Let's Discuss Ark Lodges
What can survive?
Late last week I shared a really compelling series of essays that examined the reasons for the decline in membership numbers, not just within U.S. Freemasonry, but in all similarly situated organizations.
If you missed that post, where each of the three essays is linked, you can find it here:
The third essay in the series included an “About The Author” statement at the end, and in that statement the term ‘Ark Lodge’ was introduced.
It was briefly defined as a Lodge with a chance at long term survival.
I don’t think that we can really know which Lodges will survive long term (assuming that current demographic and financial trends continue) but I think that we can identify those Lodges that will not.
We can do so by looking at the membership. If the entire active membership is over retirement age, and no one new is joining, it is hard to see how the Lodge can outlive its current generation of Masons.
Likewise, if its finances are being depleted just to keep the lights on.
If we are honest with ourselves, I think we all probably know of at least one Lodge with one or both of those systemic problems. Most likely, those Lodges can’t be saved, no matter what efforts are taken.
But what about the Lodges that do have a chance at thriving over the long term? Those Lodges that are well managed, and that are attracting enough new men to continue into the future? Those Lodges that are on solid financial footing?
Should we formally, or informally, begin looking at them as a sort of Ark? As vessels that will stand a chance at preserving our Craft into the future?
And if so, is that where we do well to direct our resources, human and otherwise? To ensure that those with the best chance of long term survival actually do? Leaving the others to fate? A kind of Darwinism I suppose?
I find this interesting to contemplate.
And I certainly believe that it is important for us to contemplate.
But, I’m not sure that I share what I see as a pessimism that would make ideas like Ark Lodges necessary.
I do believe that our society is dysfunctional, and growing more dysfunctional. I think our own eyes make that perfectly clear. And I think it is right that this dysfunction has badly harmed Freemasonry in the United States, and again, all similarly situated organizations that compose our civil society.
But, I don’t believe that our society will remain so dysfunctional forever. I believe that it will again find the balance, the equilibrium that is the Royal Secret. And I think that when it does, Freemasonry will again thrive just not in pockets of our country, but throughout the country as a whole.
Who struggling to survive in the time of the Robber Barons would have believed that the monopolists would be crushed and a new era of widespread prosperity ushered in? Things change, quite often for the better, and the people of North America have always shown a resilience sufficient to pull society back from the brink.
I think that will certainly happen again.
But, I can’t truly predict the future.
So what about the concept of Ark Lodges? Either formal or informal?
What do you think?
I'm truly honored Sir that your brain was tickled enough to keep the conversation going. There's no greater joy for me as both a mason and an amateur "for my own therapy" writer than knowing conversation was inspired by something I shared, thank you for that.
The concept (Ark lodge) was actually foreign to me until recently. I learned it from a brother with more years in Masonry than I've been alive. He used it to mean basically what you'd expect: a lodge that demographically won't fall off a cliff in the next 15 years, with membership spread evenly across age groups, no debt, bills paid with some excess, and more than the stereotypical same five guys running everything. To be clear, it's not my term. I only included it because it was apropos to my topic.
When he called ours an "ark lodge," I smiled and thanked him for the vote of confidence, but we know how real life goes. One poison apple can kill a lodge's energy; likewise, one energetic, inspirational brother with good ideas can turn everything around. You can't change your destination overnight, but that brother CAN change direction. And if he sticks around to inspire a shared vision and put wind in the team's sails, the course can be maintained.
I think the concept is somewhat controversial, even divisive. There will be lodges of safe harbor that check the boxes. Their job is to help the fleet, partner with surrounding lodges, share ritual talent, and support events. But as Michigan faces losing 10,000 brothers this decade, some lodges will close through no fault of any brother. It's complex: our neighbor lodge lost 15 to death while raising 2, yet owns good property with rental income and healthy investments. They'll survive. Others in dying towns, with shrinking demographics, an hour from support, with buildings that are liabilities? Vegas would bet against them.
Despite my recent tone, I'm exceptionally optimistic for Masonry. It will survive, as it always has, leaner and better than ever. I have sworn to aide and assist every brother and I will. As my service song "Semper Paratus" says: whether to fight to save, or fight and die... we are for you.
MW Brother, I think we must be willing to accept that while outlook appears pessimistic, perhaps a candid look at the state of our Lodges and our memberships is required in order to preserve them.
Kind of like asking the doctor to treat our gastrointestinal discomfort, ignoring the diagnosis of a treatable ailment that will eventually become fatal if unaddressed. Asking instead for temporary relief, when addressing the primary ailment would ensure our longevity, and correct our discomfort more permanently.
If we recognize the challenges we face we can address them, gavel in hand. If we are unwilling to take a closer look then perhaps the fatalistic perspective will become our reality, rather than a warning.
I think almost any Lodge should be able to pull through, if they adapt to the modern tools of the Craft. If we fail to use the tools we have available to us, we become obsolete, fighting an uphill and unnecessary battle, with a clearly determined outcome. We merely need look to the writing on the wall.
I wish that the concept of a shared Temple, housing multiple Lodges, practicing the Craft as they will was a more popular concept. Enabling each Lodge to maintain it's identity and claw back limited resources to work towards prosperity, rather than mere survival.
Given the limited time each Brother's possesses, perhaps we need to consider the old adage, "It takes a village". If we need more bodies, wouldn't it be easier to share the load until we are all healthy? Working together as Brothers? Aiding and assisting each other to preserve the unique versions of the Craft that we all have Obligated ourselves to? Rather than leaving it to a handful of Brothers to fight to the bitter end just to try and keep the lights on for one more year?
Excellent post Brother!