HOW DO NON-MASONS AND MASONS VIEW FREEMASONRY?
We would like to thank M. W Bro. Robert Singer PGMNY for putting this
Short Talk together. M.W Bro. Singer was a member of the Masonic Renewal task
Farce which was formed to gather information to help the Masonic Fraternity in
its vital/y needed Renewal Program! --Editor
Introduction
In mid-1988, the Masonic Renewal Task Force, a group consisting of 21 active
Masonic leaders--Grand Masters, Past Grand Masters, heads of concordant
bodies--held weekend long meetings in St. Louis and Kansas City to consider
projects and programs that would benefit the Craft, improve leadership and help
stem the problem of declining membership.
Early on, it was clear to all that what was needed, as a benchmark for any
future planning, was professionally-conducted opinion research to ascertain the
views of non-Masons and Masons alike.
The Barton-Gillet Company of Baltimore MD, was retained to manage the
research program, with Mr. Dudley Davis, who was experienced in performing
similar consultative services for several Grand Lodges, as the over-all project
director. The field research was conducted by Opinion Research Corporation of
Princeton, NJ, a leading firm in this field.
For practical and financial reasons, it was decided to conduct two separate
phases of research: Phase I with non-Masons randomly selected; Phase II with
Masons whose names would be furnished by participating Grand Lodges.
The results of the non-Mason survey were presented to the Conference of Grand
Masters of North America at its February, 1989 meeting in Crystal City, VA. The
Masonic survey was completed in late 1989, and the results were given to the
Grand Masters at their February, 1990 meeting in Salt Lake City.
(MSA has available, at low cost, videotapes of both presentations, sets of
35mm slides, and the detailed results in a new Masonic Digest, in addition to
this Short Talk Bulletin. Both Scottish Rite magazines and several Grand Lodge
publications have also published summaries of the results.) This Short Talk
Bulletin will provide a brief outline of the results of each survey,
highlighting the key points, but without detailed editorial comment.
PHASE I--SURVEY OF NON-MASONS
- Research was conducted among a random sample of 850 American males over 21
years of age and 150 females. Telephone interviews lasting 14 to 16 minutes each
were conducted with this group, providing reliable data with a 95% confidence
factor (a 5% margin for error). This sample size is viewed as being
representative of the attitudes of all American males.
- The survey represented an almost perfect correlation, demographically, with
available U.S. Census data.
- AGE: 52% under 40; 26% 40-54; 22% 55 or older.
- INCOME: 28% under $25,000; 44% $2550,000; 20% over $50,000; 8% no response.
- EDUCATION: 33% high school graduates; 57% with some college.
- MARITAL STATUS: The majority were married.
- 84% were not currently members of Elks, Grange, Kiwanis, K. of C., Lions,
Shrine, Moose, Rotary, Masons. Among those who had some current membership in an
organization, most were members of a local church or synagogue, and devoted up
to 5 hours per month to that organization.
- Among non-members, 50% stated they were not interested in joining any of
the groups listed above.
- Among those with any interest in joining, 2% were definitely interested in
joining, while 22% might be interested. This represents an outside total of 16
million American men, but many of these would not be potential Masons due to
religious restrictions and other factors. Still, it was a large number.
- When asked for reasons why they would not join, 61% cited lack of time--too
busy, their occupation was too demanding, too much time away from family.
- Among those interested in joining, the majority were under 40 and married.
Location, income and education were not factors. They said that they would give
up to 5 hours a month in time (their wives said 3 hours!).
- Among those who were not members of any organization surveyed and who were
asked to select from a list of possible reasons for joining, these were the
principal responses:
- Chance to meet new friends and to socialize
- Engage in community service and charitable work
- Involvement of the family
SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT FREEMASONRY
- About 30% said they were familiar with the Craft; 23% were not very
familiar; 30% knew the name only; 11% had never heard of the group.
- When asked which Masonic ideas were most similar to their own, 45% could
not name a single one.
- A majority could not name either an attractive or an unattractive idea of
Masonry. About 10% thought the Fraternity was too clannish, secretive or
ritualistic. IMPORTANT: The problem is not dissatisfaction or unacceptability
but lack of knowledge and ignorance.
SOME SIGNIFICANT CONCLUSIONS FROM THE SURVEY DATA
- Geographical location is not a factor in renewing the Fraternity.
- Wives play an important role in the joining process.
- The available market of potential members is well-defined and of more than
sufficient size.
- Potential members have specific expectations for joining.
- The vast majority of Americans know little or nothing about Freemasonry.
- Some who might join consider Freemasonry too secretive, but the greatest
number did not have enough information to form an opinion.
- Nearly all fraternal organizations are facing membership and related
problems, and since Masonry is the largest, its problems are particularly
apparent.
- The emergence of television, the changing role of the family and the impact
of work and community on the life of the American family, all play a role in
membership and activity decline. They may also be in conflict with current
Masonic practices, e.g., time demands.
