What is it worth?

Please let me begin by apologizing for the long delay between posts. Originally I thought this would be an easy task but with the demands of life blogging can easily be pushed aside. Our fraternity is at a crossroads as well as all the appendent bodies of Freemasonry.

Last night I had the pleasure of attending the Mummers Dinner in Bay City at the Scottish Rite. As usual a great meal, great fellowship and some interesting thoughts were shared. Everyone knows that there are certain activities which need to be implemented and more substance needs to be shared not only with our new members but also the existing members.

The fraternity of years gone by could offer a dinner and a speaker and that was considered valuable entertainment and a good use of one's time. Fast-forward to today and in this very hectic fast-paced world we have to be more than what we were in the sixties.

Throughout most of the renewal talks I have attended there are a few key elements that new members and potential new members are seeking.

• to be part of something bigger than themselves
• to be accepted and to associate with others who share the same views
• to take part in community and charitable activities
• to be part of something which includes the whole family

Our biggest obstacle in growing this great fraternity and all of the associated groups is: OURSELVES

We love to form committees and study groups to plan and plot our strategy...however, there is one thing missing: ACTION ....to quote a famous ad campaign.....JUST DO IT !

One other very important thing which was discussed is the value of our fraternity. Just how valuable is the fraternity. The subject of initiation fees and how they relate to dues was discussed. For example to join the Scottish Rite about 30 years ago cost approximately $100 and the dues were about $35 so the cost to join was about 3 times the amount of yearly dues. Now it costs $250 to join and the dues are $185 BUT of the $250....it covers the next year's dues...so in reality only $65 to join.

The same rings true in our Blue Lodges....30 years ago you could join for $105 and dues were about $35 today you join for $105 and dues are about $100. Also, years ago a catechism was required, sometimes a waiting list, and it cost approximately 3 times the yearly dues to join. In other words the newly made Mason had something invested they had equity in the fraternity. It was far harder to walk away then because of the investment and equity. Now there is far less investment and equity.

We have devalued our fraternity and dumbed it down in an attempt to attract more new members. In reality  I am not sure if that strategy has proved itself to be that successful. The case has been made also that the reason we are not attracting the doctors, lawyers, ceos, and business men is that our fraternity is too cheap to become affiliated with.

So, what is the value of our fraternity. Like one of the great advertising campaigns said....Price of admission $105...yearly dues $100.....lasting friendships and camaraderie .....priceless. We are in....we recognize the worth of our fraternity.....the real challenge is communicating that to the new member and the potential new member.