I've attended Illumination #5 Illinois AF&AM.Has anyone attended one of these lodges?
Agreed. Masonic ritual, as is, is elegant enough for any setting.My main issue with the whole discussion is the amount of push back that the moment is seeing from freemasonry in general. If some masons want to meet, dress up nicely, have fancy meals, moments of silence process in etc. I don't have a problem with it as long as they don't change ritual.
Not agreed. Freemasonry is something special. I believe that it's observance should respect that. No, I am not saying that any man should be excluded because he does not own a tuxedo. I am saying that an open Lodge deserves more than that man's "every day" dress. I love eating third-rate meals in casual attire and enjoying "the fraternal aspect". Lodge night is not the place for that, IMO.Just as I don't have issues with lodges that want to meet up in overalls, eat spaghetti on paper plates, focus on the fraternal aspect and shoot the s***.
Agreed. Masonic ritual, as is, is elegant enough for any setting.
Not agreed. Freemasonry is something special. I believe that it's observance should respect that. No, I am not saying that any man should be excluded because he does not own a tuxedo. I am saying that an open Lodge deserves more than that man's "every day" dress. I love eating third-rate meals in casual attire and enjoying "the fraternal aspect". Lodge night is not the place for that, IMO.
Not agreed. Freemasonry is something special. I believe that it's observance should respect that. No, I am not saying that any man should be excluded because he does not own a tuxedo. I am saying that an open Lodge deserves more than that man's "every day" dress. I love eating third-rate meals in casual attire and enjoying "the fraternal aspect". Lodge night is not the place for that, IMO.
I haven't attended a TR lodge but I think they're a very good thing and I'd love to see a more accepting stance on them from the GL level.
It seems like a great practice, just look at the rates of retention and attendance (I've heard of some TR lodges having close to 100% retention rates and greater than 100% attendance at stated meetings). If we can adopt these practices without creating massive changes to our ritual (and I believe we can) then it sounds like it'd be wise to allow it to implement in the lodge.
I always hear about brothers concerns about low retention rates and low attendance but at the same time they seem turned off to an approach to Freemasonry that seems to almost eliminate those problems, which saddens me.
You want to say that Freemasonry has become more affordable?Over the last 30 years we've become less formal....
Indeed. Your friend is right.As one of my good friends often says "If it's easy to obtain, and cheap to maintain people will not really value it"
May I ask you question?
You want to say that Freemasonry has become more affordable?
Thank you for your response.That too, but I meant less formal as I wrote. I.e. going from wearing suits and ties in lodges to polos and jeans. Not eating on the good china to instead having paper plates etc.
As one of my good friends often says "If it's easy to obtain, and cheap to maintain people will not really value it"
I completely agree! I have also seen that some of the lodge dues for T. O. are 1k and above per year! Ouch. For the average brother, this just isn't feasible.
I'm not suggesting that everyone should adopt 1k dues but many people don't seem to think twice about spending 500-1200 bucks a year for TV programs (depending on your provider/plan)...but get mad over a $5 dues increase at their lodge.
Not agreed. Freemasonry is something special. I believe that it's observance should respect that. No, I am not saying that any man should be excluded because he does not own a tuxedo. I am saying that an open Lodge deserves more than that man's "every day" dress. I love eating third-rate meals in casual attire and enjoying "the fraternal aspect". Lodge night is not the place for that, IMO.
Clothing or Attire makes a Mason not. Please refer to your very basic EA lectures regarding the qualifications.