Preparing for the Future

Why are we doing what we are doing?

“Empirical Validation”

Relying upon direct observation, conducting practical experiments, and/or

engaging directly with evidence rather than relying upon opinion, whim, conventional wisdom, authority or

untested ideas.

450,000,000                    

400,000,000                    

350,000,000                    

300,000,000                    

250,000,000                    

200,000,000                    

150,000,000                    

100,000,000                    

50,000,000                    

  1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2008   2009 2010

4,000,000

3,500,000

3,000,000

2,500,000

2,000,000

1,500,000

1,000,000

500,000

US PopulationUS Population

4,099,2194,099,219

1,373,4531,373,453

/ Masons/ Masons

308,745,538308,745,538

AASR-NMJ (July, 2011)

US Masonic Membership 1955-2009 and US Population 1950-2010

(data from Masonic Service Association)

1.79

2.03

2.27

2.49

2.81

3.09

0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

1.00

1.20

1.40

1.60

1.80

2.00

2.20

2.40

2.60

2.80

3.00

3.20

3.40

3.60

3.80

4.00

4.20

4.40

1955 1957 1959 1961 1963 1965 1967 1969 1971 1973 1975 1977 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009

Year

Mem

bers

hip

an

d U

S P

op

ula

tio

n

Membership (Millions) US Population (100 Millions)

Membership Changes: Count     

 

Census YearEnding June 15

(+)Initiated

(+)Restored

(-)Deceased

(-)Suspended

  Ending CountNMJ Net Change

   

2006 2,542 1,483 8,525 8,627   215,933 -15,256

2007 3,177 1,028 8,071 6,185   203,949 -11,984

2008 3,077 950 7,757 5,853   192,859 -11,090

2009 2,652 1,971 7,692 5,873   182,142 -10,717

2010 3,465 1,257 9,142 5,064   171,230 -10,912

2011 4,128 1,201 6,894 4,846   163,443 -7,787   

Membership Changes: Percentage 

 

Census YearEnding June 15

(+)Initiated

(+)Restored

(-)Deceased

(-)Suspended

  Ending CountNMJ Net Change

 

Excl Deaths  

2007 1.5% 0.5% 3.7% 2.9%     -5.5% -1.8%  

2008 1.5% 0.5% 3.8% 2.9%     -5.4% -1.6%  

2009 1.4% 1.0% 4.0% 3.0%     -5.6% -1.6%  

2010 1.9% 0.7% 5.0% 2.8%     -6.0% -1.0%  

2011 2.4% 0.7% 4.0% 2.8%     -4.5% -0.5%     

Membership Trends

Getting Back to Basics

Brotherly Love, Relief

and Truth

Inspiration

Convenience

Enjoyment

“Great by Choice”

The difficult task is to marry relentless discipline with creativity, neither letting discipline inhibit creativity nor letting

creativity erode discipline.

“Our lives begin to end the day

we become silent about things

that matter”

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.