I'm just a man with a hammer and still figuring out what a nail is, MW.
I do agree, with ignorance acknowledged, that the FC degree is hard to grapple with, but that's also kind of the point of the degree. EA is childhood + adolescence. FC is manhood from pre-prime-post. MM is the reckoning and reconciliation of the only guarantee in life.
There's a reason I've continuously said since my raising I'm pumping the "brakes," (not so much now -- back on the throttle). The FC degree is a massive dump of information compacted into an hour. One does not simply grasp their obligations let alone the tools in the same way the EA degree does. And, perhaps in our jurisdiction we do a disservice by allowing even the most unique circumstances to just pass it like exit 68 on I-5. I digress.
My favorite degree? MM by far. For a brief moment I felt like what I imagine my son does when I play with him; what I used to feel like as a child without worldly worries. Regardless of the fantastic drama, in that degree I finally allowed myself to feel, in my heart, friends were Brothers. My obligations stood to by just and upright Men that I gave trust to, and no harm came upon me in return.
That night I'll never forget, nor any man that was present. But, some of them might look like nails sometimes lol
Pumping the brakes is I think a fine idea. There is no benefit to going through the Degrees quickly, but there is much benefit to moving through them slowly. I fear that in a lot of cases Lodges push Masons through the Degrees too fast, and of course lots of candidates seek to go through them as quickly as possible.
Slowing down for understanding is always wise IMHO.
Of course there are rare, yet important reasons to push Degrees as quickly as possible. Deployment to a war zone has I think always been one of those reasons for example, but again, such circumstances are rare.
I think one of the reasons in the past for believing it’s in the best interest to give a new member his degrees as quickly as possible is because if there’s too long a period of time between the degrees (and thus meetings, as all business was conducted on the MM Degree at the time) the new initiate will lose interest. I think I picked that idea up from rumblings I had heard at refreshments after meetings. It’s amazing how many weird thought processes were said that I had overheard back in the day.
I suppose that made some sense back when business could only be conducted on the MM Degree. Better now, but we are still weird about it, at least in our Jurisdiction. EA's should be full members from the moment of their obligations. Dues, voting, the whole bit. Not held in some sort of limbo as they are now.
My favorite degree was the MM. I was raised with my youngest brother 40 years and a day from the time our grandfather and uncle were raised together in the same lodge.
I stand 6’4 and a solid 280lbs so the experience was unique. My youngest brother is bigger than I am and we were both tossed around like rag dolls. There also was a lot of grunting and groaning going on.
The historical references that go with the degree just make it that much more interesting to me now that I’ve had a chance to read more about it.
The EA is an interesting degree but I have seen it taken too far and brothers walk away after that experience. That degree should never be done in a way that embarrasses the candidate.
I've had the honor of attending Degrees with family involvement as you mention, and that is always a wonderful thing to see. You're lucky to have had an opportunity like that!
Not Degree related, but also quite cool I think, a Lodge near me gave 40, 30, and 20 year service pins this week. 40 to the uncle, 30 and 20 to his nephews.
I too have seen people walk away after the EA Degree. It's very unfortunate. As you say, we have to ensure that we are doing our Degree work properly, and we also have to make sure that a man has a good understanding about what Freemasonry is before we accept his petition for the Degrees.
I haven't experienced the Athelstan Degrees, but have heard good mention of them.
The reason that the FC Degree Lecture stands out to me is as you mention its interactive nature. Mine was given so well that for a time I didn't even realize it was anything formal. Towards the beginning I thought it was just a guy taking me around the room, showing me cool things.
I feel, just as you the the EA degree was the most impactful. It got me in the door and it changed my life. It is also my favorite to watch and participate in.
While each degree was impactful in different ways the EA degree taught me how to be a good man. The other degrees built on that.
My experience of the EA Degree forced me to ponder my life. Not that my life was bad before, but it caused me to take a look and see what I'd like to be different in my future than it was in the past. I'm not sure why it had that effect, but it certainly did.
When I received the EA Degree 40 years ago, the first thing my eyes saw was the handlebar moustache of that Worshipful Master. Then I got to sit on a sideline, and see the full EA Degree conferred in another Candidate.
My 2nd favorite was my MM Degree in Webster Masonic Lodge No. 538 near Rochester NY. My dad had been given Authorization to enter Webster Masonic Lodge No. 538 by the WV Masonic Grand Lodge GM.
So MWPGM G. Glenwood Brown (1968 WV GM) "Raised" me. I was 4th Generation Mason in the Brown family line. ENOUGH!
The EA degree had the biggest impact on me for a couple of reasons, first and foremost was although I was older and established as a successful business owner, I wasn't perfect and second, I had the opportunity to be with men who are now my lifelong friends a Brother's.
