North Carolina Mason
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/729816
July/August 2016 The North Carolina Mason Page 9
Still, what is Masonry worth to you?
ere is a huge misunderstanding of the signifi-
cance of our initiation fee. e initiation fee is a man's
first investment in Freemasonry — a lifelong journey
of friendship and brotherhood. e initiation fee is a
man's first investment in his lodge. And, the initiation
fee is a means to guard our lodges against cowans —
those unworthy to be Freemasons.
e initiation fee for the degrees of our sacred art
is proportional to the significance a man places on the
value and experience he is about to receive. Will a man
think twice before petitioning a lodge if his investment
in the experience is more than the cost of a pair of
shoes? Yes, he will. And, yes he should.
From the early 1800s through the first half of the
1900s, initiation into Freemasonry was general valued
as a week's wages — somewhere between $400 and
$500. Men took pains to save their money to be a part
of our fraternity, and that investment meant something
special — an appreciation we may have lost today.
Our current minimum fee, $50, is not even a half day's
wage, but it fits our society's current need for instant grat-
ification. Few men think anything about throwing away
$50 or even $100 to get a glimpse of our ritual.
If a man's value of Freemasonry can be measured by
his proportional investment in his entrance, we as Ma-
sons have failed to keep our fees proportional to eco-
nomic inflation. Following World War II and an artifi-
cial influx of members, we shrugged off our cheap entry
fees, despite the economic value of the dollar. Initiation
fees were erroneously believed to be an antiquated token
of admittance because we failed to grasp the true mean-
ing of Masonry and invited scores of men into the fold
without first vetting their suitability to the fraternity.
Freemasonry is not, and should not be, a mere civic
club scrambling for members. As Freemasons, we are ex-
ceptional. We are different. We are the world's premier
society of friends and brothers, and our standards for
membership should be nothing less than extraordinary.
Except for $21, initiation fees remain with a lodge.
Of the $21 that goes to the Grand Lodge, one dollar
goes to the Grand Lodge as an administrative fee, ten
dollars goes to the Grand Lodge Charity Fund, five
dollars goes to support the George Washington Na-
tional Masonic Memorial, and five dollars goes to the
Grand Lodge's Building Endowment fund.
We pay more than $200 a month for cable entertain-
ment. We pay hundreds of dollars for smartphones and
tablets and personal computers, then monthly subscrip-
tion fees amounting to many dollars more. We flee from
our blue lodges and join appendant bodies and have no
qualms about dropping $200 or $300 or $400 or more on
multiple memberships, costumes, badges, medals, medal-
lions, and fancy hats. But, why aren't we as enthusiastic
about our blue lodges? Where's the enthusiasm for our
Masonic home — for the foundation of our sacred art?
If you had the opportunity to petition for the de-
grees of Masonry again, what would you pay?
What is Masonry worth to you?
Jonathan Underwood is assistant to the Grand Secretary.
By Richard Spivey
GREENSBORO — ere were bunnies, eggs,
baskets, and candy for the kids when the 23
rd
Masonic
District hosted the Second Annual Easter Egg Hunt
at WhiteStone: A Masonic & Eastern Star Commu-
nity on March 19.
All employees, residents, Masons, Eastern Stars,
and their families were invited to the event. Children
under 10 years old participated in the hunt and had
their pictures taken with the Easter Bunny. Afterward,
everyone was invited to a hot dog lunch with ice cream
sundaes for dessert. It was a hoppin' good time for all.
e eggs were hidden and mostly found. But, there
was something greater hidden among the attendees.
It was that flash of light found in every smiling face
and happy heart. e smiles evidenced the principles
that we hold so dear; faith, hope and charity. It doesn't
take much to hide an egg and watch a child happily
hunt for it, but the light of joy that was found in this
simple act was immeasurable. As Grand Master Bry-
ant Webster said, "A small act of charity can go a long
way." We may never know the impact of a small act
of kindness, but we can be assured that each kind act
does bring a little more light into the world.
From the residents who saw light in the eyes of
their grandchildren, the staff who saw the joy of their
children, and the many Masons who saw the smiles of
their little ones, thank you to the 23
rd
Masonic District
for hiding a little light at WhiteStone.
Richard Spivey is a member of Gate City 694 and
marketing coordinator at WhiteStone.
Fred
Wilker
son
photos
Easter Bunny visits WhiteStone
WORTH, from page 4
You're invited
September 10
37
th
District Outdoor Degree
FOSCOE — Cranberry 598 is sponsoring an out-
door degree at Camp Gray Rock (used to be Camp
Rainbow). It will start at 2:00 p.m. September 10.
Contact Cranberry Lodge for details.
September 17
Superhero 5K Run
WAKE FOREST — Wake Forest 282's ird An-
nual Superhero run is set for September 17. e run
will be held in Joyner Park. Proceeds go to the Home
for Children. For details visit