FALLING MEMBERSHIP, SO WHAT!
by W. Bro.  J. Anderson
Reprinted from the Proceedings of the
Waikato Lodge of Research No 445, G.R. New Zealand

Much has been said and written of late regarding our falling
membership. Reasons have been postulated for the malady and many
suggestions put forward to rectify the problem.

In my opinion, the constant emphasis on the negative "falling
membership" rather than on positive "solutions" is in itself
causing further defections from our ranks.

I contend that "falling membership" itself is not the problem, it
is merely a symptom of the problem.

In this paper I shall outline the major causes as I see them,
illustrate their effect, and propose appropriate action required.

I should state at the outset that these views have been formed
over the years and are probably influenced by the fact that I
joined Freemansonry 25 years ago as a 21 year old and have been a
very interested and participating Mason from boyhood to adulthood
so to speak. In addition I have been privileged by membership of
four Craft Lodges in different Masonic Districts and have
therefore a fair appreciation of "New Zealand" Freemasonry as
distinct from "localised" Freemasonry or that as practiced in one
Lodge in one District.

My paper is entitled:

FALLING MEMBERSHIP SO WHAT?

AN ANALOGY

I noticed the fuel guage in my car moving towards "empty" more
rapidly that it should.  At the petrol station I observe that
premium gas is pumped by a slow pump and that regular petrol is
pumped faster.

I say to the attendant, "Please fill it up with premium petrol. 
Incidentally I seem to be using fuel faster that I ought to be."

He responds, "You have a leaking tank, it's leaking out faster
that I can fill it!"

My comment, "Fill it with regular then please, that will beat the
leak!"

My action was treating the symptom, not the cause - with the
result that I was still suffering excessive "wastage" but in
addition, now suffering "poor performance."


The Mission of Freemasonry and Qualifications for Membership.

When I was considering Lodge membership I was told that,
"Freemasonry admits good men to membership and by the use of
allegory and symbolism tries to make them better men."

I was also reminded that, Freemasonry did not solicit my
membership, but rather that I was applying for membership because
of "a favourable opinion preconceived, a general desire for
knowledge and a sincere wish to render myself more extensively
serviceable to my fellow creatures."

I was in no doubt that to obtain membership and to retain it, it
was necessary to be and to remain the good man and that once
admitted to membership I would be instructed how to become a
"better man" and would be expected to work at carrying those
instructions into effect.

The outcome would surely be "a better man, more extensively
serviceable to my fellow creatures."

Thus, I have always defined the "Mission of Freemasonry and the
Qualifications of its members."

THE GREAT SURGE IN MEMBERSHIP

Research indicates that the fortunes of Freemasonry tend to
reflect those of the Churches. When Church attendances rise so
does Lodge membership. The reverse is also true.

Similarly, it is well established that religious philosophy and
practice appeals, on a consistent basis, to a relatively small
proportion of any population, but that certain social trauma
stimulate temporary surges of activity.

In recent history, the period immediately after the two World
Wars were times of great growth in both Church attendances and
Masonic membership.

I believe that the peak membership of the Craft in NZ attained
was a "surge" due to the trauma of war and NOT a reflection of a
"greater number of good men gathered together for self
improvement."

A large proportion of our peak membership was really only good
men gathered together in "companionship" and for a large number
the philosophy and morality had no appeal.

My contention then is that while our membership may have reached
47,000's our membership was substantially of good men rather than
"freemasons". Perhaps then our true membership has not fallen as
dramatically as appears at first sight!


THE FALL IN MEMBERSHIP

While the fall in our "true" membership may not be as great as it
first appears, that it has fallen, and continues to fall is
undeniable.

It is at that point my Brethren that I ask you to reflect on the
analogy I put to you earlier in this paper.

It is my belief that far too much effort has been spent on
"pumping new members into our Order to beat the 'leak', (in many
cases with the emphasis on 'regular' rather than 'premium')
rather that addressing the 'leak' itself."

The remainder of this paper will be devoted to my opinion of the
"causes of the leak" and what should be done to "fix it."