Favorite degree to confer is the MM because I have to really put a lot of work before I sit in the East no matter how many times I have done it, but I like doing lectures in all three and my favorite chair is SD.
That's how it was for me too I think. I was older in age, and successful. But, certainly not perfect, or even close to it. It was those things that the Degree led to me to contemplate, but the good things as well.
Things I wanted to lessen in my life, and things I wanted to increase in my life.
As for Senior Deacon, yep, that is my favorite role when conferring Degrees.
The degree that impacted me the most was the EA degree, probably because I didn’t know what to expect, and it was conferred by some really talented men. My favorite however, is the FC, for a number of reasons. First and foremost, the G lecture itself is my favorite part of any of the degrees. Second, many important words and symbols are thus explained that directly deal with your obligations as a mason. The circumambulation hits to the heart of what is most important in your journey to attain that perfect ashlar. Of course, just my own opinion.
I too haven't learned it, for a different reason. A couple guys in my Lodge do such a good job delivering it, I imagine that if I were to start doing that lecture it would be a downgrade. I figure I pull off the SD part quite well, and as such that's where I can do the most good conferring the FC Degree.
I find that my favorite part through each of the degrees is the working tools, and the charges. I had the pleasure of experiencing a truly excellent FC and MM degree by Brethren who care deeply about the candidates experience, and they put on an incredible conferral.
While the situations were "enlightening" I don't know that anything was revealed so much as reinforced. Things that I had come to understand throughout life through experience or hardship. I didn't read ahead or watch any primers, desiring to have the experience unencumbered by preconceptions. With fresh eyes, and an open mind.
I don't think I could single out any one particular degree as a favorite, rather that I enjoyed the collective parts of the whole. More specifically the parts that promote an active way of living and being, as they impart the kind of expectations I firmly believe would lead to a better world if we honor our obligations. By being the change we wish to see.
I'm just a man with a hammer and still figuring out what a nail is, MW.
I do agree, with ignorance acknowledged, that the FC degree is hard to grapple with, but that's also kind of the point of the degree. EA is childhood + adolescence. FC is manhood from pre-prime-post. MM is the reckoning and reconciliation of the only guarantee in life.
There's a reason I've continuously said since my raising I'm pumping the "brakes," (not so much now -- back on the throttle). The FC degree is a massive dump of information compacted into an hour. One does not simply grasp their obligations let alone the tools in the same way the EA degree does. And, perhaps in our jurisdiction we do a disservice by allowing even the most unique circumstances to just pass it like exit 68 on I-5. I digress.
My favorite degree? MM by far. For a brief moment I felt like what I imagine my son does when I play with him; what I used to feel like as a child without worldly worries. Regardless of the fantastic drama, in that degree I finally allowed myself to feel, in my heart, friends were Brothers. My obligations stood to by just and upright Men that I gave trust to, and no harm came upon me in return.
That night I'll never forget, nor any man that was present. But, some of them might look like nails sometimes lol
Pumping the brakes is I think a fine idea. There is no benefit to going through the Degrees quickly, but there is much benefit to moving through them slowly. I fear that in a lot of cases Lodges push Masons through the Degrees too fast, and of course lots of candidates seek to go through them as quickly as possible.
Slowing down for understanding is always wise IMHO.
Of course there are rare, yet important reasons to push Degrees as quickly as possible. Deployment to a war zone has I think always been one of those reasons for example, but again, such circumstances are rare.
I think one of the reasons in the past for believing it’s in the best interest to give a new member his degrees as quickly as possible is because if there’s too long a period of time between the degrees (and thus meetings, as all business was conducted on the MM Degree at the time) the new initiate will lose interest. I think I picked that idea up from rumblings I had heard at refreshments after meetings. It’s amazing how many weird thought processes were said that I had overheard back in the day.
I suppose that made some sense back when business could only be conducted on the MM Degree. Better now, but we are still weird about it, at least in our Jurisdiction. EA's should be full members from the moment of their obligations. Dues, voting, the whole bit. Not held in some sort of limbo as they are now.
But, still better than it was.
My favorite degree was the MM. I was raised with my youngest brother 40 years and a day from the time our grandfather and uncle were raised together in the same lodge.
I stand 6’4 and a solid 280lbs so the experience was unique. My youngest brother is bigger than I am and we were both tossed around like rag dolls. There also was a lot of grunting and groaning going on.
The historical references that go with the degree just make it that much more interesting to me now that I’ve had a chance to read more about it.
The EA is an interesting degree but I have seen it taken too far and brothers walk away after that experience. That degree should never be done in a way that embarrasses the candidate.
