Read the Grand Master's latest message in the new NC Mason:

Apathy unchecked can be a lodge killer

By Larry B. Thompson Jr.

Grand Master

apathy

/ˈapəTHē/

noun

• lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern.

Have you ever driven by an unfamiliar lodge building in your travels and, based on outward appearances, found yourself questioning whether the lodge is still active? Do you know of a lodge that consistently struggles with poor participation or has not performed a degree in years? Similarly, we all know lodges that have not held a fundraiser for our Masonic charities in years.

Why would a lodge neglect its building? Why does a lodge struggle to fill its chairs on meeting night? Why are we not fulfilling our obligations and supporting our charities? In a word – apathy. Regardless of the perceived problem (finances, membership numbers, participation, lodge culture, etc.), apathy is the cause … and it can be a lodge killer if the source is not identified and addressed.

None of us want to see a lodge fail and yet we have 434 lodges that have gone inactive since our Grand Lodge was formed.

So, how do we identify the causes of apathy?