ANATOMY OF A TYPICAL LODGE MEETING
We
are indeed a secret society, in fact one of the last of them. But sorry
to bust anyone's bubble, but there will be no secrets revealed here. We can,
however, describe to you what a typical lodge meeting goes like
in general
terms. This seems to come up a lot when people ask, well, "So just what
do you do in lodge?" We think this deserves answering.
To start, our meetings formally begin at 7:30 sharp every Tuesday night. But from about 6:30 to 7:00, depending on one's work schedule, some of us will start pouring in about then and gather, have coffee, talk current events, maybe talk about what things will come up during the meeting. This is also a time for any visitors or the curious to drop in and commiserate as well, though they must courteously excuse themselves at 7:30.
Of those who stay involved in Odd Fellowship, the hook is one that goes in deep. The regulars are almost always there every Tuesday. Members unable to attend on a particular night are expected to have contacted another brother in advance or to have called the lodge before the meeting starts to explain their absence, which will be mentioned early in the meeting just so we all know if the brother is in distress or not. If he is then we will arrange to assist him if need be, as is our duty.
So 7:30 rolls around. The doors are literally locked, the officers of the lodge and members take their places in their usual chairs. Our unique ritual for opening the lodge, which is the same for each lodge, is begun. From there on out most of the meeting is much like any other meeting of any other organization, that is, modeled on Robert's Rules of Order which is the standard used for just about all formal meetings these days. Roll is taken, absentees noted. Various committees are bid to report on their progresses, pertinent communications (mail) are read aloud, old and then new business is handled. Motions are made and seconded, there is orderly discussion about whatever matters may come up with brothers speaking their minds as such and in turn. Votes are taken. It sounds kind of boring but trust me it's not. We manage to interject quite a bit of fun into things. Plus the progress we make on different projects can be fun to see in itself. And there is, for me, that feeling always in the back of my head that we are behind closed doors, not just anyone would be admitted in here. You have to be an Odd Fellow to sit in this meeting.
BUT ON NIGHTS WHEN THERE IS DEGREE WORK TO BE DONE...
Things are run a little differently. Degree work means we are going to either initiate a new member that night or elevate the status of one who has already joined. Again, all degree ceremonies are conducted in the same way for all Odd Fellows regardless of what lodge they belong to. Some of the work requires many people, more than we even have available in some cases. We're all friends so it's good to see each other of course, and they traveled a long way for this so there's almost always some dinner laid out. If it's an initiation night, we're all filled with joy at the admission of a new member, the same way any father would feel to see his family grow more numerous and stronger.
As for the candidate, some nervousness is usually exhibited but that is only natural. He has undergone an interview and had to have his application and then his membership itself voted on over the last three weeks. He is in a room of men whom he does not know mostly. He is facing the unknown ahead of him in a ceremony. But this is at last the big night. Needless to say, we do what we can to put him at ease, ask him about himself, etc. Usually he is someone known to a lodge member already. The meeting starts on time with the candidate being escorted to the lodge's anteroom to await his being called into the room. There is a couch there for him to sit on. On these nights we open in ritual fashion but usually forego normal business in favor of the degree work ahead. If we didn't we'd be there all night it seems.
These men are candidates awaiting initiation at Smithville's Lodge. Very soon they will be led into the lodge room.
After the degree work, the candidate is congratulated on his new rank or membership itself. There was nothing for him to be nervous about but none the less a sigh of relief is breathed. The meeting, with the candidate having earned the right to be called an Odd Fellow, is now present in the lodge room during the closing proceedings. This can be a little confusing for him as far as what is going on, when to stand or sit, etc., but in a week or two this will all be second nature to him. We clean up as usual, divide up any remaining food (giving unclaimed portions directly to the poor before they even get cold!) and head home. Until next Tuesday.
The same guys just after their initiation and wearing
their new regalia to signify their standing in the lodge. Looks like
they all came through pretty well. The fellow in the blue shirt
is The Texas Grand Secretary who drove in to help with the
initiation.
To start, our meetings formally begin at 7:30 sharp every Tuesday night. But from about 6:30 to 7:00, depending on one's work schedule, some of us will start pouring in about then and gather, have coffee, talk current events, maybe talk about what things will come up during the meeting. This is also a time for any visitors or the curious to drop in and commiserate as well, though they must courteously excuse themselves at 7:30.
Of those who stay involved in Odd Fellowship, the hook is one that goes in deep. The regulars are almost always there every Tuesday. Members unable to attend on a particular night are expected to have contacted another brother in advance or to have called the lodge before the meeting starts to explain their absence, which will be mentioned early in the meeting just so we all know if the brother is in distress or not. If he is then we will arrange to assist him if need be, as is our duty.
So 7:30 rolls around. The doors are literally locked, the officers of the lodge and members take their places in their usual chairs. Our unique ritual for opening the lodge, which is the same for each lodge, is begun. From there on out most of the meeting is much like any other meeting of any other organization, that is, modeled on Robert's Rules of Order which is the standard used for just about all formal meetings these days. Roll is taken, absentees noted. Various committees are bid to report on their progresses, pertinent communications (mail) are read aloud, old and then new business is handled. Motions are made and seconded, there is orderly discussion about whatever matters may come up with brothers speaking their minds as such and in turn. Votes are taken. It sounds kind of boring but trust me it's not. We manage to interject quite a bit of fun into things. Plus the progress we make on different projects can be fun to see in itself. And there is, for me, that feeling always in the back of my head that we are behind closed doors, not just anyone would be admitted in here. You have to be an Odd Fellow to sit in this meeting.
BUT ON NIGHTS WHEN THERE IS DEGREE WORK TO BE DONE...
Things are run a little differently. Degree work means we are going to either initiate a new member that night or elevate the status of one who has already joined. Again, all degree ceremonies are conducted in the same way for all Odd Fellows regardless of what lodge they belong to. Some of the work requires many people, more than we even have available in some cases. We're all friends so it's good to see each other of course, and they traveled a long way for this so there's almost always some dinner laid out. If it's an initiation night, we're all filled with joy at the admission of a new member, the same way any father would feel to see his family grow more numerous and stronger.
As for the candidate, some nervousness is usually exhibited but that is only natural. He has undergone an interview and had to have his application and then his membership itself voted on over the last three weeks. He is in a room of men whom he does not know mostly. He is facing the unknown ahead of him in a ceremony. But this is at last the big night. Needless to say, we do what we can to put him at ease, ask him about himself, etc. Usually he is someone known to a lodge member already. The meeting starts on time with the candidate being escorted to the lodge's anteroom to await his being called into the room. There is a couch there for him to sit on. On these nights we open in ritual fashion but usually forego normal business in favor of the degree work ahead. If we didn't we'd be there all night it seems.
These men are candidates awaiting initiation at Smithville's Lodge. Very soon they will be led into the lodge room.
After the degree work, the candidate is congratulated on his new rank or membership itself. There was nothing for him to be nervous about but none the less a sigh of relief is breathed. The meeting, with the candidate having earned the right to be called an Odd Fellow, is now present in the lodge room during the closing proceedings. This can be a little confusing for him as far as what is going on, when to stand or sit, etc., but in a week or two this will all be second nature to him. We clean up as usual, divide up any remaining food (giving unclaimed portions directly to the poor before they even get cold!) and head home. Until next Tuesday.
The same guys just after their initiation and wearing
their new regalia to signify their standing in the lodge. Looks like
they all came through pretty well. The fellow in the blue shirt
is The Texas Grand Secretary who drove in to help with the
initiation.