If a lodge has been using the 6-Step program or a version of it, the candidate will have received some informal education. He will have observed Brothers greet one another and also maybe heard an after dinner speaker. I purchased and read Freemasonry for Dummies prior to my initiation. I did this on my own because I was hoping to gain a minimal understanding of what I was getting into. Part of me wishes I hadn’t done that as it took away some of the mystery of the initiation but overall it helped me understand what it was I was entering into. If I thought a formal educational program was needed for a new candidate I would suggest this book for them to read.
As bob mentioned, lodges should be using the six step program. We encourage the potential candidate during that time to ask questions. Since we meet every wednesday informally at the lodge for practice and mentorship, it's also a good time to socialize and get to know our brothers as well as visitors better.
Many great discussions come out of these meetings. As long as we're not getting into the weeds on the rituals, etc, it's very informative. It's also a good time to stress to the man thinking about applying exactly what is going to be expected of him, especially the memory work involved. Just about every single one of the candidates I have talked to pooh poohed the memory work like they never expect it to be a problem, until they actually have to do it. That reinforces my belief that candidates always tell you what you want to hear, not reality. It may be naivete, but they are so eager to join, they are not really contemplating the effort required.
As a related topic, the six step program is not a measure of retention. What happens in lodge after that first degree is. The six step does seem to weed out the random adventurer, but it's what is in the candidates heart that determines whether they stick around or not. Just me, personally, joining the freemasons came at a perfect time in my life, as it filled a giant hole that was missing. Regardless of how boring the meetings were, I went because I needed to have that fraternal connection that I lost when I retired from the military. Over time, I've wanted more, and have been an advocate for making the masonic experience more meaningful than what we've been providing at that time.
I understand that masonry is different for everyone. Some simply like hanging out with their brothers. Others want that education. More like the charity and community involvement, much like the lecture bros Lane and McCune provided us a few months back (elephant in the room). But there is absolutely nothing wrong with lodges trying to provide more than just a crappy dinner and a boring meeting of minute reading, introductions and budget discussions. And I think for a lot of brothers, that style of lodge is ok (if they stick around) but at some point they are going to leave because it's just not worth it.
Boy, talking about sidetracking a conversation, lol.
The "Six Steps to Initiation" program has some education and memorization for the candidate to explore. The EA I am mentoring lapped it up and wanted more. I gave him some books to read, including "Freemasonry for Dummies," and he later told me that they were the first books he had read, other than textbooks since he graduated from high school.
"I have never let my schooling interfere with my education." – attributed to Mark Twain
The EA and I have met many times during the shutdown, discussing Masonry, education, Life. I keep waving books and articles at him, and he keeps absorbing them. He even joined us here on Emeth and is really liking it!
This is a busy work day for me, so I apologize for zipping thru this important subject. Thank you RW for breaching this very important subject.
There is a line at the beginning of Frank Herbert’s novel Dune; Chapter 1 (Dune). “A beginning is the time for taking the most delicate care that the balances are correct.” In the case of the novel Herbert is referring to the telling of a story, but I think the sentiment applies to our work as Masons. The beginning of the Masonic journey is the most delicate moment, and will set the course of the candidate’s entire career.
Currently, we have the “Six Step Program” for introducing a candidate to a Lodge and the Craft, which is a vast improvement over having nothing at all, and in the hands of skillful Lodge Officers can be very useful. It however does not prepare the candidate for his exposure to the more esoteric elements of initiation or the Craft. For example, what is initiation meant to achieve? Is it just a ceremony of membership, or is it meant to “initiate” a process of spiritual and moral unfolding?
Before we can establish an introductory program, we, all of us, need to decide what it is we want to be as a Fraternity. It is my experience that there are two distinct philosophies about our Craft. First, we are a social club with strong philanthropic elements with a strong moral and ethical foundation. Second, we are all of that and an esoteric order that has a strong mystical element of development. Of course, between these two poles there are any number of combinations of the two.
If we choose the first option, we are fine now, BUT if we want the mystical side of Masonry to be in ascendancy again, it is my opinion that we need an introductory program that prepares a 21st century man for exposure to a stream of thought and experience that is ancient and potentially transformative.