BUILDINGS - OUR PRIDE IN. THE COMMUNITY ADMIRATION OF

One of my early impressions of Freemasonry was of beautiful
buildings, maintained inside and out with care and pride. Yet
these buildings 25 years ago were not new. In some cases 30-50
years old!

Membership was certainly not large when they were built nor
significantly greater for any one lodge during the first 30-50
years of its existence.  Significantly too my Brethren, in
comparative real terms maintenance costs are lower now than when
these buildings were first erected!

Why then, over the last 25 years, have so many of our Lodge
buildings fallen into such disrepair both inside and out?

Surely a "scruffy" lodgeroom and refectory must be pride
destroying to members, prospective members and the
community-at-large!

When considered in the light of our masonic dress of tuxedo or
evening suits it is analogous to eating fish and chips from a
newspaper with silver cutlery!

Do you show your non-masonic friends your lodgeroom with pride?

Examples exist of how, with relatively little cost but a good
deal of planned effort (even by a dedicated "few") Lodge
buildings have been restored to their former "glory", much to the
pleasure of the Brethren and the "relief" of the community.

My point, Worshipful Master, is let us hove our facilities
reflect our high idedls and thus restore our pride and the
community's esteem.

REVIVE OUR MISSION-ADHERE TO IT

On reflecting on the last 25 years of my membership, I have
observed the gradual shift of emphasis from a "system of morality
veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols" to an image much
closer to a "fraternity of good fellowship" - a "club" if you
will.  This has manifested itself by the gradual "shortening" of
our ceremonies by the omission of beautiful and meaningful odes,
the omission of beautiful and meaningful "optional" charges and
the virtual elimination of anything that develops further the
philosophy of Freemasonry. This has happened due to the belief
(mistaken in my view) that these things are unessential to the
"making" of masons and should be omitted in the interests of
time! A reference to our history from the inception of
speculative Freemasonry shows  quite clearly that the
preoccupation of our "founders" was with what I described earlier
as the "mission of Freemasonry", rather than the "making of new
members". True, a fraternity of fellowship was very strong and
very evident, but NOT to the exclusion of the mission"! My point
Worshipful Master, is that having clearly prepounded our
"mission" to our prospective members, and having selected these
prospective members for their professed desirable motives, let us
be careful to pursue our mission in all things masonic and adhere
to this mission strenuously.

AVOID HYPOCRISY

During his term as Provincial Grand Master of Canterbury, Most
Worshipful Brother R.J. Duncan, at one of his regular meetings
with the Masters of his Province gave as a firm instruction that
"off colour" stories, political or religious satire, and stories
and "jokes" derogatory to women were to cease at Masonic
gatherings within his jurisdiction.  In this permissive age, you
might be forgiven for thinking that this was a "brave"
instruction and one doomed to failure.

NOT SO!

From personal observation I can assure you that those Lodges who
took the instruction to heart, made it known to the Brethren at
large, and insisted on compliance actually had much larger
Refectory gatherings as a result.  It was agreed by us all, as
Masters at the time, that not only were more Brethren staying to
supper but that the proceedings seemed more relaxed and
enjoyable.

Far too frequently Worshipful Master, having just conferred a
degree with solemnity, dignity and due impressiveness, do we
adjourn to our Refectories and spoil it be behavior totally
contrary to the teachings of the degree we have just worked.

This is pure hypocricy!

What effect must this have on our "true" members, on our
Candidate and on his wife and family when he relates the events
of the evening to them?


My point then is, let's make certain that at all times we
exemplify our Masonic teachings.

MASONIC EDUCATION AND SPURIOUS SECRECY

At the Jubilee Meeting of the Research Lodge of Otago No. 161, M.
Wor.Bro. Cuthbert Taylor, Grand Master, said

"Every year there come into the Craft some hundreds of initiates
completely ignorant of the Institution. There are also many
Freemasons whose Masonic knowledge does not go beyond a literal
understanding of the ritual..."

Consider also this quotation from the London Masonic Record
"...we owe a very definite duty to our candidates, indeed to all
brethren to aid them in making a daily advancement... It is
important that the interest of the Candidate should be aroused
from the very start, and he should not be put off with promises
and suggestions that "he will find in due course."

