of new Masons as optional; they aren’t.

In Minnesota, Masonic Law #7 says: “That Masonic instruction is, like charity, a reciprocal right and duty of Masons.” In other words we, as Masons have the right to instruction, and we, as Masons, also have the duty to instruct our Brethren. It’s obvious that our newer Freemasons need a mentor, but I will submit that all Masons will need a mentor as they journey through Freemasonry, and especially when they are placed in positions of responsibility in their Lodge and other Masonic offices.

The right and duty of our newer Brethren to receive instruction from a ritual coach and mentor is reiterated in the Masonic Code of Minnesota; in Section G5.02; it says:

“It is the duty of the Master, when a candidate is initiated or passed, to require that he be instructed immediately in the required proficiency of the Degree, that he pass a satisfactory examination of the same in open Lodge, and that he complete the educational
program for each Degree before he proceeds to the next Degree.” It continues: “It is the duty of the Master, when a candidate has been raised that he be instructed in the proficiency of the Degree, that he pass a satisfactory examination of the same in open Lodge, and that he complete the educational program as soon as possible.” The learning of the proficiency and the portion of the mentoring process for each degree is required before proceeding to the next degree, and in the case of the third degree these need to be done as soon as possible after the degree.

The educational program that part of the Minnesota Masonic Code is speaking of is the ‘Mentor Program’ we have in our jurisdiction. The Mentor Program is something the Lodge Education Officer could help with, since he and the Mentor Program are all about Masonic Education.

Over the years our Grand Lodge has provided fine Masonic Education Programs for its Constituent Lodges to use to educate, or instruct, the new Masons of the Lodge: In the 1920’s & 30’s the Educational Program our Grand Lodge used was named “The Lodge System of Masonic Education.” In the 40’s an excellent Masonic Education Program called the “Councilor’s Program” was introduced. Our current, also excellent, program is called the “Mentor Program.” The wording in the Masonic Code makes it possible to change the name of the program without changing the wording of that section of the Code.

Over the many years of ‘New Mason’ education, each one of our programs has, when used in the Constituent Lodges, been good; our current Mentor Program is no exception: The key, however, is in the use of it.

There are times when a Mason will comment or complain that the new Masons today, and in recent years, aren’t learning what they need to know; if that’s the case it is truly sad, because the tools and programs to teach ‘New Masons’ are, and have been in place for a long time. In addition there are Masons serving our Constituent Lodges who are more than willing to help Lodge officers implement these programs to the Lodge’s best advantage.

If your Lodge is not prepared to help new Brethren by providing instruction in ritual coaching and by mentoring, please contact our Grand Lodge Office , so that your District Representative, Area Deputy, Custodian, the Mentoring Committee, and the Grand L.E.O. can be made aware of the need of their help: These Masons are willing and eager to help whenever they can; they will be pleased to meet with the Lodge officers to help things improve.

The right and privilege of Masonic instruction is also mentioned in Brother Mackey’s list of Ancient Landmarks. Landmark #24 says in part: “The foundation of a Speculative Science upon and Operative Art, and the symbolic use and explanation of the terms of that art, for the purpose of religious and moral teaching, constitute another Landmark of the order.” It is interesting that in the Halliwell Manuscript, dating from 1390, article #13 says; “The Master must instruct his apprentices in everything they are capable of learning.” All this emphasizes that the right and the duty of every Mason to receive and provide instruction to his Brethren has been a part of Masonry for centuries; this right and duty is why many ‘older’ Masons, who were mentored when they were ‘young’ in Masonry, are thought of as knowledgeable about things Masonic; it is a right and duty that is, and should be, taken very seriously.

“By Learning you will teach, by teaching you will learn.” Latin Proverb

From the Great light of Masonry = “Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning.” Proverbs 9:9 NIV

Words to live by: It is what we think we know already that often prevents us from learning.

Some of Ed’s publications can be read on-line at http://www.halpaus.net

Please remember: if you would like to participate in the latest Masonic Monday Question, please go to http://www.lodgebuilder.org and click on the Lodge Education forum. When you have an answer send it to masonicmonday@gmail.com the question for the week of 03-09-09 is: What is more ancient than the Golden Fleece or Roman Eagle?

More Light – Mehr Licht ©, Masonic Matters © and T.F.S. ©, are sent out by E-mail at no charge to anyone who would like to receive them. If you enjoy these publications please share them with others. To subscribe to any one or all of these publications just send an E-mail to erhmasonic@gmail.com with Subscribe in the subject line and you will be added to the list to receive the publications.

“I grow old learning something new every day.” Solon

With “Brotherly Love”,
Ed Halpaus

Political Freedom, Religious Tolerance, Personal Integrity; Freemasonry – it’s not for everyone.