How do Canadian Masonic Lodges confer a Degree? I believe that I went to Degrees where the lights were barely on at all (only required Exit Safety lights and the "candles")?
I've only been present at one Degree Conferral by a Canadian Lodge (The Dukes, BC&Y) and that one was done outdoors in the woods. So my knowledge is virtually nonexistent as to that.
Here at the Lodge in my town we generally do the EA and MM Degrees with the lights on full blast. The first part of the FC as well. But, we do the second part of the FC in the dark. If we are outside we do it with torches, inside with cool fake torches. I've been pushing to get the lights way down for all degrees in this Lodge for quite awhile now, and it looks like I might now be winning this battle as I seem to be the only one willing to set up Degrees now.
Here, in the province of Ontario, the lights are left on as brightly as possible, except for the MM degree, which the ritual requires darkness. At least that's how it's been at my Lodge and the couple of others I've experienced in my district,
Dim the lights for a sacred experience, and for at least part of regular meetings.
Of course, then we must have some kind of Masonic discussion or lecture worth dimming the lights for.
My own meetings as WM could be dull as there was so much catch up work to restore the business side. Yet when we did include guest speakers or other education, the old guard pushed back. Astonishing.
It’s up to the new guys to upgrade the business side, but also to restore the sacred to the sacred retreat.
Unfortunately most think that the sacredness of the Temple is also a symbolic thing. But to the Adepts there is no symbolism, everything is true because they understand how the Temple works. They call it a Craft for a reason and the energy is very unique.
I'm willing to share some secret work that may reignite the interest in the Order. If interested, let me know.
For the brother thinking about quitting attending his lodge due to lack of anything educational, I feel sorry for that brother. Unfortunately, most lodges that I've run across have the same issues, they just don't know it. Master Masons, over time, tend to just...drift away, and for exactly the same reasons. But lodges being run by these old past masters are too stuck in their ways to change. Not only that, but providing masonic education requires effort. Effort to learn, and to share your learning with others. For those past masters, they have no knowledge to pass on, because no one gave them that knowledge to begin with. This is a multi generational issue (masonic generational).
So, how to solve this problem? Well, he could find a different lodge, one that perhaps does offer what he's looking for. I know geographically this might not be a solution.
Or, he could walk away, and he'd continue to not get any education.
Or, lastly, he could take on that burden himself, and explore the vast catalog of masonic writings for wisdom. Listen to the popular and well done podcasts. Join a Lodge of Research. Try his hand at writing his own presentations to share with his lodge (although I'd suspect he'd be verbally beaten down if he tried). Associate with like minded brothers (such as the fine folks here at Emeth) and learn from them, I know I have gained so much just by chatting here.
There are a ton of resources for that brother. He can still walk away, but instead of just giving up, he can get to work, it will certainly pay massive dividends if he tries.
Perhaps a bit more of a stretch, I see the only future of Freemasonry is to be open to all man women and children if they so had the desire and are mentally fit to join. We should now be concentrating on setting up an academia of Freemasonry. There are a lot of bright minds out there, not necessarily in each little or big city. Technology is here where we can implement educational lectures via video conferencing and streaming.
It is probably heretical for me to write this, but I am not confident that Freemasonry, as it is practiced today, will survive.
Let me clarify, I have no doubt that Freemasonry will survive.
Just not as we currently practice it. The superstructure of it, the bureaucracy, the business. All of that will eventually collapse with shrinking membership. And Lodges that provide nothing but superstructure, bureaucracy, and business will fold up.
But, Freemasonry will remain. Just in a different form.
And that wouldn't be a bad thing. It existed long before our current form of government was created in 1717, and it will survive if that form of Masonic government falls.
But whatever does survive will be that which provides meaning and value.
>>>Master Masons, over time, tend to just...drift away, and for exactly the same reasons.
Yeah, it's amazing how many new Masons do just drift away in a lot of our Lodges. And the reason for it is that they were not receiving anything of value from the Lodge. But too few recognize that fact, and even fewer are willing to work to change it.
>>>For those past masters, they have no knowledge to pass on, because no one gave them >>>that knowledge to begin with. This is a multi generational issue (masonic generational).
Undoubtedly this is true. The vast majority received no meaningful education when they joined, so have nothing ready at hand to pass along. Plus, the only example they have before them is the dull, dry, business meeting, stretching back over the course of long decades.
>>>he could find a different lodge, one that perhaps does offer what he's looking for. I know >>>geographically this might not be a solution.
As you know, this is the choice I made. But most guys can't drive three hours to attend a Lodge meeting, even if that Lodge provides ample value for the time spent.
>>>Or, lastly, he could take on that burden himself, and explore the vast catalog of masonic >>>writings for wisdom. Listen to the popular and well done podcasts. Join a Lodge of >>>Research.
