Well, I have made it to select master and it was a long journey of a day very interesting degree work. I personally was very fond of the Mark Master degree but all was very insightful and after it was over it seemed everyone who went through were left scratching their heads and contemplating on the events they saw. I am still running the work through my head over and over again. There are alot of messages in each degree alot of the Royal Arch and Cryptic council were mixed up not revealing any of the specifics it reminded me of a Star Wars saga from Star Wars to Attack of the clones in that order or mis order. I think masonry should make these degree mandatory or at least the Mark Master. Alot of good deep messages in this degree. I will agree with Burning Taper I think there is much more in the degree work and I think I kind of caught some of the messages that were trying to be relayed. Next up Order of Red Cross and Malta to complete the commandarie and York Rite.
8 comments:
People are scratching their heads, Shane, because there are too many degrees in too short a time. I don't understand why these bodies are in such a rush to get candidates through.
People complain the Craft Lodge degrees are too quick; more time and study should be required of candidates. Some of these concordant bodies are even worse.
Were any study materials given to you? Or copies of the degree?
I've mentioned on a number of occasions my favourite of the bunch is the Royal Master. There are parts of some of the other degrees (as done here) I like, and there are some degrees and lectures I don't care for.
Justa
Well alot of the rush is to get the degree and title more so than light. I did not find it to be overwhelming especially if you participate in the York degree work once you join. No no study matierial ritual work is given due to so many just go through to get the degree and never come back. Our york bodie is dying out due to older brothers/companions are dying out and younger generation is not taking over almost the same as what is happening to alot of blue lodges. I think participating in both definitley enhances your enlightened experience. That is just my experience. If you participate you will get a book to study. Instead of giving it to everyone where majority of the people keep it in a drawer at home somewhere never to be used again. It is a cold harsh unfortunate fact. Fraternally, Shane
@Shane:
Well said! Participation is the key to the success of any organization, and participate is what I hope to do. It just saddens me that the York Rite isn't promoted more. The degree work we participated in had to be put off literally for months until there were enough candidates. And that's a real shame knowing how many MM's were raised this year alone in our region.
@Justa Mason:
I had the privilege of going through the Capitular and Cryptic degrees with Shane, and I have to say that I was all at once impressed, enlightened, and exhausted by the time the six degrees were completed. I too have been going over in my head what we experienced. The degrees, the Mark Master and Royal Arch in particular, were rich and overflowing with so much that I know I'll never fully comprehend everything. I can't wait to get more involved and to see things "from the other side". I look forward with great anticipation to the remaining three Commandery degrees.
Concerning how the degrees are conferred, I do agree about the feeling of rushing the degrees. Unfortunately, the real problem that many of us face is that there simply is no choice in the matter. If I want to go through the York Rite, I have very few choices with regards to location and times. And regionally, all York Rite degree work is conducted in the same manner--over a couple days--so we have absolutely no say as to how the degrees are conferred.
That said, if a change in methodology is in order, then I believe that it will be up to new members to initiate such change--it won't likely come from existing members. As Shane said, our local Chapter/Council/Commandery is just itching for new involvement. I was told multiple times by multiple people that if we wanted to participate in the future, that there is ample opportunity to do so. It was almost to the point of desperation. Fortunately, it looked like the involvement wasn't completely "older-leaning" with quite a number of members being close to our age. I'd just love to see others get involved. I guess that'll be Shane's and my new charge: To promote the local York Rite bodies.
Jim,
Well put and written. I think I am going to promote the York bodie as my new charge. I think that the York is very rich in vital information that normal blue lodge should but do not receive as per light. This participation will help me in my studies for further light. I may do the Scottish rite next year but it seems for the locality and times York will be the place for me to receive further light.
Could this be a cause and effect, Shane? You wrote:
No no study material ritual work is given due to so many just go through to get the degree and never come back.
The question's rhetorical, as if all a body offers is a pile of degrees bunched together and then a steady drumbeat of business meetings, it's not much of an incentive to come back.
Let's face it. If someone joins because they think they'll get something missing in Craft Masonry, after they get it, what reason is there for them to come back? They can get fellowship and degree work in their Lodge; they don't need it elsewhere. The same thing with "I want it now!" keeners who join because they want to join everything. After they join, they've accomplished their goal. They need a reason to set aside a portion of their 24" gauge to attend.
Perhaps a solution is, instead, trying what you hear about in some Lodge circles. Have a degree. Then have a new Mark Master Mason write a paper or give a talk at the next meeting BEFORE he can advance. Or a debate or a discussion. Make membership have some value.
If there's something worthwhile for people to come to, won't they come? Why come to a degree mill?
Either that, or you reject at the ballot those joining only out of curiosity. You wouldn't admit someone into your Lodge merely because they're curious, would you?
Our york bodie is dying out due to older brothers/companions are dying out and younger generation is not taking over almost the same as what is happening to alot of blue lodges.
We're initiating people into our Lodges, and someone touched on this on another blog I read a few minutes ago, who haven't got their lives together to make time for Freemasonry. Then again, I don't know how new a trend this is. I looked back at the attendance records of one Lodge which had a membership gain in the 50s. Most rarely attended after their raising, let alone take office.
Justa Mason
@Justa:
FYI, the context was simply that the local YR bodies have decided not to just give out degree books to everyone who goes through the work as in the past. Instead, they decided to wait until new members actually start participating before giving them out. Is it the best incentive? probably not, but it does make for good financial sense.
And yes, even though I am quite new to the craft, I do see a common trend of "degree work...business meeting...degree work...business meeting...business meeting... etc." And that's why I think that younger guys like me (well kind younger anyway) and Shane and others can breathe some new life into the "routine". For example, I'm very interested in putting together some general Masonic historical presentations or some York Rite-centric presentations for our Blue Lodge. Nothing too fancy, just something interesting to provide 15-20 minutes of "further light" to otherwise routine business meetings. And I guarantee that if we use something like PowerPoint, it'd blow the socks off of most of the members.
My understanding is that in many past business meetings, the occasional lecture and presentation was done. Maybe not often, but they were done. I'd really like to see that resurrected.
I consider myself fortunate in that the "slow class" was available to me - right in my own Lodge hall. In fact, I enter the Commandery this coming Thursday. In addition, my York Rite bodies provide the books after each step (Chapter, Council, & Commandery). I was offered the "fast class" several years ago - but declined. I'm a patient fellow and did not start this York Rite journey until 10 years after becoming a MM.
Jim I agree I want to bring a laptop in and do some sort of presentation further light type of thing.
Business meetings serve their purpose but bringing more educational excitement other than paying bills would be better!
We need to get a overhead that can work with laptops!
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