In our PHA District 15-A in Houston, a few of the subordinate Lodges in the District share expenses for a building where our particular Lodge meets bi-monthly, which is owned by True Level Lodge #226, PHA, F&AM. We all share expenses on the building, by paying an agreed upon rental fee per meeting. (approx. $55/meeting, which can be paid semi annually or monthly). It works for US, and the monies are reinvested in monthly bills, savings, repairs and upgrades to the building. The Dues for each subordinate Lodge in our District vary. Our Lodge Dues are $175, and may increase $20, due to the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Texas increasing Relief by $20. Brothers in general did not balk, since PHGLoTx Relief had NOT seen an increase in over FIFTEEN years.
I will personally push for the $20 increase, which would push Dues to $195-200. The average age in OUR Lodge is 35 years of age; All but one are gainfully employed at this time, and THAT Brother is one of the hardest working members of our Lodge. My personal feeing on Dues is that everyone VALUES Masonry in their lives, so they should value the maintenance and upkeep of the Lodge where they practice Masonry. If they do, one can make the sacrifice if they are gainfully employed with no MAJOR financial issues or illnesses at home (and those of us with children know they WILL occur) For us, this averages out to a little under $20/month, and $10/meeting. That is LESS than a Meal at a restaurant, and a little more or less than the cost of some of the Vices which some choose to indulge, i.e., hunting/fishing licenses, deer lease fees, beer, dip, cigarettes, ball game tickets, etc.
If your Lodge is feeding you with food as well as Esoteric teachings, this should be seen as a small but necessary sacrifice to maintain the business affairs of the Craft. Brothers in our Lodge who are having family and/or financial issues are simply encouraged to advise the Craft, work out a payment plan, and that Brother will STILL be welcome in meetings and activities. A Brother can also work a portion of his dues off, if there is a serious circumstance in this season of his life, and the Craft votes to allow that Brother to put in Lodge Work to offset his dues, which will be picked up by Brothers in the Lodge. There is, however, a difference between the Brother who CANNOT pay, and one who WILL NOT pay. THIS Brother is not considered Square, and will be removed from the Roster after the proper notices in accordance with the Lodge Const/ByLaws are issued to that Brother.
We all place a sentimental value on the Bond of Brotherhood, and time spent teaching newly intiated, passed, and raised Brothers; There should be the same value placed on proper payment of dues, and votes on REASONABLE increases as expenses increase. For the majority of Brethren reading these posts, I am probably preaching to the choir, as most of pay the Dues, whatever the amount, in order to remain Square. For those who balk at increases, come up with a good idea for fundraisers in your Lodge, to circumvent the issue of dues increases ever coming to the meeting agenda. Just my ten cents............. Bro. Vincent C. Jones, Sr., Bayou City Lodge #228, PHA, F&AM, Houston, Texas.