Agreed. These are all excellent choices.
>>>Try his hand at writing his own presentations to share with his lodge (although I'd >>>suspect he'd be verbally beaten down if he tried).
Knowing him, I think that he would be really interested in doing just this.
But, it would not work. Because there is no room made on the agenda for such things, so he would have to stand up and do it during Good of the Order, and the meetings are so damn long as it is people would revolt.
>>>Associate with like minded brothers (such as the fine folks here at Emeth) and learn from >>>them, I know I have gained so much just by chatting here.
Thank you for that! I'm really glad that you find value here!
I'm not sure. I encouraged him to remain, and explained to him how he can work to make the changes he seeks, but I don't know what his ultimate choice will be.
Call me old fashioned, but there is something about lodge being an in person experience. Our lodge did a complete upgrade of its A/V equipment. We did this because we use it for our presentations, but we do not provide a zoom option. Strong pass on that.
For lodge brothers that are doing their best to bring about a change in their lodge, I have found that simply making a change without at least explaining why the change is being made has a greater chance of getting push back. But with some explanation behind it, it may be better received.
But if that doesn’t work, and a coalition formed, it’s probably better to start a new lodge. Better that these newer Master Masons build a lodge they want to be a part of rather than walking away. Will this result in older lodges unwilling to restore themselves? Probably. But better for area to have a thriving and growing lodge than one who contributes to our low retention rate. It’s sad, but there is no reason that this can’t be reborn.
I'm with you, I don't think that Freemasonry 'works' as a virtual experience.
But, the Lodge in my hometown does offer a Zoom option. It is not utilized much. We do though have a Brother who moved across the country, and he does attend via Zoom every meeting. Usually he is the only one. It's been utilized by another Brother when he was in the hospital, and one while he was away on vacation. I'm not sure what they get out of it, but at least for the one, maintaining his connection with his home Lodge seems important.
How do Canadian Masonic Lodges confer a Degree? I believe that I went to Degrees where the lights were barely on at all (only required Exit Safety lights and the "candles")?
I've only been present at one Degree Conferral by a Canadian Lodge (The Dukes, BC&Y) and that one was done outdoors in the woods. So my knowledge is virtually nonexistent as to that.
Here at the Lodge in my town we generally do the EA and MM Degrees with the lights on full blast. The first part of the FC as well. But, we do the second part of the FC in the dark. If we are outside we do it with torches, inside with cool fake torches. I've been pushing to get the lights way down for all degrees in this Lodge for quite awhile now, and it looks like I might now be winning this battle as I seem to be the only one willing to set up Degrees now.
Here, in the province of Ontario, the lights are left on as brightly as possible, except for the MM degree, which the ritual requires darkness. At least that's how it's been at my Lodge and the couple of others I've experienced in my district,
Thanks for letting us know, I appreciate it!
MW Cemeron powerful words as always.. All I can say is dim the flipping lights and give the close minded Masons sunglasses. Keep up the good work.
Thank you Brother! I'm glad you enjoyed this mini-rant!
I strongly agree with both points.
Dim the lights for a sacred experience, and for at least part of regular meetings.
Of course, then we must have some kind of Masonic discussion or lecture worth dimming the lights for.
My own meetings as WM could be dull as there was so much catch up work to restore the business side. Yet when we did include guest speakers or other education, the old guard pushed back. Astonishing.
It’s up to the new guys to upgrade the business side, but also to restore the sacred to the sacred retreat.
>>>when we did include guest speakers or other education, the old guard pushed back. >>>Astonishing.
Yep. It is amazing, and disheartening, to see.
Unfortunately most think that the sacredness of the Temple is also a symbolic thing. But to the Adepts there is no symbolism, everything is true because they understand how the Temple works. They call it a Craft for a reason and the energy is very unique.
I'm willing to share some secret work that may reignite the interest in the Order. If interested, let me know.
Yes, of course Brother. I would be very interested.
This is my email:
wjgonz@gmail.com
Thank you. I've sent you an email.
A lot to chew on here.
For the brother thinking about quitting attending his lodge due to lack of anything educational, I feel sorry for that brother. Unfortunately, most lodges that I've run across have the same issues, they just don't know it. Master Masons, over time, tend to just...drift away, and for exactly the same reasons. But lodges being run by these old past masters are too stuck in their ways to change. Not only that, but providing masonic education requires effort. Effort to learn, and to share your learning with others. For those past masters, they have no knowledge to pass on, because no one gave them that knowledge to begin with. This is a multi generational issue (masonic generational).
So, how to solve this problem? Well, he could find a different lodge, one that perhaps does offer what he's looking for. I know geographically this might not be a solution.
