The Components of a
Successful Lodge Program
by Abraham Benjamin
Part I - Defining
the Problem
Currently Freemasonry is experiencing a decline of 3.5% in
membership per year. This decline started in 1958 when total membership in the
United States hit approximately 4.1 million Masons. By 1994 there were
approximately 2 million Masons in the United States. If you look at Masonic
membership since the 1840’s you will find a steady increase in membership
until the year 1958 (this is a statistical curve). For 38 years we have been in
decline.
Many Lodges have been forced to merge or to simply close.
Today’s man is not as interested in joining our ranks as they were in the
1940’s and 1950’s. Freemasonry used to be a prestigious organization. On
October 6, 1956 the Grand Masters of Freemasons of the United States were
pictured on the cover of Life Magazine. Today, the hottest selling Masonic item
is the book "The Deadly Deception," which is an antimasonic book.
In addition to the decline, our membership is aging.
Currently, the average age of Freemasons in the United States is 68.5 years old.
The Scottish Rite, NMJ, did an age survey of its membership a couple of years
back and found it to be around 67.5 years old.
It is difficult to attract young men to a fraternity which is
dominated by older men. Lodges tend to have activities and events that satisfy
the active membership. The active membership in most Masonic Lodges is
approximately 11% of its total membership. The MSA (Masonic Services
Association) survey of 1989 found that 85% of Freemasons indicated that they did
not attend a Blue Lodge event or meeting in the prior 3 years.
At a 50 year pin presentation in a Northern Masonic
jurisdiction (two years ago), the Grand Master handed out 5 pins. 4 of the 5
members said that they had not attended Lodge since they were raised. That was
50 years ago! The 5th man was the Secretary of the Lodge for the past
35 years. If he was not the Secretary one would wonder if he would have been so
active?
PART II - The
Components
MEMBERSHIP
Why do we exist? It is to provide some kind of service and
benefit to our members. If all of our members resigned and we stopped brining in
new members, what would happen to Freemasonry? Membership is the most important
key to our success. Without members we do not collect dues, we do not have
Lodges, we do not have Grand Lodges!
Consider the following points:
MAINTAIN CURRENT ACTIVITES FOR ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP
The active membership is the group of men who will be
determining what will be "allowed" in the Lodge. If you are going
to build your "new" membership on younger men and you want to add
activities that fit age group, you will have to get your active membership
to agree to it. Instead of changing activities simply add activities. Give
the active membership exactly the kinds of meetings and activities that they
want. Create additional/new activities for the younger (and the new)
members.
DO NOT BE CONCERNED WITH INACTIVE MEMBERSHIP
Inactive members do not like what the Lodge is doing.
They will not be convinced that the Lodge has changed. Learn from the Sears
experience. Sears was the number 1 department store in the United States for
many years. In the late 1980’s they lost that prestige. Their marketing
analysis showed that "inactive" Sears customers, those who
developed a dislike for Sears, could not be coaxed into going into a
"new and improved" Sears even if they were given heavy discounts
to do so. Therefore, Sears kept the "old" departments and methods
for the current customer base and developed new departments and attitudes to
attract new customers.
You can do the same thing in Lodge. You must determine
were to put your resources. Where is the biggest bang for the buck coming
from. Statistics indicate that you may be able to get 5% of your inactive
members to join the active ranks. You do not gain membership in this manner.
If you spend your resources on new members you will get a membership
increase!
TARGET 30-45 YEAR OLDS - THIS IS THE LARGEST GROUP OF MEN
WHO DO NOT BELONG TO ANY ORGANIZATION
95% of men surveyed, non-Masons, indicated that they did
not belong to any fraternal group. Also, they are the largest, by
percentage, age group of the current population. Also over 90% of these men
have no idea what Freemasonry is all about. Why not target the biggest group
you can?
FINANCES
Unfortunately money is necessary to do anything in this
world. Most Lodges are running barely in the black. That is that most Lodges
spend more money then they bring in. You cannot do that for very long until you
go broke. Consider the following points:
GENERATE FUNDS TO BE USED TO ATTRACT NEW MEMBERS
You must have additional funds in order to create
opportunities and activities that will attract new members. If you decide to
continue with the current level of activities in the Lodge (to support the
active membership) then you must raise money to support the additional
programming. You can generate funds by renting your building, selling
services (have members donate some time and sell that time), sell goods
(food sales). The old fund raiser routine.
