MWPGM Bailey, again you post an interesting article. My dad's Masonic Temple "Ballroom" was where Hermon Masonic Lodge No. 6 dinners were held before each meeting (Clarksburg WV)!
It was where Washington Irving High School held their Annual Senior Prom (the Ballroom in the Stonewall Jackson Hotel was way too expensive to book for the Prom). And the Masonic Temple Ballroom was large enough that Annual Grand Lodge was held there a few years.
There were Clarksburg Chapter Order of DeMolay Dances held there with about 150 attendees, and a Band on the Bandstand Stage. This was one of my best memories when growing up there, as well as washing dishes after each Hermon Lodge dinner. The OES women even taught me how to play Bridge after the dishes were put away, the leftovers packaged up, and the kitchen cleaned.
P.S. When I was a teenager, Hermon Masonic Lodge No. 6 had over 1,000 members. Dinners before Lodge meetings seated about 120. There were about 30 of us who played Bridge till the Lodge meeting was over.
I believe that our Dining Room (former dance hall) can comfortably seat right about 115 for a meal, and we have seated roughly that amount a couple of times since I've been a member. I presume that back when it was a Dance Hall it probably could have fit double that number.
Yes, I remember cramming about 110 or so for a banquet in the Spring of 2011 associated with a combination District meeting. It worked, but it was tight.
Double that number for dancing? I remember the 1950's cartoons about dance halls; I might hold off on challenging you on that number...
MW, you’ve certainly brought up a very interesting topic. I believe we should be more outwardly focused. We should be more involved in our communities. Most communities aren’t sure anymore if their Masonic Temples are even open. Hosting community dances with lessons made available is a fantastic way to reconnect.
I have a hunch you are right, lessons might be really attractive. I know that Mrs. Bailey has been nagging me to take some lessons for a long time. (Apparently she seems to believe that my idea of dancing resembles a seizure.)
On a couple of recent cruises I couldn't help but notice that the dance floors were pretty darn full each night. Clearly it's a really popular activity for couples.
MWB Bailey, given that we already have the implements of a kitchen in place as well as the supporting infrastructure. I think we should consider a blending of the two.
I think walking off the galley kitchen and reinstalling a small stage for weddings, music, and community speaking engagements would be a great way to go.
I think bringing in a variety of activities could help us to find our “niche” and see what groups bring the most prosperity to the Lodge. Whether it be an increase in membership, goodwill of the community, or financial support to the Lodge.
I know a fair number of weddings held up in the Seattle area Lodges did so for the ability to use kitchen space. As well as post graduation celebrations. There is also a large desire for places to host tabletop games and socially engaging activities to meet other people.
I think with an objective policy, an insurance requirement, and a clearly posted expectation of conduct we should be ok. Plus I don’t imagine having a brother stand in as facilities manager for the night would be a tough thing to coordinate either. Especially if we look to our Brethren for the types of activities they would like to support.
I do think that in a lot of Lodges, events like you mention aren't pursued because of concerns about 'liability.' Indeed, I've heard the objection due to 'liability' in various Lodges through the years more times than I can count. It seems that whenever anyone is against a Lodge (or a Temple Board) from doing anything, they bring up 'liability.'
But, of course, as you mention, we can insure against liability. So I always look at those things as false arguments. We should have solid insurance, and as you say, we can require those who use our buildings to have solid insurance.
As I did my lunchtime walk today, I was listening to old-school Halloween festivity music, which was played by Frankie Stein and his Ghouls. The music goes back to the early 1960’s, back when our “old-timers” were in high school. Excellent dance music, although I was listening to it to get into the Halloween mood.
And there you go. Two routes that Centralia Lodge can take. We could turn it into a Haunted House during the last week of October, to get even more people into our building than the ghost walk does, or use the now-dance hall to hold a Halloween dance. And it’d be even better if we could get a live band to play the music similar to the early 60’s style “Teeny-bopper” Halloween music on the Frankie Stein and his Ghouls records. The Lodge already has a sax player than can play well enough for this kind of music – all you need is a bass player that can do at least basic bass lines, drummer, a guitarist who can play in a surf music style, and it sounds like a harmonica player.
