Valley of Toledo Masonic Survey Results

1-1-1999 Through 4-1-1999

By completing this membership survey, you have helped the Valley understand how you feel about several Masonic issues and practices.  There were no "right" or "wrong" responses.  By sharing your true opinion, your response is exactly what we need to build a stronger Valley.

I had a little bit of hesitation in how all would view this survey and the results of same. I am not going to break down the results into any other manner or form than that in which I received them. I am posting these results as submitted without any other breakdown as to how age groups responded or length of time as a Master Mason.

We all are aware of the fact that results can be "Spun" to get the results we would like to see, and with this in mind the following data is just that.

Please use these results as an Educational program within your Lodge.

I have been a Mason:

Less than five (5) years  32%
5 to 10 years                    20%
11 to 15 years                  12%
16 to 20 years                  7%
More than 20 years        29%

My present age range is:

19 to 30 years    10%
31 to 40 years    19%
41 to 50 years    31%
51 to 60 years    21%
61 and older       19%

My marital status is:

Single         26%
Married     68%
Divorced    3%
Widowed    3%

I attend Lodge:

Regularly         77%
Frequently       12%
Infrequently     9%
Seldom             2%
Never                0%

I am a Past Master of my Lodge?

Yes   47%
No    53%

I have served as an officer of the Lodge?

Yes   83%
No    17%

I belong to an affiliated Masonic body? (Scottish Rite, York Rite, Shrine, etc.)

Yes   79%
No     21%

I am:

More active in affiliate bodies than Blue Lodge.    16%
As active in Blue Lodge as affiliate bodies.              47%
Less active in affiliated bodies than Blue Lodge.    37%

I would like to serve as a Lodge officer:

Yes   81%
No    19%

The primary purpose of our Lodge officers is to conduct ritual.

I strongly agree with this statement           24%           
I generally agree with this statement        28%
I am undecided at this time                         8%
I generally disagree with this statement   25%
I strongly disagree with this statement     15%

Former officers serve as barriers to change that will attract new members.

          I strongly agree with this statement          19%
          I generally agree with this statement        19%
          I am undecided at this time                         14%
          I generally disagree with this statement   33%
          I strongly disagree with this statement     15%

The Lodge no longer has a major impact in the community.

I strongly agree with this statement           29%
I generally agree with this statement        25%
I am undecided at this time                         9%
I generally disagree with this statement   25%
I strongly disagree with this statement     12%

The central focus of our Fraternity is ritual.

I strongly agree with this statement          20%
I generally agree with this statement       27%
I am undecided at this time                        10%
I generally disagree with this statement   28%
I strongly disagree with this statement     15%

The emphasis on perfect word recitation is a hindrance to membership involvement and growth.

I strongly agree with this statement           20%
I generally agree with this statement        15%
I am undecided at this time                         16%
I generally disagree with this statement    32%
I strongly disagree with this statement     17%

The single minded emphasis on ritual drives men with other abilities and talents from the Lodge.

I strongly agree with this statement           31%
I generally agree with this statement        15%
I am undecided at this time                         19%
I generally disagree with this statement    25%
I strongly disagree with this statement      10%

A person who joins the Lodge and is not particularly interested in ritual will never move in to a Lodge leadership role.

I strongly agree with this statement          34%
I generally agree with this statement       17%
I am undecided at this time                        15%
I generally disagree with this statement   25%
I strongly disagree with this statement     9%

The Grand Masonic Fraternity today is an old men's club.

I strongly agree with this statement           11%
I generally agree with this statement        32%
I am undecided at this time                         8%
I generally disagree with this statement   32%
I strongly disagree with this statement     17%

The primary charitable contribution too often is the support of the State Masonic Home.

I strongly agree with this statement           21%
I generally agree with this statement        12%
I am undecided at this time                         23%
I generally disagree with this statement    32%
I strongly disagree with this statement      12%

Young men are not making a conscious effort to join our Fraternity.

I strongly agree with this statement           35%
I generally agree with this statement        35%
I am undecided at this time                         8%
I generally disagree with this statement    21%
I strongly disagree with this statement      1%

Young men do not know the Masonic Fraternity exists and is available to them.

I strongly agree with this statement           53%
I generally agree with this statement        29%
I am undecided at this time                         2%
I generally disagree with this statement    15%
I strongly disagree with this statement      1%

The Lodge is not evoking desire on the part of young men to become a member of Freemasonry.

I strongly agree with this statement           55%
I generally agree with this statement        29%
I am undecided at this time                         1%
I generally disagree with this statement    11%
I strongly disagree with this statement      4%

The Lodge has become invisible within the community.

