New Britain herald., 1928-02-11
LODGE SPIRIT DIES
 AS APPEAL WAVES
Fraternity Branches Find Brlm.
 hS of Apathy Along Road

Brothers -So-and- -so'' does not meet Brother Who's-this" as fre- quently as he did some years ago in New Britain, according to long time members of fraternal organizations who have had impressed upon them in the most positive manner imagin- able tho rapid decline in interest in lodge activities during the past few years. In some instances it has reached the proportions of apathy. and has consistently defied efforts to revive it. It has all the appear ances of thing dead, not coma- tose, but indisputably deceased. There are, however. some forerun- ners of the approach of brighter and more favorable day. which hold promise and, if properly nurtured. may prove the saving grace to sev- erai organizations, not in the sense that they will cease to exist unless conditions change, but at least that their place in the life of the com- munity will be raised to a more prominent rating and kept there to the envy of others.
 In New Britain, there have been branches of practically every fra ternal and benevolent organization or any prominence for a great many years and it is believed that the great majority of adults have held membership in one or more societies at one time or another. Fifty years ago, when anyone who predicted a population of S0,000 for New Britain in 1928 might have been laughed at, lodges in this city were we'll support cd and even prior to that period the men of the community were wont to band together under the banner of traternalism. Women's organixa- tions, too, were not altogether un- known, but records disclose that there has been more activity on the part of fraternally inclined fe- males during the past 30 years than there was prior to that time, prin- cipally on account of the increasing population and the attendant ten- dency of women to become concern- ed with matters not purely domestic. "Smokers" Popular
 Tho social side of lodge member ship was emphasized considerably in the early 1900's, with regular smokers" and entertainments in- tended to attract large attend; nee at meetings, and the anniversary tate was always the occasion for appro- priate celebration. The organizations had committees functioning at all times and the friendly rivalry be- tween them was one of the features of membership. There were card tournaments, pool matches, carpet Fowls. and other forms of amuse- ment and recreation, membership drives at regular intervals. with suitable prizes for the individuals and teams bringing the greatest number of new members. Occasional "ladies' nights" were looked forward to with great expectancy. and every thing was done to make pleasant the AlS1l Ol tIlt NlNcS anu eNetlledTiS Of the members.
 The meetings were frequently spicy. especially when there were questions of policy to be decided, and very cften when matters of eX- aggerated importance were sched- uled. too. Men responding 10 the ap- pellation of "brother" lined up on opposite sides of the hall and fought one another tooth and nail over the question of continuing another "brother' on the rolls after a stated time for eNpelling him had passed. and there were wordy battles of great fierceness and eloquence about the proposed purchase of a piano or the re-furnishing of the club rooms. Often, the bitterness was left be- hind when the presiding officer closed the meeting. but occasionally,