FAQ: Are there costs associated with being a Mason?
Larry the Mason from Holbrook
Version 1.0
August 2006
This Frequently Asked Question comes from the weekly USENET MASONRY FAQ, posted to alt.freemasonry every Friday at 08:00 Pacific. Please refer to the weekly FAQ for other resource and contact information.
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Are there costs associated with being a Mason?
Yes. Like all organizations, Lodges must be able to pay their light
bills. Typically, there is a one-time fee for the three degrees of
Masonry, as well as regular annual dues. But these vary widely
depending on the number of members, cost of living (rent in Manhattan
is higher than it is in rural Oklahoma), the actual physical
facilities of the Lodge, etc. The fees and dues, however, are not
prohibitively expensive (the original author was a college student and
had no problem with them). Rather than give a single figure which may
be very different than your local Lodge charges, or publishing an
extended table of costs, it is easiest to simply refer the interested
to their local Lodge.
Incidentally, many Grand Lodge jurisdictions provide for "life
membership" after a Mason has paid dues for a long period. For
example, in Michigan a Mason is no longer asked to pay dues after he
has been a Mason for forty years. Other jurisdictions allow members to
pay a lump sum for life membership. As with almost everything in
Masonry, check with your local Grand Lodge or Lodge for more
information.