What the hell. Toss all three together. Ghost Walk in mid-October, haunted house during the last week of October, and one of the last days of the month (if not Halloween itself), host a Halloween dance with the ghoul band in the Dance Hall!
We know 1. Works, and the good news is the buy-in from the Lodge members is well-established, and the next step is to work more closely with the organizers to make it even better.
It's been a while since we’ve done 4., likely because you’re the one who understands it best and made it work while you were presiding over the Lodge. And I think it did work at that time. Perhaps it’s indeed time to return it.
Item 3 could tie in with item 1, and there might be a chance we have enough members who are knowledgeable in the field to pull it off, even next October. Something we could do independently of the Ghost Walk, but who knows? It might work with light collaboration with the Ghost Walk organizers, but not necessarily fully, as we learned this year how that event went concerning organization.
Item 2 could be a challenge, as our Lodge had found out through research a couple of years ago, as it would take a lot of planning and manpower. But, as you noted with WB Darrick up North at the Nile, we have the opportunity to learn how it works and what it would take. That’s a major step in the right direction.
I see you didn’t mention the band/dance. That was a brainstorm, based on the previous Ghost Walk, the dance hall talk, and the fact that I’m your sax guy.
Worry not, number 4 will be taking place as it should! Lodge schedule will be out soon!
Agreed, number 3 could be well tied into number 1. They have the Dark Market across the street, primarily selling physical goods. We could have the Metaphysical Market on our side of the street primarily selling metaphysical services. A natural fit in my view.
Yes, the Haunted House, while I think it would be truly awesome, and a superb fundraiser, seems extremely labor intensive. More than we have available in past years. We just might be in a much better position next year.
I'm all for the band and dance too! I just figure that is kind of a given, that our newer members are going to push for it.
MWPGM Bailey, again you post an interesting article. My dad's Masonic Temple "Ballroom" was where Hermon Masonic Lodge No. 6 dinners were held before each meeting (Clarksburg WV)!
It was where Washington Irving High School held their Annual Senior Prom (the Ballroom in the Stonewall Jackson Hotel was way too expensive to book for the Prom). And the Masonic Temple Ballroom was large enough that Annual Grand Lodge was held there a few years.
There were Clarksburg Chapter Order of DeMolay Dances held there with about 150 attendees, and a Band on the Bandstand Stage. This was one of my best memories when growing up there, as well as washing dishes after each Hermon Lodge dinner. The OES women even taught me how to play Bridge after the dishes were put away, the leftovers packaged up, and the kitchen cleaned.
Thank you Brother. These memories sound quite wonderful!
P.S. When I was a teenager, Hermon Masonic Lodge No. 6 had over 1,000 members. Dinners before Lodge meetings seated about 120. There were about 30 of us who played Bridge till the Lodge meeting was over.
I believe that our Dining Room (former dance hall) can comfortably seat right about 115 for a meal, and we have seated roughly that amount a couple of times since I've been a member. I presume that back when it was a Dance Hall it probably could have fit double that number.
Yes, I remember cramming about 110 or so for a banquet in the Spring of 2011 associated with a combination District meeting. It worked, but it was tight.
Double that number for dancing? I remember the 1950's cartoons about dance halls; I might hold off on challenging you on that number...
MW, you’ve certainly brought up a very interesting topic. I believe we should be more outwardly focused. We should be more involved in our communities. Most communities aren’t sure anymore if their Masonic Temples are even open. Hosting community dances with lessons made available is a fantastic way to reconnect.
I have a hunch you are right, lessons might be really attractive. I know that Mrs. Bailey has been nagging me to take some lessons for a long time. (Apparently she seems to believe that my idea of dancing resembles a seizure.)
On a couple of recent cruises I couldn't help but notice that the dance floors were pretty darn full each night. Clearly it's a really popular activity for couples.
MWB Bailey, given that we already have the implements of a kitchen in place as well as the supporting infrastructure. I think we should consider a blending of the two.
I think walking off the galley kitchen and reinstalling a small stage for weddings, music, and community speaking engagements would be a great way to go.
