Decline in Freemasonry

***snicker snicker***

 

All 3 of my jurisdictions have a local definition of the word esoteric to mean that part of the ritual not to be shared except at a degree or with a Brother of that degree. Plus 1 more jurisdiction where I lived long enough to affiliate but not long enough to pay for a life/endowed membership. Plus any jurisdictions that I visited enough to learn their local usage.

Exoteric - That part of the ritual that is allowed to be shared with those not of that degree. Some jurisdictions list the Monitor as exoteric, others don't.

Esoteric - That part of the ritual only to be performed in degrees or as practice with Brothers of that degree. Typically available in cipher.

These official local definitions definitely confuse the issue of what is and isn't esoteric. But it does let us discuss the types of secrets that remain secret even if we shout them from the roof tops - We treat each other as family. There is no method; we just do it.

In fact this local definition of esoteric is why we are allowed to discuss what the ritual means to us as long as we don't quote the words we reference.

 

Thanks - that's something I did not know; that the word is defined like that. We use in to refer to the deeper meaning of the words and symbols we use..

 

Organizations of all types are having a serious decline in membership, not just Freemasonry. There was a time when people needed Lodges, Granges, Churches, etc. to gather, socialize and exchange news. Telephones and TV changed all that. Younger people simply are not 'joiners'. I don't have an answer on how to bring it back. My Lodge has put on about a dozen MM degrees in the past couple years. After that we never see them again. I don't understand.

 

>After that we never see them again. I don't understand.

Last year after an initiation I asked the candidate if he felt any different. He said he felt bigger. That was true as he had absorbed significant Light during the ceremony. He is still attending.

 

Nah... he really liked the rubber chicken dinner with extra trimmings on the side and continues to come back for more.

 

Lol....you could be right about this coachn.

 

I wonder what the norm is for Dinner at Lodge. That might be interesting. So far for me (though it can change every year) pulled pork would be the norm at my lodge (mostly but not always).

 

My chapter dinner last month was soup, fish, duck (with roast and boiled potatoes and veg), choice of fruit or pudding, and three cheeses. We toast with Drambuie or ginger ale. For another meal, we had grouse as the main.
£105 includes subscription and meals for the three meetings a year.

 

Sounds really nice. I'm not sure I could pitch this at my lodge though. I do think making dinners an event might attract better than a paper plate of food.

 

Wow!

Yeah, it's a little (make that a lot) beyond the means for my lodge.

 

I'm in a lodge where the average age is < 50. If there is one thing I know, young guys expect a higher quality of meal than some of us who have been around for a long time. Food can be a bit of a make or break thing here if you expect people to stay for dinner.

 

How much are your annual dues?

 

$55.oo per year but we are in really good shape financially so it's really not that. I should have said that it is beyond what I figure that the treasurer and brethren are willing to spend per meal.

 

Pork would not fly at my lodge.

 

About $30.00 a meal, catered, including dishes.

 

Understood. Our line just changed so the menu most likely will as well.

 

I think it would be worth looking into. Even three a year would be welcome... maybe arranged around something special.

 

Installation and St Johns/ Christmas?

 

I think that would be great, one for installation, one in June and the other for Christmas or the 27th. I'll have to research it here before taking it to a meeting. Thank you Brother Glen.