Here in the Grand Lodge of Washington, we have always had cyphers of our work. We have never been a true ‘Mouth to Ear’ Jurisdiction.
Now, before you start telling me that I’m nuts and that the Grand Lodge of Washington only started publishing its work in cypher form in the year XXXX, let me explain…
While I do not doubt that there was a time before we published our official and approved cyphers, unofficial, illegal, cyphers have existed in this Jurisdiction since the beginning. I’ve managed to build a pretty good collection of them through the years.
And they were extremely popular. I know this because I have explored plenty of storage closets in old Masonic Temples, and these things are everywhere. Some publishers made more interesting ones than others, some are much rarer than others, but thousands of them still exist in dusty boxes in our Temples.
But, we could be a Mouth to Ear Jurisdiction. It is not outside of the realm of possibility. We could throw all of our cyphers away, and make it a Masonic Offense to be found with one, a Grand Lodge published one, or a bootleg copy.
Of course, the chances of us actually doing that are just about nil. But it could be done.
What is the advantage of Mouth to Ear that we have never had in the Jurisdiction of Washington? What did we give up when we allowed unofficial cyphers to make it into the hands of every Mason?
I think that we can all agree that mentorship is the most important thing a Lodge can provide to its candidates, and that it is one of the very first things that can build a truly solid bond between an experienced Mason and the new Mason.
I don’t think that any Lodge intentionally does a poor job with mentorship.
But, that said, I think that all of us can probably point to cases where good mentorship was not provided to a candidate.
In a Mouth to Ear Jurisdiction, that is much less likely to happen, because it isn’t actually possible for the new Mason to move forward unless he spends a lot of time with his mentor, learning the ritual by hearing it and repeating it back.
Here we can spend a few short minutes teaching a guy the cypher, answering any particular questions that arise later over the phone, and send him off, telling him to return when he’s got it down.
Mouth to Ear doesn’t work like that. Can’t work like that. Time must be spent, and time is critical to building bonds between men.
So how can we best ensure that we are replicating that experience when our Lodge seeks to mentor a new Mason? How can we ensure that critical time exists between the mentor and the new Mason?
UGLE have the Solomon platform. It has modules for each degree including the RA. If candidates were required to complete before moving to the next degree the mentor would have to give guidance or the progress can’t be made. Something I’m working on
Personally I love it. Great way to introduce new Brothers to understanding the 3degrees as they make progress and then onto the RA. I present certificates now in recognition of a Brothers efforts. Solomon.ugle.org.uk
It’s all about the mentorship. Even if the mentor doesn’t have a desired answer to a ritual related question the two find the answer together, effectively expanding the knowledge of both and binding them even closer.
Same thing for opening/closing or conferring ritual. This helps men “collect” mentors. Men he can call and ask for help with ritual or even life’s existential questions drawing the brethren all closer to one another.
For all we do wrong the mouth to ear learning and forcing of mentor relationships is something I’m proud of our jurisdiction for continuing.
Having listened to you explain these benefits recently has led me to believe that we very likely gave up something quite important, without even realizing it, when we allowed the widespread use of cyphers.
One can't put the genie back into the bottle as they say, but it is interesting to contemplate how things could be different had other choices been made so long ago.
Even with cyphers, there is the danger of learning the ritual wrong, if the mentor/coach doesn't have the ritual right to begin with. And it's been my experience that when you learn ritual wrong, even when you've been told it's wrong later, it's difficult to correct. I would think this is more susceptible with mouth to ear.
I think the cypher is basically there to make sure of compliance and uniformity, as we still learn (at least I did and still do) by having the coach read aloud the ritual, the brother reading it back, then eventually reciting it from memory.
I have had the same mentor for 10 years since I came in. He has helped me through every office even now as master he is still helping me. He is 91 and I am 69 I see her most weeks to learn ritual have a coffee and a chat. Now if I had not had his help over the years with each office I would neve
never gotten to the chair. We are in two different lodges with two different ritual but I have a spare book which I gave him so we get there in the end.
So I would say to new guys get your self a mentor have coffee learn the words and most of all make it fun to learn.
