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Hi and welcome to the podcast for Solomon staircase.
Masonic lodge, number 357, where we talk about all things related
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Philosophy reason spirituality and much more we're located in
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we continue to update our podcast with informative talks
and articles for Mason's worldwide.
And those who would like to inquire within So before I start
this next article, I'm going to ask a question and obviously
this isn't a question and answer session because I can't hear
your answers. But you can always write back to
me in the comments or as an email.
So my question to you is what are your thoughts about how fast
somebody should progress through the degrees?
Do you think a month between degrees is enough?
Is it not enough? Is it once a year?
You know, what is Jurisdiction. Say I know I was lived in Texas
for a brief period And I remember there was something
there along the lines of if you didn't get your master Mason
degree within whatever, two years three years something like
that. You basically had to start over
in California, where I'm formally from.
We've had people who have been entered apprentices for gosh,
who knows, 10, 15 years, 20 years, never got beyond that and
that's fine. We have people who are fellow
crafts for many years. So, anyways, I'm just kind of
curious. And then we also have the one
day classes where people move through, you know, all three
degrees of within a day, I done a podcast in the pack, talking
about some of the pros and cons of that, but anyways, just kind
of curious. So I would still love to get
some feedback from people. So I'm not just doing this for
here to hear my own voice, but I'm hoping you guys are enjoying
the podcast. And again, if you get a chance,
you know drop me a line via email.
I think it's on the podcast. Framework there or I think you
can do it through comments as well.
So with that, this is going to be a short episode and this is
an article called. Are we there yet from the June
2001? Scottish Pride Journal,
Freemasonry written by Neil T Beatty 32nd degree.
Sometimes slower is better. Sometimes, the journey has
through the degrees is more important than the destination.
The modern world is a very hurried Place.
Email cellular telephones, fast food and pay at the pump, gas
stations have all become the norm.
Almost every new convenience is about saving a little bit more
time. Living life in the fast lane
isn't just common. It's required for those of us
who grew up with airplanes fax machines and computers in our
lives. This all seems like the natural
progression of the world faster is better.
The fastest rat wins the race. With all of the time we are
saving it seems. There would be more hours left
over at the end of the day, but it never seems to work out that
way there. Just isn't enough time.
For Freemasonry, I hear great trepidation, in the Masonic
Community about how hard it seems to be to get young people
to become involved with masonry. The old saw goes something like
this young men just don't have the time to go through the
degrees. Much less, the posting an
examination sessions, they don't have time to get involved with
three unions, and attend the requisite practices.
If we could just make the process, go a little Faster.
Make the postings a little easier to make the schedules a
little more flexible. Maybe we would get some more
members, surely they can spare the time, then if we
communicated more of the degrees had fewer practices and made the
lecture shorter, maybe we could get more people involved the old
guys. Just don't understand because
they're retired and don't have as many other obligations in
their lives. We need to bring Freemasonry
into the 21st century. Phooey.
We need to bring the 21st century and masonry the degree
is like life are a journey. Each degree stands on its own
and carries its own particular lesson, but the progression
through the degrees comes with lessons as well.
It was always expected that they be completed in a series.
The degrees are not intended to be a show, Strictly for the
benefit of the spectators. They do not form a 32 AirPlay.
They are performed for the benefit of all the participants.
Everyone from the Anna dates to the directors as a beneficiary.
As long as he participates there are important lessons to be
gained by attending to reunions and watching the degrees, but
they don't really sink in until you start participating.
This takes time and the Brethren who come to the reunions, grab
the credential and move on, are missing the whole point.
The express version is just not the same.
The gold may very well be to be able to get to where your 32nd
degree ring or to get the membership numbers up just a
little bit more. But the substance for everyone
is gained during The journey we're making good men, better
one step at a time, and no, we're not there yet.
Four-speed. Junkies like myself, this is
difficult to swallow. It goes directly against the
pace of the rest of life, and yes, it does interfere with
one's normal routine. Most modern lessons are fast, a
new computer language is only useful for a few years, or even
months before it becomes obsolete.
It's important to learn it quickly, credentials are
cumulative and they turn into money college degrees.
Licenses and certificates are thing to collect and the faster
you get on with the next one, the better people with two, Or
more academic degrees make more money than the people who only
have one, no matter that they didn't actually learn anything
in the process, masonry is different masonry move, slowly
the credentials, although numerous have no commercial
value at all. Those old guys, the ones who
work nights to put us through college, understand something
that some of us seem to be missing.
Sometimes slower is better. Sometimes, the journey is more
important than the destination. To the 90% of you, who went
through the degrees at a reunions, and never came back.
