Candles or Bulbs

what is so time consuming in lighting 3 candles?

i was referring to the 100 candles.

Oh that! *lol* well, it is a special festive lodge, done only once a year in the VIII°. One of the chivalric degrees.

I like the idea of candle but I don't think they would work in lodge due to the risk.

They worked pretty well in the centuries before gas- or electric light. And the masons back then were not known for burning up their lodge buildings. It it raises the insurance fees and a lodge wants to avoid it, that is an argument, but not that candles don't work. Masons used and still use candles longer than electric lights and outside the US, candles are still pretty common in lodges.

Went to a lodge in Guadalajara, Mexico and they had candles, BIG CANDLES! and it was awesome. Wish I could post a picture, I'd show you.

I like the candles but up in MA where many of the lodges are very old, they kind of frown on them.

dhouseholder said:

I prefer candles but, man, after about a year, everything around them would be burnt and waxed up.

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Instead of regular candles, you could use the wax-less ones..... ;-)

Here in UGLE, we have no fixed rule on this. Some of our buildings are equipped with electric bulbs, others are equipped with candles, both are common. I've not seen the S&C lamps referred to in this thread, I don't think we have those over here, but we do sometimes use the slightly flickery imitation-candle bulbs. Where we use actual candles, some places have traditional wax candles, but other places (such as UGLE HQ) have oil-filled (and re-fillable) waxless candles to avoid creating a mess. (Incidentally the positioning of ours is different from yours, we have them at the edges of the room beside the WM and the Ws, so the hypothetical risk of damaging the VSL doesn't apply here.)

The main symbolic point, of course, is that it is a light, and the technology used to produce the light is a secondary issue. Nevertheless, I much prefer candles, which I find maintain a more effectively authentic flavour in the proceedings.

T & F,

Huw

I've seen light bulbs, the S&C bulbs, and candles. To me, the candles add to the atmosphere, especially in degrees. I now there is an old Lodge in Praire Hill that still has an old style 2 story wood building with a community room downstairs and Lodge Room upstairs and they still use candles. Plus in my Lodge, one of our S&C bulbs is a bit flaky. It's kind of the unwritten duty of the JW to tap it to make it come back on during degrees.

WM:" What is the duty of the junior warden?"
JW:" To tap the lightbulb, so that the lodge is duely illuminated and every brother can see"

*lol* I like that!

I think the candles would be nice, although I have never seen them in use. Like several others here, I would be worried about them being knocked over. Some of our Brothers don't walk to steady anymore.

I've never seen candles in use, but I imagine it would give a better effect, pretty cool in my opinion. But, as also mentioned, some of our elderly brothers don't walk to straight and strong any more, would be an issue if one was knocked over.

I thought everyone used candles I've never seen bulbs used

Candles.

the lodge I was raised in, Billie Mosse 1552, Denison Texas had the S&C bulbs and I thought that to be cool. Distinctive and related to the craft. Other lodges I have been to use tapered bulbs and candles both. They use candles on degree work and bulbs on business nights or alternate events. The candles are messier and do present fire hazard. I like the S&C bulbs.

A fire hazard, to be sure, and there are probably fire codes in many places that prohibit the burning of candles in occupancies of a certain density, without sprinklers, etc. But I keep wondering, what about churches, and restaurants? I've seen one priest, one altar boy, and one 20' high tapestry ignited in separate incidents, and yet there appears to be no rule (or enforcement) aimed at these establishements. Why is that?

That's interesting I always had candles present. I'm bro. E Tyson Houston, Tx

candles are neat but we have a very old building...open flames are not encouraged!

My lodge uses only candles and our meetings have 6 tall tapers in the East, four in the West and two in the South. We then have two large candelabras in the East. The charter is lighted by three candles. The secretary and treasurer likewise have candles at their stations, and the G in the East between two large pillars is softly lighted with dimmed stage lighting.

Fire has vibration and power that is not found in the bulb. The act of lighting them and attending the altar is a solemn and beautiful act when done correctly. We use an acolytes wand to light the three lesser and the flame is ignited in the East and carried to the three lesser lights.

The flame is that thing by which changes in operative alchemy occur. Heat is required for transmutation. We also find water present in the first penalty, air in the second, and fire in the third. The earth is found in the chalk, charcoal and clay.

Lodge is not social hour, its not minutes, its not charity. Its hard labor in speculative transformation of a man's soul. It carves the foundation of his material existence so that he can stand transformed before the Great White Throne. Candles were not an accident.

The idea that we can not trust grown men with three burning candles or a glass of beer or wine, men whom are supposed to be thoroughly vetted and the best men of the community is a disgustingly foolish idea.