How Much Should Masonic Lodge Dues Be?

TBL Staff · 05-02-2006, 01:02 AM

How much do you think the Masonic Lodge Due should be annually?

Tom Accuosti · 05-03-2006, 12:10 PM

This is a really tough call. Many US lodges have had dues of well under $100, and have kept them low partly because of the concerns of so many of the now-retired members on limited incomes. Unfortunately, the low dues have not kept pace with the needs for repairs and upkeep of the older buildings. There are several lodges in Conn that have sold, or are under such consideration, simply because the members can't afford to rennovate.

Another problem is that some lodges reduce or omit the dues for members after a certain amount of time or service - such as 50 year members or those havign served as WM. At some point, though, with fewer members coming in the paying members will soon be unable to afford the upkeep costs.

Perhaps lodges could have a tiered dues structure, such that retirees could have a reduced fee instead of eliminating it, and that newer members will need to have their dues increased.

D. W. Brown · 05-03-2006, 07:28 PM

I like what is said in Laudable Pursuit: "A 21st Century Response to Dwight Smith"

Quote:

Raise our dues and petition fees to a level reasonable enough to ensure financial
stability, and high enough to encourage participation and value. Any Lodge charging

less than $100 a year is cheating itself and cheapening the fraternity.

LarryW · 05-06-2006, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TBL Staff

How much do you think the Masonic Lodge Due should be annually?

This is a hot topic in our Lodge currently. Our dues are $45 and have been so since 1991. But the discussion is about balancing the budget, not making Masonry more valuable. Still, of those in Lodge during the discussion, those who pay annually are not opposed to raising dues.

Grizzly · 05-10-2006, 04:58 PM

I feel that lodge dues need to reflect the amount needed by the lodge, and any other for yearly maintenance. My lodge is currently $60 a year. I feel that this amount is not sufficient to cover annual bills and taxes. It also depends on the cost of living of a particular area. I WILL pay what my lodge deems sufficient, and try to donate when I can.

AlabamaFreeMason · 05-27-2006, 06:22 PM

Dues to a Masonic Lodge should reflect an increase to the level at which would be a sacrifice of committment. Let's look at past dues.

In 1801 the dues to join the Scottish Rite was $150.00 the same as they are today. Yet if you compare the value of the dollar accordingly to that year in today's dollars it would be exactly $1626.45. In 1801 if you spent 150.00 on food today it would buy you $13.83 worth of food today.

If lodge dues were $16.00 in say 1956 they would be $109.93 today. Today $16.00 would buy you $2.33 worth of food.

If Lodge dues were $110.00 in 1956 that would be $778.78 in todays money now do you see how out of balance are dues are?

With these examples Lodge yearly dues today should be at least $250.00. Initiation dues should be $250.00 for yearly dues and $300.00 for degrees for a total of $500.00. THIS IS NOT 1956 ANY LONGER. You cannot operate any lodge without staying with inflation. That is why so many lodges are in disrepair.

The WEST GATE must be well guarded!

G. David Cooksey
Provisional Master
Temple of Regulus Lodge No. 2
Birmingham, Al.
UGLofA

chgregory · 07-08-2008, 02:04 PM

My Brothers,

It should be a prorata share of the costs to have a lodge, plus the Grand Lodge assessment.

As an example if the cost to run the lodge is about $30,000 per year and we have about 250 members, the share per member would be $120, plus $30 GL of VA, or around $150. We pay half of that now, but I doubt that if the dues were raised to be $150 we would lose many masons.

I tend to agree with the gentleman from York, I would be willing to pay $250 and another $250 for degrees especially if it meant we could have cash for emergencies and we could pass any left over at the end of the year off to a supported charity.

F & S,

D. W. Brown · 07-08-2008, 02:16 PM

I think we are looking at this wrong. Raising dues to meet the maintence, taxes, etc.. is just maintaining the status quo. We never would have gotten to the place we are today, with realestate, etc. if we only charged enough to cover the current cost. I would suggest cost + 50% would be a great start to being able to grow and maybe even do some good in the community.

chgregory · 07-08-2008, 03:11 PM

My brothers,

I agree that cost + 50% is a good mark to work towards, I still think we need to be gentle with those brothers who can't make that number (and I don't know too many who can't at least in my lodge) but we should have the means to mitigate in the event a brother can't make his dues.

I read on one of the boards that we would get more interested men if we charged a bit more because a cheaper loadge is not as attractive. Any thoughts on that idea?

By the way you guys are great, it is so nice to know that a group of men can talk openly about how to make something better without conflict.

I am humbled by the company ...

S & F

lonestarjhawk · 08-25-2008, 11:10 AM

I seem to recall that dues should represent a day's wages (average in the community) and fees a week's. So, if an average income were $30,000/yr., dues would be $120 and fees $600. This seems reasonable, even if, when I first responded to the poll I said $50-100.