Thanks for this. Most of our Lodges do introductions during the tiled meeting in the manner you mention, but the festive board toast is not something commonly seen here. That's a really solid idea!
Ive had the opportunity to travel some. In fact, I visited the Grand Lodge of TN building this week. I didnt get a chance to visit a lodge, due to time constraints.
To the point, the Senior Decons job is to do more then introduce visiting brethren. In my mind, he should be the one to give them a tour, see that introductions are made (before lodge as well!) And generally see that they are comfortable. When dealing with visiting seated Worshipful Brothers, The Master of the Lodge has the ability to afford public grand honors and offer to let the Brother sit in the East. Small things like this improve the experience.
As for speaking up as a visitor, im not shy. Ill tend to wait to go last to speak, but I've never shed away from speaking my mind!
Also, I've noted when I travel, that I greatly appreciate meetings with an agenda. It helps keep the meeting on track!
I didn't know that you were in Tennessee this week! Had I, I would have begged you to take an extra suitcase, fill it with glorious tobacco for delivery back here on the overly taxed coast! 🤠
Seriously though, I agree that a specific member of the Lodge should be in charge of taking care of visitors, and of course the Senior Deacon is given that responsibility in our ritual. Whether it is him, or another person, I think it is really important that whomever it is, a careful eye is kept on the door so that visitors are actually welcomed when they walk in.
Agreed, agenda 100%. A Masonic Lodge appropriate agenda as well, not a profane world business agenda.
At one lodge that I a member of, we have dinner before lodge. That gives visitors time to introduce themselves to some of the members and for us to get to know him a bit. It builds a bit of rapport prior to the visiting brother even entering our lodge meeting.
So far, I have never encountered a visitor who has criticized. Our WMs also ensure they include the visiting brethren in the lodge through, introductions after opening lodge, and then later, asking them their thoughts on our meeting.
Your question about petitioning a lodge after many visits is something I experienced recently.
I brother and I were invited to visit a local lodge and it was suggested that we bring our wives for the social aspect before and after lodge. Our wives made friends with the other ladies there and were invited back, again, and again.
The brother and I joked that we were the seconds now and that we were there because of our wives invitation. :-)
I felt slightly uncomfortable by attending so many meetings as a visitor and my fellow brother had already petitioned for plural. I decided to do the same, as it I thought it would make me feel more a part of the lodge. I enjoy the fellowship there very much and my wife looks forward to every month's visit.
So, in my opinion, if I'm going to be at the lodge on a regular occasion, I should also support that lodge with my membership dues.
Thanks for bringing up wives and families. I think that for a lot of Lodges involvement as you mention is critical for success. If our wives are able to join us before and after, and have an enjoyable time, it turns an evening when we are away into something we are doing together, and that certainly helps with retention.
I also never forget a PGM's wife who years ago used to remind everyone that while Masons can't recruit, Masons wives are under no such limitation.
I do share your view about regular visitation. I've joined a Lodge or two through the years because I felt I was visiting so often that the Lodge deserved my membership support.
There's an old saying that goes, "I'd rather people think I'm stupid rather than open my mouth to prove it." I'm not an "in your face person," but if I see something amiss or have additional information, I'll speak to the Master or SW after. Additionally, to prove how uninformed I am, I've attended a Lodge meeting in the UK and kept my mouth shut because their ritual is much longer and more enriching in opening and closing the Lodge. I just enjoyed the difference and let it soak in.
I think that very often we are able to make folks think that we are wiser than we really are by just keeping our mouths shut! I've always felt it much better to say nothing than to say the wrong thing!
Incidentally, in our Lodge, greeting the visitors at the festive board is one of tge duties of the JW. So he is always prepared, and he will include more than just a plain toast - he will speak about the value of welcoming visitors, share his experience, etc.
You are all welcome. It is Mt. Carmel Lodge no. 44 on the role of the GL of the State of Israel, and we warmly welcome Brethren from all regular Lodges around the world 🙏🍷🥂
I must be the odd duck in this pond. The only introductions I do during a meeting is first time visitors, or the district deputy during his official visit, or of course the grandmaster, which has it's own protocols. But I hate introductions. I'd rather spend my time socializing with the visiting brothers than formal introductions. We all know each other, why do I need to introduce you?
And when I visit other lodges, if they do introductions, If I can be introduced more than once, I'll just pick one and be done with it.
Sometimes in some lodges introductions can take over 20 minutes. I'd rather spend that time on something more worthwhile, like providing masonic education, which is something those other lodges simply don't bother with.
Festive board, done outside of a tyled lodge, is fine for introductions, it's part of the occasion. Or, if you have to, do introductions during dinner. My mantra is to be cognizant of the brothers time.
I don't think that you are the odd duck. I too have pretty strong opinions about introductions. Namely:
-In my opinion there is nothing more tacky than when a man stands up to be introduced more than once in a meeting. As Grand Master I directed that my Committeemen and my Grand Lodge Officers would not stand up to be introduced more than once. I was pleased to see that most heeded my decision. A handful did not, which did not make me happy. I do know that at least one of those who ignored my directive was from your area, so I presume that you saw that.