- Those inclined to join have a generally defined profile:
- Under 40-45 years of age
- High school or better education
- $25,000+ income
- Membership in religious or neighborhood organizations
- A major conclusion is that a substantial number of males available for
membership have no knowledge of the Fraternity.
- The conclusion is inescapable that unless American Freemasonry becomes more
aware of the needs and expectations of its potential members and acts to meet
them, possibly through the process of change, the membership decline of recent
years will continue unabated.
PHASE 11--SURVEY OF MASONS
- Research was conducted among a random sample of 1000 Masons from lists
supplied by 21 Grand Lodges in the major U.S. geographical areas. Telephone
interviews lasting 14-18 minutes provided reliable data with a 95% confidence
factor (a 5% margin for error). The sample size is viewed as being
representative of the nearly 2.7 million American Freemasons. MEMBERSHIP PROFILE
- More than 50% of the membership is 61 or older; 26% is age 70 or older.
This is significantly older than the American male population in general as
identified in Phase I research.
- Nearly 60% have been Masons for 20+ years; only 8% have been members for 5
years or less.
- About 50% of the Craft is retired; the same percentage continues to work.
- Household income was comparable to the Phase I sample. The older the Mason
responding, the lower was his income.
MASONIC ACTIVITY
- Only about 30% is involved with other Masonic organizations: Scottish
Rite--20%; York Rite--10%; Shrine--17%.
- The sample said 18% attended nearly every Blue Lodge meeting, and another
25% attended three or four times a year. This would seem to be in conflict with
actual experience, and may indicate a lack of pride in the member's not
supporting the Fraternity. If these numbers were correct a typical lodge of 400
members would have 72 members out at nearly every meeting, and up to 172 out
three or four times a year. It is more likely that 10% is active, 90% inactive.
- There was some correlation with age here, with younger members attending a
bit more frequently.
HOW DO MASONS FEEL ABOUT THEIR CRAFT
- Masons, by a very sizeable majority (87%) reported either that they were
"very satisfied" or "generally satisfied" while only 13% reported any possible
dissatisfaction. A majority said they were reluctant or opposed to change.
Interestingly, even though Masons were satisfied with today's Craft, they did
not appear to associate "satisfaction" with the need to attend lodge.
- It would appear that most Masons are content to take their degrees,
identify themselves as a Mason, not attend lodge, but continue to pay dues.
- When asked for important reasons for being a Mason, 94% said it "gives
meaning and perspective to life," 92% said it "provides moral, ethical
development." This would appear to be a mismatch with prospective members'
interests (social opportunities, community service, etc.) This is not a right or
wrong question, but points up how current members might be presenting the Craft
to prospects.
- Some 72% of all Masons have no, or only minor, disappointments with
Masonry. Response in single-digit numbers indicated specific disappointments,
such as unfriendly brothers.
- Major reasons for not attending lodge on a regular basis were all
time-related: too busy at work, too busy at home. Secondary reasons, in the
40-60% range, included points such as: "little happens at meetings, "not much
was accomplished," "leadership was ineffective." 48% said they could obtain all
the benefits of Freemasonry without attending meetings.)
- Those who were least satisfied with the Fraternity (small %) were in favor
of changes, such as making meetings shorter, more interesting, offering
educational programs and lodge-sponsored activities. They rejected reducing the
ritual requirements and spending less time on formal business.
- The distance a Mason lived from his lodge was not a factor in his activity
nor was the time he devoted to other organizations.
- Those most in favor of a more public organization were least likely to
support advertising and other uses of public media--an anomaly.
CONCLUSIONS AND INTERPRETATIONS
As with all surveys, one takes selectively from the information generated
depending on one's personal views and orientation. However, some general
conclusions would seem to be clearly indicated, and are reflected in the steady
membership decline of recent years. - Based on lack of public knowledge of the
Fraternity, it appears that we are an organization largely out of touch with
Mainstream America.
- Emphasis on being a "secret" organization, coupled with an
ever-faster-moving society, has hurt membership acquisition.
- Questions are raised about Masonry's relevancy to the community. Are we too
self-centered, too inward-turned for the 1990s?
- The Craft seems to be struggling with the concept of change.
- It is the younger and more active member who supports change to improve
lodge attendance.
- By a significant degree, Masons are inactive in their organization.
- It appears that Masons do not need to attend lodge to achieve satisfaction.
They maintain membership because of pride. Dues are not a factor.
- Masonry is among the most elderly institutions in America today.
- The concordant bodies suffer from the same problems as the symbolic Lodges
and are equally at risk.
- Left to its own devices, with the prospect of little change, the Craft
could be one-half its present size in 2000 and one-half less again in 2010. The
financial consequences of this loss alone are difficult to imagine.
- Certain fundamental changes need to be considered to bring the Craft in
line with the needs of future members, especially the younger man with his time
constraints and different value system, as well as the rapidly changing role of
the family in American life.
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