Get Out Of The Lodge Room

How to build brotherhood by taking the Lodge out of the Lodge.

Mar 21, 2021

In the past two issues of Emeth, I’ve written about social and cultural issues, and how they relate to us as Freemasons. Those were heavy essays, rather difficult by their very nature.

Today I thought I’d write about something lighter, but still of great importance to Masons. Namely, how we can both grow, and improve participation in our Lodges.

Roche Harbor, Fellow Craft Degree — Second Degree Conferral, Roche Harbor Washington

At its core, it is not complicated. The formula is simple:

If you want to look around your Lodge Room, and see it filled with men, then all you have to do is get the hell out of your Lodge Room!

The simple fact of the matter is that Masons are active in their Lodges only if they have strong friendships with other men in the Lodge, and if they feel a true sense of Brotherhood within the Lodge.

These two things do not grow within the Lodge Room. They do not form during Stated Meetings of the Lodge. They can only be created when the men of the Lodge leave their Lodge room to engage together in outside settings.

Here are some things that have been used by our Lodges to build that sense of Brotherhood within the Lodge. They have all been proven to work, and quite frankly, a good Lodge leadership team will figure out how to integrate all of them into the Masonic year. (Or find a suitable substitute that fits with the interests of the Lodge of course, the point is not to necessarily use these specific ideas, rather to use activities that meet a similar need within the membership.)

Camping

Two of my Lodges, well I guess technically one of my Lodges, and one of my Masonic Districts have used camping to great effect. In radically different ways.

The District actually goes camping. They go to the Masonic Park in Granite Falls Washington where they are able to spend days together, sharing meals, sitting around the campfire, Conferring Degrees, and vitally, building powerful bonds of friendship between a very diverse group of men, and indeed those men’s families.

In my experience, this has created an extremely tight bond of men, across a number of Lodges. It has resulted in a District that works exceptionally well together, in order to create tremendous social and Masonic experiences for everyone.

The Lodge didn’t actually go camping. Although it called it camping. The Lodge liked to do this a couple of times a year, including in the height of winter, so instead of camping out of doors, it would rent a large house on the Puget Sound, and ‘camp’ inside of the house. This allowed the men of the Lodge to spend long weekends together, working together in order to create wonderful group experiences.

While the Lodge was doing its ‘camping’ on a regular basis it was growing like mad, most especially with members who were under thirty, and extremely excited.

Then the Lodge elected a Master who didn’t want to do it, then a Master who was afraid to spend the money to do it, then Masters who seemed to forget that it was the thing that the Lodge did.

What was the result?

Those new members voted with their feet.

They no longer remained active in the Lodge. The Lodge lost them, and it lost their energy, and it lost all of the work (and it was a lot of work) that group of men were doing to improve things for us all.

Of course these men would return, if the Lodge again started going camping, and started doing other things outside of the Lodge Room once again. Alas, I guess the current leadership of the Lodge just doesn’t see it.

Live Theater

As Masons we often talk about the need to integrate our member’s families into some of our Lodge activities.

One of our Lodges came up with a tremendous way to do just that.

The Lodge is located in a downtown area, with a restaurant on the same block, and a live performance venue within a few blocks. They can find a play that appeals to and is appropriate for all age groups, and turn that into a great family friendly event that is of tremendous quality for all involved. What they do is meet at the Lodge, and from there walk as a group to the restaurant for an excellent meal. Then they are off to the theater for the show. This is an event that a lodge located within a city can pull off with great ease, and in this Lodge’s experience, these events are greatly enjoyed by everyone who attends from children to very senior people.

This is such a tremendous opportunity for children to get to spend quality time with seniors, learning from them by watching, and an equally tremendous opportunity for the seniors to get a boost of energy from being around the children. An opportunity for families who share similar values to get to know and socialize together, creating those healthy bonds that are so vital to living the good life.

Steaks & Cigars

Most men love eating steak, drinking whiskey, and smoking cigars.

It is of course illegal in this day and age to smoke cigars in public places, so we have lost smoking rooms in bars and tobacconist shops, but that opens up a tremendous opportunity for our Lodges.

Most of our Lodge buildings are not open to the public, and do not have employees, and therefore, the smoking ban doesn’t apply to them.

It is very easy for a Lodge to set up a very high end, and tremendously fun evening event by hosting a Steak & Cigar Night.

Find a great caterer to bring in the food so that it is a fine (as opposed to Lodge) quality meal. Purchase some great whiskey, and enough good cigars for everyone to have a couple. Figure out what it all costs, and that becomes the ticket price.

With some advertising, Lodges can find tremendous success with dinners like this. They are highly desired, and it is a niche that given the current legal landscape very few businesses or organizations can fill.

Lodges who have held events like this have found great success with them. There is little better way for men to socialize and truly get to know each other than over a good meal, with good drink, and a good smoke.

Outdoor Degrees

In order to truly make an impression on a candidate, a Lodge must provide him with a wonderful Degree experience.

The issue is, as I see it, we can do so many Degrees over the years that we can grow complacent. The same ritual, in the same room, at the same time of day, everything always the same. It takes the excitement out of the Degree for those who are conferring it. That can result in the dreaded monotone recitation.