What would that look like? In my opinion each degree would be proceeded by training specific to that degree. The first degree would be proceeded by a history lesson that answers questions like; “What does esoteric mean? What is the purpose of esoteric initiation? What is its History in the West? What is the secular history of the Craft? What are the romantic histories of the Craft? Why do we have two histories (real and romantic)?, what is the value? “ The second degree prep class would be focused the seven liberal arts, schools of architecture in the context of the Craft, and this would be a good time to explore operative masonry and its contrast and relationship with speculative Masonry. We could also talk about the role of sacred geometry and astro-archeology in Western thought (For example, many medieval churches were built in alignment with sun rise on the saints day of the saint that the church was named for). Finally in the third degree we explore the mythology of the “Solar Hero”, mysteries of life and death, the history of other groups that use a similar motif, such as the Eleusinian Mysteries and maybe introduce the Lodge of reflection. Throughout this educational period books such as Pike’s Esoterica could be used as a text book. Honestly, I can think of dozens of books that would be useful.
Finally, I want to address what is probably the elephant in the room. Many, if not most, Freemasons have very little experience with the esoteric side of Masonry. This would constitute a culture change and would take some energy. Before implementing a program like this, we would probably need to explain it to the brethren in workshops and programs.
Again, I am addressing this a warp speed today, and I feel this subject requires deeper exploration. It is an oportunity for us to explore who and what we want to be.
The core or critical issue here is getting agreement on what exactly the primary mission of our craft really is .... and not surprisingly ... when we ask brothers who joined fir various disparate reasons and are active and participate in various different ways and roles ..
. We find a messy miasma of views on what the true core mission of our craft is and should be.
So before we go off chasing our own tail ... trying to decide the optimal timing, type, and depth of training ....
We need concensus on the primary core mission....
Are we here to help.guide men to a higher plane if self awareness abd self sctuslization?
Are we here to foster a particular set of specific ethical values?
Are we here to better socialize men such that non contentious fusckuse can grow in our communities?
Ard we here as a social club?
Are we just a feeder organization so folks can join shriners and have othrr men to be happy and childish eith ... and get a discount af the golf course.
Or what ?
Or fir that matter ....is the diversity... or understood or misunderstood... reasons men have as understandings if our mission .... a needed and critical part of the stability if the craft ....mission diversity is good ir bad ? Desirable ir undesirable?
Anyhowcmy point is simple....training needs to speak to the mission ... but if the mission is fuzzy ... ig is hard to havd clarity on what abd when to implement what kind if training ....
As for too much training... diffusing the novelty and excitement of the rituals ... I doubt that ...
In general the deeper and greater the involvement and investment ip front ... the mire exciting...more involvement becomes ...
As has been pointed out, Lodges can focus on the social aspects of Freemasonry, or on charity, or on nothing at all really, or on Masonic/esoteric education.
I think that if we ask our candidates what drew them to Masonry, we would find Masonic/esoteric right there at the top of the heap. The Jurisdiction of Washington has Masons asking candidates that question right now, and their results of those conversations are clearly proving that to be correct.
Of course local variations abound, so I think it would always be wise for a Lodge to talk with a potential candidate about what draws him towards Freemasonry.
I do feel compelled to point out that esoterics are what sets Freemasonry apart. The social and charitable aspects of our Fraternity can be had through any number of other organizations. Only through Freemasonry can a man benefit from those aspects, and receive the Masonic/esoteric education that men have sought for centuries.
I think that if we are going to teach the esoteric side of Freemasonry, and discuss what is hidden behind the veil, then I think we need to recognize that education has changed over the decades. Not to pick on Pike, but in Pike's time one would have learned a great deal about the ancient world and classical myths in school. Today there is much less, if any, of that. The reason for the change clearly makes sense, people today need to know different things to thrive in the workplace then they needed to know in Pike's time. Changing economic demands have driven change in education. There is certainly nothing wrong with that.
But try to read the old version of Morals and Dogma, then try to read the new Annotated Edition, and see which one is more understandable. Pikes words are exactly the same in each, but in the new version background information is included in footnotes. Background information that may well have not been needed by the average reader of the tome in Pike's time, for the reader would have already received it in school.
I think that this is what was behind VW Mike's comment that resulted in this discussion topic. If we are going to talk about what is behind the veil, do we need to provide some background to the man of today in order for those discussions to reach optimal effectiveness?
I think that we do.
All of this is also a fairly long way of saying that we already do have an accepted definition of Freemasonry: "A peculiar system of morality, veiled in allegory, and illustrated by symbols."
I agree that the social, charitable, and other aspects of Freemasonry are important, but they were not important enough to our Masonic ancestors to include within the definition of Freemasonry.
