Mark T. Ronn, 32°, K.C.C.H.
3101 E. Spruce Street, Garden City, Kansas 67846–8447
ronnm_1999@yahoo.com
It was a hot, summer afternoon when we went to perform our sad task. Most of the furnishings had been taken down. The Charter was off the wall and had been returned to Grand Lodge. All that remained was the "G" in the East, a few old pictures, a couple of pillars, some assorted objects, yellowing papers, and a lot of memories.
The Lodge had once been a viable, going concern. It once rang with the ritual work of our Fraternity. It had been a home away from home for the Brothers who were raised and who toiled there. It provided leaders to its community. It lasted for many years. It died. We cleaned out the last things with the help of the Secretary and a few of the other Brothers that came to help. There was one less Masonic Lodge in the world.
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The single largest problem of Freemasonry today is declining membership. If the trend continues, there are many Masons alive today who will be among the last to sit in their Lodges. They will see their Lodges die. Except in rare and fortunate cases, once a Lodge sinks below a certain number of active Brothers, it dies. Dead Lodges equal lost Masons.
There is a way to fix this problem. We must all take personal responsibility for the decline in membership and dedicate ourselves to reversing the trend. It may not be our fault, but it is our challenge. However, any challenge can be overcome if it is broken down into smaller, less intimidating chunks. The problem will not be solved by contemplating its enormity, but by going out and helping good men to find Masonry.
Let's look at some concrete things we can do to reverse the trend of declining membership. If we each take the responsibility and make the commitment to replace ourselves in Masonry just once every year, the growth numbers are obvious. I've often felt that no one, no matter their status in the Fraternity, should dare to discuss or lament the membership problem unless they've brought in a Candidate within the last year.
If we can strive to replace ourselves on a yearly basis, we will have a more stable, larger membership. We will have a more vibrant and enjoyable Fraternity which will, in turn, be a far stronger draw for new men than what we now have. Newer men do not have the knowledge that the Brothers of longer service do, but they have something equally important to offer, enthusiasm. We need the mix of these two.
There are a lot of things you and your Lodge can do to reverse the trend of declining membership. Our Grand Lodge of Kansas supports "Friends of Masons" nights and will provide speakers for them, many Lodges hold "Prospect Nights," and there are a lot of other programs out there. Your Grand Lodge undoubtedly has many programs available to assist you. Use them.
For instance, the Grand Lodge of Kansas has a simple, wallet card available. This card (above) answers the most common questions you might run into when discussing Masonry with a prospect. It fits in your wallet, is inexpensive, and you can always have a couple with you. Certainly, card or not, you should have the information to discuss the Fraternity intelligently. Be prepared by having ready answers to the questions you had yourself before you joined. Most of us were curious about the same things. This part is critical! YOU have to TALK to people! All the knowledge in the world will not help if you keep it to yourself. You may be rusty and a little nervous, but ask yourself, "If I don't do this, who will?" If you work Masonry into enough conversations, someone will start to ask questions. Emphasize the good feelings you get from being a Mason. If you can't immediately tell a curious prospect why you joined and why you remain a member, cast your mind back to your introduction to Masonry and approach it that way. Excitement and pride are contagious.
Make it a point to find one person a month whom you would be proud to take into your Lodge. If you can't find one person a month, you either need to get out more or find other ways to make contact with good men who would make good Masons. Just talk to this potential Brother. Find out his likes and dislikes. Don't try to drag him into Lodge. Don't hit him over the head; be tactful and include his family, if you can. Answer all his questions and stay positive. Do whatever your jurisdiction allows to let him know about us. Will you find one a month? I hope so. But if not, don't quit! Try again next month.
Don't forget the newest way to communicate. People shop for everything on the Internet these days including ideas, activities, and organizations. If your Lodge doesn't have a web site, put one together. There's usually one computer-literate Brother around. If there isn't a Brother to help with this, find a non-Mason you can work with, and he may even become interested in Masonry just from what he learns while helping build the site. Make sure people know what your web site's address is. Put it on the sign you should have up on your Lodge building to let people know how to find you and when you meet.
Stand up in your next Lodge meeting and ask for a report from the membership committee. This can have a dual purpose. It can let you know what the committee is doing, if they are active and meeting. If you know this, then you can offer to help them out. If they aren't, your question can shake things up a little and possibly get them moving. If there isn't such a committee, ask the Worshipful Master to form one. Volunteer to chair it. There is no more important committee in your Lodge. If it fails, there may not be much point in the rest of the committees.
If you don't wear some type of Masonic emblem or have one on your car, you should, presuming your jurisdiction permits. If no one knows you are a Mason, how can they ask you about Masonry?
We are Masonry, and if our problems are going to be fixed, it is up to each and every one of us individually. You can personally address the problem of declining membership. Your Lodge officers and Grand Lodge will have many more ideas appropriate to your area. Find some way to get to work in this area and then get to it.
None of us need or want to go through shutting down any more Lodges. Taking down that "G" was one of the saddest things I've ever done. We must make sure it doesn't happen to any of us again.
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Mark T. Ronn was raised in Tyrian Lodge No. 246, Garden City, Kansas, in 1994 and served as Worshipful Master in 1998. A Past District Deputy Grand Master in 2000–2001, he is serving as Grand Standard Bearer of the Grand Lodge of Kansas, 2001–2002, and is a member of the Membership Committee of the Grand Lodge. A member of the Valley of Wichita, Kansas, since 1994, he received the K.C.C.H. in 1999 and is a founding member and the Secretary of the Southwest Kansas Scottish Rite Club. He is also a member of the Santa Fe Trail Shrine Club. Bro. Ronn holds a BA from the University of Wisconsin at Green Bay; MA from Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas; and is the Administrative Dean at Garden City High School in Garden City, Kansas. |