On Friday last (16 Mar 2007) I had my Entered Apprentice Degree conferred! I must say, it was a very proud moment! Last month Brother Corey Sigler sent an email to the folks that subscribe to The Working Tools about the April edition of The Working Tools was going to focus on the EA degree and was asking for stories. After exchanging a few emails I wrote up a little thing and sent to him so I wont cover a lot of that here.
I will say that my lodge did a wonderful job on the degrees! Yes there were two done Friday and two more done Saturday morning! I was lucky and went first so I got to see my brother be initiated. Of course Saturday I saw both. I’ve been to another lodge and watched them confer an EA degree since then also. My mentor has told me the more I see the faster Ill pick up the details for my EA proficiency and I can for sure see that truth in that!
This brings me to what I really want to vent about. Brother Tom Accuosti asked in his blog today if its true as the PMs say that the ritual is for the candidate. As someone that just went through it and have seen a few in the days since, I’ve noticed some things. While I was the candidate I was listening to every sound and every word. A certain gavel at a certain time scared the crap out of me! The ritual seemed wonderful to me without any mistakes. Then again, HOW WOULD I KNOW IF IT WASN’T? The only way would be if some well meaning person on the sideline was doing corrections! This didn’t happen at mine by the way!!!
Im sure everyone has seen this happen and it seems to me that it just throws the people doing the ritual off and interrupts the flow. It also would confuse the new brother I would think.
To answer Brother Tom’s question though, I think the real reason a ritual needs to be good is for the newly entered, newly passed, newly raised Mason that is trying to learn it for his proficiency!
I have to admit when Im wrong. I’d made some assumptions that I now know were wrong! There is a reason rituals should be done correctly. Brothers need to learn their proficiency work. One day classes, one weekend classes are NOT the answer to falling membership. Maybe I am going to end up being one of those Born Again Fundamentalist Masons, but I’m seeing the importance of learning the history and the meaning not just a mock attempt and learning to pay lip service to it.
To be honest Im beginning to wonder why there is such a rush to get through the degrees. Is it so the new Mason can wear the ring? Put the S&C on their truck? Join the Shrine? York Rite? Scottish Rite? Something to ponder on while I get back to learning my EA work…
The lessons come from the journey... So Mote It Be!
7 comments:
Congrats, brother! Glad to see that it was a great experience for you.
And that ties into the post that you mentioned: Sometimes we forget the power and influence that the ritual has. Yes, it should be an awesome experience for the new candidates; that's why we have initiatory ceremonies.
But we - those who have been through the degrees - sometimes forget that the ritual we use are not just words, they are instruction. We should remember not to tune out just because we've seen it twenty or thirty times already.
And while you, the candidate, would not know if the ceremony was not word-perfect, that misses the bigger point: you would not have had an awesome experience if the degree was not performed well.
You know the guy walking you around the lodge at the beginning? I've seen guys do terrible jobs of that. It does not inspire confidence in the candidate.
I'm not talking about a mistake; everyone screws up at some point during the ceremonies. But the practiced Mason knows how to repair or gloss over his mistake and keep on going so as to make it a good experience for you. To me, that's the important part.
I'm happy to see that this didn't happen at your own EA, and I'm happy that you're looking forward to more.
Tom Accuosti
The Tao of Masonry
Congratulations on taking your second step in Freemasonry. I, too, am glad to hear those performing the ritual did a good job of it for you.
Widow's Son
BurningTaper.com
Congrats! You never knew conspiring against the Pope and fixing the world price of oil was so much fun, did you?
No, but seriously, I wish you joy of it, and in your further progress in the Craft.
Thank you all my brothers! Now can one of you please point me to the discounted lumber at Home Depot that Chick keeps putting in his pamplets? What with all the world taking over and Pope looting I need to build an addition to my house! hehe
Welcome Brother!
I am so glad you had a great experience.
In my Lodge here in Connecticut, I'm "the guy who walks candidates around" in my Lodge.
Bringing new Brethren into the Fraternity is a special joy for me.
I agree that one day classes are not the answer, and that if you learn and *understand* your proficiency, you are well on your way to being a bright Mason.
Again, welcome and congratulations!
Congrats Bro!
Ever keep in mind the working tools of an EA, as a strict adherence to these should ensure harmony!
Thank you my Brothers! Rhut Rho you mean I have to tell my wife that G
really doesnt mean GONE after all? lol
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