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BS: Passing of Fraternal Societies
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BS: Passing of Fraternal Societies |
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Subject: BS: Passing of Fraternal Socies From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 02 Apr 13 - 02:37 PM Listened to Mozart's "Magic Flute" last night. Mozart, a Freemason, included elements of freemasonry into the opera. Last week, the New Mexico press reported that the magnificant Scottish Rite Cathedral in Santa Fe might have to be sold because of declining Masonic membership. I remember when I was young, fraternal organizatios were important in my small city- Elks, Odd Fellows, City Club and the Masonic Lodge among others. Companionship, informal business interactions, and social events of all kinds were the stock in trade. . In my small city, the Elks Club, especially, was a social center for men of all faiths- a good bar, a poker room, table sports, and sitting rooms. The Masonic Lodge had pool and snooker tables in their rooms- as a DeMolay I was allowed the use of the pool and billiard tables when they weren't being used by the adults. The comfortable armchairs were a source of loose change to a poor teenager. Every small city has a "city club" which sponsored dances, picnics,and other social events. One hears little of these fraternal organizations today. Many are gone forever. AmI the only one to regret their passing? |
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Subject: RE: BS: Passing of Fraternal Socies From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 02 Apr 13 - 02:39 PM Societies! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Passing of Fraternal Societies From: Jack the Sailor Date: 02 Apr 13 - 02:54 PM IMHO Its the information age. People get together and play Halo and Texas Hold 'em on the internet. Also Like minded people are easy to find. One does not need a club. That is my theory. Good news. Fraternal societies like the Klan are also declining. I was in a Lions club for a while, before the Internet. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Passing of Fraternal Societies From: Greg F. Date: 02 Apr 13 - 05:19 PM Yeah, who needs real personal interaction now that we have anonymous, fake, cyber-fantasy interaction with a machine. Real live people are a pain in the ass anyway. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Passing of Fraternal Societies From: Jack the Sailor Date: 02 Apr 13 - 05:26 PM Meetings at the Lions Club sure were a pain in the arse. The bar time afterwards was good, but driving home was a danger. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Passing of Fraternal Societies From: Rob Naylor Date: 02 Apr 13 - 10:14 PM Happy to see the Masons in decline. When my former business was trying to break into local government contracts, the number of times I was asked if things were "on the square" or "on the level" or informed that "we were taught to be cautious" was astonishing, as were the number of strange handshakes I was given. It was suggested a few times that I join. Apart from having no time for the silly rituals being an unbeliever in any supreme being ought to have disqualified me, but I was informed "oh, that doesn't matter, it's just something we all have to say". Re other fraternal societies and the idea that we have "fake, cyber-fantasy interaction with a machine", I have to say that my need for being a member of formally constituted clubs has virtually disappeared due to the medium of the web. - My climbing social life is organised through FaceBook/ websites. I've just run a meet in Scotland for 24 climbers from all over the UK, all of whom first "met" each other virtually via web sites. At New Year I went to a party in the Midlands where 60 people, mostly having met through the same sites, got together. Wherever I go in the UK, Europe and some other parts of the world, I have ready-made climbing and walking partners and often somewhere to stay, all due to "fake cyber-fantasy interaction". - The same goes for my running and fitness...I've met dozens of people through websites for these activities. Last week I ran the Hastings Half Marathon and met around 10 people there who I originally know via on-line interaction. - Weight-loss, too: when I was trying to lose weight I signed up to a weight-loss web site and started going to "meets" organised through the forum on that site. I still go to 3-4 a year, from camping retreats in the Wye Valley to clubbing in Leeds or a beach barbecue near Brighton. - And music....I've met a couple of dozen people now in real life that I first encountered on Mudcat. I've had great fun at the Ditchling sessions with Will Fly and others, got into the Seven Stars singarounds with Girl Friday, Don(wysiwyg) and others, plus Bob Kenward and many other Kent and Sussex musicians who I'd never have known of the existence of without Mudcat. And had the fantastic pleasure of Sylvia Needham, who didn't know me from Adam, saving two front-row, "in yer face" tickets for me for an intimate appearance by Russ Barenberg in a pub seating 55 people only, 184 miles away from my home! So for me, "cyber interaction" has done nothing but hugely widen the circle of my real-life friends and acquaintances, and massively improved my actual, as well as my virtual, social life. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Passing of Fraternal Societies From: Jack the Sailor Date: 02 Apr 13 - 10:32 PM Yeah Rob, A lot of catters have experiences like that I met my wife of ten years here. Greg, you seem to be missing out. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Passing of Fraternal Societies From: Rapparee Date: 02 Apr 13 - 11:28 PM Geez, and I'm a trustee of the local Elks Lodge, belong to the Southeast Idaho Rangers, the local American Legion Post, the VFW, and several other such. Don't notice any more of a drop in membership than any of them experience as older members die off and younger ones wait the join. Even the IOOF is active. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Passing of Fraternal Societies From: Jack the Sailor Date: 02 Apr 13 - 11:58 PM Who would have thought that Elks would be active in Idaho? |
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Subject: RE: BS: Passing of Fraternal Societies From: EBarnacle Date: 03 Apr 13 - 12:19 AM Our local grange is still active in New Jersey, as are 4-H clubs sponsored by the agriculural extension division of Rutgers. There are quite a few of these groups around as long as you don't limit yourself to the all of one gender clubs. Woodie said it best in his jingle about "The Ladies' Auxiliary." |
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Subject: RE: BS: Passing of Fraternal Societies From: katlaughing Date: 03 Apr 13 - 10:25 AM my three sisters and i were all Job's Daughters. i loved 8it and i think they did, too, as they all became Honored Queens. our town stll has a Lodge and 1-3 Bethels, 4H, FFA, etc. i think it depends on where you live. |