Some of our Lodges however make it a point to shake things up. Here in Washington we have outdoor First Degrees conferred on the Olympic Peninsula. Outdoor Second Degrees conferred in the San Juan Islands, Outdoor Third Degrees, and Outdoor Torchlight Second Degrees at our Masonic Park.

When we do unique and creative Degrees like this we are not only giving the candidate a truly rare and exceptional experience, but we are also exciting ourselves about conferring Degrees again. And that excitement carries over into all of our Degree work, resulting in better Degrees, even when we are conferring them in our Lodge Rooms.

In my view most of our Lodges have the opportunity to confer the Degrees in creative ways, and should do so. Perhaps a Lodge could borrow the outdoor Lodge Room in Quilcene, or use the outdoor Lodge Room at the Masonic Park. Closer to home, perhaps a member of the Lodge owns a private stretch of woods, or another interesting location in which a Degree could be conferred. The possibilities seem endless, and it is easy enough to move a Lodge Charter for a Degree.

Toasts

It seems to me that the time following a Lodge meeting is prime for great fellowship prior to the men heading for home. Some of our Lodges do the following, or something similar to great effect.

Buy a decent bottle of whiskey and gather up enough shot glasses. Get something fun to drink for those who avoid alcohol.

Following Stated Meetings, the Masons can gather in the dining room, and once there can share the successes, challenges, or interesting things in their lives since they were all last together. As a part of this, toasts should be made. Toasts to the successes our Brothers have had, toasts of luck and goodwill for those facing challenges, and toasts to the Brothers who are absent.

This small ritual, regularly done, is a tremendous way to build Brotherhood within the Lodge.

Before anyone objects to my promotion of this idea, yes, I do understand that some Lodges are dry. I don’t care. The very concept of dry Lodges is an innovation that came about as part of the temperance movement in the United States, it is an un-masonic innovation, and as such needs not be honored or considered. We must remember that the first Grand Lodge, from which we all sprang was formed in a tavern.

BBQ

Most everyone loves BBQ, in whatever form it may take. From hot dogs on the grill to brisket on the smoker, we love our BBQ.

Luckily, lots of men love BBQing too, so that makes putting on some great social events extremely easy for a Lodge.

When the weather is good, our Lodges should be having BBQ’s on a regular basis. These can be done at our Lodge buildings, and they can be done at the homes of our Masons. If the Lodge buys the food and then puts out a donation can for the folks who attend, the cost doesn’t end up hitting anyone.

There are not many easier ways to build friendships among the members of a Lodge than for them to be standing around the grill, cooking together, and sharing the meal that they prepared. These can be tremendous family events too, depending on the occasion.

Holiday Parties

In my view, a Lodge should never let a good holiday go to waste!

At Halloween, if a Lodge building is in an urban area, open it up in the afternoon, get one of our youth groups to stand at the entrance handing out candy to Trick or Treaters. Once that ends, it’s costume party time for the adults.

Most of our Lodge buildings are quite old with wood pane windows. During parties like this, if the glass in those windows isn’t vibrating, the music needs to be turned up!

An event like this accomplishes two very important things.

First of all, it is a great experience for the members of the Lodge. We can take our wives to a great party, dance, enjoy our friends, and forget the cares of the day.

Secondly (and this is why I wasn’t joking about the music volume above) to the average person in the town in which our Lodge Building stands, it is just there. A big old building, looking perpetually empty and devoid of life. A party like this, and our youth handing out candy like this, shows our community that there is light and life within our building. It shows them that Freemasons exist, are active, and have fun! We can not leave our buildings dark all the time or people will naturally assume that our Fraternity is dead.

Halloween is just a single example. A Lodge should plan something fun around every holiday.

Heck, our Grand Lodge of Washington will be having a most excellent Christmas Party in 2021, in beautiful Puerto Vallarta Mexico, with a great rock band! Luckily my Mother’s home where we will be rocking out has no nearby neighbors. If you want to come, we would love to have you, just let me know!

The point of all this is that we should enjoy our lives. We should fill Freemasonry with Light and Life! Holidays are the perfect occasions for us to do just that.

Mass Visitations

Visiting Lodges from Jurisdictions other than our own can be tremendously fun and interesting. Lodges can, and should work visitations like this into their schedules.

There are ritual changes from Grand Lodge to Grand Lodge, even among directly neighboring Grand Lodges. It is interesting to visit the neighbors and see the differences between their work and our own.

Lodges in other Jurisdictions also often have different kinds of activities, or different ways of providing programs. Once in awhile we will see a practice while visiting that is superior to our own Lodge’s way of doing things. When that happens, we can bring it home to our own Lodge, improving it through the process.

As for me, one of the best ideas I ever had when I was in the East was actually an idea I poached from a foreign Lodge. I saw it there, deemed it just about perfect and brought it home. No easier way to be declared the Man With The Brilliant Ideas!

Game Night

We might not like to admit it, but most of us love games. A truly fun evening can be had in the Lodge with virtually no work needed.