I think bringing in a variety of activities could help us to find our “niche” and see what groups bring the most prosperity to the Lodge. Whether it be an increase in membership, goodwill of the community, or financial support to the Lodge.
I know a fair number of weddings held up in the Seattle area Lodges did so for the ability to use kitchen space. As well as post graduation celebrations. There is also a large desire for places to host tabletop games and socially engaging activities to meet other people.
I think with an objective policy, an insurance requirement, and a clearly posted expectation of conduct we should be ok. Plus I don’t imagine having a brother stand in as facilities manager for the night would be a tough thing to coordinate either. Especially if we look to our Brethren for the types of activities they would like to support.
I do think that in a lot of Lodges, events like you mention aren't pursued because of concerns about 'liability.' Indeed, I've heard the objection due to 'liability' in various Lodges through the years more times than I can count. It seems that whenever anyone is against a Lodge (or a Temple Board) from doing anything, they bring up 'liability.'
But, of course, as you mention, we can insure against liability. So I always look at those things as false arguments. We should have solid insurance, and as you say, we can require those who use our buildings to have solid insurance.
As I did my lunchtime walk today, I was listening to old-school Halloween festivity music, which was played by Frankie Stein and his Ghouls. The music goes back to the early 1960’s, back when our “old-timers” were in high school. Excellent dance music, although I was listening to it to get into the Halloween mood.
And there you go. Two routes that Centralia Lodge can take. We could turn it into a Haunted House during the last week of October, to get even more people into our building than the ghost walk does, or use the now-dance hall to hold a Halloween dance. And it’d be even better if we could get a live band to play the music similar to the early 60’s style “Teeny-bopper” Halloween music on the Frankie Stein and his Ghouls records. The Lodge already has a sax player than can play well enough for this kind of music – all you need is a bass player that can do at least basic bass lines, drummer, a guitarist who can play in a surf music style, and it sounds like a harmonica player.
What the hell. Toss all three together. Ghost Walk in mid-October, haunted house during the last week of October, and one of the last days of the month (if not Halloween itself), host a Halloween dance with the ghoul band in the Dance Hall!
Ultimately I think Centralia Lodge should really focus on October...
1. The Ghost Tours - Get the community into our building
2. A high end haunted house - A great way to raise money for the building
3. An 'esoteric fair' - metaphysical market - A way to get people interested in those things to think about Masonry
4. Day of the Dead celebration - Something I've always found to be quite powerful when well done
I think that all of these things could be very powerful for our Lodge. If we can pull off so much in a single month.
Of these four, we’ve done 1. And 4.
We know 1. Works, and the good news is the buy-in from the Lodge members is well-established, and the next step is to work more closely with the organizers to make it even better.
It's been a while since we’ve done 4., likely because you’re the one who understands it best and made it work while you were presiding over the Lodge. And I think it did work at that time. Perhaps it’s indeed time to return it.
Item 3 could tie in with item 1, and there might be a chance we have enough members who are knowledgeable in the field to pull it off, even next October. Something we could do independently of the Ghost Walk, but who knows? It might work with light collaboration with the Ghost Walk organizers, but not necessarily fully, as we learned this year how that event went concerning organization.
Item 2 could be a challenge, as our Lodge had found out through research a couple of years ago, as it would take a lot of planning and manpower. But, as you noted with WB Darrick up North at the Nile, we have the opportunity to learn how it works and what it would take. That’s a major step in the right direction.
I see you didn’t mention the band/dance. That was a brainstorm, based on the previous Ghost Walk, the dance hall talk, and the fact that I’m your sax guy.
Worry not, number 4 will be taking place as it should! Lodge schedule will be out soon!
Agreed, number 3 could be well tied into number 1. They have the Dark Market across the street, primarily selling physical goods. We could have the Metaphysical Market on our side of the street primarily selling metaphysical services. A natural fit in my view.
Yes, the Haunted House, while I think it would be truly awesome, and a superb fundraiser, seems extremely labor intensive. More than we have available in past years. We just might be in a much better position next year.
I'm all for the band and dance too! I just figure that is kind of a given, that our newer members are going to push for it.