So what? The Dynamic of Masonic Membership

[kudos100]

looks like raffle tickets all round then cheers dave

[Susurration]

Jayman we will have to agree to disagree.

And that's the point of my original post - well, not disagreeing with Jayman :) but that there's no right answer. It's *my* Masonry. It's a hobby. If I stop enjoying it I'll stop doing it.

[admin]

I have been involved in the repair of a couple of Lodges, I know Julian has done similar work. I get a kick out of making something work that is not working properly. I was the samewhen I was a kid always fixing stuff. Even if it did not need fixing.

The previous posters are right, if you enjoy attending Lodge you just keep going, not because you have to or because its cheap or any other reason, you go because you want to go to Lodge to enjoy the company of your Brothers.

All that has to be done is to make the evening interesting and enjoyable. Fun, it has to be fun. We all have different ideas of what fun is, but we have a great advantage in Freemasonry , we have many Lodges. If you dont like one you can join another.

My experience in this however tells me that worrying about numbers has no affect at all. It is a negative and only serves to fan complaints. Its like asking at the door, 'what is it you do not like about Freemasonry'. When the question should be 'can you tell me what you think of Freemasonry'.

For as long as I can remember there have been Brothers who want to make us understand that itis allfalling apart, we are doomed, it is the end.

I can only say they must attend Lodges far removed from the ones I go to. Or maybe its just me , the grounf that I walk on just blossoms. I can't be that good can I .................???

Trust in your Freemasonry and all will be well.

[Jayman]

Jayman we will have to agree to disagree.

And that's the point of my original post - well, not disagreeing with Jayman :) but that there's no right answer. It's *my* Masonry. It's a hobby. If I stop enjoying it I'll stop doing it.

Very fair position.

[asabovesobelow]

From the current issue of Freemasonry Today - Taking a Hard Look at Modern Freemasonry - http://www.freemasonrytoday.com/53/p10.php - "In his talk Visions of the Future, the Reverend Neville Barker Cryer asked whether modern Freemasonry was too focused on charity ‘and does this give the initiate an unbalanced view on what Freemasonry is all about?’ .... "

[admin]

I have no idea where these academics go for their Freemasonry, but where I go all the attending Masons are quite happy to participate in Charitable donations and indeed it is what most of the initiates I speak to are most proud of.

We ask of all Masons to give what they can afford to give. It is repeated time and time again.

[asabovesobelow]

I have no idea where these academics go for their Freemasonry, but where I go all the attending Masons are quite happy to participate in Charitable donations and indeed it is what most of the initiates I speak to are most proud of.

We ask of all Masons to give what they can afford to give. It is repeated time and time again.

Yes, but is Freemasonry offering them anything else of substance?

[admin]

In my experience yes.

I had a Chief Inspector , in my Lodge come to me and say, 'I have no idea why, but I just love this experience of coming to Lodge and all that goes with it.'

I replied 'It is just the simple question of the fact that someone somewhere cares that you are here'.

About an hour later he tapped me on the shoulder and said ' you know your absolutely right, I have been sitting there thinking about what you said'.

So if you mean, do they study every last book on Freemasonry, no they do not, but that feeling of just being happy to be there is just as important.

I know a good number of Masons that know the ritual backwards, read everything that comes out and still have no idea what [in my opinion] Freemasonry is all about.

When I visit Peter Taylor and Peter Moir in Lodge Albert, that is Freemasonry,

Happy to meet, sorry to Part and Happy to Meet again.

I am sorry if your heart has not been touched by such joy as this. But Freemasonry is alive and well and doing OK. Maybe if some of the academics put there books down and spent some time enjoying Freemasonry, the initiates would feel the difference.

[asabovesobelow]

.... I am sorry if your heart has not been touched by such joy as this. But Freemasonry is alive and well and doing OK. Maybe if some of the academics put there books down and spent some time enjoying Freemasonry, the initiates would feel the difference.

Believe me I have experienced what you say many times and in many places. This aspect is indeed very important. However, I still have a feeling this is still not enough on its own to retain some members in the 21st century of Freemasonry. The fact that too many members are resigning after around five years does indicate that this is not a priority for them and that there is more of a problem than some want to admit. We are just topping up a leaking bucket in many lodges.

[admin]

I have been on the internet, oh I don't know some 15 years plus talking Freemasonry.

The same things were said then. Does it ever occur to anyone that this fixation on numbers is what is causing the problem.

What does it matter if there are 5,000 Freemasons or 5 million.

Its like having a party and there is one person in the corner saying its all wrong, its a disaster, its all going wrong. Soon there is no one at the party, they are fed up listening to the Guy in the corner.

