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Alcohol In The Lodge

Blake Bowden

Administrator
Staff Member
Is there anything prohibiting it in GL Bylaws? We had a big discussion on the old forums regarding alcohol in the Lodge. A couple of months ago a guy from Scotland visited our Lodge, and told me he didn't understand why Americans don't have drinks...lol
 

jonesvilletexas

Premium Member
We are now able to rent out portions of the lodge (NOT the lodge room) and they can have alcohol, but MUST have a paid police officer and at least one member of the lodge present. I for one am not in fever of this.
 

KD5NM

Registered User
I remember reading somewhere that the original Lodge(s) in England were formed and met in Taverns.
 

Bro. Stewart P.M.

Lead Moderator Emeritus
Staff Member
I remember reading somewhere that the original Lodge(s) in England were formed and met in Taverns.

Well Brother, if I am not mistaken the Father of our country and Brother Mason George Washington met with his fellow Brothers at a Tavern. I'd be almost certain that someone had a drink or two on meeting night.
 
B

Brother Secretary

Guest
post Morgan affair puritanical influence, yes there is a GL of TX article prohibiting alcohol in, "the lodge room," though I can't off the top of my head recite chapter and verse on that one. Now the article specifies only the lodge room, not necessarily in the entire building.

In our neighbor to the east, GL of LA, I have visited Germania # 46 in New Orleans. They have a lovely lodge room upstairs and a nice dining room downstairs with a bar at one end complete with beer (I forget which brands) on tap!

I was raised a Baptist, but I'll still say high to you at the liquor store :D
 
B

Brother Secretary

Guest
KD5NM, you're correct. In point of fact the Grand Lodge of England was formed in 1717AD at the Goose and Gridiron Pub in London.

73s
 
R

ravickery03

Guest
Is there anything prohibiting it in GL Bylaws? We had a big discussion on the old forums regarding alcohol in the Lodge. A couple of months ago a guy from Scotland visited our Lodge, and told me he didn't understand why Americans don't have drinks...lol

Yeah and I got booed off the stage for bringing it up. j/k

I am curious though as I thought that alcohol was banned completely from the building just not the lodge room. We have a dinning room downstairs and a lodge room upstairs in Army #1105. I was always told no alcohol on the property (I guess guys would sit on the back porach for a while and have a beer after lodge in it's early years).

Maybe it's a rule specific to Army #1105 though, but I can't imagine a bunch of Army guys not wanting to have beer. That seems, unnatural. :)

-Bro Vick
 

nick1368

Registered User
umm for some reason I thought and I could be completely wrong, but I could have sworn that a few months ago our Secretary said that someone called about renting the banquet room but when he told them we were not allowed to have alcohol they said never mind. I assumed we couldn't because of GL law. Is this the case or maybe just a spoke rule or Bylaw in our lodge?
 
J

jwardl

Guest
I am curious though as I thought that alcohol was banned completely from the building just not the lodge room.


My understanding as well. In my lodge we wanted to have wine for a special occasion last year, and were told we had to have a special dispensation from GL to do so. This, even though our lodge room is upstairs and the wine was to be consumed downstairs in our banquet area.

We never did it, btw. :(
 

Wingnut

Premium Member
Art. 505. Certain Other Masonic Disciplinary Violations.
7. Consume, possess, have in possession, or sell intoxicating liquor in any portion of the Grand Lodge Memorial Building, or of any building or portion of any building occupied or used by any Lodge, provided, however, that this prohibition does not apply to small quantities of any such beverages or liquors required by existing rituals of such organization in the conferring of its degrees or orders, or in the ceremonies in observance of special occasions required by existing regulations of such organizations; and further, this prohibition shall not apply to space properly leased for commercial purposes.
Constituent Lodges may meet in buildings where alcoholic beverages may from time to time be served. Constituent Lodges of the Grand Lodge of Texas may meet in buildings where other appendant Masonic organizations may, from time to time, serve alcoholic beverages so long as such service is not in progress while the Lodge is open there. Constituent Lodges may let, lease, or rent portions of their buildings to other appendant Masonic organizations who may, from time to time, serve alcoholic beverages, so long as such service does not occur in the Lodgeroom of the building.
 

