‘A quick meeting to look back a long way’

     

Don’t park on 24th Street tonight, if you do that kind of thing.

The American Lodge of Research enjoyed a brief, but memorable, meeting last night at Masonic Hall. Having filled in for the Brother Secretary, I had reason to watch the clock, and we were open for only about an hour and fifteen minutes! Surely some kind of record.

The certificate in question.

Nevertheless, we were treated to an insightful presentation by Bro. Conor, a Fellow of the lodge, on the subject of the traveling certificate carried 270 years ago by a Bro. James Harding. Biography of Harding is scant, but researching the names of the lodge officers who signed the document reveals telling historical and demographical information about Freemasonry in British North America in the mid eighteenth century. Look for more information in the pages of The ALR Today, the lodge’s newsletter.

Of all the secrets in Freemasonry, the most vexing has to be how to grow participation at research lodges. After we closed, some of us groused about promotional techniques to advertise our meetings. Others were present in addition to who you see here, but we’re no longer drawing the 20-30 we once did.

While our next Stated Communication is far off—March 30, 2027—we are told to anticipate Zoom sessions in the meantime (which hopefully will attract our many overseas brethren). And maybe we’ll meet in person for a Special Communication one night also.