I feel meals are important, as it sets the mood and experience. It’s hopeful that a lodge would be conscientious of its presentation and perception; visually and olfaction for its cleanliness and stimulus, as well as sound, for the ability for all to hear well and gustation for it fulfillment and satisfaction. If bland food is served so will the lodge already disappoint one of the five senses.
If I were to be completely honest, I’ve never been blown away at any lodge dinner. I think what could be done to improve it, is ask beforehand does anyone have special request for food, i.e. ask about food allergies, are they vegan or vegetarian.
Where I am this is a bit of a mess. Everybody says good meals are important. But the meals aren't high quality (mostly the cheapest stuff we can get) with the lodge taking in $10 for a meal and certain past masters viewing the meals as a needed profit center for the lodge. We thank the stewards every time for their efforts, but as one of our stewards is an excellent cook, he could actually do way better than he does (and he knows it) given good supplies.
Great food though costs money, which implies that we'd either lose money on the food or people need to pay more. There's a lot of worry where I am about anything that even slightly smells of elitism. People feel very strongly that Freemasonry be financially accessible and be as cheap as possible. Which is a good principle, but it's taken to a bit of an extreme, as some of the brothers who would complain about $15/head for a meal are the same brothers dropping $25-30 on a bar tab after ritual practice.
What it boils down to from what I can tell is a disagreement about what reasonable costs are in Masonry. It seems there's near universal agreement that the meal is important and people want to have a nice one. It's a component of fellowship
I have no idea where the ideas about the meals the lodge provides came from, but finding a lodge with a good meal is the exception, not the norm. In the book observing the craft by andrew hammer, he goes at length about the meal and its importance in masonry.
The meal should reflect quality, and should be no different than a meal you'd expect that a decent restaurant. If the lodge doesn't have someone that can cook meals for large groups of people, then cater it, or go to a restaurant that has a semi-private dining area where you can gather.
I think part of the problem is that we have little time from our busy days to take time off to cook a decent meal for a bunch of people. When I was JW, I took the entire day off from work when we were meeting just to take care of the dinner, as it takes hours to cook and prep for several dozen people. I also made an agreement with the rainbow girls mom, who would do the dinners for the masons, the girls would serve (for points) and any money we made above the cost of her meal the girls kept as a fundraiser. She was amazing, and everyone was happy.
But with progressive lines like we have here in the states, we have men coming up the chairs that may not have any skill at cooking (or are just plain lazy) and the meals devolve into sandwiches potato chips and soda. And the lodge thinks that's ok. I've been guilty of that myself, and it was especially egregious for degrees.
But it's a process of learning, and a desire to do things right.
And yes, we are an elitist organization. We don't let just anyone in. That in itself is elitism.
Breaking bread is the best way to get to know someone and have fellowship. Our lodge typically shares a dessert and snacks after lodge. When we do have dinner before lodge it is provided by one of the youth groups. The meals aren’t steak and potatoes but it is an opportunity to support the youth and get to know them at the same time.
At Robert Morris we eat after the 0meeting ,, we open lodge at 7 pm. Are meeting are usually an hour more or less. Our dinners are potluck with the Stewart's supplying a main course paid for by lodge the Brothers always bring more food than needed and we dont ever charge anyone for dinner. It's our belief if a Brother travel's to our meeting a no cost meal is a way of saying thank you for attending. It works for us
Meals at lodge do become an important time for us to talk among ourselves and whats happening in the broader community. The quality and cost of those meetings I believe is most important. For those JW's who just do not cook or simply do not have the time to cook a meal you can be one of the best by simply going to Costco or a store Deli and find your meal. There are some mighty good ones out there and a lot of variety to be found. The mistake often made is to get something cheap and expect it to be great.
You can make this store bought meal become even greater by simply thinking of how it looks in being served. The standard is to put the store container out and have the brothers dig in. Yet in a cubbord close to you is probably some fine looking serving dishes when used make the meal look very nice to the point of at times the question will come "did you make this yourself"?
