If introductions were bad enough in lodge, it’s 40x worse in the concordant bodies.
If there was one thing I could do away with, that would be introductions. I would introduce true visitors - brothers that were at the lodge for the first time. After that, if I had my choice, I’d do away with them completely. We all know everyone. We know where they came from. We know when their stated meetings are. During announcements, if you are doing a fundraiser, or a degree, let us know. But that’s it. I’m not even keen on introducing brothers from grand lodge, except for the GM, or the district deputy during his official visit. We all know you’re from GL, you have that fancy schmancy purple and gold regalia.
If getting introduced once is bad, getting introduced twice is just downright stupid.
Why do we need to do them? Can anyone give me a proper reason why it’s done at all? You should have introduced yourself before the meeting. Plenty of time for that. There is nothing in the code requiring it. If your reason is to put it in the minutes for posterity, that’s what the tylers register is for. I won’t be offended, and if someone is, perhaps you should consider why?
Remember that part of meeting on the level?
The time spent on the trivialities could be better served on education, and discussions on how to make the lodge better.
I’ve heard the arguments that well, it only takes five minutes. That is how we’ve always done it. As you mentioned, what is supposed to go on in the meeting isn’t wasting five minutes doing something just because we’ve always done it that way. I guarantee you, no, we haven’t. Just because you have always seen it done doesn’t mean for the past 300 years.
I agree with the statements made thus far. One point about the timing of the meeting that I feel strongly about is the business items. Business of the Lodge should be done outside the lodge meeting by committees and then the meeting time reserved for reports of the said committees. Too many times, the work is assigned a committee chair and one or two members to get something done/investigated. Then at the meeting a report is requested. But instead of reporting what was found or what is needed, the committee chair starts his work with the lodge members. Discussions ensure, suggestions are made, and time is wasted. Had the work been done by the committee members, the chair could spend 2-3 minutes giving status and save much needed time for education. Just one suggestion for getting our meetings back to the true business of Masonry...educating our brothers and each other in becoming better men.
My biggest concern is that the esoteric knowledge is completely lost.
I have read extensively on Masonry since joining, especially since I wasn't getting any education in lodge. The golden era of Masonic writing seems to have been in the mid to late 19th century. But even then, the men writing were so afraid of violating their oaths that they didn't give any explicit details to explain the meaning and why they hold their views.
There is a lot of speculation based on educated research of what the ritual's meaning is, but none of the writing I've seen so far is written with the conviction of someone with direct knowledge passed down from the ancients, from mentor to student.
If I am an acolyte to an ancient mystery, I would expect the education to go something like this.
1. Initiation to the ritual
2. Explanation of the literal interpretation of the ritual as it is given to the initiate, and explained to the profane masses. (summary Given in the trestleboard lecture, but not expounded upon)
3. Explanation of the moral interpretation of the ritual. (summary given in the working tools lectures, but not expounded on)
4. Explanation of the mathematical interpretation of the ritual. (No longer given)
5. Explanation of the Astronomical interpretation of the ritual. (no longer given)
6. Explanation of the spiritual interpretation of the ritual and how it relates to understanding divinity. (no longer given)
7. Explanation of why the ritual must be kept secret. Who are we hiding from specifically? What power is afraid of this knowledge being shared with the public? Who is being protected from whom?
I believe that the answers to those questions have been entirely lost, and we are simply grasping at straws. Trying to reconcile our modern science with ancient mysteries when the two may not be related at all, and if anybody actually knows for sure, they aren't sharing.
Here is a different approach. Prior to each meeting I developed an flyer for that month and I wrote the names instead of using labels, and the ladies were invited for dinners. Our lodge had past GM's for guest speakers. We also shared degree work and PM's dinner to support our other lodges in the district. I encouraged moving the traveling gavel every month. I also had a visiting member of another lodge to give the charge. Last but not leased after the meeting good spirits were available downstairs it worked great.
I think it is important for us to remember that what a man is given freely, he will likely not value. But what he must work to have, he will value highly. I believe that is one of the reasons Freemasonry has always veiled its truths.
Reading the post I started wondering if degree Workings are not mystery teachings in themselves. Lectures teach you on objective mind level, but our ritual Workings go to the depths of the subliminal or subconscious mind.
This is not directed at anyone in particular.
