What's wrong with lodges closing? Seriously. Everyone acts like this is such a horrible thing. Have you considered the idea that maybe there are too many lodges? Everyone keeps talking about the post WWII membership numbers. So what? If you want Rotary club, they're accepting applications. I, for one, have no interest in throwing open the doors to everyone who wants to socialize.
-- Two(2) lodges that I have belonged to in the past (Master Builder #911, Tonawanda NY, and Glebe lodge #181, Arlington VA) have closed (more accurately, they consolidated with nearby lodges). One lodge in my (former) town, closed entirely, and made no effort to consolidate. These lodges are "gone with the wind", and will never come back.
It is always a sad affair, when a lodge closes. Considering our membership cohort, the fraternity probably has too many lodges open and operating. I travel a lot, and I have been asked to fill in a vacant chair, because many lodges have difficulty in getting their own officers to show up for a stated meeting.
We have a screening and balloting procedure, so open invitations will not be "throwing open" any doors. If a man is unfit for the Craft, does it make any difference, if he was invited or not?