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Should individual lodges be able to serve alcohol?

Should individual lodges be permitted to serve alcohol, in the lodge building.

  • YES!

    Votes: 27 75.0%
  • No

    Votes: 9 25.0%

  • Total voters
    36

dfreybur

Premium Member
I'm speaking on what I have observed. There are pictures of freemasons on social medias sites with holding alcoholic beverages with Masonic emblems while in a club. What are your thoughts on this ?

Both sides for me.

One of the reasons I petitioned the Masons instead of the Elks is the Masons had no bar on the premises.

I know we were founded at a tavern to hold Table Lodge meetings with drink. I'm enough of a history buff to understand that the American stance against drink comes from the Prohibition era, which failed in epic ways.

Combining the two views this is why I occasionally like to go across the street with the Brothers to have a beer, why I occasionally attend Shrine events and have a glass of something, why I like to attend Table Lodge at places that have drinks before the meeting starts in states where that's allowed.
 

Winter

Premium Member
We're Freemasons, not Puritans.

My EC Lodge in Wisconsin works in the traditional style in that we do not have a building. A local private club provides us a floor twice a month for our meetings. Before the meeting we gather for a drink and socialization (the club has multiple staffed bars on the premises) and then we retire to the Lodge room for the stated meeting. Business in an EC Lodge is handled in a way to not take time away from the Freemasonry of the evening. (Really, who wants to come together and just pay bills?) As soon as the meeting is closed, the Brothers retire to the dining room for the festive board that happens at every meeting. Brothers can have adult beverages with their dinner or not as their conscience dictates. And since we are all Freemasons and remember our Ob, I have never seen an issue of intemperance at a Festive Board.

When the majority of your Masonic meeting night takes place around the table with good food and drinks, having fellowship with your Brothers, the Masonic experience takes on a whole different tone. The club staffs the kitchens and provides the wait staff so that all Brothers take part and we don't have those few Brothers always left out because they feel compelled to always volunteer in the kitchen.
 

Bloke

Premium Member
EC is European Concept Lodge. It is very similar to a Traditional Observance Lodge.

http://www.masonicdictionary.com/european.html

Transmitted via my R5 astromech.

How interesting. I saw "EC" and thought it meant English Constitution. EC, SC, IC, being English Constitution, Scottish Constitution and Irish Constitution are commom abreviations here, esp on engravings - no doubt to save space and cost. All three were present here before our GL was founded.
 

Winter

Premium Member
There is a lot of similarity between a Traditional Observance Lodge and a European Concept Lodge. But I can see where the confusion could happen over using just EC.
 

mrpierce17

KOP Council director / Lodge instructor
Premium Member
I'm speaking on what I have observed. There are pictures of freemasons on social media sites while holding alcoholic beverages with Masonic emblems on while in a club. What are your thoughts on this ?

Sent from my 831C using My Freemasonry Pro mobile app

I personally don't have a problem with it as long as they are carrying themselves in a respectful manner this is not a religious organization as some may think I feel the same way when I see the catholic priest drinking and smoking cigarettes in movies we are men and Mason's but we where men first just as the priest is a man to each it his own IMO
 

mrpierce17

KOP Council director / Lodge instructor
Premium Member
Against it. What does alcohol have to do with freemasonry ? Why not leave the Lodge and go have a drink. I'm so tired of seeing brothers post pictures with Masonic emblems on while drinking. Sorry, off my rant now

Sent from my 831C using My Freemasonry Pro mobile app

Sorry but I don't take my ring off just because I go into a bar to have a drink not saying I frequently go out because I'm comfortable sitting home but my point is just because some may take off there Masonic jewelry doesn't mean they all of a sudden stop being a Mason what's to hide you think people aren't going to notice that liGht on the left hand corner of your automobile when you leave ???
 

Warrior1256

Site Benefactor
I personally don't have a problem with it as long as they are carrying themselves in a respectful manner this is not a religious organization as some may think I feel the same way when I see the catholic priest drinking and smoking cigarettes in movies we are men and Mason's but we where men first just as the priest is a man to each it his own IMO
Totally agree.
Because I drink everything up before we could call you
Lol!
Sorry but I don't take my ring off just because I go into a bar to have a drink
Mr Ressam you got to learn when to hold them and when to fold them tread cautiously here
To both, once again, totally agree.
 

Glen Cook

G A Cook
Site Benefactor
Sorry but I don't take my ring off just because I go into a bar to have a drink not saying I frequently go out because I'm comfortable sitting home but my point is just because some may take off there Masonic jewelry doesn't mean they all of a sudden stop being a Mason what's to hide you think people aren't going to notice that liGht on the left hand corner of your automobile when you leave ???
No decals on my car. Have you seen the way I drive?
 
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