Hi, i am a mason that loves to travel, i have attended lodge in 10 different jurisdictions in three different continents. I have started a list of the most interested lodges in the world, but i would really need some help from you my brothers, for example, there are some lodges in Louisiana that they perform their stated communications and degrees outdoors, in Texas there are some that uses rifles instead of swords, etc. Does anyone else knows any other interesting lodges around your area thats has any particular customs? I would love to eventually visit all these lodges and write a top 100 or top 50 most interesting lodges in the world. Please, I need your help! this could be really fun.

I have visited lodges in 12 states, Washington DC, and four foreign countries. Phoenix lodge #17, meets in Moscow, Russia.  They use the French (Grand National Lodge of France) ritual, in the Russian language. They meet in a hotel meeting room. It was fascinating to meet with men, who risked death/imprisonment, to keep Masonry alive in the Soviet Union, during the Communist times.

There are lodges in Saudi Arabia, who meet in private residences. These lodges are totally illegal, the Saudi government forbids clubs and organizations of this type. The Saudis generally turn a blind eye to what goes on in the American housing area, as long as the people are discreet.

I attended a German-speaking lodge in Paris (20 years ago), and some of the men there had been imprisoned by the Nazis, during the time when Paris was occupied by the Nazis.

My home lodge in Bowling Green KY, does an outdoor Master Mason degree every year or two. There is a lodge in Kentucky, that does a Master Mason degree, deep in Mammoth Cave, about a mile below ground, in a natural rock formation.

There is a lodge in Wyoming, that loads an entire degree team, up on pack mules, and then takes the caravan up to a mountain top, in the Grand Tetons. They do the Master Mason degree at sundown, then camp on the mountain, and ride the mules back down in the morning.

There is a lodge in Virginia, that does all of their degree work, in Revolutionary War uniforms, knee britches, and three-cornered hats.

Wow brother Martin thats impressive, your experiences pumps me up to keep traveling and seeing more lodges. Do you know the name of the lodge in Kentucky that does their MM degree in the cave? I would like to come visit it sometime, what about the name of the lodges of the other states that you mentioned? Thanks so much for your quick response. Anyone else has something interesting to share?

My home lodge is Bowling Green lodge #73, Bowling Green KY. They do an outdoor degree almost every year. The degree team dresses in bib overalls, and they use 19th century kerosene lamps.

The Mammoth Cave group is in Brownsville KY. I do not know their lodge number. You can check with the Grand Lodge of Kentucky.

I read about the Wyoming lodge in the Scottish Rite journal (Southern Jurisdiction). You can check with the Grand Lodge of Wyoming, for specifics.

There was lodge in New Mexico, that did masonic work in Carlsbad Cavers, New Mexico. I heard of a lodge in Oregon, that does some degree work in a cave. I do not have specifics.

There is a group of Motorcycle-Masons, which does outdoor degree work. They set up in a field, and decorate the area with working tools, made of pistons, drive chains, and other motorcycle parts.

Once we get permission to hold masonic work in Iraq, we will be holding degree work, out in the desert at night. It will be great to get masonry back in the land where civilization began.

Wow thats amazing, Do you have any idea when would your lodge do that outdoors degree? i would really like to come visit it. The information you gave me is amazing, i am actually writing the Grand Secretaries of these Grand Lodges to find out. Thanks Brother.

Brethren

This is an interesting topic.

But since this Forum is designed for prospective applicants, I would like to point out (and remind the Brethren) that a Masonic Lodge is “a certain number of Masons” not a building or a place. Over the years, Masons have opened Lodges in taverns, on hills, on ships, and in some of the most gilded halls known to man.  But perhaps the most memorable, at least to me, have been those very private openings, performed in small anterooms in funeral homes, just prior to performing a Masonic funeral service for a departed Brother.

Masonry is, above everything else, about brotherhood. When you travel as a Mason, the heartfelt greeting you will get from a Brother you never knew you had, in a country far away, will be what impresses you the most.

Bob Heruska
Boston, MA