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If you were, what would you do?

Howard Giang

Registered User
In Sweden all meetings consists three parts
1) Pre-lodge: Members meet and socialize, put om regalia etc.
2) The lodge meeting wich is bound by ritual.
3) A meal after the lodge.
No wonder why, it is so difficult to miss a meeting.
How long (hours) you have to be at the Lodge to be involved in all of 3 parts?
 

David612

Registered User
No wonder why, it is so difficult to miss a meeting.
How long (hours) you have to be at the Lodge to be involved in all of 3 parts?
As discussed Australia is the same for the average punter 3-4 hours however if you hang back and are doing dishes for example it could be up to 6 if everything is slow that day.

Personally I and some other brothers get togeather prior to the first part and enjoy each other’s company at a venue next door that we don’t have to clean :)
 

Howard Giang

Registered User
As discussed Australia is the same for the average punter 3-4 hours however if you hang back and are doing dishes for example it could be up to 6 if everything is slow that day.

Personally I and some other brothers get togeather prior to the first part and enjoy each other’s company at a venue next door that we don’t have to clean :)
When I was pledging in a college fraternity, what I did most was washing dishes by hands. The Lodge is probably using a dishwasher machine for efficiency. Is this volunteers are for everyone to help out?

From now on, Lodge knows where to find David612, maybe next door! :D
 

David612

Registered User
When I was pledging in a college fraternity, what I did most was washing dishes by hands. The Lodge is probably using a dishwasher machine for efficiency. Is this volunteers are for everyone to help out?

From now on, Lodge knows where to find David612, maybe next door! :D
Hahaha yes it’s all volunteer and we do have a dishwasher and I try to do my bit there as I travel a bit so I also get my share of meals brought to me.
I always make an effort to invite lots of my brothers next door for a cheeky beer ahead of lodge, it’s well received :) alway make sure the initiates know they are welcome too, it’s a fun low pressure way to get to know the brothers.
 

Howard Giang

Registered User
Hahaha yes it’s all volunteer and we do have a dishwasher and I try to do my bit there as I travel a bit so I also get my share of meals brought to me.
I always make an effort to invite lots of my brothers next door for a cheeky beer ahead of lodge, it’s well received :) alway make sure the initiates know they are welcome too, it’s a fun low pressure way to get to know the brothers.
It sounds great and should be a guide for best practices.

BTW, do you know why the EA and FC degrees don't have a word Mason in it, but they are still considered Mason?
 

Glen Cook

G A Cook
Site Benefactor
It sounds great and should be a guide for best practices.

BTW, do you know why the EA and FC degrees don't have a word Mason in it, but they are still considered Mason?

Hmm. I am aware of rituals which do so. However, what is your explanation?
 

dfreybur

Premium Member
BTW, do you know why the EA and FC degrees don't have a word Mason in it, but they are still considered Mason?

Nuclear Aircraft Carrier doesn't have the word Navy in it. International Space Station doesn't have the word NASA in it. Public cloud doesn't have the words Linux servers in it. I could type in examples like this as long a list as you like.
 

Glen Cook

G A Cook
Site Benefactor
Nuclear Aircraft Carrier doesn't have the word Navy in it. International Space Station doesn't have the word NASA in it. Public cloud doesn't have the words Linux servers in it. I could type in examples like this as long a list as you like.
In the UK, they type it Nasa when referring to the agency.
 

Howard Giang

Registered User
Hmm. I am aware of rituals which do so. However, what is your explanation?
I am just curious because all 3 degree: EA, FC, and Master are distinguishable degrees. They all are considered Masons, right? Do you refer each degree as EA Mason, FC Mason, and Master Mason? I was thinking when do you call a brother as a Mason or a Mason as brother. Another words, if EA and FC are not Mason yet until they become Master Mason, or can they stop as an EA or FC and still have right and privileged, funeral ritual, etc?
 