Or, he could walk away, and he'd continue to not get any education.
Or, lastly, he could take on that burden himself, and explore the vast catalog of masonic writings for wisdom. Listen to the popular and well done podcasts. Join a Lodge of Research. Try his hand at writing his own presentations to share with his lodge (although I'd suspect he'd be verbally beaten down if he tried). Associate with like minded brothers (such as the fine folks here at Emeth) and learn from them, I know I have gained so much just by chatting here.
There are a ton of resources for that brother. He can still walk away, but instead of just giving up, he can get to work, it will certainly pay massive dividends if he tries.
Perhaps a bit more of a stretch, I see the only future of Freemasonry is to be open to all man women and children if they so had the desire and are mentally fit to join. We should now be concentrating on setting up an academia of Freemasonry. There are a lot of bright minds out there, not necessarily in each little or big city. Technology is here where we can implement educational lectures via video conferencing and streaming.
It is probably heretical for me to write this, but I am not confident that Freemasonry, as it is practiced today, will survive.
Let me clarify, I have no doubt that Freemasonry will survive.
Just not as we currently practice it. The superstructure of it, the bureaucracy, the business. All of that will eventually collapse with shrinking membership. And Lodges that provide nothing but superstructure, bureaucracy, and business will fold up.
But, Freemasonry will remain. Just in a different form.
And that wouldn't be a bad thing. It existed long before our current form of government was created in 1717, and it will survive if that form of Masonic government falls.
But whatever does survive will be that which provides meaning and value.
>>>Master Masons, over time, tend to just...drift away, and for exactly the same reasons.
Yeah, it's amazing how many new Masons do just drift away in a lot of our Lodges. And the reason for it is that they were not receiving anything of value from the Lodge. But too few recognize that fact, and even fewer are willing to work to change it.
>>>For those past masters, they have no knowledge to pass on, because no one gave them >>>that knowledge to begin with. This is a multi generational issue (masonic generational).
Undoubtedly this is true. The vast majority received no meaningful education when they joined, so have nothing ready at hand to pass along. Plus, the only example they have before them is the dull, dry, business meeting, stretching back over the course of long decades.
>>>he could find a different lodge, one that perhaps does offer what he's looking for. I know >>>geographically this might not be a solution.
As you know, this is the choice I made. But most guys can't drive three hours to attend a Lodge meeting, even if that Lodge provides ample value for the time spent.
>>>Or, lastly, he could take on that burden himself, and explore the vast catalog of masonic >>>writings for wisdom. Listen to the popular and well done podcasts. Join a Lodge of >>>Research.
Agreed. These are all excellent choices.
>>>Try his hand at writing his own presentations to share with his lodge (although I'd >>>suspect he'd be verbally beaten down if he tried).
Knowing him, I think that he would be really interested in doing just this.
But, it would not work. Because there is no room made on the agenda for such things, so he would have to stand up and do it during Good of the Order, and the meetings are so damn long as it is people would revolt.
>>>Associate with like minded brothers (such as the fine folks here at Emeth) and learn from >>>them, I know I have gained so much just by chatting here.
Thank you for that! I'm really glad that you find value here!
“ So, here’s a guy who has been really active in Lodge, and who wants to be really active in Lodge, but is likely to drop out of his Lodge.”
I hope he changed his mind during the 2 hour ride with you!
I'm not sure. I encouraged him to remain, and explained to him how he can work to make the changes he seeks, but I don't know what his ultimate choice will be.
Time will tell! 🤞
Yep. But I hate to risk losing a good man.
Call me old fashioned, but there is something about lodge being an in person experience. Our lodge did a complete upgrade of its A/V equipment. We did this because we use it for our presentations, but we do not provide a zoom option. Strong pass on that.
For lodge brothers that are doing their best to bring about a change in their lodge, I have found that simply making a change without at least explaining why the change is being made has a greater chance of getting push back. But with some explanation behind it, it may be better received.
But if that doesn’t work, and a coalition formed, it’s probably better to start a new lodge. Better that these newer Master Masons build a lodge they want to be a part of rather than walking away. Will this result in older lodges unwilling to restore themselves? Probably. But better for area to have a thriving and growing lodge than one who contributes to our low retention rate. It’s sad, but there is no reason that this can’t be reborn.
I'm with you, I don't think that Freemasonry 'works' as a virtual experience.
But, the Lodge in my hometown does offer a Zoom option. It is not utilized much. We do though have a Brother who moved across the country, and he does attend via Zoom every meeting. Usually he is the only one. It's been utilized by another Brother when he was in the hospital, and one while he was away on vacation. I'm not sure what they get out of it, but at least for the one, maintaining his connection with his home Lodge seems important.