Are your Freemasons' Lodge Dues (Annual Fees) too Expensive?


Let us look at this historically:

On the 15th of August 1738, Frederick the Great, afterward king of Prussia, was initiated into masonry, in a lodge in Brunswick, under the Scots constitution.   So highly did he approve of the initiation, that, on his accession to the throne, he commanded a Grand Lodge to be formed at Berlin, and for that purpose obtained a patent from Edinburgh.   Thus was masonry regularly established in Prussia and, under that sanction, it has flourished there ever since.   His majesty's attachment to the Society soon induced him to establish several new regulations for the advantage of the fraternity, and among others he ordained:

1.   That no person should be made a mason unless his character was unimpeachable and his manner of living and profession respectable.

2.   That every member should pay 25 rix-dollars (or £4. 3s 0d) for the first degree; 50 rix-dollars (or £8. 6s. 0d) on his being initiated into the second degree; and 100 rix-dollars (or £16. 12s. 0d) on his being made a master-mason.

3.   That he should remain at least three months in each degree; and that every sum received should be divided by the Treasurer into three parts: one to defray the expenses of the lodge; another to be applied to the relief of distressed brethren; and the third to be allotted to the poor in general.

That is a total of (in the year 1738) $47 for what we now call Initiation Fees.   I have not yet found any information on annual fees paid by the brethren to their lodges at that time, but, this size of the fee for admission into the Order can leave no doubt, that it was certainly not pittance — like what is charged today by most lodges, especially in North America (check it out).

At that time (in 1738) a Policeman in England would earn the equivalent of $42, a surgeon $91, a teacher $24, and a general laborer $32.   PER YEAR!   Those ancient brethren paid for the privilege of becoming members of our Order anywhere from one half to twice their annual earnings.

To put that figure into today's purchasing power, a fair estimate of those $47 Initiation Fees would translate into the equivalent of $70,000.   And, in those days, the brethren would additionally pay for their regalia, and for their refreshments on lodge night.   We have it cheap — good or bad as it may be.

Coat of Arms

Quinte St. Alban's Lodge does not come even close to Frederick's Masonic charitable sentiments and dictates yet — but we do quite a bit, within our means.   Every year, as a lodge, we give generously on a regular basis to several local charities, and specifically in the past few years, to the Yellow Brick House.

The Yellow Brick House is a non-profit organization dedicated to rebuilding the lives of abused women and children in the York Region. Since 1977 it has worked hard to ensure women and children have a safe place to turn to if they become victims of domestic abuse. It is sad to acknowledge that last year alone over 5,500 women and children in York Region have made use of this organization. But it is our pride, as a lodge and as Masons, knowing that our efforts and generosity have contributed to their relief.


Coat of Arms


The Eight Degrees Of Charity

(Rabbi Moses Ben Maimonides, 1135 AD.)

The First - and lowest degree is to give, but with reluctance or regret. This is the gift of the hand, but not of the hearth.

The Second - is to give cheerfully, but not proportionately to the distress of the sufferer.

The Third - is to give cheerfully, and proportionately but not until solicited.

The Fourth - is to give cheerfully, proportionately, and even unsolicited, but to put it in the poor man's hand, thereby exciting in him the painful emotion of shame.

The Fifth - is to give charity in such a way that the distressed may receive the bounty, and know their benefactor, without their being known to him.

The Sixth - which rises still higher, is to know the objects of our bounty but remain unknown to them.

The Seventh - is still more meritorious, namely, to bestow charity in such a way that the benefactor may not know the relieved persons, nor they the names of their benefactor.

The Eighth - and the most meritorious of all, is to anticipate charity by preventing poverty; namely, to assist the reduced fellow-man either by a considerable gift, or a sum of money, or by teaching him a trade, or by putting him in the way of business, so that he may earn an honest livelihood, and not be forced to the dreadful alternative of holding out his hand for charity.

It has been our practice at every regular meeting of the lodge and on special occasions to place that fishbowl near the buffet table, for the brethren and guests to deposit their offerings in it.

That Bowl is for good causes.   It is a reminder of our good fortunes.   It is a reminder of our North-East angle: "Anything, therefore, that you may feel disposed to give, you will deposit in the Fishbowl, and no matter how small the amount, it will be thankfully received and faithfully applied."   Look into your hearts when you pass by it.

Imparted by Bro. Vincent Lombardo

September 27, 2016



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