First out of state visit

[goomba]

I got a chance to visit a lodge in Mississippi on 10-11-2012. The Brethren where very nice and welcoming! I was surprised by how many differences there are between the two states work! A lot was the same but I would have never imagined it. I understand now why other jurisdictions are called "foreign counties". I want to go to another state now!

Any of you guys have a similar experience?

 

[goomba]

Forgot to mention it was Calvary Lodge No. 554 in Meridian, MS.

 

[Ashlar2006]

Yes , I have been in a few different states , all did things a little differently .

 

[Duncan1574]

I too have visited a Lodge from another jurisdiction.
It is truly amazing how we, as Brothers, welcome total strangers.
The work was different and yet the same, it was an MM degree and it too was the same but different.
Highly enjoyable

 

[Windrider]

I've visited lodges in New Hampshire, New York and Florida. As you said, they were the same but different.

I was on vacation last October and my wife couldn't come at the last minute. I was in our travel trailer in a state park in New Hampshire with my cat. Sunday afternoon, everybody including the Rangers left. It was a bit lonely so I got a list of lodges in New Hampshire that were meeting that week off the Grand Lodge web site and started calling the nearest ones' secretaries. I had some great dinners and met too many new friends to count. They do funny things with their rods

About a year ago, I was on another forum and started answering questions from a guy expressing interest in joining. It turned out he was from Keene, NH, the home of Jerusalem Lodge 104. When I visited there, they had a really fun meeting that included a Masonic quiz. I recommended that this guy check them out and had the pleasure of presenting him with a Square and Compasses pin there last week.

I visited a New York City Lodge after arranging it on another forum, too. Their Ritual was very similar to Massachusetts. The biggest difference was that this lodge, at least, always opened on the Third Degree for business meetings while my lodge opens on the First. Another difference was that one of the Officers went around the room and tried every man as part of organizing the lodge. I asked what would have happened if I had failed the trial and was told I would have been escorted out of the room for "a little Masonic education". This being New York City, I didn't ask what that meant

Florida was the most different for me. I went to a lodge in Boca Raton and was surprised when the meeting began and there were men sitting without aprons. As it turned out, they begin their meeting untyled and have some Masonic education and general announcements. Then all the non-Masons are asked to leave and the lodge is tyled and the meeting proceeds. I liked that a lot as so many potential candidates would get a feel for a meeting without any issues on either side. It was also one of the best meals I've had in a lodge.

The company I work for is based in Tel Aviv, Israel. I'm really hoping I get the chance to visit a lodge there some day.

 

[Winter]

Windrider,

A Mason in good standing in the US can affiliate with a GL of Israel Lodge in Tel Aviv. Lodge of the Holy Land #50.

The Lodge of the Holy Land #50 was created in order to enable Brethren from all over the world, living outside Israel, to affiliate to an Israeli Lodge in the Holy Land and feel part of Israeli Freemasonry. Membership is open to all Master Masons in good standing belonging to a Lodge under the jurisdiction of a Grand Lodge, with which the Grand Lodge of the State of Israel maintains fraternal relations (that includes all US and Canadian Grand Lodges). Members receive a Lodge Jewel they may wear (if local regulations permit it), an Affiliation Certificate, and all publications issued by the GL of Israel. The Lodge itself meets in Israel, whenever required to greet visiting groups of Brethren from abroad. It works in the language understood by the visiting Brethren (generally English, but we have had meetings conducted in French and Spanish, as well).

The current Worshipful Master is R.W.Bro. Israel Becker.

http://www.mastermason.com/fmisrael/holyland.html

 

[UFO]

That is awesome!

 

[Bob Franks]

Indiana (my original GL)
North Carolina (my GL now)
South Carolina
Kentucky (you MUST see their MMD!)
UGLE [London, UK]
Ireland
Wisconsin
Michigan

All are different in details, but the themes of Masonry are obvious!

