Trufflehound
Registered User
Brethren,
I have a question to ask. I have been compiling a list of interesting or relatively unique Masonic events around the country (or even the world, for that matter) that I would like to attend some day. I was wondering if anyone would be able to help my list grow a bit more. A lot of what I have at this point is rather vague, and the list itself is fairly sparse. If something I have listed is incorrect, please let me know. Here is what I have thus far:
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11 of 50states are represented in part
Active (as far as I know)
Alabama
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Dormant (and waiting to be revived)
Kentucky
--- --- ---
Given my work schedule, I don't know that I'll ever be able to work my way through all of the chairs (even though I would like to). Because of that, I would like to take every opportunity I can to visit other lodges -- especially if something out of the ordinary is happening. Any chance to broaden my horizons will be well worth it.
Several of these events, I've lifted information for from this forum. The time frame may not be set in stone, but it was in the hopes that I'd be able to "ballpark" them in the future. If anyone cares to contribute anything more to this list, it would be greatly appreciated. And if it is improper to post a consolidated list like this on these forums, please let me know, and I will delete it.
Thank you very much.
I have a question to ask. I have been compiling a list of interesting or relatively unique Masonic events around the country (or even the world, for that matter) that I would like to attend some day. I was wondering if anyone would be able to help my list grow a bit more. A lot of what I have at this point is rather vague, and the list itself is fairly sparse. If something I have listed is incorrect, please let me know. Here is what I have thus far:
--- --- ---
11 of 50states are represented in part
Active (as far as I know)
Alabama
- Fort Gaines Degree Conferral - Mobile Masonic Lodge #40 will be conferring a MM degree at Fort Gaines (located at Dauphin Island) on April 26, 2014. (Information provided by the Grand Lodge F&AM of Alabama)
- New England Mountain Lodge - Moosup Lodge #113 in Moosup, Connecticut holds Lodge up in the mountains each year on or near the Summer Solstice. (Information provided by AugustusMasonicus)
- Civil War Outdoor Degree - Every October, the members of Amelia Lodge No. 47, perform a Master Mason Outdoor degree at Fort Clinch State Park, in honor of George W. Call, First Worshipful Master of Amelia Lodge No. 47. The degree is performed at Ft Clinch, Fernandina Beach, Florida with a 'Civil War' atmosphere. All Master Masons are welcome to attend this degree. (Information provided by W:. Richard Corcoran)
- More information can be found at http://www.mastermason.com/amelia/October Degree.htm
- Cove Waterfall - An outdoor degree is put on at Cove Waterfall in Jasper, GA. The degree appears to happen in May.
- Rock Quarry - Every year in Georgia, a MM lodge is opened on top of a mountain. This happens around August.
- Sand Pit - Each year in Valdosta, a MM degree is conferred at the Sand Pit. This appears to happen around October. (Information transplanted from http://forum.mastermason.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=8128. It was originally posted by Brother edwmax.)
- The Day the War Stopped - "...each year Feliciana Lodge #31 in St. Francisville, LA puts on a reenactment of the Masonic Funeral service for a Union Soldier by Confederate Soldiers. The event is called 'The Day the War Stopped'." (Information transplanted from http://forum.mastermason.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=8128. It was originally posted by Brother masonic.truths. It appears to happen annually in June.)
- Official site: http://www.daythewarstopped.net/
- Red Degrees - In New Orleans, Germania #46 and/or O.K. Allen #33 display Red Lodge work of the three degrees. (August time frame?)
- Baldy Mountain Degree - Hailey Lodge #16 holds a 3rd Degree on Baldly Mountain around Labor day weekend. (information provided by the Grand Lodge of Idaho)
- Exemplification - Portneuf Lodge # 18 does an exemplification of the 3rd degree in costume, the first weekend in March every year. (information provided by the Grand Lodge of Idaho)
- International Day - Bonners Ferry Lodge #43 (of Idaho) has International Day, working with Creston Lodge #54 (of British Columbia). Both lodges meet and open in one location and close in another with lunch in the middle. (information provided by the Grand Lodge of Idaho)
- Lodge in the Garage - Capital City Lodge #93 holds an annual communication in the garage and a picnic each Spetember. (information provided by the Grand Lodge of Idaho)
- Lodge on the Lake - Capital City Lodge #93 holds opens lodge on the lake and has a picnic in July each year. (information provided by the Grand Lodge of Idaho)
- Silver City Lodge - Silver City Lodge #13 (located in Homedale, Idaho) holds an Annual Meeting and 3rd degree in Silver City, Idaho (an old mining town) the second weekend of July. (information provided by the Grand Lodge of Idaho)
- Thanksgiving Degree - Each year, Robinson Masonic Lodge #250 conducts a MM Degree on the morning of Thanksgiving. (information provided by the Grand Lodge of Illinois)
- Outdoor Degree - Every few years, the Widows Sons (Masonic Motorcycle Association) hold an outdoor degree. (information provided by the Grand Lodge of Illinois)
- Colonial Degree - Occasionally, there is a lodge that conducts a "Colonial Degree" in full costume. (no lodge name given) (information provided by the Grand Lodge of Illinois)
- Oklahoma Masonic Indian Degree Team - These brothers travel to lodges all over the United States and Europe to confer the Master Mason degree. A portion of the degree work is done in Native American dress. The entire experience is said to be impressive.
