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Not Attending Lodge

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owls84

Moderator
Premium Member
Well Well Well. Ladies and Gents, I present to you the one, the only, A7V!!!! Great to have you back on the forums.
 

Sharlee76

Registered User
ChrisB said:
I often ask myself why do I keep going to lodge meetings, when it's the same thing every month. I use to think masonry was something special. When I see the shows on history channel, or discovery channel, the movies. But it's nothing like that. A bunch of dinner tickets to sell or raffle tickets. But as I said before I'm no quitter. So here iam still doing the mason thing. I mean I can't say that masonry changed me. Because it didn't. All the things I do now as a mason I did before I was a mason. Help people out, donate stuff, help at the local soup kitchen. I can't say that, I do do something different ( sell tickets seems like every week a new one to sell ) some people hate to see me coming not knowing if I'll try and sell them something or not. I seen some of the older brothers sleep in lodge meetings. That's just like not being there. Some feel like they do their job by just paying their dues. But every lodge need every type of brother.
My brother you are not the only one that feels this way. Please get in touch with me I would love to share some thoughts with you .....abdistribution1@hotmail.com
Brother charlie g.
 

peace out

Premium Member
HIJACK...

This thread got me to thinking about visions of mine of lodge. I'm a new MM and haven't been to an official lodge meeting yet. That doesn't stop me from knowing what I want out of lodge meetings, though. I'm one of those types that wants to jump head first into a project and have to almost physically restrain myself...subduing passions. Sometimes I just want to shake things up just to get natives out of the bushes. I was brash at in my younger days and find that I can more subtly do the same things in a wiser state.

I guess I'm just venting excitement at what I can potentially do for my lodge.
 

cemab4y

Premium Member
Masonry benefits its members in many different ways. If a man chooses to pay dues, and carry his membership card, and the not attend lodge, that is his choice. He is obviously benefiting from Freemasonry, because he finds value in being a member, regardless of his frequency of attendance.

A man may choose to serve Freemasonry, through one or more of the appendant/concordant bodies. Myself, for example. When I lived in Columbus OH, I was in five(5) Shrine clubs, and president of one of them. My wife and I were doing some Shrine activity every weekend. I attended blue lodge maybe twice in one year. I considered myself, every bit as much a Mason, as someone who attended every meeting.

One program, that I have supported for years, is the "Rusty Nail Night". When a man has not attended lodge in some months or years, he can often feel embarrassed or think that he might not get the procedures right for attending lodge. The Rusty Nail Night, is an instructional class, which takes each man through the signs/grips/tokens, and gets him back up to speed.
 

Bill Lins

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
A man may choose to serve Freemasonry, through one or more of the appendant/concordant bodies. Myself, for example. When I lived in Columbus OH, I was in five(5) Shrine clubs, and president of one of them. My wife and I were doing some Shrine activity every weekend. I attended blue lodge maybe twice in one year. I considered myself, every bit as much a Mason, as someone who attended every meeting.

This happens quite often. While the appendant bodies, & especially the Shrine, are fun, the Blue Lodge is the foundation of Masonry and is, on no account, to be neglected. Remember, your Blue Lodge needs you.

If your Lodge is not meeting your needs and/or expectations, ask yourself "What am I doing about it?" Either get involved & active in the Lodge in order to improve it or find another Lodge that comes closer to your idea of what a Lodge should be.

When I came into the Fraternity, my Lodge had not had a candidate in over 8 years. All they did was eat a crappy meal while complaining about their inability to pay their bills or attract members, & then open Lodge, read the minutes, & close.

Rather than quit attending, I & other like-minded Brethren looked for ways to improve our Lodge, & built support for our initiatives. Little by little, we were able to regenerate interest in the Lodge & began attracting quality youthful candidates who wished to be active.

By doing so, we went from a dying Lodge to one which has just won its third consecutive Vanguard Award. If we could do it, any Lodge can do it!
 
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JTM

"Just in case"
Premium Member
mch4970 said:
HIJACK...

This thread got me to thinking about visions of mine of lodge. I'm a new MM and haven't been to an official lodge meeting yet. That doesn't stop me from knowing what I want out of lodge meetings, though. I'm one of those types that wants to jump head first into a project and have to almost physically restrain myself...subduing passions. Sometimes I just want to shake things up just to get natives out of the bushes. I was brash at in my younger days and find that I can more subtly do the same things in a wiser state.

I guess I'm just venting excitement at what I can potentially do for my lodge.

If you're going to change subjects, make a new topic. For the record, I feel the same way. Let's leave this open. Next time, don't feel hesitant to make a new thread.
 