I strongly agree with this statement           29%
I generally agree with this statement        34%
I am undecided at this time                         7%
I generally disagree with this statement    24%
I strongly disagree with this statement      6%

The blackball system in antiquated and should be reviewed.

I strongly agree with this statement           18%
I generally agree with this statement        9%
I am undecided at this time                         11%
I generally disagree with this statement    25%
I strongly disagree with this statement      37%

Good ritualists do not necessarily make good officers.

I strongly agree with this statement           42%
I generally agree with this statement        20%
I am undecided at this time                         5%
I generally disagree with this statement    29%
I strongly disagree with this statement      4%

The way we judge an officer of potential Grand Master is by his ritualistic ability.

I strongly agree with this statement           12%
I generally agree with this statement        11%
I am undecided at this time                         30%
I generally disagree with this statement    25%
I strongly disagree with this statement      22%

Our Lodge lacks a long-range plan.

I strongly agree with this statement           39%
I generally agree with this statement        19%
I am undecided at this time                         12%
I generally disagree with this statement    21%
I strongly disagree with this statement      9%

We should remove the restrictive requirement of time and ritual proficiency from our Lodge officers.

I strongly agree with this statement           7%
I generally agree with this statement        14%
I am undecided at this time                         15%
I generally disagree with this statement    30%
I strongly disagree with this statement      34%

We should reduce the amount of ritual which a person must commit to memory in order to join our Fraternity.

I strongly agree with this statement           19%
I generally agree with this statement        11%
I am undecided at this time                         12%
I generally disagree with this statement    20%
I strongly disagree with this statement      38%

Masonic education for all members should be increased.

I strongly agree with this statement           79%
I generally agree with this statement        10%
I am undecided at this time                         4%
I generally disagree with this statement    5%
I strongly disagree with this statement      2%

Masonry can no longer be a "Secret" Fraternity.

I strongly agree with this statement           40%
I generally agree with this statement        9%
I am undecided at this time                         14%
I generally disagree with this statement    22%
I strongly disagree with this statement      15%

We should seek public recognition of our Fraternity.

I strongly agree with this statement           65%
I generally agree with this statement        18%
I am undecided at this time                         8%
I generally disagree with this statement    7%
I strongly disagree with this statement      2%

We must continue the perfection of the ritual but keep its use in perspective within the Fraternity.

I strongly agree with this statement           68%
I generally agree with this statement        20%
I am undecided at this time                         6%
I generally disagree with this statement    2%
I strongly disagree with this statement      4%

It is permissible to inform a good man "Do you know that you will never be requested to join Masonry?"

I strongly agree with this statement           69%
I generally agree with this statement        9%
I am undecided at this time                         8%
I generally disagree with this statement    9%
I strongly disagree with this statement      5%

Masonry focuses too much on the past.

I strongly agree with this statement           25%
I generally agree with this statement        23%
I am undecided at this time                         12%
I generally disagree with this statement    25%
I strongly disagree with this statement      15%

Masonry, as a Fraternity, has the history, lessons, and the facilities to succeed if we have the courage to use them to the advantage of our future.

I strongly agree with this statement           89%
I generally agree with this statement        9%
I am undecided at this time                         1%
I generally disagree with this statement   1%
I strongly disagree with this statement      0%

Masons are not solicited to join a Lodge so that as candidates they may affirmatively answer the question, "Is this of your own free will and accord?" Should this restriction be modified as a way to encourage more men to join?

Yes                 33%
Maybe          15%
Undecided     4%
No                  48%

Do you believe the present dues are:

Too high          11%
Satisfactory     62%
Too low            27%

How often should the Lodge meet?

Once a week        14%
Twice a month      61%
Once a month       25%

Should initiation fees be reduced for younger candidates to encourage their applying?

Yes                 16%
Maybe          30%
Undecided     4%
No                  50%

Would attendance increase if Lodge were held in a more relaxed atmosphere?

Yes                14%
Maybe          24%
Undecided     7%
No                  55%

Would Masons be encouraged to visit other Lodges by requiring that they only show paid up dues receipts or other evidence of membership without a committee examination before admission?

Yes                20%
Maybe          20%
Undecided    15%
No                  45%

Should degrees be presented more dramatically, possibly with visual aids, as long as the moral and ethical teachings are not changed?

Yes                46%
Maybe         21%
Undecided    15%
No                  18%

Do you favor permitting alcoholic beverages in Masonic Temples for the purpose of being able to rent out the public facilities? (Wedding receptions, Fellowship nights, etc)

Yes                51%
Maybe         13%
Undecided    11%
No                 25%

Should advertising be allowed in Masonic publications? (Lodge bulletins, jurisdictional publications, etc.)

Yes   78%

No     22%

My lodge is located primarily: Urban   55%        Suburban   25%        Rural   20%

 

 

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