Again, I have a simple message, you're not done, yet, the
certificate cap and ring are not the end.
Not by a long shot, even if it's been years, it's not too late.
The Supreme Council, just issued the revised standard pipe
degrees and now is your chance to get involved.
Every degree has been Rewritten. No longer is it a bunch of men
who have been doing the same parts for decades?
There's room for you. Every part in every degree was
examined and then I want every participant is starting from
scratch. We're all upon the level and we
need you to join us. If you've been wondering what is
going on in your consistory, now is the best time in years to
find out, come back. It's worth the time.
So now obviously that article is written on the basis of the
Scottish Rite degrees. I am not Scottish Rite yet,
maybe eventually or York Rite, or Shrine or anything.
I'm just a regular old blue Lodge kind of guy.
But for me, that question is still valid as to what's the
proper speed of the best speed to go through the degrees.
So I joined I believe in June about three months later, got my
second degree, so I was initiated in either June or July
about three months later. I got my second degree and then
was raised a Master Mason in December the day after my
birthday. So six months for me and I had a
coach who Ooh, Danny cacioppo I mean we would do me and actually
my buddy at the time we both joined at the same time we would
go over to his house you know once a week and we would do a
practice on our proficiencies nowadays.
It seems like I mean, gosh, we've got guys that are taking,
you know, six months to a year sometimes to get from one degree
to another and then we have other guys you know other lodges
I've been to where I've heard of guys getting you know at one
degree a month and within three months, I've got all three
degrees. So, you know, I don't think
there's any right or wrong way. It's just a matter of opinion
and maybe even what your jurisdiction requires.
So I'd love to hear some comments.
I'd love to hear some feedback as to What goes on in your
jurisdiction. So as I said, it's going to be a
short episode. I'm going to throw in one more
article, but with that have a wonderful day, evening night,
whatever it is for you. So the following article that
I'm going to read is from Texas and talks about Masonic,
etiquette, etiquette and protocol in Texas, but things
are different in different jurisdictions.
So it'll be kind of interesting to compare the Texas version as
written versus the California, which I most most familiar with
versus the Nevada. Where I've recently moved to
Masonic, etiquette, for the most part is merely good manners and
respect for your Lodge. Its members is forceful master,
and the convention of Freemasonry in general.
One of the peculiarities of the Masonic fraternity.
Is that a man? Attends a large meeting or a
masonic Gathering not as a private individual?
But as a Mason, he is therefore to be addressed by his surname
that is brother Smith rather than brother Bill.
So that's kind of interesting now that's what they say in
Texas. Now California I would say it's
kind of a mixture brother. Hugo brother Ramos brother Ops
Teague thinking about some of the guys in the lodge.
I think in Nevada, as I recall, a lot of the guys just call each
other by their first name. There is no brother this, or
brother that it's just by the first name and nobody feels any
different about it. At my Lodge, the other thing
would be is we have a lot of Past Masters and for us when we
when we talk to people, it's typically were she or a
worshipful and not even a name, just hate worse.
Why you doing worse? Well, good evening.
Were still nice to see a full. It's kind of like a Monty Python
skit. That's the number to the Grand
Master is never to be addressed at any Masonic Gathering by his
first name, no matter, how close an individual may feel toward
him. His proper address is most
forceful. And when being formally received
in a lodge, he is a quarter to his full title, most worshipful,
his full name Grand Master Masons in, whatever state and
I'd say that's pretty much the same in California, and Nevada,
although I have not been around the Grand Master in Nevada.
Yet three of the worshipful master must be shown the same
respect and courtesy, we show The Grandmaster he should be
addressed at all times as worshipful, and I think that's
pretty consistent for prayers, that Lodge functions should be
in keeping with Masonic teachings.
Five, when wishing to speak in Lodge a brother should rise and
wait to be recognized by the master, then address the lodge
in the following manner, watchful Master, wardens, and
Brethren, then begin to speak. All remarks should be directed
to the east. Now that's different in
California in California, you don't address the wardens and
Brethren, you get up, you sign for whatever degree you're in
and then address worshipful master, and then talk ask
whatever you want to see, whatever you want to say in
Nevada. You don't necessarily sign.
I've seen a lot of guys just stand up and talk and not even
necessarily address the worshipful master.
I don't know if that's just because it's a little less
formal or if that's more ritualistic and talking with
some of the guys there, it seems to be that in Nevada.
Every launch kind of has its own thing to do in Nevada.
Grand Lodge is very loose on letting people got to do their
thing without getting too involved in.
What is Acquired, I've also been told that I'm going to the MIT
the Genoa lodged Douglas number 12, but I'm also being told that
if you go to Carson City Lodge, so, Carson City being the
capital that they are very strict on the ritual.
