Specialty Lodges

[Brother JC]

Are there any "specialty" lodges here in the States? One where a Petitioner would have to have served in the military, or have a particular job? I know they are fairly common in Britain, for example; Lechmere Volunteer Lodge 1874, where members are all former military, and encouraged to wear mess uniforms as opposed to suits.
Anything like that 'round here?

 

[BroBill]

Are there any "specialty" lodges here in the States? One where a Petitioner would have to have served in the military, or have a particular job? I know they are fairly common in Britain, for example; Lechmere Volunteer Lodge 1874, where members are all former military, and encouraged to wear mess uniforms as opposed to suits.
Anything like that 'round here?

One that I belong to is the Tranquility Lodge #2000. http://tl2k.org/ (That link should work).

S&F
BroBill

 

[Brother JC]

No real special requirements there, though, Brother Bill. Any Freemason in good standing (world-wide) may join.

 

[BroBill]

No real special requirements there, though, Brother Bill. Any Freemason in good standing (world-wide) may join.

True, that. It does have an interesting history and purpose though....

 

[mkmulin]

National Sojourners. You have to be a Mason and E7 and above. Not a lodge though. Brothers correct me if I'm wrong.


My Freemasonry HD

 

[Brother JC]

BroBill; Good point. I have always liked Tranquility and have it on my radar (after I finish my newest paperwork).

mkmulin; I never knew about the E-7 and up requirement. Thanks.

 

[dfreybur]

Are there any "specialty" lodges here in the States? One where a Petitioner would have to have served in the military, or have a particular job? I know they are fairly common in Britain, for example; Lechmere Volunteer Lodge 1874, where members are all former military, and encouraged to wear mess uniforms as opposed to suits.
Anything like that 'round here?

It used to be a tradition in California. Not a requirement as such but a number of lodges were composed of brothers with similar backgrounds of various sorts. One of the lodges that my mother lodge absorbed before I petitioned had been a police lodge so to this day we have plenty of current and retired policemen. One of the lodges we absorbed while I was going through the line had been a lodge of brothers of Arabic descent so to this day we have plenty of Eastern Orthodox Coptic or Muslim brothers. As the population of Masons faded the ability to maintain the tradition fell and now it's a part of lodge history.

 

[dfreybur]

One that I belong to is the Tranquility Lodge #2000. http://tl2k.org/ (That link should work).

It's the coolest specialty lodge I'm aware of, but I'm biased as I started my career doing ground link software for a NASA satellite.

Research lodges are all specialty lodges in that they don't do degrees. There are RLs that specialize further. There's at least one that does Civil War era papers. California has one that publishes history articles another that does world-wide reporting of Masonic events.

 

[cemab4y]

There is a "Lodge of the Arts" in Seattle. The lodge was originally set up, to offer Freemasonry to men who worked in the theaters, and other artistic endeavours. Back when there were many newspapers, and the same newspaper would have multiple editions, the lodge was set up to meet in the daytime, to accomodate shift workers.

See http://www.daylightmasons.org

 

[BryanMaloney]

Big country--REALLY big country. Europeans have no clue about the size of the USA. That means a lot of room to spread out, meaning that "specialties" might lack a certain population density. Thus, a specialty lodge would be difficult. In addition, there could be philosophical disagreements with the concept over here, since it might look like adding extra requirements over those of a Grand Lodge.