I think this is a great idea. Perhaps though, a District Degree Team could be another conversation. I could see a District Degree Team strengthening the bonds between the lodges of the District. Either way, providing the candidate/brother with the best possible experiences and at the same time showing the bonds of brotherly love and friendship, it’s better for all of Freemasonry.
I've always liked the idea of Degree Teams. I don't know if they still have it, but when I was active with Skykomish Lodge it had a Third Degree team. I think we did a heck of a good job of it for Lodges that sought out our help. We'd show up in our 'Sky Uniform' and then provide a very well practiced, and well delivered Degree. We'd boast 12 Fellowcrafts as a part of it, and I'm not sure how many of our Lodges can actually pull that off.
Fifteen years ago most lodges in my district could do all the degrees with their own members. My home lodge has been the largest since 1994 when we merged with a smaller one seven miles up the road. Twenty eight years later the average age is sixty- eight out of ninety five members. The result has been not only do the six lodges have to help but members of three other districts are regularly called upon for a lecture. As time has passed this has become normal practice here in rural Maine.
It is fairly normal practice in Rural Washington too. Here where I live we have one Lodge that can pull off the Degrees without outside help, but all of the others do need more or less assistance.
That is a great idea, MW Brother! This is something my Lodge has talked about a few times. In fact, I will be conferring the 2nd Degree this evening at Bremerton Lodge No. 117 for an active duty Sailor assigned to the USS NIMITZ and again next Friday for two active duty Sailors. All are welcome to join us. Dinner at 6pm and Labor at 7pm. Happy Friday to all :)
If a lodge is able to perform a 3rd degree, it has the capability to do the others.
Doing only one degree in a lodge would cheat the officers going up the line from conferring all three degrees. It's bad enough that we're promoting brothers in the line who haven't conferred a single degree in their careers - and they probably never will.
Conferral of degrees is the most sacred duty of the lodge, and essential to help bind that newly obligated brother to his lodge.
I've assisted other lodges in and out of my district to confer degrees, it's an honor and joy to do so. There is nothing wrong with getting outside help.
Where we're going to run into issues is that at least from where I sit on the sidelines, we don't have anyone stepping up to learn the lectures and charges. The old timers who do the lectures aren't getting any younger. The lecturer is the single most important role in any degree, and only a small handful of men has taken the time and effort to memorize them. It's such a daunting undertaking.
You and I don't differ regarding the importance of the Degrees, and the conferral of them.
I think however that we have to recognize that some of our Lodges in rural areas (some in urban areas too) no longer have the ability to pull them off, simply because they don't have enough members to fill the spots. We do have some very tiny Lodges out there. I guess as I envision a team, even a tiny Lodge could have one, if they drafted team members from elsewhere, and if they made it fun and interesting enough, I think that could be done.
You are 100% correct on the lectures too. We must always be developing new men who can do them. Where I live we have three men who do them very well, and are always willing to do them. We also have two men that I know of who are actively working on them.
Related to your concern about the Lectures, I am concerned about our funerals. Very few men, at least where I'm from, have learned our funeral ritual, and we need men to stand up to that challenge as well.
My take is similar to what you’re talking about, concerning conferrals, and it’s the Lectures of the degrees.
The loss of VWB Cary Cope in Snohomish County is quite a blow to our Fraternity, but it also shows how delicate we are when it comes to Brothers who can perform lectures. In my District, there are two of us who know all three lectures, but outside of us, only one knows the staircase (but there’s another Brother who’s learning it,) and a small handful of Brothers know the other two. While I truly enjoy visiting other Lodges to give Lectures, I’m busier now, so I’m not as available as I once was. But there are ways to solve this problem, and they can be quite fun.
11 years ago this month, I participated in a Middle Chamber Lecture with two other Brothers. The Lodge’s installed Senior Deacon did the part up to the Globes, then arrived at the stairs, where one of the Lodge’s Past Masters and I swapped the steps. Once we did all the steps, the Senior Deacon continued the Lecture through the doors. Three Brothers gave the Middle Chamber Lecture, and it worked very smoothly.
