Below was written by Jack Buta, and while the membership numbers discussions are never ending, I thought it brought up some good points, what do you things?
S&F,
-Bro Vick
Over a decade ago I studied the declining numbers of U.S. Freemasons over the past sixty years, as reported on Brother Paul Bessel’s website and began to myself; why is this happening?
Freemasonry has been active in North America for almost 300 years. For the first 200 years or so, it had thrived to the point it was an essential part of the social and moral fabric of the U.S. South of our borders, Freemasonry’s influence was even stronger. So, how is it possible that an organization built on the greatest philosophy known to man could suddenly falter? It sounds impossible, yet the numbers did not lie, and the worst news was yet to come.
A few years ago Brother John Belton published a paper which showed pretty conclusively that not only was the membership in Anglo-Freemasonry dropping, but active participation of Masons had plummeted from over 25 years prior to the 1950’s to about 3 years today. The obvious conclusion from these studies is bleak indeed. With both a declining membership, and a shrinking base of knowledgeable mentors for new Freemasons; this branch of Freemasonry is on the endangered list.
Let’s face facts. The Fraternity, or at least its Treasurers, Secretaries, and Masters, have been aware of the situation for at least 30 years. However, in that time we have failed to come up with any answer other than to concentrate on making more Masons as fast as possible. With huge one-day classes our numbers soared briefly. Unfortunately, with all the focus on making new Masons, no one seemed to be bothered by the fact these same new Masons were not sticking around very long. We did not and still do not conduct exit interviews. If a Brother does not show up at Lodge, it is a rare Lodge that contacts him to find out why.
After almost 300 years of Freemasonry in the U.S. there is no national, or statewide, program to contact a Brother more than 90 days after he has been raised to Master Mason. Mentors are becoming a lost art. There are no schools statewide, or national, where Masonic Philosophy is taught. No Anglo-Freemason needs to present papers to show they understand what the moral and ethical lessons they have learned in each degree, and sadly many leave without ever glimpsing the real secret of Freemasonry.
The only two questions left to be answered are first, will Anglo-Freemasonry save itself from extinction? Notice I did not say can, but will. Freemason philosophy did not suddenly go out of fashion; its mysteries are still hidden in plain sight available to any who is willing to search them out. Therefore, the solution becomes a matter not of obsolescence but of will, which brings up the second question. Do we care enough to do anything about it, or will we continue to complain and sit on our hands while our Anglo-Fraternity sinks in a sea of apathy?
What do you think?
S&F,
-Bro Vick
Over a decade ago I studied the declining numbers of U.S. Freemasons over the past sixty years, as reported on Brother Paul Bessel’s website and began to myself; why is this happening?
Freemasonry has been active in North America for almost 300 years. For the first 200 years or so, it had thrived to the point it was an essential part of the social and moral fabric of the U.S. South of our borders, Freemasonry’s influence was even stronger. So, how is it possible that an organization built on the greatest philosophy known to man could suddenly falter? It sounds impossible, yet the numbers did not lie, and the worst news was yet to come.
A few years ago Brother John Belton published a paper which showed pretty conclusively that not only was the membership in Anglo-Freemasonry dropping, but active participation of Masons had plummeted from over 25 years prior to the 1950’s to about 3 years today. The obvious conclusion from these studies is bleak indeed. With both a declining membership, and a shrinking base of knowledgeable mentors for new Freemasons; this branch of Freemasonry is on the endangered list.
Let’s face facts. The Fraternity, or at least its Treasurers, Secretaries, and Masters, have been aware of the situation for at least 30 years. However, in that time we have failed to come up with any answer other than to concentrate on making more Masons as fast as possible. With huge one-day classes our numbers soared briefly. Unfortunately, with all the focus on making new Masons, no one seemed to be bothered by the fact these same new Masons were not sticking around very long. We did not and still do not conduct exit interviews. If a Brother does not show up at Lodge, it is a rare Lodge that contacts him to find out why.
After almost 300 years of Freemasonry in the U.S. there is no national, or statewide, program to contact a Brother more than 90 days after he has been raised to Master Mason. Mentors are becoming a lost art. There are no schools statewide, or national, where Masonic Philosophy is taught. No Anglo-Freemason needs to present papers to show they understand what the moral and ethical lessons they have learned in each degree, and sadly many leave without ever glimpsing the real secret of Freemasonry.
The only two questions left to be answered are first, will Anglo-Freemasonry save itself from extinction? Notice I did not say can, but will. Freemason philosophy did not suddenly go out of fashion; its mysteries are still hidden in plain sight available to any who is willing to search them out. Therefore, the solution becomes a matter not of obsolescence but of will, which brings up the second question. Do we care enough to do anything about it, or will we continue to complain and sit on our hands while our Anglo-Fraternity sinks in a sea of apathy?
What do you think?