Laudable Pursuit - Dues and Commitment
I'm returning to my commentary on the points found in Laudable Pursuit by the Knights of the North.
In any organization commitment to the aims of and goals of that organization are important. Members show commitment by giving of the time, their talents, and their resources. And, persons are bound to the organization by those commitments. An organization that you have put little time into is easy to leave. An organization that does not challenge or use your skills is easy to drift out of. And, an organization that requires no sacrifice from you is easy to drop out of as well.
There are several reasons why the very very low dues found in most Masonic lodges in an unacceptable drain on the Fraternity.
1. The obvious reason is that cheap dues lead to cheap programs, cheap food, cheap lodges, run down buildings, leaky roofs, bad coffee, old regalia, and a general impression of an old run down fraternity. Try recruiting new younger members when the impression they get is either "cheap" or "old and cheap."
2. Cheap dues leads cheap members. Men who think nothing of spending $20 or more for a decent meal, buy a cup of Starbucks coffee for $3, or even $50 for food and beverages at a single baseball game learn to balk at $75 for 12 months of Freemasonry. It creates men who gripe about $10 raise in per capita and then go out and buy $20 in new lapel pins in between Grand Lodge lessons and don't see the irony of the situation.
3. Bargain basement dues give a bargain basement commitment level to the Fraternity. If I'm only paying $50 for a membership in an organization I'll feel free to skip meetings and not care much how the organization is run. But, if I'm paying $100, $200, or $300 per year I'm going to be much more concerned to be a part of something I've made a financial commitment to.
And while we are talking about Cheap dues, Masonry is the only organization that inflates the "feeling" of commitment by having all dues due at the same time in December. Yes, I'm spending less than $500 per year to be a Mason in all the dozen or more organization I'm a member of. Spread out across a year $500 is nothing. All paid in December it is a more important junk of change and can make someone think they are paying significant dues.
Frankly, it is high time we abandon the current Masonic tradition (which by the way isn't the oldest tradition) of paying dues annually and instead collecting them monthly from members. If I paid Specialis Procer Lodge $20 per month that doesn't sound like much but, that is a cheap-Mason-heart-stopping-dues of $240 per year. Lets get real and realize what our lodges could do if each member kicked in $20 per month! Think of the programs, festive boards, and repairs to old lodges we could afford on a small $20 per month given that many lodges dues now equal about $4 per month (or a gallon of regular gas at current prices).
It is high time we abandoned Bargain Basement notions of Freemasonry. A premier Fraternity has to be paid for!
In any organization commitment to the aims of and goals of that organization are important. Members show commitment by giving of the time, their talents, and their resources. And, persons are bound to the organization by those commitments. An organization that you have put little time into is easy to leave. An organization that does not challenge or use your skills is easy to drift out of. And, an organization that requires no sacrifice from you is easy to drop out of as well.
There are several reasons why the very very low dues found in most Masonic lodges in an unacceptable drain on the Fraternity.
1. The obvious reason is that cheap dues lead to cheap programs, cheap food, cheap lodges, run down buildings, leaky roofs, bad coffee, old regalia, and a general impression of an old run down fraternity. Try recruiting new younger members when the impression they get is either "cheap" or "old and cheap."
2. Cheap dues leads cheap members. Men who think nothing of spending $20 or more for a decent meal, buy a cup of Starbucks coffee for $3, or even $50 for food and beverages at a single baseball game learn to balk at $75 for 12 months of Freemasonry. It creates men who gripe about $10 raise in per capita and then go out and buy $20 in new lapel pins in between Grand Lodge lessons and don't see the irony of the situation.
3. Bargain basement dues give a bargain basement commitment level to the Fraternity. If I'm only paying $50 for a membership in an organization I'll feel free to skip meetings and not care much how the organization is run. But, if I'm paying $100, $200, or $300 per year I'm going to be much more concerned to be a part of something I've made a financial commitment to.
And while we are talking about Cheap dues, Masonry is the only organization that inflates the "feeling" of commitment by having all dues due at the same time in December. Yes, I'm spending less than $500 per year to be a Mason in all the dozen or more organization I'm a member of. Spread out across a year $500 is nothing. All paid in December it is a more important junk of change and can make someone think they are paying significant dues.
Frankly, it is high time we abandon the current Masonic tradition (which by the way isn't the oldest tradition) of paying dues annually and instead collecting them monthly from members. If I paid Specialis Procer Lodge $20 per month that doesn't sound like much but, that is a cheap-Mason-heart-stopping-dues of $240 per year. Lets get real and realize what our lodges could do if each member kicked in $20 per month! Think of the programs, festive boards, and repairs to old lodges we could afford on a small $20 per month given that many lodges dues now equal about $4 per month (or a gallon of regular gas at current prices).
It is high time we abandoned Bargain Basement notions of Freemasonry. A premier Fraternity has to be paid for!
