And they have no reason to pad their numbers either . So which is it ? Are you saying the GL of KY is lying to us at our annual communication and on the Grand lodge web site ? Or , is MSANA getting outdated data from overworked secretaries at the Grand Lodge ? I know what I know because I actually live here , and the numbers posted on the MSANA web site are wrong .
I am not accusing anyone of deliberately mis-reporting anything. (BTW- I used to work for the US Department of Commerce, bureau of the Census. So I have a background in statistical analysis and reporting. I am also a Kentucky Mason).
Somehow, there is a "glitch" between the numbers published on the MSANA website, and the numbers reported by the Grand Lodge of KY. (There may be other statistical discrepancies, as well). There are several ways to report membership data, and the collection techniques are most likely, not standardized by all the USA Grand Lodges.
This being said, there is no doubt in anyone's mind, that the total number of Masons in the USA is declining. There are some Grand Lodges, which are experiencing some growth. There are many grand Lodges, which are experiencing a decline.
What needs to be done, is for Grand Lodges (and their subordinate lodges), to examine what is causing their lodges to shrink, and to examine what the Grand Lodges which are experiencing growth are doing, and make the necessary policy adjustments.