Howard Giang

Registered User
Nuclear Aircraft Carrier doesn't have the word Navy in it. International Space Station doesn't have the word NASA in it. Public cloud doesn't have the words Linux servers in it. I could type in examples like this as long a list as you like.
Thanks for pointing that out. I know what you meant, and I am not disagreed with you. I am just trying to understand how the process of degrees work, and when do you stop or you have to go all the way to 33 degrees.

Anyhow, I was thinking of along the line, for example: brigadier general, major general, and lieutenant general, etc. They are all classified as generals.
 

Glen Cook

G A Cook
Site Benefactor
I am just curious because all 3 degree: EA, FC, and Master are distinguishable degrees. They all are considered Masons, right? Do you refer each degree as EA Mason, FC Mason, and Master Mason? I was thinking when do you call a brother as a Mason or a Mason as brother. Another words, if EA and FC are not Mason yet until they become Master Mason, or can they stop as an EA or FC and still have right and privileged, funeral ritual, etc?
But you already claimed “BTW, do you know why the EA and FC degrees don't have a word Mason in it, but they are still considered Mason”. So, I’m confused. You already instructed us that the first two degrees don’t have the word Mason in them.

The answer to your new questions depend on the jurisdiction.
 

Andy Fracica

Site Benefactor
Premium Member
Thanks Andy, sounds great! As we are getting older, family and friendships are very important especially friends that you can trust and will be there for you.

Is the socializing among brothers is only encourage in your Lodge, or it is the norm everywhere? Thanks.
I think it is pretty common here in Indiana.

We have our meal at 6:30, Lodge meeting at 7:30 and after we finish we head over to the Acme Bar for the "After Meeting" meeting. We actually sit in the restaurant part of the bar and put tables together. The "After Meeting" (that's what I call it) is optional and not everybody comes but we have some good laughs and it is where questions are answered and sometimes where strategy is decided. Plus it is more time to get to know one another.
 

Andy Fracica

Site Benefactor
Premium Member
I am just trying to understand how the process of degrees work, and when do you stop or you have to go all the way to 33 degrees.
All are masons, once initiated you are a Mason but you are an Entered Apprentice, the lowest level, entry level if you will. Like joining a trade union, you are a member of that union, but you are an apprentice - a learner, in Star Wars terminology a Padawan, a Jedi but just learning.
 

Andy Fracica

Site Benefactor
Premium Member
No wonder why, it is so difficult to miss a meeting.
How long (hours) you have to be at the Lodge to be involved in all of 3 parts?
Dinner is at 6:30 so the brothers start showing up between 6:00 and 6:30, our meetings are over between 9:00 and 9:30 depending on how much business we have to attend to. So no average 3-4 hours but I find myself wanting to spend even more time together, hence the reason for going out for a drink and a snack after the meeting.
 

David612

Registered User
The other thing is that it is variable between countries, states and jurisdictions here in my area an EA can vote in lodge and as we open in the first degree there is little mucking about, only issue is for installations us EA are kicked out when it’s raised to the second, as they are with the third and so on, that said we typically have great food, whiskey and fantastic company so it’s really no issue in my books :)
Additionally the full title I guess would be entered apprentice Freemason but we drop the “Freemason” as context conveys it, in the same way the second may have been “fellow of the craft” and the third degree was added significantly later if I understand correctly.
All are masons and equally important to have in a healthy lodge, the lower degrees from what I have seen seem to bring the energy and excitement to the lodge and the masters bring instruction and wisdom...theoretically.
We are all human however :)
 

David612

Registered User
We use paper plates and plastic knives and forks and all we do is throw them out so no washing dishes. :)
Not the most environmentally friendly but god would I love that at times, we are lucky to have a stocked kitchen so we cook but I can’t help but feel that it may not be our strongest skill however when I am able to stay I try to sit with a brother I do not know and chat which is great fun.
 

Glen Cook

G A Cook
Site Benefactor
All are masons, once initiated you are a Mason but you are an Entered Apprentice, the lowest level, entry level if you will. Like joining a trade union, you are a member of that union, but you are an apprentice - a learner, in Star Wars terminology a Padawan, a Jedi but just learning.
But do you get a light sabre as an EA? :)
 
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