I am not sure if your are limiting "changes" to be creating a charity for every societal ill and the other things that you bloviate about, but many Grand Lodges have instituted some significant changes largely in an attempt to stem the tide of declining numbers. The Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania made the following changes:
- Selective invitations allowed
- Three black balls now required to reject a candidate, instead of one
- A Masonic "congress" meeting in February for all Masonic groups, to seek ways to work together statewide
- One day class in 13 locations next October 30th
- District ritual teams may confer degrees on multiple candidates
- Any 60+ year old Mason who successfully recommends two new members under 30 are granted lifetime dues remission
- Dues may now be paid via credit or debit card
- A proficiency pin program certified by schools of instruction
- Shortened versions of opening and closings for meetings are now allowed
- Suspensions and expulsions to be largely handled at the local lodge level, and not by the Grand Master
- Relaxation of the traditional formal dress code in meetings
- Per capita increase of 50¢ to support youth groups
- Greater expansion of community and charity service, including an individual commitment by every single Pennsylvania Freemason to perform a weekly random act of kindness
- Simplified secretary/treasurer software to help each lodge with its annual audit
- A written ritual will now be made available for study for the first time in Pennsylvania history
http://www.lodge515.org/masonic-renaissance
Other Grand Lodges have lowered the age to petition to 18 and as you have pointed out instituted one day classes. My own Grand Lodge (Louisiana), now has ciphers for the Catechisms and Rituals, has a "fast track" proficiency, now only requires 5 members instead of 7 to conduct business.
It doesn't matter if I agree with any or all of the changes being made, some of them are rather significant in my opinion.
Perhaps he was referring to what he perceives to be relaxing of standards in requirements for accepting and advancing candidates, rather than raw numbers.