If a lodge has been using the 6-Step program or a version of it, the candidate will have received some informal education. He will have observed Brothers greet one another and also maybe heard an after dinner speaker. I purchased and read Freemasonry for Dummies prior to my initiation. I did this on my own because I was hoping to gain a minimal understanding of what I was getting into. Part of me wishes I hadn’t done that as it took away some of the mystery of the initiation but overall it helped me understand what it was I was entering into. If I thought a formal educational program was needed for a new candidate I would suggest this book for them to read.
A business quote I like is, “the more people yo can eliminate as potential customers, the more successful you will be.”
We should of course talk about the great things Masonry offers.
We should also be clear before initiation about where and why Masonry might not be a good fit for someone.
As bob mentioned, lodges should be using the six step program. We encourage the potential candidate during that time to ask questions. Since we meet every wednesday informally at the lodge for practice and mentorship, it's also a good time to socialize and get to know our brothers as well as visitors better.
Many great discussions come out of these meetings. As long as we're not getting into the weeds on the rituals, etc, it's very informative. It's also a good time to stress to the man thinking about applying exactly what is going to be expected of him, especially the memory work involved. Just about every single one of the candidates I have talked to pooh poohed the memory work like they never expect it to be a problem, until they actually have to do it. That reinforces my belief that candidates always tell you what you want to hear, not reality. It may be naivete, but they are so eager to join, they are not really contemplating the effort required.
As a related topic, the six step program is not a measure of retention. What happens in lodge after that first degree is. The six step does seem to weed out the random adventurer, but it's what is in the candidates heart that determines whether they stick around or not. Just me, personally, joining the freemasons came at a perfect time in my life, as it filled a giant hole that was missing. Regardless of how boring the meetings were, I went because I needed to have that fraternal connection that I lost when I retired from the military. Over time, I've wanted more, and have been an advocate for making the masonic experience more meaningful than what we've been providing at that time.
I understand that masonry is different for everyone. Some simply like hanging out with their brothers. Others want that education. More like the charity and community involvement, much like the lecture bros Lane and McCune provided us a few months back (elephant in the room). But there is absolutely nothing wrong with lodges trying to provide more than just a crappy dinner and a boring meeting of minute reading, introductions and budget discussions. And I think for a lot of brothers, that style of lodge is ok (if they stick around) but at some point they are going to leave because it's just not worth it.
Boy, talking about sidetracking a conversation, lol.
The "Six Steps to Initiation" program has some education and memorization for the candidate to explore. The EA I am mentoring lapped it up and wanted more. I gave him some books to read, including "Freemasonry for Dummies," and he later told me that they were the first books he had read, other than textbooks since he graduated from high school.
"I have never let my schooling interfere with my education." – attributed to Mark Twain
The EA and I have met many times during the shutdown, discussing Masonry, education, Life. I keep waving books and articles at him, and he keeps absorbing them. He even joined us here on Emeth and is really liking it!
This is a busy work day for me, so I apologize for zipping thru this important subject. Thank you RW for breaching this very important subject.
There is a line at the beginning of Frank Herbert’s novel Dune; Chapter 1 (Dune). “A beginning is the time for taking the most delicate care that the balances are correct.” In the case of the novel Herbert is referring to the telling of a story, but I think the sentiment applies to our work as Masons. The beginning of the Masonic journey is the most delicate moment, and will set the course of the candidate’s entire career.
Currently, we have the “Six Step Program” for introducing a candidate to a Lodge and the Craft, which is a vast improvement over having nothing at all, and in the hands of skillful Lodge Officers can be very useful. It however does not prepare the candidate for his exposure to the more esoteric elements of initiation or the Craft. For example, what is initiation meant to achieve? Is it just a ceremony of membership, or is it meant to “initiate” a process of spiritual and moral unfolding?
Before we can establish an introductory program, we, all of us, need to decide what it is we want to be as a Fraternity. It is my experience that there are two distinct philosophies about our Craft. First, we are a social club with strong philanthropic elements with a strong moral and ethical foundation. Second, we are all of that and an esoteric order that has a strong mystical element of development. Of course, between these two poles there are any number of combinations of the two.
If we choose the first option, we are fine now, BUT if we want the mystical side of Masonry to be in ascendancy again, it is my opinion that we need an introductory program that prepares a 21st century man for exposure to a stream of thought and experience that is ancient and potentially transformative.
