Spring has officially sprung.
As the days grow warmer and longer, consider stoking your Masonic spirit and plan a lodge event to bring your Brothers together. Spring is the season of renewal and vitality, making it an ideal time to reaffirm your commitment to the 32° Freemasonry mission of caring for one another and striving to be better men. This can be accomplished by tending to the natural world, being mindful of the history of Freemasonry and intentionally learning more about your fellow brethren.
To help you plan a gathering, here are 5 ideas for activities you can do as a lodge to reconnect older members and introduce new members to their Brothers.
1. Host a barbecue
Few things bring people together like a delicious home cooked meal. If you’re looking to instigate some bonding with your Brothers, what better way than to invite your lodge over to enjoy some burgers, hot dogs, ribs and other BBQ favorites? Grill everything to perfection with our grillmaster set, and serve glasses of wine or other cocktails in our stemless glasses. Don’t forget that 100% of the proceeds from each purchase in the Masonic Marketplace goes to our four charities, so you can be prepared for your cookout and know you’re contributing to a good cause while you’re doing it!
2. Initiate a hike or nature walk
Work life and our busy routines can sometimes prevent us from embracing the beauty of the world around us. This spring, take some time to unplug, immerse yourself in the great outdoors and give yourself a moment to be thankful for the beauty of nature and the people around you. Hiking into the woods together or simply going for a stroll around the neighborhood will do the trick.
3. Plan a trip to a famous Masonic building
The world has a lot of awe-inspiring sites to see and, as we detailed in a previous blog, there are a host of beautiful Masonic buildings spread across the globe. Taking a journey with members of your lodge to visit one of these famous Masonic sites will not only strengthen your bond with one another, but will also heighten your appreciation for Freemasonry and the fraternity’s history. If a spring break trip abroad seems to daunting this year, consider a trip to the East Coast to visit the Masonic Temple of Philadelphia pictured here. Nearly 150 years old, this beautiful Masonic landmark is sure to inspire a deepened connection to the craft.
4. Lead a clean up of your lodge or a local park
Spring cleaning anyone? Your lodge takes care of you and your Brothers, and so you should make an effort to take care of your lodge. It doesn’t matter how it got there, grab some trash bags, a few pairs of work gloves and a group of your Brothers to collect the trash and debris scattered around the grounds. Promoting the health of the area is the perfect way to start the season.
If your lodge is already in good shape, bring the cleanup crew over to a public area and clean up any litter that has built up. Once you’ve finished and witnessed the fruits of your labor, you will all be brought closer together from the inevitable strong sense of accomplishment.
5. Catch a ballgame as a group
In the U.S., nothing quite marks the start of spring like the opening of baseball season. Whether it’s your lodge’s favorite major league team or simply a local high school game, grab a few of your Brothers and take them out to a ballgame. Enjoy a few laughs, share some of your favorite ballpark treats and relish the experience of being outside and the friendly competition.
Regardless of what you and your lodge end up planing, be sure to have fun, be safe and show respect to yourself, your fellow Brothers, and the communities you reside in.
If you and your lodge have activities planned, be sure to share the fun over social media and tag the SRNMJ. (Facebook & Twitter: @scottishritenmj)