tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25683662.post7167915328457716427..comments2024-03-26T12:05:58.591-04:00Comments on Freemasons For Dummies: The Seven Lamps of ArchitectureChristopher Hodapphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04201859873755654395noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25683662.post-79260368228030186672008-10-06T23:02:00.000-04:002008-10-06T23:02:00.000-04:00I really think that it is a shame to read on the G...I really think that it is a shame to read on the Google News aggregator under "Masonic" all of these buildings being sold, demolished, etc. When I heard that the Scottish Rite of Chicago was moving, I was extremely troubled. Now, with real estate tanking, we may have an opportunity to save these buildings with some new financial plans. <BR/><BR/>Perhaps the next topic for Grand Lodges will be, what financial planning must we require all constituent Lodges to follow in order to be sustainable? It could be very interesting and acrimonious.<BR/><BR/>NickMillennial Freemasonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10365269439441609340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25683662.post-62703155670649040492008-10-06T20:50:00.000-04:002008-10-06T20:50:00.000-04:00Chris, At Redlands #300 in Calif. we are going to ...Chris, At Redlands #300 in Calif. we are going to have your 100th anniversary next year! Our past brothers set up a plan that the monies they put away for us, we can only use no more then 50% of the interest from all monies on deposits. ( Of course they also provided a way around it if nedded, but we have never used it.) By the way When i find out the date I'll let you know, my be you can come out!<BR/>Yes all the things justa mason says is true. We have no parking for our lodge as we are right downtown, but we manage. We are also growing, and they are younger men and they are coming to lodge meetings and going into the line.<BR/>JamesJames Boninehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16259510436745630354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25683662.post-63879427660612490212008-10-04T20:03:00.000-04:002008-10-04T20:03:00.000-04:00Chris, the problem locally with buildings is two-f...Chris, the problem locally with buildings is two-fold, and I doubt it's much different in other places.<BR/><BR/>Property values have skyrocketed. When the local Masonic halls here were built, people could afford to buy a house in the city. They can't now. If the mortgage won't kill them, the taxes will. Even condos are beyond an affordable price for many people now.<BR/><BR/>The other problem is the shrinking and aging of our membership means we still consist of a majority of elderly gentlemen on fixed income. That's not the demographic that we had when the halls were built. Upkeep, taxes, electricity all cost money. So would bringing these old buildings up to code (wiring, sprinklers, etc.) if they wished to do expand or make major renovations. It's money seniors don't have. And the spending is never ending.<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://justamason.blogspot.com" REL="nofollow">Justa</A>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com