I've been asked to join the Freemasons

[WRumbled]

Fer said:

Congrats to you both. I had active rank this year in Craft, but sadly only had half of it before the lock down hit.

I agree that there will be a drop in numbers, and that those who were wavering will have had the situation clarified.

Thank-you. Im a Provincial Steward in the Craft (Technically Past, but it's an active rank for 6 years in Durham - they operate as a working lodge supporting the Province), and have been offered Provincial Steward in the Mark. I think that's only a year but you remain a member of the Steward's lodge until you choose to leave. I'll know more after Wednesday's Zoom meeting.

[The Moose]

Fer said:

I agree that there will be a drop in numbers, and that those who were wavering will have had the situation clarified.

At my center, there’s been one death that has been attributed to Covid-19 and my lodge has had one death from cancer however I’d heard he was unable to get vital treatment due to the state of affairs.

[Davie_GLA]

The Moose said:

At my center, there’s been one death that has been attributed to Covid-19 and my lodge has had one death from cancer however I’d heard he was unable to get vital treatment due to the state of affairs.

This is tragic. Horrible state of affairs.

[easytiger123]

rednotdead said:

WRumbled said:

Nothing in Durham. Speculatively, we're thinking January (my lodge, that is, and a number of others I've personally spoken with).

That's my feel too, January that is. Even if they relax some of the distancing rules I can't see how we can deliver any ceremonies in a meaningful and dignified manner. Also, given the age profile, I can't see members willingly put themselves at risk. Festive Boards could be interesting too - shouting at each other across tables set very far apart

We've had a couple of Zoom get togethers since lockdown started and at the first one we were told "not before January". At the most recent Zoom last week the general consensus had changed to "April at the earliest". It's a London lodge so may be different in the provinces but with a small (PSLC lodge, so self-limiting in terms of membership) and increasingly ageing group, I do naturally worry for the future of the smaller lodges.

[The Mad Monk]

easytiger123 said:

We've had a couple of Zoom get togethers since lockdown started and at the first one we were told "not before January". At the most recent Zoom last week the general consensus had changed to "April at the earliest". It's a London lodge so may be different in the provinces but with a small (PSLC lodge, so self-limiting in terms of membership) and increasingly ageing group, I do naturally worry for the future of the smaller lodges.

PSLC?

Public School Lodge Council?

[easytiger123]

The Mad Monk said:

PSLC?

Public School Lodge Council?

Yes. They're all basically limited in their potential membership, and because they must meet in London and very many members of the various lodges are not London based, it was difficult enough to drum up more than a dozen or so brethren for any meeting pre-Covid. Some PSLC lodges are more successful than others though.

I'm a fairly recent initiate and I was really enjoying it so it's such a shame that we'll have possibly a year between proper lodge meetings.

[The Mad Monk]

I went a few times as the guest of a member of an Old Boys' Lodge. Met in Great Queen Street and then walked round the corner to the Actors Club (or something like that?) in Bedford Street. Very pleasant.

[rednotdead]

easytiger123 said:

We've had a couple of Zoom get togethers since lockdown started

We've been getting together every 2 weeks via zoom for some discussion/lectures and general talk bks while getting drunk. Our 'initiates in waiting' have joined us too which has meant they're already starting to feel part of it all and getting to know us. Out of a lodge of 28 we've had 2/3rds on average sign in. It's been great, and nice way to break the week and talk to someone different outside of the household/work.

[ThumperMc]

Time to wake the thread up.

Are we all looking forward to our Christmas festive boards via Zoom...

Ours is Monday.

Also... now we’re much further through the year, what have you all done about who’s in the chair/may be going into the chair? Are you having the incumbent do a double stint?

Edited by ThumperMc on Monday 14th December 20:43

[toastybase]

We’ve brought the chair out of its blocks as it were.

[The Mad Monk]

In one of my lodges the WM is going round for a third year! In the other one we snuck a quick installation meeting with limited numbers in March.

[Fer]

Are we all looking forward to resumption of play?

[WRumbled]

Fer said:

Are we all looking forward to resumption of play?

The answer is both yes and no.

I've not been away from it, really, as I'm still involved in some of the stuff for the Province ,and have tried to keep things active with my various lodges with Zoom and what have you, but I've quite enjoyed the extra free time I've had.

amongst other things I'm also DC of my Mother Lodge and have enjoyed the break from the little blue book, but do need to start looking at that again for the Third. We've at least 8 to do - all of which I'm pushing out to next year at the soonest.

[silverfoxcc]

Cannot wait. Changed Lodges just before Lockdown.

Going to the new one will be rekindling my enthusiasm

[rednotdead]

Fer said:

Are we all looking forward to resumption of play?

We had installation planned for the 26th - looks like that is scuppered now. We could do it under rule of 6 (what the centre are sticking to) but the consensus is 'whats the point'. So do we now reschedule for July or push it off to September?

[The Mad Monk]

rednotdead said:

We had installation planned for the 26th - looks like that is scuppered now. We could do it under rule of 6 (what the centre are sticking to) but the consensus is 'whats the point'. So do we now reschedule for July or push it off to September?

Unless you need to get a new person in the chair for a particular reason, you might as well wait.

[Davie_GLA]

I am. It’s strange as I think I overdid it before lockdown and was a bit burned out but have kept involved as Past Master for management meetings etc.

We are very fortunate and used the lockdown to completely refurbish the place, of course within the guidelines but to pay for that we need to get the social side of things back up and running to turnover some revenue.

Dare I say I actually fancy going back in the chair but there are a few coming through before that who will naturally progress.

[silverfoxcc]

Had the first meeting last night. A lovely warm welcome to the Lodge from the members.

now here is something that stopped me in my tracks

I have changed Provinces and in my old Province gained active PADC,and PGsuptWks. and now am a PPGReg.

Had a GO stop and ask me why i haven't changed my old Province PPGReg badge to the new Province!

I said that i have not been awarded any honours...yet,.... so i still wear my current rank

I am sure that our old Sec still wore his London Rank until he got promotion.

The other question that the Sec is checking on is Should i get offered new Honours would i go the the bottom of the queue or get either a PPJW or PPSW the next step up from PPGreg

32 yrs in the craft and i am possibly about to learn something new! or was the GO pulling my leg lol.

[pmanson]

My first LOI last night in over a year.

Getting ready for my raise to MM in October.

Nice to be back

[WRumbled]

silverfoxcc said:

Had the first meeting last night. A lovely warm welcome to the Lodge from the members.

now here is something that stopped me in my tracks

I have changed Provinces and in my old Province gained active PADC,and PGsuptWks. and now am a PPGReg.

Had a GO stop and ask me why i haven't changed my old Province PPGReg badge to the new Province!

I said that i have not been awarded any honours...yet,.... so i still wear my current rank

I am sure that our old Sec still wore his London Rank until he got promotion.

The other question that the Sec is checking on is Should i get offered new Honours would i go the the bottom of the queue or get either a PPJW or PPSW the next step up from PPGreg

32 yrs in the craft and i am possibly about to learn something new! or was the GO pulling my leg lol.

Two meetings in for me already and a third at my Mother Lodge this coming Thursday. Just about finished all of my prep (DC).

I know of at least two members that have Honours in different Provinces, Durham and Northumberland, and they are not the same rank in each (Velcro Badge). I don't think Provincial Honours are transferred. No idea how they would work out what you would be eligible for, but I'd assume you have to earn them, same as you did originally.