And then there is desert. The desert should be the crem de la crem of the meal. So what do I see most of the time.......a package of store bought cookies. Good grief!!! Many stores have wonderful deserts that will set the evening aside. Again use the serving dishes that are there. Add some whipped cream or ice cream but please lets get a bit fancy with deserts.
And then there is the cost. If your lodge can afford not to charge more power to you. Mine can not. We put out a special donation jar with a suggested amount ($10 but probably should be raised with food cost going up) for the meal followed by the plus? What the plus for? It is explained as a way for us to cover the cost of guests, brothers who simply forget to donate and certainly for those who can not afford the meal. My lodge covers the cost of the meal and often comes out a few dollars extra.
So what to do during Covid? Every lodge has to decide on their own but considering the age of our group and the direction this terrible virus is heading I personally would be reluctant to go to a meal during these times. At this time our lodge is serving a desert after lodge but have not yet gone to the meals before as we have done in the past.
My lodge budgets for a stated meeting meal each month and one that is not just pizza or subsandwiches. Our Junior Wardens have been top notch in cooking and providing a balanced dinner. These meals are very important as we invite the entire family to join in for the meal. Most often the ladies remain in the dining room when the men open lodge and conduct business. The meals offer a chance for candidates to soicialize and meet with the members of the lodge and get to know each other better beyond what the 6 step program can provide. The meal also teaches service to others, which the Stewards and JW learn in a very hands on way. This is an important lesson regarding Freemasonry.
Another topic of the "cheapening". Lodge dues should be high enough to provide a quality professionally catered meal at every fellowship meeting. $50/plate is common. If you're dues aren't at least $600/year, you're not charging enough to provide a quality meal.
In my view a great meal is very important to a quality Lodge Experience that will keep men coming back to Lodge.
If the Lodge is able to do a great meal on it's own, then all is well. If however it can't, then it should cater the meals instead of serving questionable ones.
Men will not object to paying for good meals, as long as they are truly good!
I feel meals are important, as it sets the mood and experience. It’s hopeful that a lodge would be conscientious of its presentation and perception; visually and olfaction for its cleanliness and stimulus, as well as sound, for the ability for all to hear well and gustation for it fulfillment and satisfaction. If bland food is served so will the lodge already disappoint one of the five senses.
If I were to be completely honest, I’ve never been blown away at any lodge dinner. I think what could be done to improve it, is ask beforehand does anyone have special request for food, i.e. ask about food allergies, are they vegan or vegetarian.
Where I am this is a bit of a mess. Everybody says good meals are important. But the meals aren't high quality (mostly the cheapest stuff we can get) with the lodge taking in $10 for a meal and certain past masters viewing the meals as a needed profit center for the lodge. We thank the stewards every time for their efforts, but as one of our stewards is an excellent cook, he could actually do way better than he does (and he knows it) given good supplies.
Great food though costs money, which implies that we'd either lose money on the food or people need to pay more. There's a lot of worry where I am about anything that even slightly smells of elitism. People feel very strongly that Freemasonry be financially accessible and be as cheap as possible. Which is a good principle, but it's taken to a bit of an extreme, as some of the brothers who would complain about $15/head for a meal are the same brothers dropping $25-30 on a bar tab after ritual practice.
What it boils down to from what I can tell is a disagreement about what reasonable costs are in Masonry. It seems there's near universal agreement that the meal is important and people want to have a nice one. It's a component of fellowship
We just decided to move our meals ahead of the meeting rather than after. That should be an improvement.
But what do we make when we don’t know if we’re cooking for six or sixteen?
I have an idea. We’ll see how it works out.
I have no idea where the ideas about the meals the lodge provides came from, but finding a lodge with a good meal is the exception, not the norm. In the book observing the craft by andrew hammer, he goes at length about the meal and its importance in masonry.
The meal should reflect quality, and should be no different than a meal you'd expect that a decent restaurant. If the lodge doesn't have someone that can cook meals for large groups of people, then cater it, or go to a restaurant that has a semi-private dining area where you can gather.
