Chapter 14 - The Sesquicentenary Year

Conclusion – The New Challenge

Fifty years ago, in 1966 when the Lodge was 100 years old, there were 173 members. The last half century has not been kind in terms of Lodge membership numbers. Many of our older members have passed on, but there have been many resignations, some for entirely understandable reasons, such as moving away, but others because of irreconcilable differences and cliques between members. There have also far too many exclusions for failure to pay dues. Compounding these losses has been the failure to keep pace by bringing-in suitable gentlemen in sufficient numbers, and once joined keeping them enthused with the Craft. Many suggest that Freemasonry has become too expensive, pointing out increases in the costs of membership over the last decade or two. A look back over De Shurland’s history suggests otherwise; annual membership dues today are, in terms of relative value of money, around what they were fifty years ago. Moreover, the Initiation fee in those days was the equivalent of £500, over three times the equivalent today, while the cost of meals has remained level in value terms.

It is the case that introducing new members is now more difficult than in the middle and latter parts of the last century. Large employers have gone from the Island itself; historically, work colleagues and friends who lived close-by were “natural” recruits. Today, though, many people commute to work on the mainland, probably wanting only to get home after braving vagaries of the A249 road, having had a long day’s work. As a society, perhaps we are becoming more isolated, losing sight of the traditional values that Freemasonry embodies.

Looking to the future, we need to adapt without losing our traditions and values. The Lodge is still a happy one, with the differences of a few years 95