It's a toss-up between Entered Apprentice, and the AASR 18th degree.
EA, because if it's done well the candidate knows very little and it is a "first time" experience, arguably with a more profound experience than the others because it's the first exposure for a candidate.
AASR 18th because of the key lessons are a great distillation (to m…
It's a toss-up between Entered Apprentice, and the AASR 18th degree.
EA, because if it's done well the candidate knows very little and it is a "first time" experience, arguably with a more profound experience than the others because it's the first exposure for a candidate.
AASR 18th because of the key lessons are a great distillation (to me) of what the craft is overall: "Practice virtue that it may produce fruit. Labor to eliminate vice, purify humanity. Be tolerant of the faith and creed of others".
I think that my most vivid Degree memory is of my EA Degree, for the reason you mention. It wasn't a perfectly done Degree, but even so, it has stuck with me.
Another favorite is the 31st of the Scottish Rite. It is I think the Degree that I learned the most from, or certainly the most interesting concepts from when I did the Master Craftsman program.
Haha the EA never needs to be done perfectly, the candidate has no basis for comparison.
Let's just say that's a direct benefit to rusty lodges coming out of COVID times, initiating candidates this season for the first time in a long time.
Ritual proficiency is important, but (and I hope you take this with the spirit of the context of this conversation) proficiency in conferring the EA is the least important, in a sense.
Your point is well taken. As long as the Degree just rolls on, the candidate will never know of any mistakes that were made.
The only way I don't think this holds true is if folks on the sidelines try to correct perceived mistakes. When that happens, and I have seen it happen unfortunately, then the candidate will of course notice, and his experience will be lessened.
Agreed - prompting & corrections are for practice not conferral. If a candidate notices a prompt or correction during the degree, it's a peanut gallery problem rather than a conferral problem.
It's a toss-up between Entered Apprentice, and the AASR 18th degree.
EA, because if it's done well the candidate knows very little and it is a "first time" experience, arguably with a more profound experience than the others because it's the first exposure for a candidate.
AASR 18th because of the key lessons are a great distillation (to me) of what the craft is overall: "Practice virtue that it may produce fruit. Labor to eliminate vice, purify humanity. Be tolerant of the faith and creed of others".
I think that my most vivid Degree memory is of my EA Degree, for the reason you mention. It wasn't a perfectly done Degree, but even so, it has stuck with me.
Another favorite is the 31st of the Scottish Rite. It is I think the Degree that I learned the most from, or certainly the most interesting concepts from when I did the Master Craftsman program.
Haha the EA never needs to be done perfectly, the candidate has no basis for comparison.
Let's just say that's a direct benefit to rusty lodges coming out of COVID times, initiating candidates this season for the first time in a long time.
Ritual proficiency is important, but (and I hope you take this with the spirit of the context of this conversation) proficiency in conferring the EA is the least important, in a sense.
Your point is well taken. As long as the Degree just rolls on, the candidate will never know of any mistakes that were made.
The only way I don't think this holds true is if folks on the sidelines try to correct perceived mistakes. When that happens, and I have seen it happen unfortunately, then the candidate will of course notice, and his experience will be lessened.
Agreed - prompting & corrections are for practice not conferral. If a candidate notices a prompt or correction during the degree, it's a peanut gallery problem rather than a conferral problem.