Brethren, how many times have you heard reasonable questions
asked by our newer Brethren, or even asked them yourself, only to
have some "senior" Brother give either a "fob off" or a quite
ridiculous, unbelievable answer or even an "I don't know"!

It happens far too often!!!

I suggest to you that the probable result of "answers" such as
this is at least the following:

- a loss of respect for the "senior" Brother because of his
ignorance,
- a loss of interest in our Order by the questioner
- a resentment at being treated as "not entitled to the answer"
- a feeling that even simple knowledge of our Order is a
"forbidden secret" and that perhaps those that accuse our Order
of being "evil" are correct!

My point is that, from personal experience, I know that our
Brethren are interested in our Order and do want to learn about
its history and philosophy and until we can persuade those
"senior" masons, who deny our Brethren this fundamental right, to
change their ways (attitudes they hold from either fear of their
own ignorance or from a mistaken belief that to keep such
knowledge to themselves gives them some sort of ascendancy over
their less informed Brethren) we will continue to witness our
newer members "dropping out"!

REFECTORY PROCEEDINGS

Over the years I have noticed Significant changes in our
Refectory proceedings, particularly as regards entertainment,
toasts and their responses and "fires".


Twenty five yedrs ago it was common in my experience to find
Refectory proceedings organised and conducted with the same skill
and forethought that characterised our lodgeroom proceedings. It
was quite common to enjoy musical evenings, perhaps accompanied
by the Lodge 'Orchestra', (the organist, a trombonist and a
violinist).  Guest speakers were not uncommon, and not confined
necessarily to 'masonic' topics. Frequently enough our 'elder'
brethren were encouraged to recount anecdotes of their early
'masonic' experiences.  As recently as four to five years ago it
was a reasonably common practice in Canterbury to advise Masters
who were known to be going to pay a visit that they would be
entrusted with the reply to the toas to the visitors thus
endbling them to contact the Junior Warden and between them
develop a 'theme' to which both speeches could relate. My
impression today is that such planning as I have described is
virtually unknown.  All too frequently toasts and their responses
are totally 'predictable' and uninspiring.  Masters who have
demonstrated great skill in ritual are totally unprepared to
respond to the toast they well know they will ultimately have to
respond to.

My point Worshipful Master, is that having encouraged our
Brethren and visitors to our Lodge; having conducted a beautiful
ceremony with dignity and style; why do we allow an anti-climax
to be credted where so much opportunity exists to complete the
evening on a 'high' note.

What effect do you imagine an enjoyable and informative Refectory
could have our newest members? - what do you consider the
influence on our wives and families and friends, when these
evenings are reported?

NON ATTENDANCE OF MEMBERS

One of the oft heard complaints of Masters is that of poor
attendance at meetings. A recent survey indicates at least four
commonly given reasons.

(1) declining health due to advancing age
(2) lack of interest
(3) pressure of other commitments
(4) unable to involve my wife and family.

The first allows for little action.  The second and third reasons
are facets of the same issue: namely Freemasonry had not turned
our to be what they preconceived it to be! Hence the lack of
interest and the giving of priority to 'other' commitments (many
of which were undertaken subsequent to joining Freemasonry
because they 'apparently' offered more nearly that which was
being sought!)

My response to these two 'reasons' is to refer you back to my
opening comments where I alluded to our "pumping new members into
our Order" without carefully ensuring that Freemasonry was really
what they wanted and that they were "good men seeking sincerely
to be made better, thus to be more extensively servicable."
Clearly, to admit people to membership to whom we secretly know
Freemasonry will not really appeal is obviously very silly and
their ultimate non-attendance or resignation is no surprise and
is to be expected. However there are many genuine Freemasons
whose poor attendance is due to lack of interest (in the sense
that their interest has been "blunted") as described under the
headings of "Avoid Hypocrisy" and "Masonic Education and Spurious
Secrecy" above.

This is our fault and we must fix it.

The fourth reason, that of the non-involvement of wives and
families, is a valid reason and one to which more attention needs
to be given.