Just ask the Brothers to bring their ladies, a favorite snack, and a favorite game. Once everyone has gathered, figure out what games everyone wants to play and engage. With enough people, multiple games can be going on at once, so everyone will find something that they like to play.

If only adults are involved, then games can get a bit more adult of course. One Lodge I’ve been to such events at sometimes included children, sometimes just adults. I do remember one night where the table was filled with people playing Cards Against Humanity almost the whole night through. I kept thinking it would end, but alas, it lasted until the approach of dawn.

There is little better way to build friendship and fellowship than with people sitting together around a table, laughing uncontrollably, for quite literally hours.

Work

The final thing I would like to touch upon is work.

Spending time together, working on a meaningful project, struggling through, is one of the fastest ways in which a strong and lasting Brotherhood can be forged.

If a Masonic Temple needs some work, and if we can all join in on that work together, we will emerge from that project tighter and stronger than we were before it. Likewise with work done for charity or other meaningful purposes. We shouldn’t overlook the chance to build Brotherhood that projects like this bring about.

Emeth has readers who are members of Kennewick Lodge. That Lodge has just such a project going on right now. How great is it to see all the photographs of them working together. I’ll bet that to a man they would say that they have deepened friendships as this major project has gone on.

In conclusion I’d just like to point out that none of these ideas are difficult for a Lodge or a Worshipful Master to pull off. Most of them require little more than picking a date and inviting people to attend.

All of them will however build a sense of Brotherhood within a Lodge. If they are done regularly, and with some good level of frequency, men will want their friends to join in on the fun. That is how a Lodge grows. If then these things continue, those new men will remain active, and they in turn will start to bring their friends. Soon, a Lodge room can be filled with men.

There is much hand wringing in our Fraternity about membership number declines, and many elaborate plans to increase membership.

It’s just not that complicated.

If a Lodge is active, interesting, educational, and fun, men will come. If it is enough of each of those things they will bring their friends. That is the only model needed for Lodge growth.

Where we fall down is where we do not start.

The other place we fall down is when we elect Lodge leaders who refuse to continue what is shown to work.

Both of those things are within our control.

Let’s Zoom!

Don’t forget that this evening at 7:30PM we will be having our first ever Zoom meetup for those with a paid subscription to Emeth. Login information will go out via email at 5:00PM, so if you would like to participate but don’t yet have a paid subscription you’ll need to upgrade by that time.

Discussion Recap

Our discussion of the Point Within A Circle got pretty deep, pretty quick with Glenn, Bob, & Lee weighing in. I’ll admit that I struggled to get my own thoughts down into words, but I think that points out the beauty of using symbols for the communication of ideas. Some ideas just don’t reduce into words easily or well. Symbolism can help us overcome that.

In discussing foreign Jurisdictions we heard from a number of brothers who have Masonically traveled. Brothers recounted travels to Lodges in Scotland, Georgia, Mexico, Hawaii, Italy, Canada, New York, California, Nevada, and Tennessee. It seems that all of us who discussed it learned something from each of these places, and most were willing to share those experiences with the group.

While discussing virtual meetings I think we have all concluded that this new technology is good for our Fraternity, and should be utilized in some form moving forward after the pandemic has passed. Each of us talked about how we have used it, and how it can possibly be used in the future for the betterment of our Lodges. Also in the discussion, Larry and I agreed that Cameron is a jerk.

I think that our discussion about Lodge Obligations was a difficult one to have. It is hard sometimes to speak freely while wanting to use care to not hurt anyone’s feelings who might be reading. It is I think clear that Lodges have an obligation to their members who can no longer attend due to age or health, but as was correctly pointed out, that needs to be a two way street.

Our discussion about The Lost Symbol brought forth many long and detailed responses, pointing out the need for Lodges to Guard The West Gate, but also about what we do to ensure that we give a great experience to the men who make it through that Gate. I think that like with all of the discussions we have had on Emeth, there is a great deal here that we can consider, and use, to improve our Lodges, and thereby our own Masonic experience. I am continually delighted with the depth of knowledge and understanding those participating bring to these discussions.

All of the discussions remain open, please do take some time to read them, and if you feel compelled to do so, add your own thoughts to them. The more folks who participate, the richer the experience we will all have.

Thank You!

First of all, I would like to give my profound Thanks to everyone who has paid for a subscription to Emeth. I think that we are building a tremendous online home for Masonic Education and discussion here. Something wonderful to replace the anger fueled, meme filled world of social media. Something one can relax with and participate through in a meaningful way. It wouldn’t be possible without you. I could not do it without your tangible support. So, again, Thank You!

Secondly, I owe a great debt of gratitude to everyone who participates in our discussions here on Emeth. The wisdom each of you share is extremely valuable, and always interesting. Emeth is a richer experience because of your participation. Thank You for it!

Lastly, Thank You to everyone who takes the time to read what I write here. I appreciate it more than you know, for truly a writer is meaningless without a reader. I’d also like to Thank those of you who take the time to share Emeth. It is wonderful when you help get the word out.

Emeth