What would that look like? In my opinion each degree would be proceeded by training specific to that degree. The first degree would be proceeded by a history lesson that answers questions like; “What does esoteric mean? What is the purpose of esoteric initiation? What is its History in the West? What is the secular history of the Craft? What are the romantic histories of the Craft? Why do we have two histories (real and romantic)?, what is the value? “ The second degree prep class would be focused the seven liberal arts, schools of architecture in the context of the Craft, and this would be a good time to explore operative masonry and its contrast and relationship with speculative Masonry. We could also talk about the role of sacred geometry and astro-archeology in Western thought (For example, many medieval churches were built in alignment with sun rise on the saints day of the saint that the church was named for). Finally in the third degree we explore the mythology of the “Solar Hero”, mysteries of life and death, the history of other groups that use a similar motif, such as the Eleusinian Mysteries and maybe introduce the Lodge of reflection. Throughout this educational period books such as Pike’s Esoterica could be used as a text book. Honestly, I can think of dozens of books that would be useful.
Finally, I want to address what is probably the elephant in the room. Many, if not most, Freemasons have very little experience with the esoteric side of Masonry. This would constitute a culture change and would take some energy. Before implementing a program like this, we would probably need to explain it to the brethren in workshops and programs.
Again, I am addressing this a warp speed today, and I feel this subject requires deeper exploration. It is an oportunity for us to explore who and what we want to be.
The core or critical issue here is getting agreement on what exactly the primary mission of our craft really is .... and not surprisingly ... when we ask brothers who joined fir various disparate reasons and are active and participate in various different ways and roles ..
. We find a messy miasma of views on what the true core mission of our craft is and should be.
So before we go off chasing our own tail ... trying to decide the optimal timing, type, and depth of training ....
We need concensus on the primary core mission....
Are we here to help.guide men to a higher plane if self awareness abd self sctuslization?
Are we here to foster a particular set of specific ethical values?
Are we here to better socialize men such that non contentious fusckuse can grow in our communities?
Ard we here as a social club?
Are we just a feeder organization so folks can join shriners and have othrr men to be happy and childish eith ... and get a discount af the golf course.
Or what ?
Or fir that matter ....is the diversity... or understood or misunderstood... reasons men have as understandings if our mission .... a needed and critical part of the stability if the craft ....mission diversity is good ir bad ? Desirable ir undesirable?
Anyhowcmy point is simple....training needs to speak to the mission ... but if the mission is fuzzy ... ig is hard to havd clarity on what abd when to implement what kind if training ....
As for too much training... diffusing the novelty and excitement of the rituals ... I doubt that ...
In general the deeper and greater the involvement and investment ip front ... the mire exciting...more involvement becomes ...
As has been pointed out, Lodges can focus on the social aspects of Freemasonry, or on charity, or on nothing at all really, or on Masonic/esoteric education.
I think that if we ask our candidates what drew them to Masonry, we would find Masonic/esoteric right there at the top of the heap. The Jurisdiction of Washington has Masons asking candidates that question right now, and their results of those conversations are clearly proving that to be correct.
Of course local variations abound, so I think it would always be wise for a Lodge to talk with a potential candidate about what draws him towards Freemasonry.
I do feel compelled to point out that esoterics are what sets Freemasonry apart. The social and charitable aspects of our Fraternity can be had through any number of other organizations. Only through Freemasonry can a man benefit from those aspects, and receive the Masonic/esoteric education that men have sought for centuries.
I think that if we are going to teach the esoteric side of Freemasonry, and discuss what is hidden behind the veil, then I think we need to recognize that education has changed over the decades. Not to pick on Pike, but in Pike's time one would have learned a great deal about the ancient world and classical myths in school. Today there is much less, if any, of that. The reason for the change clearly makes sense, people today need to know different things to thrive in the workplace then they needed to know in Pike's time. Changing economic demands have driven change in education. There is certainly nothing wrong with that.
But try to read the old version of Morals and Dogma, then try to read the new Annotated Edition, and see which one is more understandable. Pikes words are exactly the same in each, but in the new version background information is included in footnotes. Background information that may well have not been needed by the average reader of the tome in Pike's time, for the reader would have already received it in school.
I think that this is what was behind VW Mike's comment that resulted in this discussion topic. If we are going to talk about what is behind the veil, do we need to provide some background to the man of today in order for those discussions to reach optimal effectiveness?
I think that we do.
All of this is also a fairly long way of saying that we already do have an accepted definition of Freemasonry: "A peculiar system of morality, veiled in allegory, and illustrated by symbols."
I agree that the social, charitable, and other aspects of Freemasonry are important, but they were not important enough to our Masonic ancestors to include within the definition of Freemasonry.