- Their Facebook page can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/OklahomaMas...dianDegreeTeam
- Crater Lake Outdoor Degree - On the first Saturday of August, Crater Lake Lodge 211 A.F&A.M. (Klamath Falls, OR) puts on an outdoor degree in Crater Lake National Park, permission being granted by executive order of President (M.W.B.) Franklin D Roosevelt (information provided by Brother jdmadsenCraterlake211
- Eblen's Cave Degree - Each year, in Kingston, TN, Union Lodge #38 hosts degree work from all over the United States. This occurs each August. (Information provided by Worshipful Brother jeffself.)
- Alamo - In San Antonio, a MM lodge is opened in the Alamo, and the Grand Lodge officers are received. This happens each December. http://alamolodge44.org/
- Battleship Texas Degree - "I didn't see where anyone mentioned the MM degree performed annually on the Battleship Texas moored adjacent to the San Jacinto Monument and battleground just southeast of Houston. Big pageant day including Grand Master of all Texas Masons appearing at the battleground and ship celebrating the victory and capture of Generalissimo de Santa Ana by brother Sam Houston." (Information provided by Brother jwhoff. This looks to occur annually in the Spring.)
- Cave Degree - Longhorn Cavern State Park, Burnet, Texas. This occurs around October.
- Comanche Peak - Granbury Lodge #392 performs a mountain-top MM degree each year at Comanche Peak in Hood County. The meal is at 6pm, and the degree follows at 7pm. This happens in September. (Information provided by Brother Bennylee.)
- Lem Maddox Degree - "Districts 35A&B do an outdoor degree each year, Lem Maddox, held sometime in May I believe. The Scottish Rite Republic of Texas degree team puts on a pretty memorable degree as it would have been done in 1836." (Information provided by Brother relapse98.)
- Texas Senate Chambers Degree - "Twelve of my fellow home lodge brothers attended a MM degree in the Texas Senate chambers in Austin a few years back." (Information provided by Brother jwhoff. No time frame given. Re-occurrence is unknown.)
- USS Lexington Degree - "Roughly once a year, Oso Naval Lodge #1282 in Corpus Christi performs a MM degree onboard the aircraft carrier (now museum) USS Lexington." (Information provided by Brother Mac. No time frame given, but it looks to be around April.)
- Oklahoma Masonic Indian Degree Team - These brothers travel to lodges all over the United States and Europe to confer the Master Mason degree. A portion of the degree work is done in Native American dress. The entire experience is said to be impressive.
- Their Facebook page can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/OklahomaMas...dianDegreeTeam
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Dormant (and waiting to be revived)
Kentucky
- Kerosene Lantern Lodge - In Bowling Green KY, my lodge perform an outdoor degree, way out in the boondocks. We wear 19th century clothing, and use kerosene lanterns. (Information provided by Brother Charles Martin. No time frame given.)
- Bowling Green lodge #73, performed the outdoor "kerosene lantern" degree back in the 1980's, usually in the summer time
- Mammoth Cave - In Edmonson County Kentucky, a lodge would go deep into Mammoth Cave (the largest cave system in the world), and conduct a MM degree, in the natural rock formations. (Information provided by Brother Charles Martin. No time frame given.)
- The Mammoth Cave MM degree, was performed frequently by the lodge in Edmonson county KY, back in the 1970's. There were some problems with the National Park Service, which administers the cave, and the degree has not been performed there for some years.
- Pack Mule/Mesa Lodge - In Wyoming, a lodge loads up an entire MM degree team on pack mules, and then takes the mule team and members and candidates up to a mesa over a thousand feet high. They set up a camp, and then at sunset, they perform a MM degree under the stars. They say "27 Master Masons went up the mountain, and 28 came down". (Information provided by Brother Charles Martin. No time frame given.)
- According to their Grand Secretary, it is unknown if this is still taking place.
--- --- ---
Given my work schedule, I don't know that I'll ever be able to work my way through all of the chairs (even though I would like to). Because of that, I would like to take every opportunity I can to visit other lodges -- especially if something out of the ordinary is happening. Any chance to broaden my horizons will be well worth it.
Several of these events, I've lifted information for from this forum. The time frame may not be set in stone, but it was in the hopes that I'd be able to "ballpark" them in the future. If anyone cares to contribute anything more to this list, it would be greatly appreciated. And if it is improper to post a consolidated list like this on these forums, please let me know, and I will delete it.
Thank you very much.
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