I've been involved in closing two Lodges: my own as we were evicted because our landlord could not sacrifice his downstairs drugstore business when the city would force him to bring his entire building up to modern code(100 year-old building) after our plumbing failed. We consolidated with Deer Park Lodge 134 only 30 minutes south. This …
I've been involved in closing two Lodges: my own as we were evicted because our landlord could not sacrifice his downstairs drugstore business when the city would force him to bring his entire building up to modern code(100 year-old building) after our plumbing failed. We consolidated with Deer Park Lodge 134 only 30 minutes south. This was very difficult due to the notification process, internal politics period, and politics with the receiving lodge. But, we got 'er done as I was the Secretary and like to get things done. The second was only several months ago when Colville 50 ran out of steam and asked to consolidate with us down South in Deer Park (Boyer Mountain). Colville was the oldest lodge in the northeast sector with a fantastic history but slowly ran low on steam. Fortunately, they chose to consolidate and it was a relatively simple process until the Covid19 panic came along. Anyway, thanks to the Godlike powers bestowed on the Grand Master, he managed to travel East and we got 'er done! Now, all is well.
I think consolidations are the best avenue, however the task results in a large loss of members as Masons do not care for change and often refuse to drive or travel a few minutes further to attend meetings in the new location. This is the real cost.
I do not know if it would be cost-effective for Grand Lodge to intervene and attempt to stir up energy from the Lodge members. This attack would be very situational depending on the average ages of the members. The most resistance, on the average, comes from those members exceeding age 85 or so as their "race is already run".
I've been involved in closing two Lodges: my own as we were evicted because our landlord could not sacrifice his downstairs drugstore business when the city would force him to bring his entire building up to modern code(100 year-old building) after our plumbing failed. We consolidated with Deer Park Lodge 134 only 30 minutes south. This was very difficult due to the notification process, internal politics period, and politics with the receiving lodge. But, we got 'er done as I was the Secretary and like to get things done. The second was only several months ago when Colville 50 ran out of steam and asked to consolidate with us down South in Deer Park (Boyer Mountain). Colville was the oldest lodge in the northeast sector with a fantastic history but slowly ran low on steam. Fortunately, they chose to consolidate and it was a relatively simple process until the Covid19 panic came along. Anyway, thanks to the Godlike powers bestowed on the Grand Master, he managed to travel East and we got 'er done! Now, all is well.
I think consolidations are the best avenue, however the task results in a large loss of members as Masons do not care for change and often refuse to drive or travel a few minutes further to attend meetings in the new location. This is the real cost.
I do not know if it would be cost-effective for Grand Lodge to intervene and attempt to stir up energy from the Lodge members. This attack would be very situational depending on the average ages of the members. The most resistance, on the average, comes from those members exceeding age 85 or so as their "race is already run".