Now that we are free to resume our travel to the United States, a few of us made the journey to Detroit to attend the 2022 Masonic Restoration Foundation annual symposium. Hosted by Zion Lodge No. 1, F. & A.M. of Michigan, the event was an excellent opportunity for Masons to share their successes and challenges related to improving the Craft Lodge experience in North America.
Using Observing the Craft as a model for observant Masonry, our own Labours at Brant Lodge have been focused on quality improvement for the past ten years. Meeting W. Bro. Andrew Hammer and several Past Grand Masters from around the United States gave our Brant Lodge brothers an opportunity to share our story and compare that to the experiences of other lodges in 12 states.
Themes of improving the meditative quality and solemnity of meetings, performing ritual with accuracy and attention to detail, guarding the West gate and ensuring members share a common vision are all relevant to Brant Lodge No. 663. It is encouraging that we have already done much of the difficult change by reintroducing the Chamber of Reflection in our initiation ceremony, and have raised the quality of our ritual work by committing officers to train the officer below them in the officer line.
We have had a great deal of success with festive boards, table lodge ritual and the camaraderie of the social hour after our meetings, and so it was with great pleasure that we saw a preview of the documentary “The Masonic Table”. The documentary is a wonderful treatment of “The Harmony”, or the meal after a Masonic meeting, and provided our delegates with ideas to bring back home to our lodges in Ontario.
We also enjoyed some social time, and some fabulous BBQ at “Slow’s” and some of the best tacos we have ever had at Bakersfield.
So many like-minded participants, all of whom want to move “from good to great” in their lodge experience. Many thanks to Andrew Hammer, the president of the MRF and the delegates, presenters and our hosts, Zion Lodge No. 1 F & AM for a memorable event!
