Hello brethren,

does anybody every feel like on autopilot in the lodge?

I am a MM since almost an year, already started the “walk” through officer roles (just got invested as JD after a few months as IG).

Sometimes I feel like I am going on autopilot through Freemasonry.

Apart from regular meetings, we do not do much in my lodge. No lectures, just open/close and from time to time an initiation or some brother coming up the degrees.

Am I the only one?

I would like to learn more, explore history and mysticism of the Brotherhood, but I don’t see any opportunity in my current lodge.

Perhaps joining some Masonic Body might help?

For the record, I am in a regular lodge in continental Europe.

  • agamemnonymous@sh.itjust.works
    2·
    3 years ago

    As an American I can’t speak to the European environment, but I would imagine you have two main options:

    1. Spearhead research in your lodge. Find a topic that interests you, learn about it, and speak on it for the education of your lodge. Try to find brothers with similar interests and build some momentum. Collaborate with other lodges in your district. It’s an organization yes, but the organization is ultimately made out of brothers.

    2. Find an appendant body. I’m not sure what options you have, I know here at home we have York Rite, Scottish Rite, Shrine, and several other options.

  • NewEnglandRedshirt@lemmy.world
    1·
    3 years ago

    Brother, while my American perspective may not be the same as your continental one, I can say that what you describe is unfortunately all to common. At least on this side of the Atlantic, there are many Lodges that show up monthly to do business and little more. Consider the foundational philosophies of Masonry described in the various degree lectures. If you are an officer, bring up what you would like to see. You now have an easy way to give input into the process! The next time your officers meet (I assume that there are officers meetings outside of the actual regular lodge meetings), bring up what you would like to see. Volunteer to give a lecture on something that interests you! Be the change you want to see in your lodge!

    • pariskalavros@lemmy.worldOP
      1·
      3 years ago

      Thank you for your reply.

      Yeah it could be that I study esotericism on my own already, so perhaps I was expecting more, and since I have become a MM I felt a bit like “is it all?”

      I mean, lovely rituals, but not as much as I was expecting…

      • NewEnglandRedshirt@lemmy.world
        1·
        3 years ago

        And I joined because I love history, and I wanted to be a part of the same group that boasted men like George Washington and Benjamin Franklin as members. But when I joined, I realized most members couldn’t have cared less. So I did my own research and started presenting at my lodge and at other local lodges. I’ve worn many hats over the years, and right now, other than being a PM, I’m the lodge’s historian–something that I take very seriously, especially since my lodge is about to celebrate its centennial.