(The “European Concept” Lodge Model)
Kent Henderson, Dip. T., B. Ed., Grad. Cert. Ed., Grad. Dip. Ed.,
Diploma of Masonic Education (Sth. Aust.), Past Grand Sword Bearer (Victoria).
Author’s Address: P. O. Box 332, Williamstown, Victoria. 3016.
The following paper sets out a most successful experiment in Masonic renewal. A small group of committed masons, lamenting the dire state into which the Craft in Australia has plunged, particularly in more recent times, looked at the problems involved and decided to try a practical solution. Given the success that has been experienced it is hoped that by sharing our Prescription for Masonic Renewal, together with the progress and results achieved, others may decide to emulate our example and so contribute to rescuing the Craft from the abyss.
Introduction
In 1992, when working on a new edition of my book, Masonic World Guide (which, co-authored with Tony Pope, was finally published in two volumes as Freemasonry Universal - A New Guide to the Masonic World, in 1998 and 1999), I compiled a table of the membership movements of most Masonic Grand Lodges in the world from 1980 to 1990. The results, while not unexpected, were alarming. Five of Australia’s Grand Lodges were in the top ten membership losses in the world. Between 1980 and 1990, The United Grand Lodge of Victoria lost forty-six per cent of its members. Based on these figures, even the most optimistic casual observer would have to conclude that Australian Masonry in general, and Victoria in particular, was doing something very wrong to have such an enormous loss of membership.
What caused the decline?
During its early history in Australia, freemasonry was not an egalitarian movement. Indeed, it can be argued that it was never designed to be egalitarian. Aside from its teachings, the greatest strength of masonry has always been its mystique.
Prior to the Second World War in Australia, it cost twice the then average weekly wage (around 5-6 guineas) to join freemasonry, and around the average weekly wage as annual dues. Since the war, annual dues have not kept up with inflation. If they had simply done so, annual lodge dues would currently be at a level approaching the present average weekly wage, around $400 per week. What occurred is that lodges have, historically, held down dues based on the spurious argument that to put them up would mean “members would resign”. This, of course, did not occur, nor would it had the dues been progressively increased in line with inflation. Indeed, effectively the reverse happened - members resigned over time because dues had not been put up!
The effect of this action over the years has been a steady fall in lodge standards. The quality of the repast available, in particular, has declined from the regular banquet of pre-war years, to the “cold sausage rolls and limp sandwiches” found served at most Australian lodge Festive Boards today. As a result of ever lowering standards, members first drifted away from the Craft. In more recent years, as standards have continued to fall, the drift has become a stampede. When candidates are gained, they often do not stay beyond acquiring their third degree. What I call the “Tolerance Factor” can explain the acceleration of resignations from the Craft, in my view. As standards fell, more and more members reached the point where they could “tolerate” no more. The effect has been compounding. The lower the standards became, the quicker became the pace of resignations. Those that do remain must accept ever-lowering standards. There is no impetus to reverse the trend.
