Seems like every year after Grand Lodge there is talk about how dues are high enough and all the Grand Lodge wants is more money.
I suppose both of those statements have some validity, just how much I'm not sure. In a recent conversation with a brother we discussed the cost of joining a lodge and what we get for our dues.
The average is probably around $125 per year for dues or $10.42 per month, $2.40 per week, and last but not least 34¢ per day.
Now let's look at the cost of joining or initiation is about $105......flashback to 1983 it was $105 to join and dues were roughly $35 per year. So, it cost 3 years worth of dues to join back in 1983....now it still costs $105 to join or less than one years dues.
When the first year's dues comes around....the new brother has less than one years dues invested, virtually no study time(which is another topic) so when contemplated with the dues notice one can think....well I have less than one years dues invested, no time, and thus it is easy to walk away.
Back in the old days, 1984 when I received my first year's dues notice I had 3 years of dues invested and a lot of time in studying.....thus it was hard to walk away.....there was value built in.
A couple of Grand Masters ago said that we must remember "they are joining us.....we are not joining them" in reference to new members. To take it a step further they are "adopting our tenents we are not adopting their tenents"....those are my words.
We should set the guidelines to follow and if they don't want to follow those simple guidelines then maybe we are not meant for each other. Thinking back to 1983....I was told to be at the Temple at 6:00pm in shirt and tie.....if you can't be here on that date and at that time we will let you know when the next opportunity is.
Now in our current situation we are asking for an amount less than one year's dues, let the candidate dictate the date and time, and allow them to show up in tank top, shorts, and flip-flops....and then require no dedicated study time and as quick as we can raise them to the sublime degree of a Master Mason.
In effect we have said that we will join you on your terms....we will do anything you ask, because we need members.....so we rush through the three degrees make this new brother a MM and viola they are gone.....we send out the dues notice....they have just over $100 invested.....didn't have to dress in any other manner than going to a beer tent, didn't invest any study time, learned the secrets, and didn't get to take over the world......and they should pay $125 in dues for what?
Actually the thought process might be...... well I joined, they had a special time and date for me, they didn't say anything when I showed up in flip-flops.....if they need me that bad then they will probably let me remain a member for no money....because they need members....I don't cost them anything because I don't do anything.....I never hear from the guy that got me in.....I'm sure they want and need me far worse than I want or need them.
When a candidate shows up with t-shirt, shorts, and sandals and the candidate expresses that he feels out of place, we have already failed him.....by not educating him as to what we expect from him....and he already feels out of place. On the contrary if the candidate doesn't express feeling uneasy or out of place.....then he is probably one that will show up in shorts and t-shirt again for both degrees then disappear into the land of card carrying Masons....or members might be a better description.
The fraternity requires that a candidate be at least 19 yrs of age and believe in God and the hereafter.
We should also take enough pride in our great fraternity to educate him on how to dress for meetings, the time to be at the temple and so forth. This not only sets him at ease but also all of us, including visitors.
It's time to get off my soap box....but I have to share a pet peeve of mine....all weird people have them...here is one of mine.....why do we invite the newly made EA, or the newly passed FC to a seat in the east???? I feel that should be something which is earned, maybe after being raised to MM but not before......it was a number of years before I was ever allowed a seat in the east and I think I respect it much more because of that......but in our quest for members....we allow ourselves to adhere to the candidates scheduling requirements, allow them to dress anyway they want, put them on the fast track to be raised and all along the way they receive a seat in the "distinguished east"......so is the tail wagging the dog....or does the rabbit have the gun......pick your metaphor.......somehow back in the day with the "staunch" past-masters things didn't run this way.