That is awesome that you've been able to keep the same mentor for so many years. I've moved during the course of my Masonic career, so while I remain very good friends with my first mentor, that relationship had to change when I was no longer local.
Ultimately, I've had a lot of mentors during my time as a Mason, but most of them didn't know that they were such. I simply decided that they were men whom I wanted to emulate. That has served me well through the various offices.
Mentors are very important, thats why the JW and SW are there, to provide mentorhip or to asigned a mentor and make sure the work is done.
For the "Mouth to Ear" in the jurisdiction I started my path (Puerto Rico). This was and is only reserved for the deepest layers of the esoteric knowledge and even though is not meant for everyone. But in essence, yes, there is still an occult knowledge that keep following this ancient rule.
That is interesting, thank you. We don't have the provision of mentorship as a specific job duty of the SW and JW here. Rather I think in most Lodges here it is up to the WM to assign a mentor. Sometimes with great success, other times less successfully. Hopefully, as Lodges work to provide better Masonic experiences, more attention is paid to the provision of mentorship and that results in more care being taken in these appointments.
Not sure what the difference is between having a cypher or not, we still need to work with our new masons in learning the ritual. If a lodge is just tossing a newly obligated brother the standard work and leaving him to his own devices, shame on them.
When I first joined, I had several mentors that guided me on my journey, and God bless them for their patience. I still look to the brothers, young or old, for help when I need it.
I had truly excellent mentorship when I became a Mason. In turn, I've tried to provide excellent mentorship to the new Masons I've been asked to mentor. In all honesty, I've gotten better at it through the years. We learn as we do.
But, I do know more than one Mason who was just thrown a Standard Work and left on their own to figure it out. I agree, that is a shame on the Lodge that does it, but it unfortunately happens.
Luckily I think that can be easily avoided if the WM spends some time thinking about whom he is going to assign.
I agree that it would improve our mentorship, but there are unintended consequences. First WE would learn our ritual better, we would have to be perfect to mentor a new candidate. Second, our degrees would be better performed and have more meaning because... we know our ritual better. Third, I believe initiates would feel like they were learning something special (and they are) because it isn't written down. Fourth, while we are teaching mouth-to-ear we would have more time for the candidate and the brother to explore other avenues of freemasonry. It would be a journey and not a race. Washington State already allows brothers to attend all parts of the communication that is appropriate for that degree.
Well, those sounds like some pretty darn good unintended consequences! And I can't disagree with any of them.
It seems to me that when my mentor was helping me to memorize the posting lecture, we did spend about 25% of the time learning that work, and all the rest of the time talking about other things. And that is what I truly valued. More time spent between mentor and candidate has to be a good thing I think.
And, yes indeed, we can do business on any Degree, which negates any need to move a candidate quickly along what should be a journey to be savored.
North Carolina operates under a tradition of oral transmission, where knowledge is passed from mouth to ear—with the practice we have a book known as the Order System of Work (OSW). Within our Masonic community, it is considered a grave transgression to transcribe or disseminate our rituals in written form.
I firmly believe that the process of learning and internalizing Masonic rituals through personal instruction and memorization fosters a profound connection between individuals and the Craft. The bond formed between a mentor, known as a coach, and the Mason being mentored is enduring and serves as an initial immersion into the essence of Freemasonry.
Moreover, the cultivation of the art of memory is central to our practices. Through dedicated study and recitation, Masons not only commit the rituals to memory but also engage in a deeper exploration of their meanings and significance. In my view, this journey of initiation, progression through the degrees, and demonstration of proficiency is paramount. It entails more than mere memorization; it demands a sincere commitment to the principles and obligations we have solemnly undertaken.
The introspective dialogue facilitated by a coach during the memorization process serves to refine one's character and mindset. Without this introspection, Freemasonry risks becoming indistinguishable from any other social or civic organization. It is my personal conviction that Freemasonry transcends such labels—it is a transformative journey of self-discovery and moral growth. "My opinion only."
Regarding the trend of expedited initiation processes, such as day classes or at-site conferrals, I cannot help but question their efficacy. While they may grant individuals the title of Mason, I fear they may miss out on the profound depth of understanding and personal development that comes from a more traditional approach. And we cheated them of that experience.