Squire Bentley

Premium Member
Early Lodges in Boston met at Taverns.

The Lodge in my home town of Lexington , MA was chrtered by Bro. William Munroe who was proprieter of Munroe's Tavern one of only two taverns in the town. Hiram's Lodge met there for 40 years at his tavern but later moved to the neigboring town of Arlington, MA

Some GLs in the USA permit alcohol. All Lodges in Australia, Canada, Britain, France, Germany, Italy and I could go on permit it.

In many jurisdictions it is the duty of the Junior Warden to see that no intemperance takes place. If that is written into his duties then it has been the corruption of Freemasonry whereby certain jurisdictions have codified into their Masonic law their own personal religious beliefs.

I am a member of the largest Christian denomination in the world and it says little to nothing about the consumption of alcohol except to not imbibe to excess.

When I visited Canadian Lodges I had a great time at their "Festive Boards" where we did a number of toasts of our favorite adult bevarage. I saw nothing get out of hand.
 

cale

Registered User
I agree with you brother and hope that Texas Masons work to change the current rules.
However as long as that is the rule we ALL must folow our own laws.
 

Blake Bowden

Administrator
Staff Member
I would love to have a nice meal and glass of wine..lol

lodge-members.jpg


A Toast to all our differences
A Toast to common ground
A Toast to what we're seeking
A Toast to what we've found
To what brings us together
To what sets us apart
A Toast to many different souls
United with one heart.
 

Bro. Stewart P.M.

Lead Moderator Emeritus
Staff Member
I am a bit undecided on the alcohol in the lodge issue. Part of me wants to enjoy a good brew before a meeting, and the other enjoys the fact that alcohol is no where to be found. Kind of funny ehh?
 
R

ravickery03

Guest
I find this change of heart from the earlier discussion on the old board, disturbing.
;)

Seriously, where are all the people that were saying that they didn't want Masons to be associated with alcohol consumption? Or that alcohol does not promote peace, love or harmony?

When I went to Mesa #68 in New Mexico after they closed lodge they brought out 6 beers, sodas for the 14 brothers that were there, 12 brothers stayed afterwards and talked and 4 beers were consumed. Not one brother was sucking down all four beers, and most everyone stayed after the meeting and enjoyed each other’s company instead of darting out of the lodge building as fast as possible.

Beer, wine and spirit consumption in moderation is actually a natural thing in American society in social settings. There are those that cannot control themselves in this consumption, if they choose to ignore the lessons of the EA and let their desires get the better of them, and then as Bro Fred has stated the JW has the charge to take control of the situation.

You can still have a festive board; you just have to do it outside of the lodge building. While not convenient, it has its own benefits as well.

Personally I don't see this law changing anytime soon, many feel that if you are a Mason and you want to consume alcohol there is the Shrine, or the Grotto (if the Grotto serves alcohol) and see no benefit introducing it into the blue lodge.
 

david918

Premium Member
Some of us from Wharton lodge get together occasionally after lodge or practice at a local restaurant owned by bro LRG for a couple of drinks or a meal.We always have a great time just remember to wear your boots the BS gets kinda deep at times.:D
 

Wingnut

Premium Member
I havent researched this very well yet (long to do list), but I believe it originated with the Temperance movements lead by the very far right Christians. Then the Prohibition Act... Im sure there is some Morgan Affair backlash there also. Tie this in with the discussion about Christianity and Masonry we just had and I think you can see why its still around.

There may of course be some connection to peace and harmony prevailing...
 

tomasball

Premium Member
We are now able to rent out portions of the lodge (NOT the lodge room) and they can have alcohol, but MUST have a paid police officer and at least one member of the lodge present. I for one am not in fever of this.


Where do you get that bit about the police? Is that maybe just your local lodge policy?

Tom

PM Mercedes 1010
 
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