USE SAVED FUNDS
If you have a trust fund or reserve fund it is time to
use it. What good does a pile of money in the bank do for the Lodge when the
Lodge folds due to membership loss and it merges? Use your financial
resources, if you have them, to generate new programs and activities and
attract new members.
RAISE DUES
Yes, the ugly word. Why do Freemason complain about dues?
Are you giving your members a value for their yearly dues. Since 90% or more
are inactive the answer is no. Masonic dues are cheap. Men will spend more
on a day of golf then on their yearly Masonic dues. They do not complain
about the golf prices, but they do complain about the dues. Generate a
financial incentive to paying the yearly dues. For example, create a group
insurance plan in your Lodge. Better yet in your district, even better in
your jurisdiction. Group rates on life, health, homeowners and car insurance
will generate savings for your members that will well offset a yearly dues
to the Lodge. Set up monthly payment plans if necessary for Lodge dues. If
the Lodge charges $250 per year dues but saves the member $400 in annual
insurance costs, then the equation is easy. He saves $150 by paying his
dues. This will generate funds for the Lodge to use to create new programs
and attract new members.
RITUAL
The ritual of Freemasonry is one of the most beautiful in the
world. Unfortunately, as membership declines and interest in the ritual
declines, the quality of it declines. The ritual of initiation, passing and
raising is where we begin the learning process for the candidate. It is here
were he starts to learn about Freemasonry. Consider the following:
WHAT MAKES US FREEMASON
Then why do men dislike ritual. Take a moment and think
about how many rituals you have experienced in you life so far. A couple of
church rituals perhaps. A high school graduation, maybe college, marriage,
any others. People in today’s world do not have the same number of rituals
conferred upon them that existed years ago. Therefore, rituals are foreign
to the "modern" man. Receiving "the word" in a ritual
does not have the same meaning in the 1990’s as it did in the 1940’s
MUST BE PRESENTED THE BEST WAY POSSIBLE
In the MSA 1988 survey men indicated that if they must
endure a ritualistic ceremony that it must be done well. Would you be please
with a minister who could not perform a wedding ceremony well? How does it
look to a candidate when the ritual is not done well? It really looks bad
when a degree team member has to read the ritual out of a book. Why not
establish degree teams in your Lodge? Let those members who love ritual and
can do it well have the change to contribute to the Lodge in that manner?
SHOULD BE EASILY ACCESSIBLE TO ALL
Some jurisdictions make their ritual easy for all to
access by printing it. Most jurisdictions either will not print it or put it
in a code book that is so complex that it takes more effort to learn the
code than the ritual. Mouth to mouth ritual was a nice idea. In today’s
complex and "hurry up" world it is difficult to get a person’s
time long enough to teach him mouth to mouth ritual.
MASONIC
EDUCATION
This is our opportunity to explain to a new member the true
meaning of Freemasonry. The problem here is that many Lodges are so lax in
getting this education quickly to new members that they loose the opportunity.
67% of men who attend their first stated meeting after being raised become
inactive. 76% become inactive after two meetings. 90% become inactive after
three. Masonic education must begin before the candidate can attend his first
stated meeting. Consider the following:
GEARED TOWARD THE MEANING OF FREEMASONRY
Too many Masonic Education programs talk about the
meaning of the Ritual. Let the ritualistic teams and instructors take care
of teaching the ritual and the meaning of the ritual. The Masonic Education
people must concentrate on the true meaning of being a Freemason.
"Freemasonry is a way of Life." That is a great statement. In
order for our members to life that part they must be educated to what that
means. Teach them the virtues and values of this great fraternity.
INCLUDE THE WIVES IN THE EDUCATION PROCESS
Thousands of books are in publication about Freemasonry.
Do not make the newly raised Masons wife go to the library to find out about
the fraternity. She will not do it! She will then tell her husband that she
is against his participation in an organization that she knows nothing
about. Educate her about Freemasonry. When you educate the member about the
values and virtues of Freemasonry have his wife there with him. Remember
that the ritual teaching is not a part of Masonic Education, therefore, you
do not have to hide anything from her.
