ARUNITE.MAY  Code: UNITE.WP


Unite in the Grand Design: The l990 Conference of Grand Masters




                     DR. S. BRENT MORRIS, 33
          5088 Lake Circle West, Columbia, Maryland 21044



     "Unite in the Grand Design" was the theme of the l990
Conference of Grand Masters of Masons in North America held in
Salt Lake City, Utah, February 18-20, l990.  A total of
sixty-three Grand Masters and as many Grand Secretaries from
throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico attended this
important conference.  On Sunday, February 18, a morning concert
by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir provided inspiration for the work
ahead, and an afternoon meeting of the Drug and Alcohol Abuse
Foundation presented a progress report on this significant
program.
     Sovereign Grand Commander C. Fred Kleinknecht was pleased to
attend the conference and to confer personally with many of the
Grand Masters.  He also took advantage of this occasion to meet
with seventeen Actives and Deputies of The Supreme Council, 33,
Scottish Rite, who were in attendance.
     Highlights of the conference included a rousing keynote
address by M...W... William W. Daniel, Grand Master of Georgia, and
excellent reports, among others, on the following subjects: "The
Council of Grand Masters--A Concept" by M...W... William R. Miller,
Grand Master of Washington; "Fraternal Relations Update" by
M...W... Donald P. Smith, Jr., Grand Master of Colorado; "An
Introduction to DeMolay" by M...W... John E. Grein, Grand Master of
Indiana; "Modern Proficiency" by M...W... John M. McHenry; and an
annual report from the Masonic Service Association by Richard E.
Fletcher, MSA's Executive Secretary.
     Brother Fletcher also provided a review of the new Masonic
Renewal Task Force Report, Phase II.  Researched and presented by
the Barton-Gillet Company, this report has findings gained by
interviewing 1,000 Masons from 20 Jurisdictions.  The report's
Phase I was presented to the Grand Masters in 1989 and
represented a study of public attitudes and perceptions of
non-Masonic American men.  Phase II is the most comprehensive
study ever made of American Masons' views towards Lodge and will
be an invaluable guide for those wanting to make plans based upon
facts, not hopes.
     The study began with a brief profile of American Masons.  A
striking differences between Masons and the general population is
the age distribution--Masons are considerably older.  They are
also tenaciously loyal in their membership (59% had been members
for more than 20 years), and about half are employed and half are
retired.
     The Task Force was particularly interested to learn how
active Masons were within the Fraternity.  In general, Masons are
active in neither their Lodges, the appendant organizations, nor
any other organizations.  No more than 30% indicated activity in
any one of these categories.  Not surprisingly, the study found
that youthful, recent members attend Lodge most frequently and
older, long-time Masons attend infrequently.
     What was surprising was the level of satisfaction found
among these infrequent attenders.  A total of 87% of American
Masons are either very satisfied or generally satisfied with
their Craft, a level that should be the envy of any marketing
manager!  In fact, there were not even any statistically
significant disappointments with Masonry.  The down-side to this
is that those satisfied Masons are bringing in new Masons who
will be like them:  satisfied, inactive, and opposed to change.
     The Report's most important findings were the reasons given
for poor Lodge attendance.  The number one reason for inactivity
for about 75% of Masons was time:  either not enough time, or too
busy at work, or too busy at home.  The average age at initiation
is near 35, when a man is starting his family, buying and
maintaining a home, and establishing a career, and three-fourths
of these eager new Masons have less than 5 hours a month to spend
on Lodge.  Similarly, Phase I found that non-Masons felt they had
less than 5 hours per month to devote to any organization.  In
the face of this evidence and simple common sense, Masons
steadfastly refuse to believe in the importance of time as a
reason for dissatisfaction, particularly among younger men.  A
few of the other conclusions are:
          Masons to not need to attend Lodge to achieve
     satisfaction, nor is there a compelling reason to maintain
     membership except pride (and dues are so low it doesn't make
     a real difference).
          Masons get the majority of their Masonic satisfaction
     by simply belonging.
          Left to its own devices, Masonry will be half its
     present size in 2000 and half again in 2010.
          Change for the Fraternity--or for any organization--is
     most strongly supported by the more vigorous, youthful
     members, and these youthful new members will not be
     responsive to what satisfies older men.
     The Task Force provided a sobering dose of reality to the
Grand Masters.  Freemasonry is not dying, but it certainly is not
healthy.  The Grand Masters were presented with facts upon which
to base their plans.  If they do nothing, they risk little to the
organization but much to our membership base.  The challenge to
the Grand Masters of North America and to all Masonic leaders is
to strive for a better future and to see farther than others by
standing on the shoulders of giants!
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Freemasonry is not dying, but it certainly is not healthy.  The
Grand Masters were presented with facts upon which to base their
plans.

A total of 87% of American Masons are either very satisfied or
generally satisfied with their Craft, a level that should be the
envy of any marketing manager!  

Satisfied Masons are bringing in new Masons who will be like
them:  satisfied, inactive, and opposed to change.

Three-fourths of these eager new Masons have less than 5 hours a
month to spend on Lodge.

     The Task Force provided a sobering dose of reality to the
Grand Masters.

