dfreybur
Premium Member
Because there are so few contested votes this rarely comes up for hand votes just for ballots. If an EA or FC renders a hand vote and the vote comes out unanimous, as it often does, no one cares.
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Why do we hold stated meetings on the MM degree only?
- Thread starter CLewey44
- Start date
Because there are so few contested votes this rarely comes up for hand votes just for ballots. If an EA or FC renders a hand vote and the vote comes out unanimous, as it often does, no one cares.
And I'd like to see Blue Lodges actually providing Masonic Education that makes good men better rather than Freemasonic Training that makes compliant members.
But I ain't gonna hold my breath waiting for it to occur.
Keith C
Registered User
Indeed. We almost never actually ballot on candidates and can vote on petitions when opened in the EA degree. We always have a mentor sitting with the EAs or FCs to make sure they know they can't vote. Elections and Installation of Officers must be done in the MM Degree, with the exception of the option to do an open installation.
That's exactly how it was. After I became a MM & sat through a few stated meetings, I understood why my instructor would sit outside with me & go over my work- he didn't want to be bored either!Did they do anything besides just conduct the same business on a lower degree? If not, I can see why it had no effect. Conducting business on the EA degree isn't the goal. Conducting business on the EA degree because new initiates spend longer as EA's and FC's as they go through an intensive period of study and growth before being found ready for the next degree because they should absolutely have a stake in the Lodge they are being initiated in is. If a Lodge has the same mind-numbingly tedious business meetings like so many others today and the only change is to just open it to EA's and FC's, well I can very well see why it hasn't worked. Since you didn't say if anything else changed I am just making assumptions to continue the discussion.
This was much my opinion as well. So much so, I conducted all the stated meetings my year in the East within the Masters Degree.
I also agree that the change has not done much in the way of increasing retention.
Exactly. Quality one on one study time with a mentor.
Plus the social portion of the meal and conversation before the start of the meeting.
Warrior1256
Site Benefactor
Exactly. This is a big part of the experience.
My Mother GL changed to “Master’s choice” quite a while back. Depending on presentations, discussions, and visitors a lodge may open in any of the three.
My other two jurisdictions open on the First.
My other two jurisdictions open on the First.
That is much the same in Texas, being the Master’s choice and depending upon the work, degree, or visitors.
Mark Stockdale
Premium Member
I think I like the Scottish way, where all business is conducted in the EA, we only progress from there if the degree work that night warrants it. I think it helps that we have 2 meetings a month as a lodge, but we then have the general committee meeting once a month, which is where most of the actual business is decided, and only brought to Open Lodge to get passed by the Brethren when the minutes are read.
Bloke
Premium Member
Dear Bro - I like the "Scottish way" too of opening a Lodge on the First Degree except that its not really the "Scottish way" - it is what most of the Masonic World does.. opening in the Third Degree and conducting business that degree seems to be an Nth American thing in origin - you will hear a Traditional History on it about an alleged murder, and a wonderful political movement or more rightly, a Convention in Baltimore.. I can't quite remember which came first (but it was sealed at the Convention I think). There is bound to be comment on these earlier in this thread
Of course in PA - they probably open on the 2.4569825 degree because that's how Pennsylvania rolls - it is the wacky place where they love to be different
One thing I do know is
CLewey44
Registered User
Of course in PA - they probably open on the 2.4569825 degree because that's how Pennsylvania rolls - it is the wacky place where they love to be different
One thing I do know is
Bwhahahhaha!
Of course in PA - they probably open on the 2.4569825 degree because that's how Pennsylvania rolls - it is the wacky place where they love to be different
You haven’t lived a complete Masonic life until you’ve seen the Wardens present their columns (probably not the proper terminology, but I was just a tourist in cowboy boots).
Warrior1256
Site Benefactor
Of course in PA - they probably open on the 2.4569825 degree because that's how Pennsylvania rolls - it is the wacky place where they love to be different
***snicker snicker***
Mark Stockdale
Premium Member
Dear Bro - I like the "Scottish way" too of opening a Lodge on the First Degree except that its not really the "Scottish way" - it is what most of the Masonic World does.. opening in the Third Degree and conducting business that degree seems to be an Nth American thing in origin - you will hear a Traditional History on it about an alleged murder, and a wonderful political movement or more rightly, a Convention in Baltimore.. I can't quite remember which came first (but it was sealed at the Convention I think). There is bound to be comment on these earlier in this thread
Of course in PA - they probably open on the 2.4569825 degree because that's how Pennsylvania rolls - it is the wacky place where they love to be different
One thing I do know is
I didn't know that, I know of only 1 lodge in Scotland that always opens on the 3rd Degree for every meeting, it was explained to me that it was an Americanism.
Keith C
Registered User
It is odd, but I have never been given an official name for it. In our Lodge we call it "The Dance!" You may not have noticed it, depending on where you sat, but there are foot steps as well as movement of the columns and hands.
I was in front of Bro Junior so had no idea what was going on behind me! I think the lodge got a chuckle from my reaction.
Canadian Paul
Registered User
As does my Mother Lodge under the GL of Scotland and all lodges under the Grand Lodge of Newfounflandand Labrador. Our EAs and FCs can sit in Lodge and ovserve its workings right from the start. For that reason, when working an Initiation we defer all other business until after the ceremony so that the new EAs can observe the lodge's workings and the closing ritual that meeting.
Brother_Steve
Premium Member
I have to be a full member to vote. However, we recently started being able to open on and conduct business on any degree we so choose.
The only issue is making sure the EA and FC masons do not vote. We assign a PM or a mentor to sit with them on the north side of the Lodge.