I’m speaking “Masonic” when I think about what has happened in the last 60 years with respect to finances. It is my opinion that we have failed to keep up with the times as we’ve experienced them. As an example, when I became a Master Mason the dues at the lodge were about $40.00 per year. A new home was about $30,000 and a new automobile was about $2,500. Now in 2017 that automobile sells for about $30,000, about 12 times the 1957 price and those dues I mentioned are only up about 3 to 4 times in the same period. The Masonic lodge and all the other concordant bodies have been subjected to the same pressures as all other entities. The difference is that most everyone yearly adjustments to stay up with those pressures.
The result as we are experiencing it today, is the Masonic and Masonic related organizations are suffering to the extent that some are being forced to sell their properties and then merge with others. Some of these units are doing much better mainly because of wills and bequests that have come their way in years past. It is my opinion that the heyday of generous wills and bequests is waning and will continue to do so.
There is no organization that I know of today that survives with their members paying from $6.00 to $12.00 per month which is close to the actual amounts being paid by us. It’s my observation that our members think little of going to a nice restaurant with their wife and spending at least $100 for dinner and libations. I’m not suggesting we stop going to a nice restaurant for dinner or stop doing anything else, but it is certainly time to examine our poor habits of supporting our Masonic activity. The bottom line of all this is that we should be paying something in the neighborhood of $30 to $40 per month for dues. Country clubs, social clubs and athletic clubs,
which many of us belong to, will cost from $100 to $600 per month. Compare the value we derive from our Masonic membership and the value received at other memberships. We are currently the custodians of the greatest fraternity in the world. One day the young men of today will have an opportunity to be the leaders and the success they will enjoy depends upon how and when we confront this problem.
Walt Johnson 33° Grand Cross, Executive Director for the Orient of Oregon.