-In my opinion there is nothing more absurd than when a man is introduced who is known personally to every other man in the room.
I will do introductions in the Lodge, if required (the GM, the DDGM on his official visit) and when needed (a visitor not everyone knows, a really rare visitor, things of that sort.) But, in keeping with the guidelines above. Most often I do them from the sidelines.
One Lodge I know does them at dinner to great effect.
I think we can do introductions quickly, while maintaining proper warmth and welcome. But I won't introduce a man more than once, and I won't introduce a man whom is well known to everyone in the room. Those practices are the height of absurdity.
Some lodges I've run into, during a degree, do introductions after the degree, which, ok, new EA, maybe we should introduce everyone, so he can put names to faces. But if the person running the degree isn't the WM, when it comes time to introduce visiting WMs, they always introduce the lodge WM as well, which...? Why?
And yeah, being introduced twice is silly. I was at an installation, where the incoming WM introduced, and provided the public grand honors for, the same person 4 different times.
Yeah, I've seen the introduce everyone in the room following an EA Degree thing, and I think it is a good practice, as it is quite likely that the new EA doesn't know everyone. But, in my view, that is best done by just going around the room with everyone introducing themselves.
I noticed you said "Master Masons can visit")... does that mean the EA's and FC's can't in Washington... I know that's true in Mexico. Some new friend's took me visiting to other Lodge in Alberta as a EA and FC to see the Degrees I had gone through done... they took me to appropriate Degrees and prove-ups giving me much better understanding of what I had experienced.
The only Brother from my Lodge (in about 75 year history)that ever became GM for Alberta had me memorize the Tyler's Oath before striking off on visiting by myself... I have visited about 250 Lodges in Canada, the USA and Mexico... an awful lot of Tylers had never heard of it. This piece sped up the process immensely AND surprised a lot of people!
Some Lodges used pretty silly questions like, "How old is your Mother?" and/or "What is your Mother's name?"... to what avail I guess I'll never understand.
In my Lodge we have a special toast to the visitors in the festive board. Then each of the visitors is given the opportunity to respond to the toast.
Also. In the Lodge, we personally greet visiting Brethren by rank, name and Lodge, immediately after opening the Lodge.
Those visiting Brethren often return again and again. We must be doing things right 😉
Thanks for this. Most of our Lodges do introductions during the tiled meeting in the manner you mention, but the festive board toast is not something commonly seen here. That's a really solid idea!
Ive had the opportunity to travel some. In fact, I visited the Grand Lodge of TN building this week. I didnt get a chance to visit a lodge, due to time constraints.
To the point, the Senior Decons job is to do more then introduce visiting brethren. In my mind, he should be the one to give them a tour, see that introductions are made (before lodge as well!) And generally see that they are comfortable. When dealing with visiting seated Worshipful Brothers, The Master of the Lodge has the ability to afford public grand honors and offer to let the Brother sit in the East. Small things like this improve the experience.
As for speaking up as a visitor, im not shy. Ill tend to wait to go last to speak, but I've never shed away from speaking my mind!
Also, I've noted when I travel, that I greatly appreciate meetings with an agenda. It helps keep the meeting on track!
I didn't know that you were in Tennessee this week! Had I, I would have begged you to take an extra suitcase, fill it with glorious tobacco for delivery back here on the overly taxed coast! 🤠
Seriously though, I agree that a specific member of the Lodge should be in charge of taking care of visitors, and of course the Senior Deacon is given that responsibility in our ritual. Whether it is him, or another person, I think it is really important that whomever it is, a careful eye is kept on the door so that visitors are actually welcomed when they walk in.
Agreed, agenda 100%. A Masonic Lodge appropriate agenda as well, not a profane world business agenda.
At one lodge that I a member of, we have dinner before lodge. That gives visitors time to introduce themselves to some of the members and for us to get to know him a bit. It builds a bit of rapport prior to the visiting brother even entering our lodge meeting.
So far, I have never encountered a visitor who has criticized. Our WMs also ensure they include the visiting brethren in the lodge through, introductions after opening lodge, and then later, asking them their thoughts on our meeting.
Your question about petitioning a lodge after many visits is something I experienced recently.
I brother and I were invited to visit a local lodge and it was suggested that we bring our wives for the social aspect before and after lodge. Our wives made friends with the other ladies there and were invited back, again, and again.
The brother and I joked that we were the seconds now and that we were there because of our wives invitation. :-)
I felt slightly uncomfortable by attending so many meetings as a visitor and my fellow brother had already petitioned for plural. I decided to do the same, as it I thought it would make me feel more a part of the lodge. I enjoy the fellowship there very much and my wife looks forward to every month's visit.
So, in my opinion, if I'm going to be at the lodge on a regular occasion, I should also support that lodge with my membership dues.