S&F

 

[2SONDAD]

Windrider, for the first time in history, starting this month, CA opened for business in the 1st degree. It had always been in the 3rd, but it was very unexpectedly voted to change, last month. It took everyone by surprise, as no one thought it would pass. Now EAs and FCs will pay dues and attend meetings, but cannot vote.

Winter, I was just looking at the information for Holy Land #50 a few days ago. I may not be ready for York Rite or Scottish Rite, but I am giving serious thought to that Lodge.

I think going out of state will be better than ever now.

 

[Bob Franks]

Windrider, for the first time in history, starting this month, CA opened for business in the 1st degree. It had always been in the 3rd, but it was very unexpectedly voted to change, last month. It took everyone by surprise, as no one thought it would pass. Now EAs and FCs will pay dues and attend meetings, but cannot vote.[snip]

"Your frequent appearance at our regular meetings is earnestly solicited..."
We tell this to our EAs in The Charge, then tell them to get out and not come back until their Fellow Craft Degree!
I saw the Lothbury Lodge #3612, London, open and conduct business on the First Degree when I visited there in 2002. I think I like it.

S&F

 

[Ashlar2006]

We originally opened on the first degree for business meetings , then some time around the early 1900's it was changed to MM only , we tried to get it changed back to the 1st degree but to many are set in their ways .

 

[goomba]

I love the fact that Alabama can and does open in all 3 degrees. My particular lodges rule is we open in the degree of the newest Mason present. Unless of course we are preforming degree work in higher degree.

 

[Winter]

My Emulation Lodge in WI is the first in the state to conduct all business on the EA degree with EA's and FC's being full voting and dues paying Brothers. It works. And Brothers are seeing that.

 

[2SONDAD]

EAs and FCs participation is encouraged. They can speak, ask questions and do everything except vote. It's interesting to hear the different perspectives on this.

 

[Ashlar2006]

My Emulation Lodge in WI is the first in the state to conduct all business on the EA degree with EA's and FC's being full voting and dues paying Brothers. It works. And Brothers are seeing that.

You know Winter , I pushed it in my lodge to pass the legislation to open on any degree we wish but you already know what I was told .....

"We have always opened on the MM degree !"

And this is where my other thread comes into play "Tradition , really !?" . I brought up the fact that we originally opened on the EA when our Grand Lodge was formed and heard "not since I have been a member " .

 

[Winter]

Ashlar, tell them to do their homework. Or better yet, do a presentation on Freemasonry in America before and after the Morgan Affair.

 

[goomba]

I don't understand why it would be a big deal. It is something that does not cost any money and gets new members involved with the craft.

 

[Bob Franks]

I don't understand why it would be a big deal. It is something that does not cost any money and gets new members involved with the craft.

"BUT, WE'VE NEVER DONE IT THAT WAY!"

Many people, in different venues, think that the way they saw it done at first is
how it was done from time immemorial!

BRITANNUS (shocked): Caesar: this is not proper.
THEODOTUS (outraged): How!
CAESAR (recovering his self-possession): Pardon him. Theodotus: he is a barbarian, and thinks that the customs of his tribe and island are the laws of nature.
--"Caesar and Cleopatra (1898)" [George Bernard Shaw]

S&F

 

[Ashlar2006]

Ashlar, tell them to do their homework. Or better yet, do a presentation on Freemasonry in America before and after the Morgan Affair.

When it came to the floor of the Grand Lodge session as my lodge's rep I voted for it anyways , if they do not like how I vote they can send someone else . I was pushing for it when I read from the advanced proceedings prior to my leaving for Grand Lodge . I would but it would have to give this presentation to almost every lodge in the state . There were only a handful of us who voted for it as it was over overwhelmingly defeated .

I did their homework for them , brought it up in lodge , but they refuse to listen .

 

[Winter]

Then you have two options. Conclude that you will never make a difference, give up and let things continue on, "as they always have been." Or, keep fighting to make a difference. I guess it all depends on how important it is to you. Nobody ever said it would be easy.