So I might have to do that some day, just to mix it up a little
bit. Number six, the about a secret
sacred and inviolable it. The ballot has legal sanction,
and must be conducted according to Psalm rules, that's the same
everywhere, seven, a district. Deputy Grand Master on an
official. Is it is the personal
representative of The Grandmaster.
Now, in California, we don't have a district district, it
Deputy Grandmaster? We have agl's, assisting Grand
lecturers, and we have inspectors that are the
representatives of the Grand Master and office has a station
or place of its own in the lodge with duties responsibilities and
dignities inherent in it. A sloppy manner of addressing
the lodge and a failure to give proper respect to the officers,
reflects a lack of understanding of Massage.
Protocol. If a master expects of every
member and of every other officer, a faithful rendering of
the form of etiquette, that is to be accorded to his office.
It will create a more faithful, observance of the format, every
other station, or place 10. The examining committee is
appointed by the worshipful master.
And usually, the senior Deacon is the chairman along with two
other well-qualified Brethren. They must, keep in mind that
their only purpose is to satisfy themselves that the visitor is
or is not a Master Mason in good standing.
My regular lights recognized by the Grand Lodge of Texas.
The Tyler's oath should be used as part of the examination.
If the examining committee has the duty to satisfy itself, that
a visitor is a Master Mason, in good standing.
In a regular Lodge. The visitor also has a right to
make sure that the launch she comes to visit is a regular
Lodge. He may therefore ask to see its
Charter Texas Mason's at the discretion of the worshipful,
master may be admitted without examination, if they produce a
current do scarred and photo identification as per article
380. Number 11, a lodge member who
has held the highest office in the lodge carries, the title of
past Master Past Masters, have a standing in Masonic law certain
Duties. Are there's for life, there are
members of the Grand Lodge and have a vote in its processes.
They are entitled to a difference which belongs to
their position and protocol. They are entitled to a specific
order of lineal precedence on their own part.
Past Masters are bound to the same rules of etiquette and
respect that. It's observed toward the
worshipful master by all other members of The Lodge. 12, the
preparation room is a sanctuary for the candidate in the
officers preparing him. It is necessary that it be
closed in and that its privacy is strictly preserved, 13.
The etiquette governing, the conferral of degrees is strict
there shall be no talking Whispering or laughing or any
disturbances during the degree work.
It is not an occasion from Earth Brothers, on the sidelines,
should remain quiet and not offer any prompting or
assistance to the degree team. And I think, regardless of what
jurisdiction, you're In that, that's how it should be.
I've been to enough degrees in my time where I've heard people
laughing and giggling and just things happening and comments
made and stuff. And again it's you know
different lodges have different different cultures and my Lodge
my home Lodge Solomon staircase, you know, we try to be very
solemn and very strict in our ritual because we love the
importance of what it stands for and what it means.
But again I've Been to other lodges where that's not
necessarily the case. Number 14, the worshipful master
is the officer whose first Duty it is to see that.
Nothing is ever allowed to harm the lodge, which is entrusted to
his care for that reason. He cannot tolerate a careless
practice of etiquette. If upon coming to the east, a
master finds an indifference to or a casual practice of
etiquette has crept into the lodge.
He should find an early opportunity to address the
subject with his officers and members, the district Deputy
Grand Master May consult and advise concerning Allah just
practice of etiquette but they cannot interfere.
The worst full master has full responsibility for Lodge
etiquette, as he has total charge of all things in the
lodge and 15. Although as Mason's, we believe
that it is the internal and not the external.
That makes a man of Mason there. Remains the issue of a tire that
is fitting of the occasion, based upon tradition and the use
of appropriate clothing is a way of showing respect, not only
respect to the officers but to the craft.
And to the profane that observed us as we gather, as masons in
Texas, unlike other Grand jurisdictions, we Them wear
formal attire to Lodge meetings but shorts flip-flops and bib.
Overalls are a far cry from the level of respect, that is due
our fraternity, especially if we expect others to respect and
admire us. So California, at least, at my
Lodge, what we typically do is for stated meetings in the
colder times of the year, we wear tuxedos, and four degrees.
We were at exitos when it starts getting warm, we switch over to
Hawaiian shirts and khakis. We're slacks as the case may be.
But same thing, no shorts, no flip-flops, no overalls at least
come in looking respectful. And so that article was provided
by past master, Chuck downard, from the Sunday, Masonic news,
May 13, 2012 edited by Harry Bruno.
The following article is from the September 2001, Scottish
Rite Journal of Three Southern jurisdiction.
