The idea of having one stated Communication and one casual meeting per month has gathered much interest in these parts. Some have already moved to it. However, I love the Salon version of this.
At one time quite a lot of years ago now, a Lodge here in my neck of the woods did something similar to this. Not as casual as a Salon, and not really an open discussion, but speaker'(s) on some subject of interest to Masons. It was extremely popular while it lasted (through the terms of two Worshipful Masters.)
But then those WM's moved on, and the new WM's didn't carry it forward. It was a good thing that died.
More recently some Brothers in another Lodge here tried to do something similar, but it never really got off the ground because from the very first one "there is just this one little piece of business that we have to take care of." It ended up being 100% business, and the last thing anyone wants is another business meeting.
When my brother and I were kids, we weren’t in the DeMolay (although there was at that time a DeMolay Chapter in our town), but we were in the local Junior Grange. We did follow this model, in that we met twice a month, and we called the two meetings the “Ritual Meeting” and the “Craft Meeting.” As you might guess, the “Ritual Meeting” was the same as our Stated Communication, in that we opened and closed in the ritualistic manner, covered business, initiated members, etc. At the “Craft” meeting, we didn’t go into the large hall – we stayed in the kitchen and made things. It depended on the time of year and the kind of event we were preparing for. For example, during November and December, we would make Christmas ornaments (a few of which we still have, that didn’t fall apart over time) and during the summer, we would use the Craft Meetings to build and assemble our booth for the local fair that was held in mid-August. As you also might guess, the Craft Meetings was where we brats – oops, kids – got to know each other better, while the Ritual Meetings was where we learned and became better leaders. My brother and I did go through the chairs, but our Junior Grange folded just before I was to become the Worthy Master.
So why did I join the Masonic Lodge instead of the Grange? Or joined both? They both met the same night, as well as the local Eagles Aerie, so I had to chose one. And the people I had known the longest, as well as two family members, were Freemasons. Both my brother and I are members of Tenino Lodge. But we still, to this day, correspond with the members of the local Grange that sponsored our Junior Grange over 30 years ago.
While I like the idea of having a second meeting, I don't necessarily see the need for actually opening and closing lodge. Especially when food and drink is involved. As you noted my temple board doesn't allow anything but water in the lodge rooms. If you're having to go off session, or labor to refreshment, and moving everyone into another room, then I find the actual effort of opening and closing superfluous. Just establish a once a month lodge get together, masons only, and do the same thing. Bring snacks and beverages, and be comfortable.
I could get behind this version of the idea as well. There is certainly no reason why a Lodge would have to be Opened and Closed. I guess that I would include it because that would set a clear Masonic flavor to the gathering.
But, I would also have the advantage of not having to change rooms in my Lodges. I agree that changing rooms would interrupt the flow, and make everything more difficult.
One thing comes to mind though. If one was doing it in the dining room, and not performing Masonic ritual, would it be best in your view to restrict it to Masons or to open it up to others as well?
Undoubtedly you are correct. A Lodge would need enough Masons to pull it off, and enough Masons with the interest to become engaged with it. Without that, it would just be a bunch of guys sitting around looking at each other.
That would bring back nightmares of Junior High School dances!
Your point that some percentage of the Masons involved need to be interesting is on point as well. I've done a fair amount of reading about these events over the last while, and it seems that successful hosts carefully curate their guest lists.
But, I think that a Lodge has an advantage in that area, because by definition we all have shared interests, and can talk about those things in an interesting way.
We have, in Nova Scotia, some research Lodges and we have some ad hoc gatherings of Brethren where an idea of philosophical nature is proposed and discussed. There is a Lodge that is designed to be purely esoteric in nature. It is opened and closed in French and quite intellectually stimulating. I like your salon idea.
We too have Research Lodges, but I think they are more focused on presentations than freewheeling discussion. I think that this would be something different, and I hope that a Lodge or ten give it a try, I have to believe that it would be well received.
I've been in several Lodges where something very similar to this is already expressed during the "Second Meeting" of the month. Business as usual the first meeting. Personally I think for Lodges not doing this, they should! It not only affords the fellowship and brotherhood we joined for, but also can enhance the quality of Masonic Education on an order far more than just the 15 minute stated meeting programs; while as useful and enlightening as those are, they only offer a synopsis of the education and conversation that COULD be going on.
Thank you Brother. I'm glad to know that something like this is going on where you live. Now I just have to convince the Lodges in my area to give it a try!
The idea of having one stated Communication and one casual meeting per month has gathered much interest in these parts. Some have already moved to it. However, I love the Salon version of this.
At one time quite a lot of years ago now, a Lodge here in my neck of the woods did something similar to this. Not as casual as a Salon, and not really an open discussion, but speaker'(s) on some subject of interest to Masons. It was extremely popular while it lasted (through the terms of two Worshipful Masters.)