Timothy Bonney
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Bloggers of Specialis Procer
At least four members of Specialis Procer Lodge U.D. are bloggers. You can read more impressions about the beginnings of Specialis Procer U.D. by the following bloggers.
Kurt Hoffman, SW
Wade Sheeler, SD
Jay Simser, Secretary
Brother Jay has posted a few pictures from the lodge institution including a photo of our dispensation.
Kurt Hoffman, SW
Wade Sheeler, SD
Jay Simser, Secretary
Brother Jay has posted a few pictures from the lodge institution including a photo of our dispensation.
Specialis Procer U.D. A.F. & A.M.!
Last night the Most Worshipful Grand Master of Masons in Iowa, Donald E. Mosier, instituted Specialis Procer Lodge U.D. in a ceremony in the Craft Lodge room of the Des Moines Consistory. The Grand Lodge officers and many guests were present for the event. I was honored to be appointed by the Grand Master to serve as Master of the lodge during its dispensation period which will probably be the remainder of this year and most of next year.
Our Secretary, Brother Jay Cole Simser, took photos of the event which I hope he'll post on his blog. If so, I'll post links back to his photos.
I want to thank the Grand Master and Grand Lodge officers, the brethren of Specialis Procer and in particular Kurt Hoffman, SW and Jay Simser for the original idea and all their hard work. I also want to thank Shane Harshbarger, our treasurer and the Secretary Registrar of the Scottish Rite, for his hospitality for the use of the facilities. Waveland Park Lodge also kindly let us have their usual night in the lodge room so that we could have this dispensation ceremony and I greatly appreciate their brotherly selflessness in doing so.
Brother Frederick Killian, JW and his wife served wonderful refreshments. And, Daylight Lodge graciously loaned us their regalia and furniture for the evening.
And, thanks go to all the new brethren of Specialis Procer for their hard work for its beginning. Here is a list of our officers. And, I believe a list of the membership will be posted to the webpage. Brother Hoffman is our webmaster and, he is doing wonderful work! I'm amazed at how quickly he posts material to the site!
Our first Stated Meeting will be July 25 at 6:30 p.m. at the Des Moines Consistory.
Timothy Bonney, Master
Specialis Procer Lodge U.D. A.F.& A.M.
Des Moines, Iowa
Our Secretary, Brother Jay Cole Simser, took photos of the event which I hope he'll post on his blog. If so, I'll post links back to his photos.
I want to thank the Grand Master and Grand Lodge officers, the brethren of Specialis Procer and in particular Kurt Hoffman, SW and Jay Simser for the original idea and all their hard work. I also want to thank Shane Harshbarger, our treasurer and the Secretary Registrar of the Scottish Rite, for his hospitality for the use of the facilities. Waveland Park Lodge also kindly let us have their usual night in the lodge room so that we could have this dispensation ceremony and I greatly appreciate their brotherly selflessness in doing so.
Brother Frederick Killian, JW and his wife served wonderful refreshments. And, Daylight Lodge graciously loaned us their regalia and furniture for the evening.
And, thanks go to all the new brethren of Specialis Procer for their hard work for its beginning. Here is a list of our officers. And, I believe a list of the membership will be posted to the webpage. Brother Hoffman is our webmaster and, he is doing wonderful work! I'm amazed at how quickly he posts material to the site!
Our first Stated Meeting will be July 25 at 6:30 p.m. at the Des Moines Consistory.
Timothy Bonney, Master
Specialis Procer Lodge U.D. A.F.& A.M.
Des Moines, Iowa
Royal Master York Rite; AASR 12th Degree
This week I got to participate in two Masonic events that were both very enjoyable and good learning experiences.
I am a member of Arcturus Council U.D. Royal and Select Masters. Some jurisdictions call Councils of Royal and Select Masters "Cryptic Councils." This new council Under Dispensation has been working this year to complete the requirements for our charter. One of those requirements is conferring both the Royal Master and the Select Master Degrees. I participated in Royal Master Degree this week as the Conductor of the Council. The Royal Master Degree further illumines the history of the 3rd Degree and was a very enjoyable experience! John Iles, our Deputy Master, led the degree. Major parts were given by Tom Gruis, Charlie Smithson, and Ken Brickman and we had help from other brethren present. The Royal Master Degree is one of my favorite York Rite degrees.
Also this week we held the University of Freemasonry at the Scottish Rite. Members of the valley read through the 12th Degree. While the Des Moines Valley regularly confers 24 of the 29 Scottish Rite degrees the 12th is one that has not been seen recently. We read through the degree led by Brother Charlie Smithson. The graphics for the lodge arrangements were put together by Brother Kurt Hoffman. You can see photos of the event on Des Moines AASR Blog written by Brother Jay Simser. I led a discussion of the symbolism of the degree.
Because this event was so well attended and enjoyed we are going to hold a similar program for the 19th degree. Also the 12th degree will be conferred in full form in our up coming reunion.
I also want to thank Brother Jay for his kind commentaries about my blog. Thanks Brother!
All in all a very good Masonic week!