USA, it's written by Bruce Chabot 32nd degree and is titled
Masonic liturgy liturgies such as our Masonic ritual, have the
purpose of uniting, and strengthening communities of
shared interest. Liturgy is a word that applies
in slightly, different ways to two areas.
I love Freemasonry and religion. In fact, Masonic liturgy is a
part of the craft, which benefits Brothers sometimes even
without their knowing it, let me explain.
Of course, I do not mean to imply that Freemasonry, as a
religion. We all know that it is not yet.
As a clergyman, I've often find myself explaining this fact, to
people who think masonry is some sort of a denomination simply
because it involves a religious elements.
True. We believe in God, respect the
Bible and hold dear. What is represented by the
letter g in the middle of our square and Compass has?
But that hardly makes Freemasonry own religion.
The term liturgy comes from an ancient Greek word, which
literally translated means the work.
Of the people. It is my experience that the
ways in which our beloved fraternity, uses liturgy are
amazingly similar to the way. Liturgy is used in all Faith,
traditions in both liturgy expresses and teaches what we
believe while also showing respect to our honored fellows,
the basis of my comparison is the fact that there is another
word ritual, whose meaning is very similar to liturgy and
ritual as all Mason's know, is the heart of the work of our
lodges and temples. I'll deep-rooted religious
Faith. Traditions, use ritual or
liturgy to express and pass on to new members what they
believe. They State their Creed's, and
use various clergy members and other functionaries to act out
or represent in symbolic and publicly meaningful form their
ideas. The interesting and wonderful
thing to me is that masonry does some very similar things as
Mason's. We have certain very specific
words and actions that we say and do in performing the
ceremonies that open and close our meetings just as spiritual
leader, Say and do meaningful words and actions and conducting
worship and prayer services churches and lodges do these
things because that is how communities work in order to
strengthen. And grow Masons have a whole
body of special ceremonies. We use for our many degrees just
as high churches, have liturgies for the seasons and ceremonial
moments of importance in people's lives.
In both cases, they vary for special occasions, such as
initiated new members and celebrating feast days.
And in both cases, the secular Lodge and the religious Church
People Chosen and trained to perform.
These special Duties are particularly valued for their
ritualistic proficiency. Furthermore, both Masonic bodies
and Faith Traditions have committees charged with the
responsibility of studying, and authorizing official forms of
ritual or liturgy. This last point is, especially
prominent now that we as Scottish, Rite Masons have the
revised standard Pike ritual. Those entrusted with researching
and implementing these revisions have noticed that some members
tend to resist any kind of change in what is familiar even
when that change is actually more of a return to the original
roots of the source matter. This reaction is common
religious. Scholars have always found it to
be the case when the urge people to revise their ritual
practices, in order to return to the more pristine ancient forms.
Since these forms have been forgotten under layers of
improvisation. They seem strange and therefore,
forbidding they are not the way we have always.
He's done it. Finally, in lodges Macy's and to
use special actions and verbiage in referring to officers such as
Masters and wardens. And in ceremonially, receiving
honored guests such as Grandmasters and District,
deputies. Similarly, some churches use
honorific titles for their leaders and clergy or ministers.
Also some logic used ceremonial clothing.
When acting out certain rituals from basic aprons on up, not to
mention jewels and caps just as some types of houses of worship
use. Assessments and other liturgical
paraphernalia lodges even have certain required furniture set
up in specific ways and regular places for officers to sit, just
as religions arrange, their sanctuaries in certain ways that
are meaningful to them. In some, my reason for bringing
up these many analogies is not to over emphasize any similarity
between these two Realms and Endeavors masonry and religion.
Rather the purpose of my comparison is to show that as
archaeologists and sociologists know groups that you night to
celebrate fellow Oh, Ship and share mutually beneficial ideas.
Often tend to use means that are natural to communal
undertakings. These are often liturgical and
ritualistic. Since these means bind people
together and fraternity, being one with the others is among the
most Basic Instincts of human beings.
We unite for preservation and for enjoyment.
These means in Freemasonry and religion are ritualistic or
liturgical, they can be seen in other areas too, such as that
patriotic, observances, and even sports events, which have Their
own liturgies and rituals as Mason's.
We can be proud of our heritage. We should without any sort of
showing us but with humility and good will extend the good name
and better understanding of our fraternity, through our the
dignified, public representation of our rituals whenever
appropriate, including when we are in the religious Faith,
communities of our choice. After all, we both may benefit
from our mutual appreciation of ritual and liturgy.
The following article is from the April 2008, Southern
California, research, large magazine hands off.
It's immemorial Brethren. Why do we make a lot of noise?