MAKE IT "EXCITING" AND INTERESTING
Having a man sit through hours of boring classes on
Freemasonry is like having bamboo rods pushed under his fingernails. You
must find ways to make the classes interesting. Consult with the teachers
and College professors that are members of your Lodge. Instruct your Masonic
education people on the methods of adult learning. Make learning fun.
OFFICERS
Who is going to run the Lodge if all the officers quit? Worse
yet what happens to the Lodge if no one stands forward to be an officer. Many
Lodges have folded and merged because of lack of officers. Consider the
following:
CUT BACK THE BURDEN BY USING RITUAL TEAMS
Men in the 1990’s do not have the same amount of time
to devote to Freemasonry. Asking them to learn the ritual, all of the other
things that they must learn and do may be to large of a burden. If you
create ritual teams whose job it is to perform degree work, then the
officers are free to do other things or just to lighten the burden.
INCLUDE SPECIAL LEADERSHIP TRAINING
Less community leaders have been joining the fraternity
for years. We have the Worshipful Master in the East as our leader but we
never give him leadership training. Well before a man reaches the East he
should receive leadership training. That is the purpose of the Masonic
Leadership Center. Each officer of your Lodge should, at least, take the
leadership course that the MLC offers. Workshops such as this one are also
critical for the successful development of true Lodge leadership.
REDUCE THE NUMBER OF YEARS REQUIRED BY PERMANENTLY FILLING
THE LOWER CHAIRS
In today’s world a man will change jobs approximately
every 4.8 years. This is due to the vesting of pension packages. Companies
do not want the liability so they are gearing themselves toward this change
in employees. If a man will change his job every 5 years or so, how will he
look at the Lodge line that can take 8 years. Cut back the number of years
to 4. Permanently fill the lower chairs with men who do not want to move
"up the line" but would love to sit in a chair, or ask Past
Masters to do it. However you do it cutting back on the number of years it
will take a man to get to the East will increase your pool of available
candidates for the position.
FAMILY ACTIVITIES
Family activities can be defined in many different ways.
Activities that involve the member and his wife, the member and his immediate
family, the member with his grandchildren, are ways to define this. A Grand
Master once said that Blue Lodge is not the place for family activities. That it
is the job of the Scottish Rite. Only 35% of Freemasons go on to appendent
bodies. Therefore, the Blue Lodge must provide this. Today younger men ask the
question. "What does the Lodge do that involves my family?" Most
Lodges do next to nothing. One family summer picnic and a Ladies night dinner
just is not enough. The old theme of a "boys club" is not important to
younger men today. Consider the following
INCREASE FAMILY ACTIVITIES; HAVE DIFFERENT TYPES OF
ACTIVITIES FOR DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS
No one would say that you should stop the "big bands
of the 1930’s" dance that you have ever year (some have it twice a
year). The current active member like that and that is great. The Lodge
should consider adding a "big bands of the 1970’s" dance that
will satisfy the younger members of the Lodge. Lodges tend to do only
activities that satisfy the current active membership. Remember that the
current active membership is 68 years old. The family activities that
attract a 68 year old man are completely different then the activities that
attract a 35 year old man.
SUPPORT MASONIC YOUTH GROUPS
Masonic youth groups help to develop members of the
future. Support of a youth group means a lot more than just money. You need
members to devote the time and energy to these kids. Show them what
Freemasons do (besides giving them bucks). You will get more of them to join
when they grow up and you may get a few Dad’s to join.
SUPPORT COMMUNITY YOUTH GROUPS
Same theory here as shown above. The difference with this
attitude is that you start to work with people who probably are not aware of
what Freemasonry is. This is your chance to get out into the community.
Apple Computers is practically giving away computers to schools right now.
There hope is that when these future leaders get into business that they
will remember the Apple computer they worked on in school and will recommend
it and buy them. You would be doing the same thing; planting a seed in the
young peoples minds about Freemasonry.
