When I was a new Mason, I remember being disappointed to find that most of the lodges closed for the summer. "Close? What? C'mon, man, I'm just getting fired up!"
By the time I was the Worshipful Master of Friendship Lodge, though, I was thrilled to have that summer break. I guess it's a matter of perspective, huh?
In the last few months, I have seen or participated in almost a dozen degrees, gone to another dozen meetings of various groups, have attended several dinners, awards nights, and other events. June has been particularly eventful, and in the last three weeks I have visited seven out of the eight lodges in my slice of the state. An early heat wave coincided with my need to visit a number of lodges, none of which were air conditioned - an occupational hazard here in New England where many lodges are really just old buildings. Personally, I'll be glad when the end of June comes because I could use a break. Don't get me wrong: I enjoy what I've been doing, and I'm happy to be invited to these events, and I've been pleased that nobody boos, hisses or curses when I enter the room. I'm just looking forward to a little time to recharge the mental batteries.
I've been to some very nice degrees in my little slice of the Nutmeg State. I've seen several lodges with low turnout, where the officers have done particularly nice work. I've also been to a few lodges in which I've seen new officers who have spent some time learning the work and while it may not have been perfect, it was obvious that they did their best to perform it well for the candidates. From such workmen will the best ashlars be made, and I salute them.
During my travels, I've been pleasantly surprised to meet another half a dozen new Masons who came up to me after a degree to mention that they've read this blog. Not only does this increase my readership by almost 50%, it indicates that more and more men - mainly the under-40 group - are using the internet to discover more about our fraternity. It also suggests that they are not being frightened off by some of the contentiousness that can be found on blogs and web forums, to the contrary of those who have decried the use of this medium. Being one of those who used the internet heavily in his own research before joining, I still maintain that those people who are so easily swayed in their opinion of the fraternity by the antics of a handful of anti-Masons Masonophobes - or by a few disgruntled Masons - are probably not the best candidates in the first place.
Speaking of teh internetz, It's too bad that a large number of the Connecticut lodges do not keep their websites updated. The GL gives each lodge a website with their own domain name (for example, Friendship Lodge in Southington has www.friendship33.org), and each lodge site is hosted on the GL server, complete with templates and just about everything that they need. Yet most lodges barely mention the officers, let alone post contact information or - unbelievably - update their event calendars.
I know that a few of the lodges in my district will have some things going on over the summer - several are already planning degree work to accommodate the influx of candidates, and there are usually picnics and other get-togethers. But it will be nice to be able to go home after a day at work and just relax on the deck with a cool drink and some munchies, and recharge my batteries before the busy season starts again in the autumn.
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11 Comments:
That was my initial reaction to the summer break, too. "C'mon, hardly anyone actually needs to harvest their crops anymore!"
Having observed just how many things a person can commit themselves to, however, I agree that it's a much needed cooling-down period.
From what I've seen in Massachusetts, there's no rest for District GL officers... from the sound of it Connecticut is much the same. Do you get any kind of a fuel stipend? Ouch!
Another fine post, Bro Tom. While part of me always laments the lodges going dark in July and August -- I really do miss the fellowship -- Freemasons' Hall here in Edmonton is not air conditioned. It's probably just as well we shut down.
Keep up the fine work with your blog. Your work here flies in the face of all that negative "coventional wisdom" about eMasonry.
Bro Randy Williams
I have to thank the brothers of Friendship 33 for inspiring me to fix up my lodges website www.stjohnslodge6.org, which has paid off in turn.
You guys are my Masonic heros;)
MMM
AC - I've been out at least once a week to other lodges, not including Friendship, where I'm still pretty active. And while I enjoy being with the bros and all, sometimes I really just need time to chill with the family - or do my household chores. My garage looks like a war zone because I never have time to clean it.
3M - Our pleasure, dude. That's 'cos we're just made of awesome up here.
RW - Thanks for stopping by. Yes, I keep hearing that Masonry on teh internetz is just going to lead to trouble-ation, but I've met more nice people and have had some of the best conversations about the craft - all with people whom I never would have met otherwise.
Tom, I don't know how must rest there is for some of us in the summer. For example, in July, one of my Lodges begins its financial year (it's always been done that way). That means, as acting Secretary, I've got to send dues invoices and bug people for payment (you'd think they'd get their fees in right away so as to continue to have power to rule the world). In August, I've got notices for September to get together and one installation to organise. And most of the Lodges have something going on socially at least once during the summer.
The incoming Master of one of my Lodges wants to have planning meetings. So, there are a couple more nights taken up.
And that doesn't include any on-line Masonic stuff.
One of my lodges is a moon lodge so we meet once a month during the summer after the full moon. But yes, I enjoy the summer rest as I am very active during the other months.
Tom keep up the good work during the summer there is no rest in cyberspace.
Justa - Maybe you don't need air conditioning up in the Great White North, so you can have more activities going on?
Paul - we all know that stuff still goes on. I've got committee meetings, the building corporation gets together, and I'm sure I'll have time to throw together a couple of posts.
Tom,
My Lodge attempted a third degree in the summer and as you can imagine, hilarity in sued. First, no air conditioning in a Minnesota august will cause most here to be irritable but ad to this the frequent brown outs that kept turning out the lights and fans. Suffice it to say, Corinthian #67 will not be having 3rd degrees in the summer anymore. (At least until A/C is installed in the 100 year old building, not likely.) My favorite part was when the lights were out, we would be in mid-line walking around the Lodge. All manner of "Three Stooges" jokes were happening including tripping and falling and "nyuk, nyuk." Even with all that, we had fun and I could tell that the brother really appreciated our hard work.
Frankly, I am more busy running a committee on membership to help get some social and, dare I say, recruiting programs in order.
Nick J.
Hey! Really nice blog! I also have one, www.trierer.blogg.se. =) It’s in English, but I actually live in Sweden. How about U?
Have a nice day =)
Leo
Tom, I got a note reminding me that one of the Lodges here is celebrating its 100th Anniversary on Friday. As the WM and several of their PMs are in Secret Monitor and AMD with me, I should go.
Then I was reminded in one of the monthly bulletins the GM is being made a Prophet-At-Sight at the NW Grotto Assn. Convention in a couple of weeks. I'm not in Grotto anymore but I'd like to go. It seems they have a pub night as well.
Incidentally, as I type this, I have checked the temp. in Southington. It is warmer here than it is there. But all you guys live in igloos there, right?
Justa Mason
Justa - It's because of the global warming from the HAARP project affecting the atmospheric conditions.
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