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Post by offramp on Jan 7, 2021 15:33:30 GMT
2021 has started and it is once again time to pay the fees for a new year.
In 2020 I paid my fees for my Craft Lodge. For these fees I attended one (1) meeting, which had six (6) brethren in attendance and for which there was no Festive Board.
I know of many Masons who are in many orders. Some of these orders have dining included in their annual subscription, so that in all they pay c. £500 in subscriptions alone for their yearly Freemasonry.
Surely some of these Freemasons are thinking of cutting back drastically on their memberships, perhaps so they they are members of just the one Craft Lodge. I mean, it really looks as if there is going to be zero Masonic activity in 2021, so why shell out for it?
Although I am a constant optimist, when old offramp looks into the future things look bleak for Freemasonry. I foresee members leaving side orders in large numbers.
And let's face it, in the UK 1,000 people a day are dying from the virus, most of those are over 60 and that has to have an effect on Masonic numbers.
There will still be young members of Lodges, but after 2 years indoors people will have got used to doing everything online.
I will certainly keep up membership of Lodge, but let's face it I would be an idiot to join any other orders in 2021.
I wish I could be more optimistic.
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Post by peter2 on Jan 8, 2021 23:02:49 GMT
In my part of Australia the GL is corrupt and prefers to sell lodge buildings to obtain funds to support themselves. With the Covid19 farce (a recent winter flu caused many more excess deaths) and the long term loss of intensity in Masonic ritual, I am giving my craft lodge 6 months to recover. If not I am gone. Just resigned from 18th - no candidates for some years and now unlikely to be more than one ever again. Resigned from 30th some years ago - flat ritual and no candidates. The tide has gone out on many social organisations including democracy. Fortunately those born after about 1995 understand the importance of the temple that extends from E to W etc. A local Toyota ad on the TV has a young girl in the back seat saying: are we there yet? And she means: are we looking after the planet and the people?
It remains to be seen how long the people in power will fool the young people. Still eventually those in power will die and the newer generation will have its chance.
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