Medic

Two Things, first, my festival is going to be a Sunday dinner, speeches, raffal followed by a comedian end home in bed by 10pm. Secondly, My day lodge is full of pass masters who don't want to eat late at night, nor want to drive in the dark. They have done it all, seen it all, but still want to keep up with their masonry. They have very strong views, and when this was brought those views were aired in no uncertain terms. Still the motion was passed in high favour and we did not lose a member. Times are a changing and we should also.

A lot of soul searching was done before we reach this decision, but we felt that as we have ladies serving our dinner at the festive board. They see and hear whats goes on, and as our wives, partners help us with our words its it only makes sense. Besides the average age of the lodge is 70+ the wives will know the rituals as good as us. Besides it has attracted new members.

I belong to a day lodge, (different from the one I was talking about) where we meet four times a year where the ladies do join us on each occasion for the festive board. With toasts and masonic fire. I need something new, out of the original. I am a somerset mason.

Next year I go into the chair for the third time. In this economical times the idea of putting on a ladies festival is not on in my option. Besides I find them boring following the same pattern with naff food, naff presents, and the same 60s DJ disco. I would like to do something small, not expensive, but still give the same thanks to the ladies. So I am up for suggestions. This is lodge I am new to, and I am helping the lodge out of a situation by going into the chair. I feel that as I am not too well known, support for me to put on such a party is not going to be great. I really welcome ideas Ben

WE are doing a first next month to a chap who is a tattoo artist.

Thank you Mike, yes he is a member of a UGLE Lodge. I was told at the FB any questions put to him in his Craft lodge was answered by a deacon.

This evening in lodge was a total farce, he did not say anything, the senior deacon said it for him. the obligation was just quoted to him. I had difficulty in getting him to follow what I was asking him to do, therefore I just continued to the end without him he just stood there. I feel that if I say something I will get myself in trouble, so it is best to let things go.

Tonight we are advancing a young man, who I am told for some medical reason fell into a coma. For how long I don't know as I did not attend commttee meeting to discuss this person joining my Mark Lodge. However having come out of his coma I am told he is brain damaged. His father managed to get him into his craft lodge and from what I understand it was very difficult putting him through the three ceremonies. Tonight I am relating the secrets to him, and I feel uncomfortable, as I feel he should not be a member. However other people who have met him at interview think different. His dad is not a member of my lodge, but will be JD for the evening to support his son, so both Deacons will be taking him through the ceremony.

I am going into the chair again for the third time. This time I want it to be special in that I have to put on three social evenings. I want to get away from the usual dinner and a raffle event, Big band nights had them coming out of our ears. What event have you had which you enjoyed and was a success. Many Thanks Medic

A paper came around regarding giving toasts along with fire when nonmasons are present. My lodge does allow ladies to join us at our festive board. The paper stated that it was up to each lodge to decide how they want to deal with this. when you consider that we have ladies serving us at the festive board, they get to hear and see all, so why not our wives, partners etc. My lodge has rejected the idea.

I attended a meeting the other night put on by the provincial team describing a plan on how to attract new members, and to retain them. It seems that in my province, we are losing just on 100 members a year. Mostly for genuine reason very few for disenchantment. What was in the plan, is not new as many ideas were being implemented by many lodges, it was only the few lodges that stated they have not had not a new member for years. Is this Pathway Nation wide have other heard of it?

How did you become a mason so young?

While on holiday this year, I met a gentleman who recognised my signage ring. Over lunch and in the bar of the hotel for two weeks he asked about Freemasonry and from the tone of his questions, he had done some research. He was keen to join but did not know how to and I said I would help him. As he lived in the Northampton area I managed to get a member of the Provincial team to contact him. Which they did and as it turned out the lodge he is joining the treasuer went to school with him. He is being initiated in November and I will be attending, and I am doing the charge after initiation by kind permission of the lodge. All this through wearing a signage ring.

I practice in the car, but the best place is in bed, as it helps me to sleep!

I welcome the new forum, and I have turned over a new leaf.