I also give the MM Historical Lecture with a Past Master of Chehalis Lodge in a manner where we swap phrases in the lecture. The brethren have coined it the “Tag-team” lecture and the “Hip-hop” lecture, and with a few exceptions, it is very well received. However, it takes practice, and the two Brothers have to know each other quite well. Since the Brother I do it with is almost like a dad to me, it makes it easier, but it can still be a challenge, and practice is always helpful.
There are likely other options as well to incorporate more people in our Lecture work.
There might be Brothers who think that a certain Lecture is some Past Master’s “Baby,” and that Brother ALWAYS gives that lecture, as if it’s his “territory.” Some might be afraid that learning it would be infringing on that ‘territory.’ Well, for me, the Middle Chamber Lecture is indeed my “baby,” but I’d love to share it with others, and I’m also not afraid to kick back and watch someone else deliver it. It’s quite likely I’ll learn something by listening to someone else’s take on the lecture.
So don’t be afraid to pick up your Standard Work and start work on one of the Lectures. And also don’t be afraid to talk to the Brother who delivers that Lecture for your Lodge. It’s an excellent mentoring opportunity, and you’ll develop a stronger relationship with one of the Brothers in your Lodge.
Ever since I've been a Mason District 7 has organized Degree Days every year or two where the District Lodges partner to confer degrees. Usually it's been two degrees but on rare occasions we've done all three. To be clear, these have not been one day conferrals where candidates become Master Masons in a few hours. (However, there was that one time when a past master opened the "fast lane" for a Brother who was passed to Fellowcraft a couple hours after his initiation. I conferred the Fellowcraft degree that day and was assured that no harm was done to the candidate). Rather, we look at who is is waiting for degrees at the various Lodges and organize around that. This certainly spreads the load and it creates a great experience where the candidates see first hand the impact of Brothers from various lodges working together, all while strengthening relationships across the District.
I like the idea of traveling degree teams. I also like the idea of teams within a lodge, able to confer all three degrees with well-coordinated players and suitable drama. When you get right down to the core of what we're doing, it's all theater. The regular opening and closing ritual is education for the young Mason. He can learn what the various positions and responsibilities in the lodge are, and through careful observation, learn the symbolism and duties of our Craft. I like the idea of splitting up the lectures among several Brothers. That makes the memorization a little less onerous, plus making for a more active and meaningful dramatic presentation. Static presentation, boring lectures, and fumbling presenters will kill a conferral. Just my thoughts...
Traveling, even themed degree teams are awesome in my view. I think that they provide a very valuable service, in addition to inspiring others to excel at the work.
Brothers helping brothers is a great idea, however isn't it important that a lodge be able to confer the degrees? If they become reliant on a lot of external help, wouldn't you expect degree proficiency to atrophy in a lodge? You'd possibly have a situation where men get raised by people they never sit in lodge with
Gotta be careful not to to be too hard line with this, of course it's fine for people to get help, but is there value in insisting that functional, healthy lodges be able to confer the work?
I don't disagree at all that a lodge should be able to confer its own Degrees. I just know that in many cases it isn't possible.
Just to use a Washington Lodge that I am quite familiar with. It is extremely rural, located in a town that shrank away almost to nothing when industry left. It has 19 members total, but like all Lodges, many have moved away. That leaves them with 6 active members, one of whom can only attend rarely due to work conflicts. These are current numbers.
It would not be possible for them to confer their own Degrees, simply because there are not enough men.
I think it could be argued that given the tiny membership, the Lodge should be shut or merged.
But...
This particular Lodge is strikingly active in its community, and seemingly the only non governmental organization active within the community. It hosts a major fundraiser each year, supported by Masons in two states, and it does tremendous good with the money it raises, improving the lives of the children in its community. Without it, those lives would be less well off.
