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Do you stay for the meal?

Do you stay for the meal

  • Yes, most of the time

  • No, generally not

  • 50/50


Results are only viewable after voting.

David612

Registered User
Just curious how many of you stick around for the meal afterwards, personally I will if there is someone specific I want to speak with but as we get out late I generally leave early after thanking the WM for allowing me to visit
 

David612

Registered User
The lodges I've belonged to have all had their meal before the meeting. I'd say at least 75% of the time I attend.
I don’t get how that works, my lodge just celebrated the 90th anniversary and we where doing dishes and cleaning for about an hour and a half afterwards.
 

Brother_Steve

Premium Member
I don’t get how that works, my lodge just celebrated the 90th anniversary and we where doing dishes and cleaning for about an hour and a half afterwards.
Meal is before the meeting.

Dinner at 6:30. Opening at 7:30.
The stewards stay down to clean up and come upstairs later in the evening. Usually, they just miss the opening which some say is not a big deal. To me, it is. You have the potential of having two full years of observing what you're going to be doing if you choose to advance.

Anyhow, not to get sidetracked...We must open on the MM and do all business that requires us to be on the MM degree. We drop down to whatever degree we must to accommodate everyone once that is done. That means, as Junior Warden, I'm going to get the EAs and FCs to get their butts in the kitchen and help get done what needs to get done so the line officers can be upstairs.

Also, those of us that stay afterwards help clean up the collation room.
 
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Elexir

Registered User
Most of the time unless its to late or I have something special the next day.

Dinner is always after the lodge.
We cater our food so they take care of the dishes etc.
 

Brother_Steve

Premium Member
Most of the time unless its to late or I have something special the next day.

Dinner is always after the lodge.
We cater our food so they take care of the dishes etc.
Do you mind me asking how much of a dues increase it is to cater or do the Brethren pay out of pocket per meal with the Lodge making up any shortage?
 

dfreybur

Premium Member
For my lodges, two have the meal before, two have the meal after the meeting. In each there are members who attend the first part then leave.

One lodge (GLof WA) I affiliated with for a couple of years had a "Stated meeting dinner". Officers opened lodge then called to refreshment. Meal was served. Members went to meeting, while in parallel the ladies had a program. Then all gathered for clean up and coffee. I think there are entire states where no lodge uses this system as I've seen Brothers who never heard the term before. This system literally has the dinner during the meeting but not in the same room.

At least two of my lodges do annual Table Lodge. Both involve the entire district. Table Lodge has the meal served in the tiled meeting room with toasts and/or talks. It's the founding ritual of Grand Lodge Masonry.
 

Elexir

Registered User
Do you mind me asking how much of a dues increase it is to cater or do the Brethren pay out of pocket per meal with the Lodge making up any shortage, if any be due?

We pay for each meal out of our pocket with the lodge paying a bit to keep prices down. If a brother is short on cash on some ocasion it can be taken care of. The current cater charges a little more then the old did so maybe dues will increse.
 

Glen Cook

G A Cook
Site Benefactor
Just curious how many of you stick around for the meal afterwards, personally I will if there is someone specific I want to speak with but as we get out late I generally leave early after thanking the WM for allowing me to visit
You are missing out on an important part of the Masonic experience. The meal and the bar afterwards (though I don’t imbibe) have the places where I’ve developed friendships, learned, and had terrific conversations.
 

Keith C

Registered User
For Stated meetings the meal is before Lodge. It is generally catered by a group of ladies from a brother's church, we get great PA Dutch food inexpensively (typically $10pp) and they make a little money for their mission projects. Some of the best interactions with other brothers takes place at the meal before lodge if you want it to. I try to sit with some different group of brothers for each meal, as it can seem a bit "cliquey" since most tend to sit with the same people every meal.

For extra meetings the meal is after the degree and is prepared by a brother, under the direction of the JW. That is the JW is responsible for assuring their is a meal, but he can have Stewards do it, have it catered, get take out, etc. We don't charge for this as we consider the meals for degrees as part of the initiation fee.

If you knew me well, you would know that I never miss a meal!
 

JanneProeliator

Registered User
In my short experience the meal is essential part of the meeting. That is the part where I get to know my brether better and socialise with them. I would never miss the meal if I don't have more important things to do that night. And why would I...
 

David612

Registered User
For me our meeting dosent finish until 10:00 to then eat, get home and I won’t be in bed untill 1am which would be fine but I’m up again at 5am for work the following day. Sorry but not happening.

I get togeather with my brothers outside of lodge but we normally grab a few drinks before meetings and I catchup with individual brothers for coffee during the week to get to know them better, those meetings are invaluable and are at a time where we both are in no rush.
 
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Canadian Paul

Registered User
My lodge tried a dinner before each meeting but that didn't work out so we reverted to 'light refreshments' (sandwiches, cookies, tea/coffee and an open bar) after the meeting. That works much better as almost all brethren stay for at least a short while and stand around and chat while eating. our District Grand Lodge has a 'pot luck' supper before each Quarterly Communication. Many of the wives are also present and have their own 'DGL Ladies' meeting during our meeting.
 

hanzosbm

Premium Member
Our lodge is small so doing a full dinner proves difficult. We used to all meet up at a restaurant down the street before the meeting for dinner, but due to disagreements on the venue, that has fallen apart. We always have wine and snacks (usually a meat and cheese platter) after the meeting and during the presentation.
 

David612

Registered User
Our lodge is small so doing a full dinner proves difficult. We used to all meet up at a restaurant down the street before the meeting for dinner, but due to disagreements on the venue, that has fallen apart. We always have wine and snacks (usually a meat and cheese platter) after the meeting and during the presentation.
Personally I see that as a Plus for you, personally I’d be happy enough to do away with the meal altogether in favor of using the time and energy for work and in lodge discussions.
 

Warrior1256

Site Benefactor
In my short experience the meal is essential part of the meeting. That is the part where I get to know my brether better and socialise with them.
Same here.
Our lodge is small so doing a full dinner proves difficult.
Our lodge is also small but the only time that we do a full meal is at a special occasion such as an installation and this is catered. For a regular meeting we bring something simple...a pot of soup, beans, chilli, etc. When it is my turn to bring the refreshments I bring cold cuts, bread, cheese and fixings and we have sandwiches with cookies for desert and a couple of bottles of cheap soda pop.
 

Symthrell

Registered User
We have the meal before the lodge meeting. So 6:30 PM dinner and 7:30 PM the meeting starts. Paper plates are used so clean up is kept to a minimum. The Stewards have time to start clean up and finish after the meeting is over. The best time to socialize is at dinner before the meeting.
As for drinks after or before, Georgia GL does not allow drinking in the lodge!
 

David612

Registered User
We have the meal before the lodge meeting. So 6:30 PM dinner and 7:30 PM the meeting starts. Paper plates are used so clean up is kept to a minimum. The Stewards have time to start clean up and finish after the meeting is over. The best time to socialize is at dinner before the meeting.
As for drinks after or before, Georgia GL does not allow drinking in the lodge!
Haha we enjoy whiskey at lodge regularly :) amazing that in the US hand guns in lodge is a discussion but alcohol is just a big no-no
 
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