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Figure 4, below, shows the number of Master Masons In Montana most lodges tend to fall into one of three
raised by Year. The total membership in 1946 passed groups, 1) they have members but little money, 2) they
20,000 for the second time in Grand Lodge history. have money but few members or 3) a few Lodges have
The third degrees conferred over the next 7 years both members and money. If they have money, it was
approximated 1,000 per year or slightly more until because its an older lodge and had lots of members.
1955 when the number was only 934.
All of them were or are dependent upon the longevity
The gain in membership was much lower than the of their members and their personal wealth and new
number of degrees conferred; exceeding 1,000 only in members. Most all Lodges now fi nd that if they have
1946 and 1947, then began a decline into the 1960s on savings or investments, they are tapping into it to
through 2018. Third degrees conferred dropped from supplement their expenses.
the 700s, down through the 600s and then begins a
long series of years in which membership declined The MSA tells us that nationally starting in 1960
each year at an accelerating pace and the number of Masonry has been in a constant state of decline, within
third degrees declined at an alarming rate in the 1960s Montana this seems to be supported by these charts
to the 200s in 1970s to 183 in 1984, 120 in 1994, 140 in as well. Masonry in Montana continues on a downhill
2004, 79 in 2014 and 99 in 2016. The number of newly trend. It seems reasonable to say that nothing done in
Raised Master Masons in Montana can be easily seen Montana between 1961 and 2018 had any signifi cant
in Figure 4, below, should be enough to send a chill eff ect on improving membership. It is reasonable for
down your spine and make the hair on the back of your us to state that we cannot continue to do business as
neck stand up. This also demonstrates that the claim of usual. We must initiate a course correction if we hope
many a "rainmaker" was really more like the Snake- to keep the ship afl oat and operational. If we keep doing
Oil Salesman presenting some "new idea, plan or the same thing and reusing the same failed programs
program" to save Masonry and increase membership. and plans or trying to polish that which was picked up
Which left us much like Jack after buying the magic off the ground, we will continue to lose membership.
beans. How do we know this, look at the chart below We must do better, and our Lodges and Grand Lodge
and our steadily declining membership. Offi cers "Must" do better.

Figure 4. Members Raised by year 1866-2016.
To help bring home the reality of our situation in the Grand Treasurers Report given at the 152nd Annual
Communication, R.W. Brother Bruce Lahti stated "As recently as 2013 there were 4,555 per capita paying
members. Currently, we are estimating only 3,450 per capita paying members this year. That is a reduction
in per capita paying members of 1105 over that fi ve-year period. If we still had the same number of members
as we did 5 years ago, this year’s per capita would be $10.80 less than the proposed amount. Sadly, this is a
trend that is continuing." He Continued by saying, "By decreasing the annual budget, we are trying to keep per
capita from needing signifi cant increases. The decrease in expenses from 5 years ago translates to a savings
to members this year of $6.85 per each per capita paying member. But this is fi ghting a losing game. At some
point, infl ation and necessary expenses are going to catch up to us, and the budget will need to rise. The only
option then is to cut expenses related to Grand Lodge offi cers’ travel."

Page 8 Montana Freemason January 2019