I think part of the problem is that we have little time from our busy days to take time off to cook a decent meal for a bunch of people. When I was JW, I took the entire day off from work when we were meeting just to take care of the dinner, as it takes hours to cook and prep for several dozen people. I also made an agreement with the rainbow girls mom, who would do the dinners for the masons, the girls would serve (for points) and any money we made above the cost of her meal the girls kept as a fundraiser. She was amazing, and everyone was happy.
But with progressive lines like we have here in the states, we have men coming up the chairs that may not have any skill at cooking (or are just plain lazy) and the meals devolve into sandwiches potato chips and soda. And the lodge thinks that's ok. I've been guilty of that myself, and it was especially egregious for degrees.
But it's a process of learning, and a desire to do things right.
And yes, we are an elitist organization. We don't let just anyone in. That in itself is elitism.
Breaking bread is the best way to get to know someone and have fellowship. Our lodge typically shares a dessert and snacks after lodge. When we do have dinner before lodge it is provided by one of the youth groups. The meals aren’t steak and potatoes but it is an opportunity to support the youth and get to know them at the same time.
At Robert Morris we eat after the 0meeting ,, we open lodge at 7 pm. Are meeting are usually an hour more or less. Our dinners are potluck with the Stewart's supplying a main course paid for by lodge the Brothers always bring more food than needed and we dont ever charge anyone for dinner. It's our belief if a Brother travel's to our meeting a no cost meal is a way of saying thank you for attending. It works for us
Meals at lodge do become an important time for us to talk among ourselves and whats happening in the broader community. The quality and cost of those meetings I believe is most important. For those JW's who just do not cook or simply do not have the time to cook a meal you can be one of the best by simply going to Costco or a store Deli and find your meal. There are some mighty good ones out there and a lot of variety to be found. The mistake often made is to get something cheap and expect it to be great.
You can make this store bought meal become even greater by simply thinking of how it looks in being served. The standard is to put the store container out and have the brothers dig in. Yet in a cubbord close to you is probably some fine looking serving dishes when used make the meal look very nice to the point of at times the question will come "did you make this yourself"?
And then there is desert. The desert should be the crem de la crem of the meal. So what do I see most of the time.......a package of store bought cookies. Good grief!!! Many stores have wonderful deserts that will set the evening aside. Again use the serving dishes that are there. Add some whipped cream or ice cream but please lets get a bit fancy with deserts.
And then there is the cost. If your lodge can afford not to charge more power to you. Mine can not. We put out a special donation jar with a suggested amount ($10 but probably should be raised with food cost going up) for the meal followed by the plus? What the plus for? It is explained as a way for us to cover the cost of guests, brothers who simply forget to donate and certainly for those who can not afford the meal. My lodge covers the cost of the meal and often comes out a few dollars extra.
So what to do during Covid? Every lodge has to decide on their own but considering the age of our group and the direction this terrible virus is heading I personally would be reluctant to go to a meal during these times. At this time our lodge is serving a desert after lodge but have not yet gone to the meals before as we have done in the past.
My lodge budgets for a stated meeting meal each month and one that is not just pizza or subsandwiches. Our Junior Wardens have been top notch in cooking and providing a balanced dinner. These meals are very important as we invite the entire family to join in for the meal. Most often the ladies remain in the dining room when the men open lodge and conduct business. The meals offer a chance for candidates to soicialize and meet with the members of the lodge and get to know each other better beyond what the 6 step program can provide. The meal also teaches service to others, which the Stewards and JW learn in a very hands on way. This is an important lesson regarding Freemasonry.
Another topic of the "cheapening". Lodge dues should be high enough to provide a quality professionally catered meal at every fellowship meeting. $50/plate is common. If you're dues aren't at least $600/year, you're not charging enough to provide a quality meal.
In my view a great meal is very important to a quality Lodge Experience that will keep men coming back to Lodge.
If the Lodge is able to do a great meal on it's own, then all is well. If however it can't, then it should cater the meals instead of serving questionable ones.
Men will not object to paying for good meals, as long as they are truly good!