planning a white table meeting
by
Raymond Hollins
Published in MQ MAGAZINE - JANUARY 2005
The objective of a
`white table' is to stimulate an interest in Freemasonry from wives,
family and friends and to dispel fears and misconceptions that
prevent suitable candidates from seeking membership of the Order.
Planning arrangements are crucial,
and a satisfactory outcome depends on the quality and quantity of initial
research and planning. Responsibility for planning should not be left to one
individual - it is a matter of teamwork.
Past Masters and officers should
be well experienced to contribute to creative ideas, carry out research, e.g.,
history of the Lodge etc, and meetings should take place with the planning team
to establish a sensible and practical format.
An agenda might be:
- Open the
Lodge
- Read the
minutes of the last regular meeting
- Deal with any
important items of business
- Close the
Lodge
Members remain in their places in
regalia and the Director of Ceremonies invites ladies and invited guests -
Masonic and non-Masonic may attend - to enter and are seated. It is most
important to maintain a friendly and relaxed atmosphere - a Lodge room may be
unusual and solemn to the guests. The Master gives a brief address of welcome
and explains the purpose of the meeting. He also introduces his officers with a
brief explanation about who they are and their duties.
It is most important that the
meeting is not advertised as a recruitment campaign. A very brief history of
Freemasonry can be given, perhaps a short résumé of the history of the Lodge,
and an explanation of the layout of the Lodge room.
This is an opportunity for a member to pass around the Lodge to describe the
furniture, the Warrant etc., and a description of the Lodge Banner and its
history may be of interest.
Regalia worn by the principal
officers and those depicting the Three Degrees, followed by those of Provincial
Grand Lodge and Grand Rank is explained.
As reference is made to each item
of regalia, a Brother wearing the apparel rises to his feet to display his
apron, collar and jewels where appropriate.
As a finale, a carefully
abbreviated version of the Charge to the Initiate can be read from the Junior
Warden's pedestal or from a suitable lectern.
It is considered better to read
the passages rather than to deliver a piece of Masonic ritual from memory, which
is not appropriate for the occasion.
The Charge to the Initiate is by
far the most powerful piece of public relations material that could be written
or spoken in support of the aims and objectives of Freemasonry, and an edited
version is therefore suitable for this meeting.
There then should follow a
question and answer session. Visitors at this stage may be deep in thought
about what they have just witnessed, or somewhat overawed by the proceedings and
atmosphere, and this may stifle a flow of suitable questions.
It would therefore be appropriate
to select a few suitable questions, and `plant them' by prior arrangement in the
audience. This enables the Lodge to prepare well - considered answers in
advance to important and difficult questions.
A last question about charity
provides a wonderful opportunity for the Lodge Almoner or Charity Steward to
explain the work of the four main Masonic charities and refer to the Non-Masonic
grants given each year. The meeting concludes with remarks from the Master.
The Lodge being closed, there is
no reason why the Brethren should not procession out whilst the Closing Ode is
sung, thus bringing the proceedings to a neat conclusion.
Guests are requested to remain in
their places until after the procession has left, and then invited by the Lodge
Director of Ceremonies to join the Brethren for pre-dinner drinks.
A copy of the Lodge Summons,
together with other relevant or interesting material can be given to each guest
as they retire from the Lodge room or at the end of the evening. The festive
board can follow the traditions of an informal Ladies Night.
The quality of performance of the
Lodge team will depend on the preparation, editing and timing of the material to
be used. The whole programme should not exceed about one and quarter hours.
Several rehearsals are essential
to ensure a polished performance, to say nothing of the pleasure of doing
something out of the ordinary as a great team effort.
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