Hello Everyone,
I was just wondering (without giving anything away that is considered private) what goes on at the monthly meetings other than raising new members through the degrees?  I mean is there talk of lodge business, recruitment of new officers, etc. ?  Thanks for your time.

yes they do talk about the Lodge business, reading of minutes, letters from members, correspondences from other lodges and the Grand Lodge, finances, ballot on new members or those that wish to join the lodge, in memoriams for departed members, talk on charity work, talk on upcoming degrees, talk on upcoming events and dinners, visits to members or other Lodges, talk on the officers line, visitations from the District Deputy Grand Master, rehearsals, some business alone could take an hour or so to go through.

Thank you very much for your help and your reply.

An example meeting for us in Idaho.

Opening/tiling of lodge.
reading of the last meetings minutes.
voting to accept them as is.
reading bills. and voting on paying them. [have yet to see a bill get declined]
Covering old business.
-the liberty bell is being moved from the land next to the lodge to the federal building for better visibility.
-member input on this topic and where we stand with what organization on hows paying for the move. [city is]
Building committee
-any repairs needed
-what were the repairs covered since last meeting
New business
-topics brought up like its summer and we have a picnic upcoming or a garage sale in June before lodge goes dark for july aug.
-questions like any new member petitions? investigation committees.
closing remarks, last min business.
Closing the lodge

For us this takes about 2 hours.
This is the 1st Wed of the month.

usually 2nd/3rd wed of the month is for degree work for us.
-

Thank you so much for all of this information.  Sounds like a lot of different and unique things are covered at the meetings.  Thanks for the help.

JasonM, 
That was some very neat information about the Liberty Bell.

Eric G.

Jason, what’s the liberty bell doing in Pocatello?

Yeah…good point Dan!

Eric G.

There are basically, three (3) different types of meetings in Freemasonry:

1- Degree work. This is where an individual will take a degree. There are three degrees in Craft Masonry. A degree ceremony can be performed on one candidate, or with multiple candidates. Some states permit “one-day classes”, where all three degrees of Craft Masonry are perfomed in one day.

2- Regular stated meetings. These are where the rather mundane details of running a non-profit organization are conducted. As listed previously- The meeting is opened, you say the pledge of allegiance to the US Flag, you read the minutes of the previous meeting, you review old business, you discuss new business, you pay the water bill, electric bill, etc. If there is sick report, the names of the various sick brothers are read. If there are new candidates to be voted on, the ballot is conducted.

Stated meetings are generally restricted to Master Masons in good standing. Some lodges (example: military lodges) conduct business meetings on the EA degree, to enable maximum participation.

Some lodges will have a masonic, or non-masonic speaker, deliver a program. I visited a lodge which had two civil-war impersonators in 1865 uniforms, deliver a talk about the civil war. One lodge had a woman from the health department deliver a presentation about AIDS. The business portion of the meeting is concluded, prior to having a non-Mason deliver a presentation.

3- Special meetings. These may be where the new officers for the year are installed. Many special meetings are open to visitors, so that the families of the new officers may attend. A Masonic corner-stone laying ceremony is conducted outside, and visitors may observe the ceremony. Masonic funerals are open to the public.

Charles,
That is such a wealth of information.  What a good answer to the question.  Thanks for sharing.

Eric G.

Well its a copy not “THE!” Liberty bell. Back in the late 70’s certain towns/Lodges received bells.
While googling for something historically acurate i saw this Obit for a [American Legion Ruth Chapter of Eastern Star]
http://www.wilksfuneralhome.com/sitemaker/sites/WilksF1/obit.cgi?user=205770Brick

Schedule from a couple of years ago.
http://www.thejhub.com/home/ViewPost/1307

8:00AM - Line Up will start the Union Pacific parking lot.

10:00AM -The Mayor will give a speech at the Masonic Lodge lawn on the
corner of W. Wyeth and N. Arthur Avenue, about the 4th of July.
Rowan Smith of the Theater in a Barn Productions will read the
Declaration of Independence.
Following the reading the Mason’s will ring the Liberty Bell Replica
which will sound out the beginning of the parade.

The Parade Route will be UP Parking lot - W Wyeth St. - N Arthur Ave –
W Center St. – S 8th Ave – Davis Field ISU

Community Appreciation Bar-B-Que to follow at the Pocatello Elks
Lodge, 410 S. Main

Annual 4th of July Parade Sponsored by Pocatello Elks Lodge #674

-They Don’t mention that Amateur radio operators were used for communications coordination for the floats. :( Thats the first year i did it.

My lodge and bell photos.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/37314595@N05/