and more than happy to answer my questions. Of course I took pictures which they were fine with. I was told some interesting information by a couple members, first though here is a couple pictures.
Main meeting hall. There is always a specific number of members that come for meetings, usually higher ranking members. Pictures on the wall are of past high profile members.
Meeting hell again. The alter is the middle is for voting in or initiating new members. They have to kneel at the alter and be voted on by all the members and the vote must be unanimous. One vote against and you don't get in.
One member talked to me in depth about how the process of becoming a member works. First, you have to be nominated by a current member. The current member will tell the lodge president about the prospect. He decides whether he thinks the person will be promising or not. If the president says yes, then the next step is an investigation. Apparently, the other members investigate all aspects of the persons life from where he works, married or not, how many kids, where he lives, social and financial status. The member told me once they are done with their investigation, "they know everything about you."
A prospective member is never told when the investigation is over or how long it will take or even the status. One day you get a phone call and are told that the investigation is over and some higher ranking members would like to meet with you. The member I was talking to recalled that they told him the day and time that they were going to come to his house so he prepared lot drinks and hor-d'oeuvres, "I had a beautiful spread laid out." The four members came in and sat down at the table while the man offered them drinks and snacks and anything else they wanted. He tried very hard to engage them all in conversation but they said almost nothing. They drank nothing, ate nothing and each answer to his questions were one or two words.
He related the story this way:
"At some points they didn't say anything and we just sat in silence while they stared at me or looked around the room. I thought I was doomed. I thought for sure I did something wrong. These guys hated me for some reason. After they left my wife asked me how it went and I said , terrible. There is no way they are going to let me in."
He continued saying to me:
"But in the end, either none of it mattered or I did something right and didn't even know it because I ultimately got in and here I am."
More pictures:
The president's chair. Every piece of furniture was beautiful antique wood.
The alter for prospective members to be voted on.
Walking around and looking at all the architecture I was struck by the fact that almost nothing matched. I started talking with a different member and started asking him about it. I said, "Nothing matches in here.." he smiled and laughed, "I assume everything in here has some specific meaning then right." He said I was right, I then proceeded to point at everything and ask about it and guess what? EVERYTHING had some meaning or symbolism behind it. The three types of columns, the block of stone in different states as it progressively is chiseled into a ball, numbers, boy they love numbers. He was getting a little tired of answering my questions so I graciously thanked him for his time and said goodbye.
It was a very cool experience and I learned a ton. I found out they do a lot of charity work in the community but never take credit for it. The members were very polite. They had a library, lots of old artwork and a roster of all their famous members including the current mayor. Well worth the time invested.
Here is the view from outside.
Their motto is: "Turning good men into great men."
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