Thanks for bringing up wives and families. I think that for a lot of Lodges involvement as you mention is critical for success. If our wives are able to join us before and after, and have an enjoyable time, it turns an evening when we are away into something we are doing together, and that certainly helps with retention.
I also never forget a PGM's wife who years ago used to remind everyone that while Masons can't recruit, Masons wives are under no such limitation.
I do share your view about regular visitation. I've joined a Lodge or two through the years because I felt I was visiting so often that the Lodge deserved my membership support.
There's an old saying that goes, "I'd rather people think I'm stupid rather than open my mouth to prove it." I'm not an "in your face person," but if I see something amiss or have additional information, I'll speak to the Master or SW after. Additionally, to prove how uninformed I am, I've attended a Lodge meeting in the UK and kept my mouth shut because their ritual is much longer and more enriching in opening and closing the Lodge. I just enjoyed the difference and let it soak in.
I think that very often we are able to make folks think that we are wiser than we really are by just keeping our mouths shut! I've always felt it much better to say nothing than to say the wrong thing!
Incidentally, in our Lodge, greeting the visitors at the festive board is one of tge duties of the JW. So he is always prepared, and he will include more than just a plain toast - he will speak about the value of welcoming visitors, share his experience, etc.
You are all welcome. It is Mt. Carmel Lodge no. 44 on the role of the GL of the State of Israel, and we warmly welcome Brethren from all regular Lodges around the world 🙏🍷🥂
Thank you Brother, for your very kind welcome! I do hope to have an opportunity to visit Israel someday.
I must be the odd duck in this pond. The only introductions I do during a meeting is first time visitors, or the district deputy during his official visit, or of course the grandmaster, which has it's own protocols. But I hate introductions. I'd rather spend my time socializing with the visiting brothers than formal introductions. We all know each other, why do I need to introduce you?
And when I visit other lodges, if they do introductions, If I can be introduced more than once, I'll just pick one and be done with it.
Sometimes in some lodges introductions can take over 20 minutes. I'd rather spend that time on something more worthwhile, like providing masonic education, which is something those other lodges simply don't bother with.
Festive board, done outside of a tyled lodge, is fine for introductions, it's part of the occasion. Or, if you have to, do introductions during dinner. My mantra is to be cognizant of the brothers time.
I don't think that you are the odd duck. I too have pretty strong opinions about introductions. Namely:
-In my opinion there is nothing more tacky than when a man stands up to be introduced more than once in a meeting. As Grand Master I directed that my Committeemen and my Grand Lodge Officers would not stand up to be introduced more than once. I was pleased to see that most heeded my decision. A handful did not, which did not make me happy. I do know that at least one of those who ignored my directive was from your area, so I presume that you saw that.
-In my opinion there is nothing more absurd than when a man is introduced who is known personally to every other man in the room.
I will do introductions in the Lodge, if required (the GM, the DDGM on his official visit) and when needed (a visitor not everyone knows, a really rare visitor, things of that sort.) But, in keeping with the guidelines above. Most often I do them from the sidelines.
One Lodge I know does them at dinner to great effect.
I think we can do introductions quickly, while maintaining proper warmth and welcome. But I won't introduce a man more than once, and I won't introduce a man whom is well known to everyone in the room. Those practices are the height of absurdity.
Some lodges I've run into, during a degree, do introductions after the degree, which, ok, new EA, maybe we should introduce everyone, so he can put names to faces. But if the person running the degree isn't the WM, when it comes time to introduce visiting WMs, they always introduce the lodge WM as well, which...? Why?
And yeah, being introduced twice is silly. I was at an installation, where the incoming WM introduced, and provided the public grand honors for, the same person 4 different times.
Talk about absurd.
Yeah, I've seen the introduce everyone in the room following an EA Degree thing, and I think it is a good practice, as it is quite likely that the new EA doesn't know everyone. But, in my view, that is best done by just going around the room with everyone introducing themselves.
I noticed you said "Master Masons can visit")... does that mean the EA's and FC's can't in Washington... I know that's true in Mexico. Some new friend's took me visiting to other Lodge in Alberta as a EA and FC to see the Degrees I had gone through done... they took me to appropriate Degrees and prove-ups giving me much better understanding of what I had experienced.
The only Brother from my Lodge (in about 75 year history)that ever became GM for Alberta had me memorize the Tyler's Oath before striking off on visiting by myself... I have visited about 250 Lodges in Canada, the USA and Mexico... an awful lot of Tylers had never heard of it. This piece sped up the process immensely AND surprised a lot of people!
Some Lodges used pretty silly questions like, "How old is your Mother?" and/or "What is your Mother's name?"... to what avail I guess I'll never understand.
In Washington, EAs and FCs can travel, but without a dues card, they need someone to vouch for them.
I am familiar with the two questions you mention, but have never experienced them myself.
As Glenn mentioned, here in Washington EA's and FC's can visit, but only with someone who can vouch for them.
The audacity of masons to correct is unparalleled. I believe a visitor should help
when/if asked to do so.
Some do seem to love to correct even if their corrections be wrong!