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Remitting Dues
(no more dues after 50 years membership)
Most of the information on this chart came from emails
from masons in the various jurisdictions. Most of the information is assumed to
be accurate but there is no guarantee of that.
If anyone wants to send me email, especially if any of the information
on this chart is not correct or if you know of additional information that should be
included, please send me email at paulb'at'bessel.org
U.S. Grand Lodges
| Grand Lodge |
Details |
| Alabama |
AL has no GL provision for the automatic remitting of
dues based on chronological age.
However, a number of Lodges reduce or remit dues of long time members. The
Lodge still has to pay the GL dues for these MM.
The only exception for the "everybody pays" is that if a Lodge remits the
dues of a minister (active or retired) then the GL will also remit the GL
dues for that minister. |
| Alaska |
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| Arizona |
The GL of AZ allows its Lodges to elect to
"Senior Life Membership" any member who has a total of 50
years membership in the Craft (time out on a demit or
suspension doesn't count) AND 25 unbroken years of
membership in Arizona.
It's not automatic -- it has to be voted by
the Lodge (simple majority at a stated meeting) -- but the
member is then exempt from dues for the rest of his life,
and his Lodge does not pay per capita on him.
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| Arkansas |
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| California |
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| Colorado |
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| Connecticut |
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| Delaware |
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| District of Columbia |
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| Florida |
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| Georgia |
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| Hawaii |
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| Idaho |
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| Illinois |
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| Indiana |
When the Grand Lodge of Indiana voted in 1946 to exempt
50 year members from dues, the life expectancy of men was 13 years shorter
than it is today. In fact, for men born in 1890, the average life expectancy
was just 42 years. In his history of Indiana Masonry, "Goodly Heritage," PGM
Dwight Smith wrote:
"When Worshipful Masters C. Clinton Sanders of Benton Lodge No. 521 and J.
Clark Griffith of Boswell Lodge No. 486 introduced a resolution at the
annual meeting in 1946 asking that 50-year members be excused from the
payment of annual dues, Grand Lodge voted approval with apparently no
thought as to the wisdom of such legislation and no study to
determine its possible implications. It seemed simple enough in 1946 when
50-year members were rare. But within just 20 years the number had increased
to more than 5,000, and a major financial problem had been created
thereby..."
That was in 1968, and already it was clear where this financial catastrophe
was headed. Now we have lodges where it is not uncommon to have 35-50% and
even more who are not paying dues to their lodges, and their lodges aren't
paying per capita to Grand Lodge for them either. Yet, we still have a Grand
Lodge building, administrative and secretarial staff, publications, a huge
umbrella insurance policy that covers all 450+ lodges, plus a retirement
home to pay for, that ALL members make use one of way or another, whether
they set foot in lodge ever again or not. |
| Iowa |
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| Kansas |
In most lodges in Kansas, 50 year members are excused
from paying dues. However, the lodges are still required to pay the
per-capita tax to the Grand Lodge. In our lodge, we voted this year that all
50 year members created after January 2007 would still be required to pay
the per capita tax. We found ourselves in the same situation as others have,
lots of overhead but a large percentage not paying dues. |
| Kentucky |
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| Louisiana |
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| Maine |
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| Maryland |
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| Massachusetts |
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| Michigan |
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| Minnesota |
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| Mississippi |
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| Missouri |
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| Montana |
Grand Lodge of Montana gives a 50 year member a life time
membership which exempts him from all dues incl. per capita. |
| Nebraska |
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| Nevada |
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| New Hampshire |
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| New Jersey |
in New Jersey those brethren who have paid dues for 25
years consecutively in one lodge may be exempted from future payment in
whole or part by a majority vote of the lodge brethren.
New Jersey, a
Lodge may remit lodge dues but must pay the Grand Lodge assessment so old
members are asked if they are able, to please pay the assessment |
| New Mexico |
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| New York |
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| North Carolina |
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| North Dakota |
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| Ohio |
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| Oklahoma |
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| Oregon |
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| Pennsylvania |
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| Rhode Island |
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| South Carolina |
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| South Dakota |
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| Tennessee |
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| Texas |
The Grand Lodge of Texas exempts from dues those who have
been Masons for fifty years or more. The lodges do not have to remit the per
capita on these brethren. |
| Utah |
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| Vermont |
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| Virginia |
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| Washington |
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| West Virginia |
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| Wisconsin |
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| Wyoming |
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