If introductions were bad enough in lodge, it’s 40x worse in the concordant bodies.
If there was one thing I could do away with, that would be introductions. I would introduce true visitors - brothers that were at the lodge for the first time. After that, if I had my choice, I’d do away with them completely. We all know everyone. We know where they came from. We know when their stated meetings are. During announcements, if you are doing a fundraiser, or a degree, let us know. But that’s it. I’m not even keen on introducing brothers from grand lodge, except for the GM, or the district deputy during his official visit. We all know you’re from GL, you have that fancy schmancy purple and gold regalia.
If getting introduced once is bad, getting introduced twice is just downright stupid.
Why do we need to do them? Can anyone give me a proper reason why it’s done at all? You should have introduced yourself before the meeting. Plenty of time for that. There is nothing in the code requiring it. If your reason is to put it in the minutes for posterity, that’s what the tylers register is for. I won’t be offended, and if someone is, perhaps you should consider why?
Remember that part of meeting on the level?
The time spent on the trivialities could be better served on education, and discussions on how to make the lodge better.
I’ve heard the arguments that well, it only takes five minutes. That is how we’ve always done it. As you mentioned, what is supposed to go on in the meeting isn’t wasting five minutes doing something just because we’ve always done it that way. I guarantee you, no, we haven’t. Just because you have always seen it done doesn’t mean for the past 300 years.
Education is more important than introductions.
Rant mode off.
I agree with the statements made thus far. One point about the timing of the meeting that I feel strongly about is the business items. Business of the Lodge should be done outside the lodge meeting by committees and then the meeting time reserved for reports of the said committees. Too many times, the work is assigned a committee chair and one or two members to get something done/investigated. Then at the meeting a report is requested. But instead of reporting what was found or what is needed, the committee chair starts his work with the lodge members. Discussions ensure, suggestions are made, and time is wasted. Had the work been done by the committee members, the chair could spend 2-3 minutes giving status and save much needed time for education. Just one suggestion for getting our meetings back to the true business of Masonry...educating our brothers and each other in becoming better men.
My biggest concern is that the esoteric knowledge is completely lost.
I have read extensively on Masonry since joining, especially since I wasn't getting any education in lodge. The golden era of Masonic writing seems to have been in the mid to late 19th century. But even then, the men writing were so afraid of violating their oaths that they didn't give any explicit details to explain the meaning and why they hold their views.
There is a lot of speculation based on educated research of what the ritual's meaning is, but none of the writing I've seen so far is written with the conviction of someone with direct knowledge passed down from the ancients, from mentor to student.
If I am an acolyte to an ancient mystery, I would expect the education to go something like this.
1. Initiation to the ritual
2. Explanation of the literal interpretation of the ritual as it is given to the initiate, and explained to the profane masses. (summary Given in the trestleboard lecture, but not expounded upon)
3. Explanation of the moral interpretation of the ritual. (summary given in the working tools lectures, but not expounded on)
4. Explanation of the mathematical interpretation of the ritual. (No longer given)
5. Explanation of the Astronomical interpretation of the ritual. (no longer given)
6. Explanation of the spiritual interpretation of the ritual and how it relates to understanding divinity. (no longer given)
7. Explanation of why the ritual must be kept secret. Who are we hiding from specifically? What power is afraid of this knowledge being shared with the public? Who is being protected from whom?
I believe that the answers to those questions have been entirely lost, and we are simply grasping at straws. Trying to reconcile our modern science with ancient mysteries when the two may not be related at all, and if anybody actually knows for sure, they aren't sharing.
Here is a different approach. Prior to each meeting I developed an flyer for that month and I wrote the names instead of using labels, and the ladies were invited for dinners. Our lodge had past GM's for guest speakers. We also shared degree work and PM's dinner to support our other lodges in the district. I encouraged moving the traveling gavel every month. I also had a visiting member of another lodge to give the charge. Last but not leased after the meeting good spirits were available downstairs it worked great.
I think it is important for us to remember that what a man is given freely, he will likely not value. But what he must work to have, he will value highly. I believe that is one of the reasons Freemasonry has always veiled its truths.
Reading the post I started wondering if degree Workings are not mystery teachings in themselves. Lectures teach you on objective mind level, but our ritual Workings go to the depths of the subliminal or subconscious mind.