Last night, I visited the summer communication/table lodge of Minnesota River Valley Lodge No. 6. It was held at Richter Woods, a county park near Montgomery, MN. It was a lovely night, and great fellowship.About five or six years ago, I visited MRV#6 and overheard a conversation among some brothers that went someting like this: "We should really get a fire engine! Wouldn't that be cool?!? We could put it in parades and get some real excitement generated for Masonry!"
Well, to be honest, I thought it was just another crazy pipe dream from some really cool brothers. I was wrong. The fire engine showed up at the table lodge last night, having participated in its first parade in Shakopee. Excitement and conversation it certainly produced! What a wonderful, crazy idea! (And, for the record, the brothers at MRV#6 are more than happy to make the firetruck available for other lodges in their parades. Just contact the secretary and he'll point you in the right direction.)
The table lodge took some time, as they conducted their regular meeting during it, including on balloting for one brother to affiliate and another candidate for degrees. I had time during the breaks and while we ate to talk with many of the brothers there.
Have you ever been in a room where the energy just crackles? Where one persons excitement and ideas generate more excitement and ideas from the others in the room? That was what I experienced last night. I wish I knew the formula to get that kind of atmosphere in every lodge in the state, because if it were universal, we wouldn't be talking about declining membership and a stagnant fraternity.
Thanks, MRV#6, for another great evening. Congratulations, and keep up the good work!
