Brethren,

Here it is, August 2003 already; my how the time has passed! I trust everyone is having a great summer with your families on vacation or enjoying yourselves at home.

I've adopted a new term, "QNM," to describe our membership efforts because Operation Rescue/Recovery continues to attract Quality New Members. Many of our Lodges are receiving new petitions -- especially Lodges that have not had any for some time. That's the right direction for new members; but now we really need to pursue vigorously the area of "suspensions for non-payment of dues." Considering the values a member finds in this Fraternity, there really should be no reason for suspensions. So, if you know of any Brothers who have been suspended, now is the time to demonstrate your spirit of fellowship, talk to them Brother-to-Brother about paying their dues, and keep them in our Fraternity.

My Brethren, as you well know, many tough decisions have had to be made in the past year. Those of you who attended the June Quarterly Communication heard the resolutions that were presented and approved. The one resolution that was presented and laid over until our December Quarterly Communication was the increase of Grand Lodge assessment from twelve dollars to twenty dollars, an increase of eight dollars. As we look at the facts, we're reminded that Grand Lodge dues have not increased since 1991. That's twelve years ago. With that in mind, consider that the eight-dollar increase is less than three cents a day -- in fact, slightly more than two cents, or precisely 2.19 cents.

Now, let us talk about why an increase in the Grand Lodge assessment is necessary at this time. I suppose that some of you will ask, "What has Grand Lodge done for our Blue Lodges with the funds that have been received?" They've "purchased" progress, benefits, and services systemwide. Let me cite just three of the more recent ones:

A computer system for all Blue Lodge Secretaries to use was paid for entirely by Grand Lodge at considerable expense. None of this development and maintenance cost was passed on to our Blue Lodges. Grand Lodge funded the entire development and maintenance cost of that effort.

Automated audit reports for all Blue Lodges have been developed. That also was done at no expense to our Blue Lodges. Again, Grand Lodge funded the entire development of the project.

A series of training sessions for all of our Lodge Secretaries have been ­ and continue to be -- held across the Jurisdiction on a yearly basis. Also, Masonic Education Training Sessions for all of our Lodge Wardens have been held yearly across the entire Jurisdiction.

Concerning our investments that are held by Grand Lodge: The Grand Lodge Officers have been both reactive and proactive in facing the economic challenges. As you well know, there have been serious, aggressive and sustained efforts to reduce operating costs, even at the expense of personnel reductions. Operating budgets and expenses for all departments have been reduced significantly. It is a fact that for decades the dues paid to Grand Lodge by the Blue Lodges never have fully covered the operating costs of Grand Lodge.

Traditionally, Grand Lodge has underwritten its own operating expenses ­ and that will continue, but at a much lower level. In 1991, Freemasonry in Pennsylvania had approximately 172,000 members; today we have less than 131,000 members. That, my Brethren, is an annual average loss since 1991 of 3,400 members ­ a disheartening fact that translates in a loss each year of $40,800 in operating funds. Looking at that fact realistically, I believe we can all understand why an increase of Grand Lodge assessment of eight dollars is needed now.

Brethren, I welcome your support. Realizing that our Blue Lodges will have to increase their Lodge dues to meet the proposed Grand Lodge increase in assessment, as Grand Master, I will allow the Blue Lodges to amend their bylaws to reflect the $20 Grand Lodge assessment, showing an increase of $8 and to bill that increase for their dues for 2004 in anticipation of the adoption of the resolution in December.

In closing, I hope to see many of you on Autumn Day, Oct. 4, at the Masonic Homes in Elizabethtown. Until then, safe travels. God Bless America!

Sincerely and Fraternally,

Marvin A. Cunningham, Sr.,
R.W. Grand Master