http://masonicminute.com/blog/2007/10/21/poll-plus/ Masonic Thinking and Working Tue, 14 Oct 2008 07:33:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=wordpress-mu-1.2.1 http://masonicminute.com/blog/2007/10/21/poll-plus/#comment-2892 Chaswell Fri, 26 Oct 2007 18:08:17 +0000 http://masonicminute.com/blog/2007/10/21/poll-plus/#comment-2892 I was VERY surprised on the night I was initiated and brothers were giving me side advice about conduct and learning my proficiency and so on. One said, regarding booze, "leave it outside the lodge and do not come drunk." After reading about how European lodges often sit about having a drink and enjoying each others company AFTER work is complete and the lodge has been closed, I was astonished to find that US lodges do not have the same fellowship. Obviously excess and drunkenness should be considered offensive, but a drink, a cigar and fellowship among brothers sure sounds appealing. Side note, I'm being raised tomorrow in an outdoor degree. I was VERY surprised on the night I was initiated and brothers were giving me side advice about conduct and learning my proficiency and so on. One said, regarding booze, “leave it outside the lodge and do not come drunk.” After reading about how European lodges often sit about having a drink and enjoying each others company AFTER work is complete and the lodge has been closed, I was astonished to find that US lodges do not have the same fellowship. Obviously excess and drunkenness should be considered offensive, but a drink, a cigar and fellowship among brothers sure sounds appealing. Side note, I’m being raised tomorrow in an outdoor degree.

]]> http://masonicminute.com/blog/2007/10/21/poll-plus/#comment-2799 AEdifico Mon, 22 Oct 2007 23:42:42 +0000 http://masonicminute.com/blog/2007/10/21/poll-plus/#comment-2799 Mr. Ed. The membership is never ready for anything until the leadership talk about it and let them know that things will be ok. Most of the rest of the US Grand Lodges have no restrictions on alcohol, and the two years ago Arizona made its first significant move toward adulthood in years by allowing wine at Table Lodges. I am not an advocate of drunken brawls or bawdry displays of decadence (unless they occur in a parking lot outside of Sun Devil Stadium with lots of beer and scantily-clad co-eds). I do not promote lots and lots of drinking at Lodges. I simply think we should be allowed to trust our bothers to act like adults...that's all. Besides, a cigar and a little nip of good Scotch after a hard day might give some of our less-active members an excuse to come visit! Mr. Ed.
The membership is never ready for anything until the leadership talk about it and let them know that things will be ok.
Most of the rest of the US Grand Lodges have no restrictions on alcohol, and the two years ago Arizona made its first significant move toward adulthood in years by allowing wine at Table Lodges.
I am not an advocate of drunken brawls or bawdry displays of decadence (unless they occur in a parking lot outside of Sun Devil Stadium with lots of beer and scantily-clad co-eds). I do not promote lots and lots of drinking at Lodges.
I simply think we should be allowed to trust our bothers to act like adults…that’s all.
Besides, a cigar and a little nip of good Scotch after a hard day might give some of our less-active members an excuse to come visit!

]]> http://masonicminute.com/blog/2007/10/21/poll-plus/#comment-2785 Mr. Ed Mon, 22 Oct 2007 14:14:04 +0000 http://masonicminute.com/blog/2007/10/21/poll-plus/#comment-2785 The membership isn't ready for this, yet. The membership isn’t ready for this, yet.

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