In Dad's Army there was a character who kept saying " were doomed , we are all doomed".

Its still going today they even have a Dads Army appreciation society.

Trust Freemasonry.

[asabovesobelow]

If lodges are only a social/dining club with ritual then that might be the problem for many that expected a deeper experience. That is most likely a reason that membership of the units beyond the Craft appeal to many members so as to to retain their interest in Freemasonry.

[kudos100]

as a new boy 3 yrs which in this thred i feel is very relevant i agree very much with admin and would add we r all different and expect and bring different things to the craft and expect different things from it even if members do leave after 5 yrs although not ideal i bet thay take alot of craft teaching with them and hence r better men whitch is one of our aims .cheers dave ps does anyone want a raffle ticket [see earlyer post ]

[admin]

Let me tell a little story, a real story.

Last year we lost one of my oldest and dearest friends. John died peacefully but suddenly.

At Johns funeral his wife who was by his side and supported his Masonic career for 60 years got a little upset, she said to me 'Bill, I don't know all these young men, I don't know their names. ' Don't worry I will put that right '

I went over to these Guys about 18 to 20 of them and explained what happened. They immediately formed a single line and presented themselves to the Widow, giving their names and expressing their condolences.

20 men of between 30 and 45, plumbers, builders. electricians, policemen, firemen, waited in line to make sure this Lady was not made to feel left out in any way. Not particularly clever men or well read, just plain ordinary folk.

So what do you think, has Freemasonry made them better men, well it has done as far as I am concerned.

[Trouillogan]

So what do you think, has Freemasonry made them better men, well it has done as far as I am concerned.

Precisely, Bill. Freemasonry is so much more than charitable giving, laudable though that may be. I find it a great education and encouragement to study what those intellectual giants have written and are still writing about this amazing organisation of ours. Much of it is entertaining as well. The stories of Freemasonry in practical action particularly in times of military, political and/or religious oppression are examples for us all to attempt to follow; and how the exemplary conduct inculcated in our brotherhood wins through in the end.

[kudos100]

once again i concer bill .and to me at least its not about winning its about knowing u did things the right and proper way .although is always nice to win

[asabovesobelow]

The impression that I am getting from these replies is that the posters believe that nothing whatsoever needs to be done in an attempt to retain members. They are content with the fact that new members are 'recruited' each year and it does not matter if they resign about 5 years later because that's the way the fraternity functions now. Then the cycle starts all over again. The law of diminishing returns possibly.

[eric384]

The impression that I am getting from these replies is that the posters believe that nothing whatsoever needs to be done in an attempt to retain members. They are content with the fact that new members are 'recruited' each year and it does not matter if they resign about 5 years later because that's the way the fraternity functions now. Then the cycle starts all over again. The law of diminishing returns possibly.

I thought the Mentoring system had been put in place to try to reverse this trend. But what suggestions do YOU have?

[asabovesobelow]

I thought the Mentoring system had been put in place to try to reverse this trend. But what suggestions do YOU have?

That is an excellent point that no one else has mentioned. Do ALL the provinces now have this Mentoring system in place? The UGLE scheme was announced in 2008 - http://www.ugle.org.uk/static/news/mentoring-120308.htm - and a CD was made available to assist with implementing it - http://www.ugle.org.uk/static/news/120308-mentoring.pdf

I wonder if the GLoS and the GLoI have yet adopted a similar scheme in their jurisdictions.

It would seem to me that lodges could devote say 15 minutes of each meeting to the presentation of a short paper by a brother that has a focus on a facet of Masonry. For example how about asking the new MMs (and others) to describe what their impression is of what the lodge does to advance and retain their interest in attending regularly. We all know the camaraderie/bonhomie is an important aspect but what else is there beyond that. Does more need to be offered nowadays? For example a member does not have to attend lodge to give to charity - that is what I call passive participation in the fraternity but what about the important active parts that actually retain a member.

[asabovesobelow]

I thought the Mentoring system had been put in place to try to reverse this trend.

"Grand Rank is only conferred after much consideration and is a rare accolade given both in acknowledgement of good work done and , more importantly, in anticipation of future endeavours. Be assured that the rest of the Craft members will be looking to you both for leadership, particularly in the important area of mentoring, and to set the highest standards in all your activities at all times." - http://www.ugle.org.uk/news-events-page ... s-address/

[kudos100]

i think the 15 min thing is a good idea. me and a few other new mm.s at our lodge have asked if it would be possible to have a site down Q&A after each progression with a few senier brothers to fully explain the ritual poss a bit like the old lectuers. and also i think if the loi were for instruction rather than rehearsal of up coming meetings it would be much better and informative. cheers dave