I think this is a great idea. Perhaps though, a District Degree Team could be another conversation. I could see a District Degree Team strengthening the bonds between the lodges of the District. Either way, providing the candidate/brother with the best possible experiences and at the same time showing the bonds of brotherly love and friendship, it’s better for all of Freemasonry.
We’re working on regular practice nights, part of our long term goal to be able to confer all degrees.
We don’t have that capacity now, so the immediate focus will be on District degree teams.
I've always liked the idea of Degree Teams. I don't know if they still have it, but when I was active with Skykomish Lodge it had a Third Degree team. I think we did a heck of a good job of it for Lodges that sought out our help. We'd show up in our 'Sky Uniform' and then provide a very well practiced, and well delivered Degree. We'd boast 12 Fellowcrafts as a part of it, and I'm not sure how many of our Lodges can actually pull that off.
Fifteen years ago most lodges in my district could do all the degrees with their own members. My home lodge has been the largest since 1994 when we merged with a smaller one seven miles up the road. Twenty eight years later the average age is sixty- eight out of ninety five members. The result has been not only do the six lodges have to help but members of three other districts are regularly called upon for a lecture. As time has passed this has become normal practice here in rural Maine.
It is fairly normal practice in Rural Washington too. Here where I live we have one Lodge that can pull off the Degrees without outside help, but all of the others do need more or less assistance.
That is a great idea, MW Brother! This is something my Lodge has talked about a few times. In fact, I will be conferring the 2nd Degree this evening at Bremerton Lodge No. 117 for an active duty Sailor assigned to the USS NIMITZ and again next Friday for two active duty Sailors. All are welcome to join us. Dinner at 6pm and Labor at 7pm. Happy Friday to all :)
If a lodge is able to perform a 3rd degree, it has the capability to do the others.
Doing only one degree in a lodge would cheat the officers going up the line from conferring all three degrees. It's bad enough that we're promoting brothers in the line who haven't conferred a single degree in their careers - and they probably never will.
Conferral of degrees is the most sacred duty of the lodge, and essential to help bind that newly obligated brother to his lodge.
I've assisted other lodges in and out of my district to confer degrees, it's an honor and joy to do so. There is nothing wrong with getting outside help.
Where we're going to run into issues is that at least from where I sit on the sidelines, we don't have anyone stepping up to learn the lectures and charges. The old timers who do the lectures aren't getting any younger. The lecturer is the single most important role in any degree, and only a small handful of men has taken the time and effort to memorize them. It's such a daunting undertaking.
You and I don't differ regarding the importance of the Degrees, and the conferral of them.
I think however that we have to recognize that some of our Lodges in rural areas (some in urban areas too) no longer have the ability to pull them off, simply because they don't have enough members to fill the spots. We do have some very tiny Lodges out there. I guess as I envision a team, even a tiny Lodge could have one, if they drafted team members from elsewhere, and if they made it fun and interesting enough, I think that could be done.
You are 100% correct on the lectures too. We must always be developing new men who can do them. Where I live we have three men who do them very well, and are always willing to do them. We also have two men that I know of who are actively working on them.
Related to your concern about the Lectures, I am concerned about our funerals. Very few men, at least where I'm from, have learned our funeral ritual, and we need men to stand up to that challenge as well.
My take is similar to what you’re talking about, concerning conferrals, and it’s the Lectures of the degrees.
The loss of VWB Cary Cope in Snohomish County is quite a blow to our Fraternity, but it also shows how delicate we are when it comes to Brothers who can perform lectures. In my District, there are two of us who know all three lectures, but outside of us, only one knows the staircase (but there’s another Brother who’s learning it,) and a small handful of Brothers know the other two. While I truly enjoy visiting other Lodges to give Lectures, I’m busier now, so I’m not as available as I once was. But there are ways to solve this problem, and they can be quite fun.
11 years ago this month, I participated in a Middle Chamber Lecture with two other Brothers. The Lodge’s installed Senior Deacon did the part up to the Globes, then arrived at the stairs, where one of the Lodge’s Past Masters and I swapped the steps. Once we did all the steps, the Senior Deacon continued the Lecture through the doors. Three Brothers gave the Middle Chamber Lecture, and it worked very smoothly.
