During our 'Masonic season' ...
... 8 formal or Regular Meetings.
During our 'Masonic season', Loyal Berkshire Lodge of Hope has 8 formal or Regular Meetings. The meeting dates are the 1st Tuesday of October through to May inclusive unless the first Tuesday of January is New Years Day where the meeting slips to the 2nd Tuesday of that month. The October Meeting or Installation Meeting is the beginning of our Masonic season where the new Master is installed and his Officers are invested.
Our Festive Board is the point in the evening where we socialise and enjoy a meal together. The Festive Board is held at the Newbury & Crookham Golf Club and comprises of a 2 course meal with coffee. The dinner usually commences around 8.30pm and ends by 10pm and involves some wine taking, toasts, a few short speeches & plenty of friendly banter!
Held on the Friday before the Regular Meeting and is intended as a rehearsal session for the Worshipful Master and his Officers. They practice the ceremony planned for the next Regular Meeting.
Lodge of Instruction (L of I), is ritual practice in a much more informal environment and even the newest of members are encouraged to attend. During our L of I sessions newer Freemasons can, if they wish, practice the duties of a particular office and existing officers get the opportunity to practise the duties of the office they will occupy in the following Lodge season.
The General Purposes Committee Meeting (or GP Meeting), is held on the Monday after the Regular Meeting in October to May inclusive, although the GP Meeting in February & April are held only if the business of the Lodge requires it. GP Meetings are conducted by the Worshipful Master and the senior members of the Lodge where decisions are made and plans are set. These are then put forward to the Lodge as propositions for the membership to vote on.