In essence, Freemasonry is more than a mere association or fraternity—it is a profound philosophical and spiritual journey that demands dedication, introspection, and a steadfast commitment to its principles. For those seeking a deeper understanding, I recommend exploring texts such as "The Hermetic Art of Memory," which delve into the philosophical underpinnings of our ritualistic traditions. Let us not dilute the significance of our Craft by reducing it to a mere social club or fraternity.
Thank you for providing this perspective. As a Washington Mason, I am without any experience regarding Mouth to Ear. But, I can certainly see the advantages.
I also share your expressed concerns about one day conferals and such. In my opinion those stray very far from Initiation, and as we are an Initiatory Society, that certainly doesn't make much sense. I understand that my Jurisdiction did run a one day class many years ago. That has never been repeated.
Yeah, and don't take my message as condemnation of "cypher or not to cypher" policy. That goat fled the lodge room a long time ago. Im just concerned with what i see, we seem to be all to eager to cheapen the experience for the sake of continued revenue.
UGLE have the Solomon platform. It has modules for each degree including the RA. If candidates were required to complete before moving to the next degree the mentor would have to give guidance or the progress can’t be made. Something I’m working on
I've heard about Solomon, but haven't of course seen it. We don't have anything online like that for our new Masons here. I'm curious how you like it?
Personally I love it. Great way to introduce new Brothers to understanding the 3degrees as they make progress and then onto the RA. I present certificates now in recognition of a Brothers efforts. Solomon.ugle.org.uk
Thank you very much!
It’s all about the mentorship. Even if the mentor doesn’t have a desired answer to a ritual related question the two find the answer together, effectively expanding the knowledge of both and binding them even closer.
Same thing for opening/closing or conferring ritual. This helps men “collect” mentors. Men he can call and ask for help with ritual or even life’s existential questions drawing the brethren all closer to one another.
For all we do wrong the mouth to ear learning and forcing of mentor relationships is something I’m proud of our jurisdiction for continuing.
Having listened to you explain these benefits recently has led me to believe that we very likely gave up something quite important, without even realizing it, when we allowed the widespread use of cyphers.
One can't put the genie back into the bottle as they say, but it is interesting to contemplate how things could be different had other choices been made so long ago.
Even with cyphers, there is the danger of learning the ritual wrong, if the mentor/coach doesn't have the ritual right to begin with. And it's been my experience that when you learn ritual wrong, even when you've been told it's wrong later, it's difficult to correct. I would think this is more susceptible with mouth to ear.
I think the cypher is basically there to make sure of compliance and uniformity, as we still learn (at least I did and still do) by having the coach read aloud the ritual, the brother reading it back, then eventually reciting it from memory.
I have had the same mentor for 10 years since I came in. He has helped me through every office even now as master he is still helping me. He is 91 and I am 69 I see her most weeks to learn ritual have a coffee and a chat. Now if I had not had his help over the years with each office I would neve
never gotten to the chair. We are in two different lodges with two different ritual but I have a spare book which I gave him so we get there in the end.
So I would say to new guys get your self a mentor have coffee learn the words and most of all make it fun to learn.
That is awesome that you've been able to keep the same mentor for so many years. I've moved during the course of my Masonic career, so while I remain very good friends with my first mentor, that relationship had to change when I was no longer local.
Ultimately, I've had a lot of mentors during my time as a Mason, but most of them didn't know that they were such. I simply decided that they were men whom I wanted to emulate. That has served me well through the various offices.
Mentors are very important, thats why the JW and SW are there, to provide mentorhip or to asigned a mentor and make sure the work is done.
For the "Mouth to Ear" in the jurisdiction I started my path (Puerto Rico). This was and is only reserved for the deepest layers of the esoteric knowledge and even though is not meant for everyone. But in essence, yes, there is still an occult knowledge that keep following this ancient rule.
That is interesting, thank you. We don't have the provision of mentorship as a specific job duty of the SW and JW here. Rather I think in most Lodges here it is up to the WM to assign a mentor. Sometimes with great success, other times less successfully. Hopefully, as Lodges work to provide better Masonic experiences, more attention is paid to the provision of mentorship and that results in more care being taken in these appointments.