Two very positive activities are here strongly recommended (and
their success can be vouched for by personal experience).

The first, that Masters, together with their Wardens, plan and
publish at the beginning of each Lodge year a series of regular
'family' activities and, by personal approach to the members and
their wives, encourage participation. At these functions ensure
that people really do get to know each other and that wherever
possible 'Freemasonry' in its entirety is made visible.

The second, and probably the most effective, is in the inviting
of wives and families (occasionally even friends) to participate
in the Lodge evenings. The format may be something like - while
the members are in Lodge the ladies and families can be addressed
by some competent and knowledgeable Brother who will explain
carefully, enthusiastically and accurately, the history,
philosophy and practices  of modern Freemasonry, taking care to
dispel all old 'myths and bogies.' Such an address might also
display and explain the regalia of our Craft, the 'degree' system
and some of the 'odd' terminology.

With the prior approval of the Provincial Grand Master, wives can
also be permitted into the Lodgeroom, and in my experience, this,
following an address such as I have described above, very
effectively dispels most of the concerns and anxieties of our
wives. On the numerous occasions I have been part of such an
evening the results have been most gratifying to the Freemasons
and most interesting and illuminating to our guests.  Finally
under this heading, may I draw your attention to the activities
of Lodge Riccarton No. 276 in Christchurch. In 1981 this Lodge of
some 70 members commenced a complete renovation and redecoration
inside and out of its Lodge building.  This has now been
virtually completed including new carpeting in the Refectory and
Lodgeroom.  Recognising the financial strain all this could place
on their 70 members, this enthusiastic Lodge embarked on a
'national' campaign to attract to membership the 'unattached'
brethren.  After some 3 months of the campaign I am told that
more than 20 Freemasons have responded positively. Enthusiasm
plus effort gives an undeniable success!

DECLINE IN CANDIDATE NUMBERS

As an accountant, I can recognise the impact that declining
numbers have on building utilisation and occupancy costs, as well
as anyone. However, my personal convictions are:

- we never did have 47,000 Freemasons in New Zealand, (reflect on 
dual memberships, and the companionship/club syndrome I addressed
earlier).
- given the nature, aims, philosophy and membership
qualifications of Freemasonry and the experience of Churches, a
more realistic expectation of membership could be 24-28,000
maximum.
- Freemasonry in the 1980's is just re-establishing itself at its 
proper and appropriate level of membership.
- Lodges will and should look to joint use of buildings. Pride 
in retaining individual ownership must be sublimated to the more 
practical considerations of restoration, maintenance and
occupancy costs, which a sale of one property and the joint
ownership and use of a second property makes possible.

CONCLUSION

I trust, Worshipful Master and Brethren that the matters raised
in this paper will receive thoughtful consideration.

I entitled the paper

"Falling Membership - So What?

I believe that 'what' has been addressed and that sufficient has
been said to transfer attention and action from the symptom to
the cause.

The 'what' now becomes

"SO WHAT ARE WE DOING ABOUT IT!!"

THE TRAVELLING MASON

In Alberta we place great emphasis on memory work, however there
is another side to this coin.  When the degree team of Britannia
Lodge visited Bielefeldt W. Germany in 1985, they discovered one
German-speaking Lodge in which the opening and closing ritual was
read from books.  When they inquired why this was so, they were
informed that during the Nazi regime, when the Craft was
suppressed, the memorizing of ritual was discontinued on the
basis that what the brethren did not know could not be tortured
out of them.

PICKED UP IN PASSING

Camrose Lodge No. 37 is one of the earliest Lodges of the 
Jurisdiction  of Alberta and has thrived on the support of its
old-time members.

On its 70th Anniversary W.Bro.P.A. East was singled out for his
devotion to the Lodge. Someone took the trouble to search out
evidence of this loyalty through the years, and discovered that
he had attended no less than 537 meetings of that Lodge alone.

One wonders if they make 'em like that anymore!


NOTES ON THE MARGIN

"Until man learns to accept his fellow man with all his faults as
well as his virtues, there can be no peace, no joy, no real
understanding." (Henry Miller "ECCE HOME", 1967).



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