And then singing Auld Lang, Syne and New Year.
Why do we follow etiquette, when eating?
Why do we all stand when the national anthem is played, why
do we greet a person with a handshake indeed brother?
Why do we do these and perform many other actions in our daily
life? It is simply because They are
part of life's daily ritual, which we all perform knowingly
or unknowingly or more importantly, is it part of that
time immemorial which has been tried proven by our forebears?
Dr. Don see Benjamin of Arizona, State University States rituals
are repeated patterns of meaningful human behavior.
There are structured ways of acting sometimes accompanied by
words. Sometimes.
Not rituals opened up new worlds, where our lives are
enlarged and enriched rituals. Take us to new places and they
relate us to new people. Rituals overcome isolation and
bond us to communities who will support us in becoming all we
were created to be and becoming what we want to be.
This brief statement I believe more than amply explains
Freemasonry and it's ritual and thus the reason for this paper
which was initially prompted by the recent and continued
outpourings within the fraternity both by written or
spoken word for a change to the ritual of Freemasonry based on
two theories a it is Antiquated and not lying with modern
expression and opinion or be. It is the reason for the decline
of membership within the craft, both of which I suspect are
based on one the periodical, but Lewis attacks on Freemasonry and
it's ritual by outside pressure groups with their own personal
and hidden agendas and to the personal outpourings by some
members on their own knowledge and ability, or more likely,
lack of it, to conform to the ancient usages and customs of
the craft, which incidentally, they freely and voluntary,
offered themselves as a candidate for in the first
place. As to the two theories already
stated, which are both interrelated.
I can give no better. An example that when the
mainstream churches decided to modernize the book of prayer to
enable younger people to participate and thereby reverse,
the decline in attendance, which the authorities believed was,
the result of some widespread and even occasional Universal
criticism. I'll ask this is not as we.
Well now proved a successful as anticipated in fact and in the
meantime the Bible holy book or vsl, call it what you A has
continued to progress in its original James.
The first form, particularly, by a big increase in annual sales,
we may well ask the question why, although I would suggest
that the human race is generally a creature of habit and do not
accept change for the sake of change, As to my to suspicions,
firstly the attacks from without are based on narrow minded,
thinkers and inborn jealousy by persons, or persons, and, or
their organizations of the principles, and tenets of The
Craft, which they see is binding a true brother to his lodge.
In the fraternity, these attacks can be easily countered by
experienced persons and not necessarily by Freemasons.
For example, study, the history of and books by John J Robinson.
Who is extremely successful during his lifetime before For
becoming a Freemason later in life.
Also, my other short paper, which follows is another good
example of how to use defense in the best form of attack.
Regarding my second suspicion, this lack of knowledge is
attributable to that Brothers Lodge who are responsible for
establishing the direction or path.
The individual brother may take not all members are able or
willing to take the active path and Freemasonry, indeed some
brethren play. An important part by their
regular attendance. Even if with passive or indirect
involvement. In fact we have here this
evening Brethren who in my view are passive, particularly
regarding research activities but proven Freemasons.
In the true sense of the word long, may they attend by their
very attendance at any lodge meeting?
They are active students of ritual.
However, it is very important that new members are assistant
early in their Masonic life, with knowledge of the craft
more, particularly its ritual, varied, and many, and the part
is, should henceforth play in there.
Outside life. In fact, how many of you present
this evening have read the research.
Lodge literary committees new article posted on the notice
board in the foyer in the crash. All that very young brother.
Hopkins is typical of what many others are saying.
And we should take notice of this before pulling the plug on
an established ritual that has survived many generations of
Freemasonry with little if any change at all.
I'm not the first brother to say this, you may recall our present
Grandmaster most worshipful brother Barry mclaggen was the
guest speaker at the 2005 summer lecture here in Palmerston North
and in this Masonic Center speaking to his subject, the
creeping paralysis of mediocrity and our society.
And therefore, Freemasonry explained in passing that Grand
Lodge had in recent times, tried to remove the word Ritual from
our Masonic vocabulary. The reason it might offend some
people Common Sense prevailed. I also have with me this evening
copies of other letters from Young Freemasons, all saying the
same thing hands off. It is in a memorial Thus
Brethren from what I've already said ritual is nothing to do.
It is not to be ignored or brushed aside our very lives and
even those who are anti masonry are completely engulfed in it
whether they realize it or not. Finally why are these young new
Freemasons all saying the same thing hands off its immemorial
and we like it we ignore them at our peril.
So this was a research paper presented by Wars for brother.
Tim Brown past Master, Deputy Master to their ofu Lodge of
research. Number 444, New Zealand in
February 2008. Thank you for listening.
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