FELLOWSHIP
We claim that this is the main reason for men join
Freemasonry. But when Freemasons are asked to grade themselves on this area we
receive "C-". We allow newly raised Master Masons to sit alone at
their first stated meeting. We have clicks in the Lodge. We have members who
always sit in the same place, meeting after meeting. We do not always meet on
the level. Some of our members with titles, past and present, act higher than
other members. Consider the following:
NUMBER 1 REASON MEN GIVE FOR JOINING A FRATERNAL
ORGANIZATION
In the MSA 1988 survey of non-Masons this was the number
one reason that men gave for wanting to join a fraternal organization. Men
like to be with other men! So why are we so bad at delivering fellowship.
90% or so of our membership do not attend our meetings and events. A
conclusion can be reached that we are not delivering fellowship very well.
For if we did delivery it well then our inactive membership would not be so
large.
MORE SOCIAL PROGRAMS EITHER DURING STATED MEETINGS OR A
SEPARATE MEETINGS
How much time of a stated meeting is devoted to
fellowship? You cannot fellowship when the meeting is consumed by the
Secretary, Treasurer and committee reports. Reading all of the
correspondence during the stated meeting does not lead to fellowship. Post
those reports and let the members who are interested in them read them. Let
the rest be set free to socialize!
NEVER LET A NEW MEMBER SIT ALONE
If fellowship is our number one benefit to being a
Freemason then you must never let a man sit alone in the Lodge, especially a
new member. A new member who sits alone will conclude that the fellowship he
heard so much about is not true and will become inactive. You must also get
rid of clicks in your Lodge. Have members change seats at every stated
meeting. Have them sit next to someone new and talk to them. Take time out
of your stated meeting for this type of fellowship.
HAVE A NEW MEMBER INTEGRATION PROGRAM
Have a special program designed that insures that every
new member becomes a vital part of the Lodge. Make sure the new member
understands the rituals and traditions of the Lodge before he gets to that
first stated meeting. Do not let him become embarrassed because he does not
understand the words "So mote it be."
COMMUNITY AWARENESS
How the community sees the fraternity can make it a success
or bury it. Will men join an organization that the community does not see in a
positive light? Freemasonry has remained in the dark for too long. In the
1940’s and 50’s Freemasonry was a positive influence on the community. In
the 1980’s and 90’s Freemasonry is seen as a cult. A secretive organization
that exists to feed itself. People do not associate organizations like the
Shriners with the Freemasons. They do not know that you must be a Freemason in
order to be a Shriner. The Lodge must create a positive image of Freemasonry in
the community. Consider the following:
DEVELOP A POSITIVE IMAGE OF THE COMMUNITY TOWARD
FREEMASONRY
How can you do this? It will not be easy to erase the
many years of negativism that have developed about the Craft. But the
Lodge’s survival will hang in the balance unless the community begins to
see Freemasonry as a positive force.
GET INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY
Get your members out in the community. Do community
projects. Wear large square and compasses on your shirts with the words
"FREEMASONS CARE ABOUT THEIR COMMUNITY." Have members volunteer in
hospitals while wearing that shirt. Community involvement means having
members give their time to projects, not just their money.
SPONSOR A COMMUNITY CHARITY
Find a need in the community that is very important and
no one else is supporting. Then support that charity as yours. Put all the
resources you can into; time, materials, man power and money.
YOUNGER MEN BELIEVE THAT FREEMASONS ARE INVOLVED
When surveyed, younger men who knew something of
Freemason indicated that they thought that Freemasons were involved in the
community. Younger members told the MLCRG that they were disappointed to
find out that this was not true.
HOLD COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES IN THE LODGE HALL
What a better way to show your community support then to
freely open your building to support community activities.
PAST MASTERS
The Past Masters of a Lodge can help to make or break any
effort that is put forth to strengthen the Lodge. You will need these men on
your side if you attempt to improve any part of the Lodge. Consider the
following:
CALL ON THEM FOR ADVISE BUT REMEMBER THAT THEY ARE PART OF
THE PAST
Past Masters have a wealth of experiences but they are
also fast to tell you that 20 years ago Joe Smith tried that idea and it did
not work. The 1990’s is different then the 1970’s. That which failed in
1976 may work in 1996. Getting the Past Masters involved in any change
process is a positive thing to do.
GETTING THEIR SUPPORT FOR ALL NEW INITIATIVES
You need it. Plain and simple.
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