Life Membership Programs
The information on this chart comes from various sources. If anyone has definite information for additions or changes on this chart, please send email to Paul M. Bessel so I can update this chart.
|
State |
Does the Grand Lodge have Life Membership Programs? |
|---|---|
| Alabama | |
| Alaska | In Alaska, Grand Lodge does not have a Life Membership program per se – but individual lodges may offer one, and if desired, those programs may be invested through Grand Lodge. |
| Arizona | Any Master Mason in good standing may purchase a Perpetual Membership by paying the sum of 15 times the annual dues of his Lodge. |
| Arkansas | |
| California | Life Membership is allowed. the dues fees are as follows: under the age of 49 – 21 times annual dues 50-54 inclusive – 19 times annual dues 55-59 inclusive – 17 times annual dues 60-64 inclusive – 14 times annual dues 65 and over – 11 times annual dues this is according to the California Masonic Code 27020 |
| Colorado |
From an email Nov. 2006: In Colorado, the Grand Lodge does not have a Life Membership program per se – but individual lodges may offer one.
|
| Connecticut | |
| District of Columbia | No, but each Lodge is permitted to have its own Life Membership program. |
| Delaware | |
| Florida | In Florida, we have a “Perpetual Membership” program where, for 20 times the annual dues, you can be exempt from paying dues forever. The money goes to an endowment fund at grand lodge with the income going to the lodge you signed up for your perpetual membership in. This income stream continues to the lodge even after the brother dies. One can also purchase a memorial perpetual membership for a deceased brother. One can also purchase an honorary perpetual membership in a lodge where one was elected to honorary membership. |
| Georgia | From an email message in June 2008: Life membership may be purchased for 21 times the annual dues. Returns from the program to the lodge in perpetuity. |
| Hawaii | |
| Idaho | Life membership may be purchased for 21 times the annual dues. Returns from the program to the lodge in perpetuity. |
| Illinois | Code 271. Life memberships are authorized in constituent lodges, subject to the following terms and conditions: A. Any member in good standing in a constituent lodge who has paid all current dues & charges, may become a life member in that lodge. B. The member desiring a life membership pays the lesser of either (1) 15 times the annual dues of his lodge at the time of the application but in no event less than $375, or (2) a sum equal to the amount of dues the member would have to pay until he would become eligible to become a 50 year member if such dues remained the same as the dues at the date of the application, but not be less than $25 for each year remaining until the member would become eligible to be a 50 year member. |
| Indiana | Yes. Endowment program paid by member, managed by a special committee of Grand Lodge in a foundation. |
| Iowa | |
| Kansas | |
| Kentucky | |
| Louisiana | |
| Maine | |
| Maryland | |
| Massachusetts | The GL of Massachusetts has a plan for pre-payment of GL dues. It is based on your age and is a rolling scale where you will have nothing to pay by the time you are in your 70’s or so. |
| Michigan | Michigan allows their lodges to give life memberships after forty (40) years, as per the following legislation: 4-25 SECTION 31. A Lodge may grant a Life Membership to any of its members in good standing and not indebted to the Lodge who, for not less than a total of forty years, shall have been a Master Mason in good standing of some Lodge or Lodges in this Grand Jurisdiction or in other Grand Jurisdictions with which the Grand Lodge of Michigan is in fraternal relations. Provided, that no proposal to grant a Life Membership shall be submitted to a Lodge at a date earlier than four months prior to the date on which the proposed recipient shall have actually completed forty years of membership in good standing, and provided further that such proposed recipient shall have been a dues paying member of a Michigan Lodge or Lodges for at least five years. In each case, the proposal to grant a Life Membership shall be presented at a Regular Communication, and shall lie over without action until the next Regular Communication, at which time it shall be acted upon. A majority of those present and voting shall be sufficient to decide the matter. Thereafter such Life Member shall not be liable for annual dues. A Lodge may present a Life Membership Certificate and/or a Life Membership Lapel Button to any of its members elected to Life Membership in accordance with the foregoing regulations, provided, however, that the presentation shall not be made prior to the date on which the recipient shall have actually completed the required forty years of membership in good standing. (1959, 1962, 1965) The Grand Lodge also allows a member to take a “Pre Paid” membership. |
| Minnesota | |
| Mississippi | |
| Missouri | |
| Montana | |
| Nebraska | |
| Nevada | Nevada’s life membership plan is identical to Idaho’s. Life membership may be purchased for 21 times the annual dues. Returns from the program to the lodge in perpetuity. |
| New Hampshire | |
| New Jersey | |
| New Mexico | |
| New York | |
| North Carolina | |
| North Dakota | |
| Ohio | |
| Oklahoma | |
| Oregon | |
| Pennsylvania | |
| Rhode Island | |
| South Carolina | |
| South Dakota | |
| Tennessee | |
| Texas | From an email message: Texas has two distinct programs. 1. Endowed Membership program which provides for the purchase of a Endowed Membership for a set fee (currently $500.00) The constituent lodge receives an income from the Trust Fund which is managed by the Grand Lodge Trustees. The lodge pays all Grand Lodge per capita fees on the endowed member from the income while he is alive and in good standing (unless exempted by other conditions such as being a member for 50 years). The lodge continues to receive the income from the trust fund in perpetuity. 2. Life Membership is conferred by vote of a lodge and is restricted to no more than 4 Life Memberships in any three year period. The lodge pays all Grand Lodge per capita fees on the endowed member while he is alive and in good standing (unless exempted by other conditions such as being a member for 50 years). As a general rule a Life Membership is granted to an outgoing Master as recognition for his service. Thus in any three year period there is one Life Membership for each outgoing Master and one additional if the lodge so desires. Since the lodge continues to pay the Grand Lodge per capita, additional Life Memberships are seldom granted. |
| Utah | |
| Vermont | |
| Virginia | Yes. Each Mason may pay 16 years’ dues and thus become a “Life Member in Perpetuity,” meaning he doesn’t pay any dues for life, and the program continues to pay his dues to his lodge each year even after his death. Purchases can be honorary, such as for George Washington to be a Perpetual Member of a selected lodge. Masons can be LMIP’s in as many lodges as they wish. |
| Washington | |
| West Virginia | October 1999 the West Virginia Grand Lodge approved a perpetual membership program effective January 2001. The funds are to be deposited and invested by the Grand Lodge Board of Trustees for the benefit of the lodge. The price is $800. |
| Wisconsin | |
| Wyoming |