But then those WM's moved on, and the new WM's didn't carry it forward. It was a good thing that died.
More recently some Brothers in another Lodge here tried to do something similar, but it never really got off the ground because from the very first one "there is just this one little piece of business that we have to take care of." It ended up being 100% business, and the last thing anyone wants is another business meeting.
When my brother and I were kids, we weren’t in the DeMolay (although there was at that time a DeMolay Chapter in our town), but we were in the local Junior Grange. We did follow this model, in that we met twice a month, and we called the two meetings the “Ritual Meeting” and the “Craft Meeting.” As you might guess, the “Ritual Meeting” was the same as our Stated Communication, in that we opened and closed in the ritualistic manner, covered business, initiated members, etc. At the “Craft” meeting, we didn’t go into the large hall – we stayed in the kitchen and made things. It depended on the time of year and the kind of event we were preparing for. For example, during November and December, we would make Christmas ornaments (a few of which we still have, that didn’t fall apart over time) and during the summer, we would use the Craft Meetings to build and assemble our booth for the local fair that was held in mid-August. As you also might guess, the Craft Meetings was where we brats – oops, kids – got to know each other better, while the Ritual Meetings was where we learned and became better leaders. My brother and I did go through the chairs, but our Junior Grange folded just before I was to become the Worthy Master.
So why did I join the Masonic Lodge instead of the Grange? Or joined both? They both met the same night, as well as the local Eagles Aerie, so I had to chose one. And the people I had known the longest, as well as two family members, were Freemasons. Both my brother and I are members of Tenino Lodge. But we still, to this day, correspond with the members of the local Grange that sponsored our Junior Grange over 30 years ago.
The Grange is certainly a worthy organization as well. I've been a member since long before I was a Mason, but never an active member.
While I like the idea of having a second meeting, I don't necessarily see the need for actually opening and closing lodge. Especially when food and drink is involved. As you noted my temple board doesn't allow anything but water in the lodge rooms. If you're having to go off session, or labor to refreshment, and moving everyone into another room, then I find the actual effort of opening and closing superfluous. Just establish a once a month lodge get together, masons only, and do the same thing. Bring snacks and beverages, and be comfortable.
I could get behind this version of the idea as well. There is certainly no reason why a Lodge would have to be Opened and Closed. I guess that I would include it because that would set a clear Masonic flavor to the gathering.
But, I would also have the advantage of not having to change rooms in my Lodges. I agree that changing rooms would interrupt the flow, and make everything more difficult.
One thing comes to mind though. If one was doing it in the dining room, and not performing Masonic ritual, would it be best in your view to restrict it to Masons or to open it up to others as well?
I would keep it simply for masons, so we can converse masonically.
Makes sense.
I think you need a critical mass of ____ Masons (or others parties if not part of a Stated).
You need enough interested *and* interesting people that you can be confident of lively, flowing, engaging conversation.
Not every Lodge has this.
Probably helps to plan 6 or 10 topics in advance so you can build on momentum rather than start from scratch each time.
Undoubtedly you are correct. A Lodge would need enough Masons to pull it off, and enough Masons with the interest to become engaged with it. Without that, it would just be a bunch of guys sitting around looking at each other.
That would bring back nightmares of Junior High School dances!
Your point that some percentage of the Masons involved need to be interesting is on point as well. I've done a fair amount of reading about these events over the last while, and it seems that successful hosts carefully curate their guest lists.
But, I think that a Lodge has an advantage in that area, because by definition we all have shared interests, and can talk about those things in an interesting way.
LOL “...because by definition...” I find this paragraph rather over-optimistic for some Lodges.
I love this idea! I hope we can get something like this up and running!
Doric Lodge does have the most perfect place to hold something like this.
I'll start planting the seed
We have, in Nova Scotia, some research Lodges and we have some ad hoc gatherings of Brethren where an idea of philosophical nature is proposed and discussed. There is a Lodge that is designed to be purely esoteric in nature. It is opened and closed in French and quite intellectually stimulating. I like your salon idea.
We too have Research Lodges, but I think they are more focused on presentations than freewheeling discussion. I think that this would be something different, and I hope that a Lodge or ten give it a try, I have to believe that it would be well received.
I've been in several Lodges where something very similar to this is already expressed during the "Second Meeting" of the month. Business as usual the first meeting. Personally I think for Lodges not doing this, they should! It not only affords the fellowship and brotherhood we joined for, but also can enhance the quality of Masonic Education on an order far more than just the 15 minute stated meeting programs; while as useful and enlightening as those are, they only offer a synopsis of the education and conversation that COULD be going on.
Thank you Brother. I'm glad to know that something like this is going on where you live. Now I just have to convince the Lodges in my area to give it a try!