Bill Lins

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
I'm not so sure mch4970's post is off topic. If "not attending Lodge" & how to encourage attendance are unrelated, then I'm as much or more guilty of going off topic as mch4970 is.
 

JTM

"Just in case"
Premium Member
Let's hash it out with everybody, then BILL. (joking, I <3 bill lins)

The only reason i said that was that he said it himself.
 

A7V

Registered User
I am sorry but the Masonry I am looking is sadly found easier in books and on forums than it is in a lodge. Telling me to join the Shrine is not the answer, especially since I see the Shrine as a problem not a solution..
 

A7V

Registered User
I'm curious as to what you seek- could you please elaborate?

I seek talk of the esoteric and I don't mean the stuff you memorize which still escapes me why Texas calls it the esoteric. I don't want to do community events and fundraiser and such, as I believe that should not be a part of Masonry. You all know my opinion, on how we shouldn't be advertising ourselves.

I think what I am looking for is a lodge of research that meets on a regular basis like a regular lodge. That may interest me. or...


I have been told that the York Rite is more along the lines of what I would enjoy but I am not a member of a Texas lodge and at this time have no wish to become a member of a Texas lodge. So not sure if the York Rite in Texas will accept me.
 

LRG

Premium Member
Texas Calls it esoteric due to the hidden beauties. Which is very vast. A good mentor can point out and explain the many hidden beauties, but as a student one must have the open heart to be able to recongnize, first.

from the first initiation, an EA should have started to question the many curosities that came before him.

A7V, can I ask what Lodge your from?
 

MacFie

Registered User
from the first initiation, an EA should have started to question the many curosities that came before him.

I'll start off with the kid quote, "I know, right?"

Thankfully I've had a very good(and even more so patient) mentor.
 

A7V

Registered User
Texas Calls it esoteric due to the hidden beauties. Which is very vast. A good mentor can point out and explain the many hidden beauties, but as a student one must have the open heart to be able to recongnize, first.

from the first initiation, an EA should have started to question the many curosities that came before him.

A7V, can I ask what Lodge your from?

I don't think you get what I am saying. I will try to be modest but to get my point across I may not be able to. I am very well versed in the hidden beauties and while everyone can use a mentor, I would probably end up being the one explaining the hidden beauties and then being told that I am wrong.

Most people only look at the symbolism and the allusions in our ritual work and point to the obvious hidden meaning, but there are sure to be more.

The members that I have conversations with on this forum back around a year ago can attest to the fact that I do not trivialize the ritual and my heart is very open to learning. We have had heated discussions over this in fact, and this thread was started last year. You were around then, I would think you remembered the sanctum sanctorum conversations.

The issue I have found is that most Masons do not have the knowledge or the will to research and get into the occult esoteric mysteries in the ritual work. They are happy to take the meaning the lodge tells them is hidden there.

This is why I say, I can learn more from forums, with brothers that look for what I do, and from books that have researched this.

To answer your question my home lodge is Hawaiian Lodge. I have not been there since 2001.
 

Bill Lins

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
I seek talk of the esoteric and I don't mean the stuff you memorize which still escapes me why Texas calls it the esoteric.

I believe the definition of "esoteric" might explain: "es·o·ter·ic  [es-uh-ter-ik] –adjective

1. understood by or meant for only the select few who have special knowledge or interest; recondite: poetry full of esoteric allusions.

2. belonging to the select few.

3. private; secret; confidential.

4. (of a philosophical doctrine or the like) intended to be revealed only to the initiates of a group: the esoteric doctrines of Pythagoras."

I think what I am looking for is a lodge of research that meets on a regular basis like a regular lodge.

I don't know of any but there are blue Lodges that emphasize what you are calling "esoteric". You might begin by contacting the Grand Lodge of whatever jurisdiction you are in & ask if there are any such Lodges in your area. If said Grand Lodge has anything like our Committee on Masonic Education & Service you might ask for contact information on its members & contact them.


I have been told that the York Rite is more along the lines of what I would enjoy but I am not a member of a Texas lodge and at this time have no wish to become a member of a Texas lodge. So not sure if the York Rite in Texas will accept me.

I can't answer that one either but I'd suggest you contact them & find out.
 

peace out

Premium Member
I think sites like this, along with other liturature sources, libraries, etc fill some of those esoteric voids.

However, I would not have joined masonry if it was void of the brotherhood in the lodge. The brotherhood will only be strengthened by spending time together in commanality. It's about being part of the community, to me.

I love this site for threads just like this one. It keeps the juices flowing and makes me want more so I can...and this is the important part.....spread it to my brothers and consequently to the community.

That will remain my motivation to attend lodge in the face of doggedness, keep me steadfast.
 
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