Not sure what the difference is between having a cypher or not, we still need to work with our new masons in learning the ritual. If a lodge is just tossing a newly obligated brother the standard work and leaving him to his own devices, shame on them.
When I first joined, I had several mentors that guided me on my journey, and God bless them for their patience. I still look to the brothers, young or old, for help when I need it.
I had truly excellent mentorship when I became a Mason. In turn, I've tried to provide excellent mentorship to the new Masons I've been asked to mentor. In all honesty, I've gotten better at it through the years. We learn as we do.
But, I do know more than one Mason who was just thrown a Standard Work and left on their own to figure it out. I agree, that is a shame on the Lodge that does it, but it unfortunately happens.
Luckily I think that can be easily avoided if the WM spends some time thinking about whom he is going to assign.
I agree that it would improve our mentorship, but there are unintended consequences. First WE would learn our ritual better, we would have to be perfect to mentor a new candidate. Second, our degrees would be better performed and have more meaning because... we know our ritual better. Third, I believe initiates would feel like they were learning something special (and they are) because it isn't written down. Fourth, while we are teaching mouth-to-ear we would have more time for the candidate and the brother to explore other avenues of freemasonry. It would be a journey and not a race. Washington State already allows brothers to attend all parts of the communication that is appropriate for that degree.
Well, those sounds like some pretty darn good unintended consequences! And I can't disagree with any of them.
It seems to me that when my mentor was helping me to memorize the posting lecture, we did spend about 25% of the time learning that work, and all the rest of the time talking about other things. And that is what I truly valued. More time spent between mentor and candidate has to be a good thing I think.
And, yes indeed, we can do business on any Degree, which negates any need to move a candidate quickly along what should be a journey to be savored.
North Carolina operates under a tradition of oral transmission, where knowledge is passed from mouth to ear—with the practice we have a book known as the Order System of Work (OSW). Within our Masonic community, it is considered a grave transgression to transcribe or disseminate our rituals in written form.
I firmly believe that the process of learning and internalizing Masonic rituals through personal instruction and memorization fosters a profound connection between individuals and the Craft. The bond formed between a mentor, known as a coach, and the Mason being mentored is enduring and serves as an initial immersion into the essence of Freemasonry.
Moreover, the cultivation of the art of memory is central to our practices. Through dedicated study and recitation, Masons not only commit the rituals to memory but also engage in a deeper exploration of their meanings and significance. In my view, this journey of initiation, progression through the degrees, and demonstration of proficiency is paramount. It entails more than mere memorization; it demands a sincere commitment to the principles and obligations we have solemnly undertaken.
The introspective dialogue facilitated by a coach during the memorization process serves to refine one's character and mindset. Without this introspection, Freemasonry risks becoming indistinguishable from any other social or civic organization. It is my personal conviction that Freemasonry transcends such labels—it is a transformative journey of self-discovery and moral growth. "My opinion only."
Regarding the trend of expedited initiation processes, such as day classes or at-site conferrals, I cannot help but question their efficacy. While they may grant individuals the title of Mason, I fear they may miss out on the profound depth of understanding and personal development that comes from a more traditional approach. And we cheated them of that experience.
In essence, Freemasonry is more than a mere association or fraternity—it is a profound philosophical and spiritual journey that demands dedication, introspection, and a steadfast commitment to its principles. For those seeking a deeper understanding, I recommend exploring texts such as "The Hermetic Art of Memory," which delve into the philosophical underpinnings of our ritualistic traditions. Let us not dilute the significance of our Craft by reducing it to a mere social club or fraternity.
Thank you for providing this perspective. As a Washington Mason, I am without any experience regarding Mouth to Ear. But, I can certainly see the advantages.
I also share your expressed concerns about one day conferals and such. In my opinion those stray very far from Initiation, and as we are an Initiatory Society, that certainly doesn't make much sense. I understand that my Jurisdiction did run a one day class many years ago. That has never been repeated.
Yeah, and don't take my message as condemnation of "cypher or not to cypher" policy. That goat fled the lodge room a long time ago. Im just concerned with what i see, we seem to be all to eager to cheapen the experience for the sake of continued revenue.