I also give the MM Historical Lecture with a Past Master of Chehalis Lodge in a manner where we swap phrases in the lecture. The brethren have coined it the “Tag-team” lecture and the “Hip-hop” lecture, and with a few exceptions, it is very well received. However, it takes practice, and the two Brothers have to know each other quite well. Since the Brother I do it with is almost like a dad to me, it makes it easier, but it can still be a challenge, and practice is always helpful.
There are likely other options as well to incorporate more people in our Lecture work.
There might be Brothers who think that a certain Lecture is some Past Master’s “Baby,” and that Brother ALWAYS gives that lecture, as if it’s his “territory.” Some might be afraid that learning it would be infringing on that ‘territory.’ Well, for me, the Middle Chamber Lecture is indeed my “baby,” but I’d love to share it with others, and I’m also not afraid to kick back and watch someone else deliver it. It’s quite likely I’ll learn something by listening to someone else’s take on the lecture.
So don’t be afraid to pick up your Standard Work and start work on one of the Lectures. And also don’t be afraid to talk to the Brother who delivers that Lecture for your Lodge. It’s an excellent mentoring opportunity, and you’ll develop a stronger relationship with one of the Brothers in your Lodge.
Ever since I've been a Mason District 7 has organized Degree Days every year or two where the District Lodges partner to confer degrees. Usually it's been two degrees but on rare occasions we've done all three. To be clear, these have not been one day conferrals where candidates become Master Masons in a few hours. (However, there was that one time when a past master opened the "fast lane" for a Brother who was passed to Fellowcraft a couple hours after his initiation. I conferred the Fellowcraft degree that day and was assured that no harm was done to the candidate). Rather, we look at who is is waiting for degrees at the various Lodges and organize around that. This certainly spreads the load and it creates a great experience where the candidates see first hand the impact of Brothers from various lodges working together, all while strengthening relationships across the District.
Totally agree.
I like the idea of traveling degree teams. I also like the idea of teams within a lodge, able to confer all three degrees with well-coordinated players and suitable drama. When you get right down to the core of what we're doing, it's all theater. The regular opening and closing ritual is education for the young Mason. He can learn what the various positions and responsibilities in the lodge are, and through careful observation, learn the symbolism and duties of our Craft. I like the idea of splitting up the lectures among several Brothers. That makes the memorization a little less onerous, plus making for a more active and meaningful dramatic presentation. Static presentation, boring lectures, and fumbling presenters will kill a conferral. Just my thoughts...
Traveling, even themed degree teams are awesome in my view. I think that they provide a very valuable service, in addition to inspiring others to excel at the work.
Brothers helping brothers is a great idea, however isn't it important that a lodge be able to confer the degrees? If they become reliant on a lot of external help, wouldn't you expect degree proficiency to atrophy in a lodge? You'd possibly have a situation where men get raised by people they never sit in lodge with
Gotta be careful not to to be too hard line with this, of course it's fine for people to get help, but is there value in insisting that functional, healthy lodges be able to confer the work?
I don't disagree at all that a lodge should be able to confer its own Degrees. I just know that in many cases it isn't possible.
Just to use a Washington Lodge that I am quite familiar with. It is extremely rural, located in a town that shrank away almost to nothing when industry left. It has 19 members total, but like all Lodges, many have moved away. That leaves them with 6 active members, one of whom can only attend rarely due to work conflicts. These are current numbers.
It would not be possible for them to confer their own Degrees, simply because there are not enough men.
I think it could be argued that given the tiny membership, the Lodge should be shut or merged.
But...
This particular Lodge is strikingly active in its community, and seemingly the only non governmental organization active within the community. It hosts a major fundraiser each year, supported by Masons in two states, and it does tremendous good with the money it raises, improving the lives of the children in its community. Without it, those lives would be less well off.
So, I for one would be heartbroken to see it go.
I like it.