A couple of weeks back, Washington York Rite held their Grand Session (similar to Annual Communication), over in Spokane, WA.
It was at the Ruby River hotel. A quaint little hotel with 5 or 6 buildings and conference facilities. The size is just right for the number of York Rite Masons who attend.
The schedule for day one was a little tight. The restaurant for the hotel opened at 7:00 AM, so that meant breakfast at 7:00 AM, however, the first session started at 8:00 AM. You can imagine 40 plus people descending on the restaurant at 7:00 AM, along with other hotel guests, and get a picture of chaos. The service started out slow and you could tell the servers were a bit overwhelmed. Our table was gracious and understanding and we made sure to tell the server that we understood and not to worry. Others were, apparently, not so gracious.
At the opening of the meeting it was noted that some Masons were downright rude and yelled at the staff. I was told later that the hotel was on the verge of asking us to not come back next year.
The Grand Illustrious Master of the York Rite Council was visibly upset and spent about 5 minutes reminding the brethren that we are Masons and that kind of behavior does not paint us in a very good light.
So, indeed, forget about the tuxedo or the eliteness of a lodge or fraternity, if we forget the basic principles of what it is to be a Mason, we have fallen down. Recall our EA lecture. We regard no man on account of his worldly wealth or honors. And as you indicated, our closing charge sums it up nicely. Every human being has a claim upon your kind offices. Do good unto all.
I'm sorry to learn that this happened. I fear that someone who yelled at a server in this situation never should have been made a Mason in the first place, and clearly hasn't learned anything through his Masonic involvement.
With men who do something like that, it is easy to understand our membership numbers. Everyone of those people will now believe that Masons are assholes, and will say it to others when the opportunity arises.
It's disappointing whenever Masons think we're better than anybody else just because we're Masons. It's great that we're trying to be better but part of that should be allowing the possibility that just about everybody, in their own way, is likely trying to do the same thing. Thinking that we're better than anyone else is proof that we're not.
As a lifelong restaurateur and mason, I can assure you that treating a food server as a second-class citizen is not the action of elite characters. I sentence these brothers to spend as many hours in the dishroom as it takes to learn charity, relief, and brotherly love.
A couple of weeks back, Washington York Rite held their Grand Session (similar to Annual Communication), over in Spokane, WA.
It was at the Ruby River hotel. A quaint little hotel with 5 or 6 buildings and conference facilities. The size is just right for the number of York Rite Masons who attend.
The schedule for day one was a little tight. The restaurant for the hotel opened at 7:00 AM, so that meant breakfast at 7:00 AM, however, the first session started at 8:00 AM. You can imagine 40 plus people descending on the restaurant at 7:00 AM, along with other hotel guests, and get a picture of chaos. The service started out slow and you could tell the servers were a bit overwhelmed. Our table was gracious and understanding and we made sure to tell the server that we understood and not to worry. Others were, apparently, not so gracious.
At the opening of the meeting it was noted that some Masons were downright rude and yelled at the staff. I was told later that the hotel was on the verge of asking us to not come back next year.
The Grand Illustrious Master of the York Rite Council was visibly upset and spent about 5 minutes reminding the brethren that we are Masons and that kind of behavior does not paint us in a very good light.
So, indeed, forget about the tuxedo or the eliteness of a lodge or fraternity, if we forget the basic principles of what it is to be a Mason, we have fallen down. Recall our EA lecture. We regard no man on account of his worldly wealth or honors. And as you indicated, our closing charge sums it up nicely. Every human being has a claim upon your kind offices. Do good unto all.
I'm sorry to learn that this happened. I fear that someone who yelled at a server in this situation never should have been made a Mason in the first place, and clearly hasn't learned anything through his Masonic involvement.
With men who do something like that, it is easy to understand our membership numbers. Everyone of those people will now believe that Masons are assholes, and will say it to others when the opportunity arises.
This happens with many organizations when members begin to consider themselves "elite".
It's disappointing whenever Masons think we're better than anybody else just because we're Masons. It's great that we're trying to be better but part of that should be allowing the possibility that just about everybody, in their own way, is likely trying to do the same thing. Thinking that we're better than anyone else is proof that we're not.
>>>Thinking that we're better than anyone else is proof that we're not.
Exactly.
As a lifelong restaurateur and mason, I can assure you that treating a food server as a second-class citizen is not the action of elite characters. I sentence these brothers to spend as many hours in the dishroom as it takes to learn charity, relief, and brotherly love.