Masonic halls contain unique spaces, and we all have countless opportunities to host community activities and be welcoming to our neighbors. In many cases, lodges in smaller towns may have better opportunities to be seen by their surrounding communities than their big city counterparts by virtue of their locations in town squares. And smaller towns are arguably simpler to promote special events in because of local papers and word of mouth.
But no matter where your lodge is located, we can welcome the public in by providing unique and interesting programming that isn't necessarily Masonic-related.
For instance, a small local lodge in Missouri has teamed up with the Smithsonian Institution to host a traveling exhibit, through October 26th. From the KTVO-TV website:
The Memphis Masonic Lodge is hosting the Smithsonian pop-up exhibit "Voices and Votes: Democracy in America" until October 26th. The free exhibit explores the founding of America, the Revolutionary War, and the evolution of citizens' rights and responsibilities. It also features local history, including the Honey War, the 1980 farm protest, and the petition to create the Scotland County Hospital.
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The Memphis Masonic Hall is located at 110 S Market Street in Memphis, MO.In addition to the exhibit, the library is hosting a scavenger hunt featuring historical sites across the county. The Historical Society and Community Players will also host an "Evening at the Museum," where characters come to life to discuss local history.
Memphis is one of six locations in the state to host the exhibit.
Try thinking outside of the list of usual suspects when it comes to inspiration, and this Smithsonian program is a great example. For information about the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES), visit their website at https://www.si.edu/newsdesk/factsheets/smithsonian-institution-traveling-exhibition-service . Another possibility is the National Archives.
Contact your state library or museum, or local or county historical societies. In almost every state across America, Freemasonry pre-dated statehood. They may jump at the chance to work with your lodge or grand lodge in developing a permanent exhibit about the role of early Masons in your state's history. Or they may offer traveling exhibits your lodge can display. The next year will be a once-in-a-lifetime chance to celebrate a historic national milestone: the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States with the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Lodge rooms, social halls, dining rooms and, in larger temples, auditoriums can be utilized for gallery spaces, health fairs, job fairs, swap meets, family fun fairs, plays, political debates, polling places, and more. Halloween is this month, and several lodges are hosting family-oriented 'haunted lodge' events. Our parking lots can host barbecue cookouts and other food festivals, antique car shows, garage sales, regular bloodmobile drives, or charity road rallies. Most lodge halls have big kitchens, and many are commercial grade: perfect for organizing Thanksgiving dinner delivery services for seniors and shut-ins.
All lodges should strive to be hotbeds of activities – a lodge that looks abandoned hasn't got a chance of attracting new members, and certainly not new members who are local business and community leaders.
