jermy Bell
Registered User
We will rent out our dining room and kitchen for functions, but no one is allowed upstairs into the lodge room. Unless it's a open house kind of thing.
It will vary place to place.Another question i had was, when visitors arrive, are they allowed to enter the lodge room? And im not talking about during stated meetings, i mean before the worshpful calls to begin the meeting. Ive been to a lodge in South America, Colombia to be exact, and if you weren’t a brother you were not allowed to enter.
I like the WSW haha. I've never seen that used but is even more discreet.When visiting a lodge here, I can just turn up, but would expect to be tested when the WSW is asked if he is satisfied that all present are Freemasons. If I turn up in the company of other brethren who are known in the lodge, then they may vouch for me, but otherwise I would be tested. Thankfully within my own province, I am known by quite a few brethren. If I intend to visit a new lodge I will make contact to let them know I intend to visit, especially outwith my province.
I have sent emails to the secretaries of the 2 lodges I would like to visit whilst in Washington DC in May, (I have permission from the grand Lodges concerned), but have yet to hear back from the secretaries.
I like the WSW haha. I've never seen that used but is even more discreet.
Agreed. I am certainly no fan of ODC.Sadly, my own jurisdiction has revived the practice of ODC. And while I prefer not to discuss what goes on within a tyled lodge, I have seen the practice of either an exemplar taking the Ob. while the rest of the "class" remains in their seats or multiple candidates kneeling around the altar. Either way, these practices are reprehensible as they destroy the personal initiatic experience.
Its sad really and pisses me off. It feels like American Masonry has become more of a money thing. The more candidates that come in the more money the lodge gets. Quantity over Quality. Whats happen to freemasonry?
From what ive gathered, from how it used to be in the past. Freemasonry went from the brothers asking you to join if you were deemed worthy, too anybody can join you just have to ask to be one.
I don't like multiple candidates/brothers on any degree.I don't like multiple candidates for the 3rd. Your robbing them of the experience of it all.
At the very least, it takes away chances to stay familiarized with the degrees for our officers so they can present proper ritual and at the most it takes away a great experience from the men receiving the degrees.I don't like multiple candidates/brothers on any degree.
I think that I need to clarify this statement. I do not agree with one day classes for the Blue Lodge because of the memorization required. However, I don't have a problem with the one or two day classes for the Scottish Rite or York Rite which are the norm in my area although I went through the York Rite over a period of months.Agreed. I am certainly no fan of ODC.
Seriously ? I think one of my lodges has a retention problem. I tracked out EAs over 10 years, and our retention is just under 60% to the Craft...Don't think it matters anyway. Most after completing the 3rd degree never comes back.