I’ll step down off my soapbox now.
Jim
I've had the honor of attending Degrees with family involvement as you mention, and that is always a wonderful thing to see. You're lucky to have had an opportunity like that!
Not Degree related, but also quite cool I think, a Lodge near me gave 40, 30, and 20 year service pins this week. 40 to the uncle, 30 and 20 to his nephews.
I too have seen people walk away after the EA Degree. It's very unfortunate. As you say, we have to ensure that we are doing our Degree work properly, and we also have to make sure that a man has a good understanding about what Freemasonry is before we accept his petition for the Degrees.
My favorite craft degree is the fellowcraft degree Because of the interactive lecture.
My favorite appendant body degree has to be the Royal Master Degree in the York Rite "it will be buried there"
I am also a big fan of the Masonic order of Athelstan's degree.
I haven't experienced the Athelstan Degrees, but have heard good mention of them.
The reason that the FC Degree Lecture stands out to me is as you mention its interactive nature. Mine was given so well that for a time I didn't even realize it was anything formal. Towards the beginning I thought it was just a guy taking me around the room, showing me cool things.
I feel, just as you the the EA degree was the most impactful. It got me in the door and it changed my life. It is also my favorite to watch and participate in.
While each degree was impactful in different ways the EA degree taught me how to be a good man. The other degrees built on that.
My experience of the EA Degree forced me to ponder my life. Not that my life was bad before, but it caused me to take a look and see what I'd like to be different in my future than it was in the past. I'm not sure why it had that effect, but it certainly did.
As you say, the others built upon that.
MWPGM BAILEY,
When I received the EA Degree 40 years ago, the first thing my eyes saw was the handlebar moustache of that Worshipful Master. Then I got to sit on a sideline, and see the full EA Degree conferred in another Candidate.
My 2nd favorite was my MM Degree in Webster Masonic Lodge No. 538 near Rochester NY. My dad had been given Authorization to enter Webster Masonic Lodge No. 538 by the WV Masonic Grand Lodge GM.
So MWPGM G. Glenwood Brown (1968 WV GM) "Raised" me. I was 4th Generation Mason in the Brown family line. ENOUGH!
Being raised by your father must have been a truly tremendous experience! I'm glad to know that you got to go through that.
I've had the honor of seeing sons having their Degrees conferred by their fathers and it is always awesome.
The EA degree had the biggest impact on me for a couple of reasons, first and foremost was although I was older and established as a successful business owner, I wasn't perfect and second, I had the opportunity to be with men who are now my lifelong friends a Brother's.
Favorite degree to confer is the MM because I have to really put a lot of work before I sit in the East no matter how many times I have done it, but I like doing lectures in all three and my favorite chair is SD.
That's how it was for me too I think. I was older in age, and successful. But, certainly not perfect, or even close to it. It was those things that the Degree led to me to contemplate, but the good things as well.
Things I wanted to lessen in my life, and things I wanted to increase in my life.
As for Senior Deacon, yep, that is my favorite role when conferring Degrees.
The degree that impacted me the most was the EA degree, probably because I didn’t know what to expect, and it was conferred by some really talented men. My favorite however, is the FC, for a number of reasons. First and foremost, the G lecture itself is my favorite part of any of the degrees. Second, many important words and symbols are thus explained that directly deal with your obligations as a mason. The circumambulation hits to the heart of what is most important in your journey to attain that perfect ashlar. Of course, just my own opinion.
I'm with you on the G Lecture. Properly delivered, it is a really superb piece of our Work.
I wanted to learn the g lecture, but after getting the first bit, all the “by it” lines just got to be too much for my old brain.
I too haven't learned it, for a different reason. A couple guys in my Lodge do such a good job delivering it, I imagine that if I were to start doing that lecture it would be a downgrade. I figure I pull off the SD part quite well, and as such that's where I can do the most good conferring the FC Degree.
I find that my favorite part through each of the degrees is the working tools, and the charges. I had the pleasure of experiencing a truly excellent FC and MM degree by Brethren who care deeply about the candidates experience, and they put on an incredible conferral.
While the situations were "enlightening" I don't know that anything was revealed so much as reinforced. Things that I had come to understand throughout life through experience or hardship. I didn't read ahead or watch any primers, desiring to have the experience unencumbered by preconceptions. With fresh eyes, and an open mind.
I don't think I could single out any one particular degree as a favorite, rather that I enjoyed the collective parts of the whole. More specifically the parts that promote an active way of living and being, as they impart the kind of expectations I firmly believe would lead to a better world if we honor our obligations. By being the change we wish to see.