November 1.
Doric #34, along with the Valley of Grand Rapids, put together an all-degree day. I was one of four stewards in the 3rd degree. You heard me: 4 Stewards. It was fantastic, and in my opinion, looked great.
No one does the FC Lecture From Hell better than Doric, although there were a few rough spots in the delivery this time.
Whatever you think of the all-degree concept, and raising en-mass, it's always fun to watch all three degrees performed well one after the other.
Oh, I bought a tux.
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6 comments:
One day classes is a great way to make members and generate revenue.
too bad no masons are made at the one day class though?
could that be why GOUSA has sprouted in the Valley of GR?
it is a shame that men cannot experience the degrees for themselves...they deserve better!
Cain,
No masons are made at individual raising either. We are made Masons in our heart, and also through our obligations, irrespective of the other aspects of the degree.
Also, whether you like it or not, mass raising have been a fact of life in the Fraternity at least since the membership was depleted by the Anti-Masonic movement of the 1820s.
That being said, I prefer individual degrees, myself. But I do not question the value of the brethren initiated, passed, or raised in another way.
It is not until the "higher degrees" that there are restrictions placed on numbers for symbolic reasons. (3 candidates simultaneously for the royal arch, 27 members for cryptic, etc.)
When I "think of the all-degree concept", I think of something unprintable ;)
We don't have such in my jurisdiction and never have. Nor do I understand the need for them.
I'm not sure what relevance Stewards would have in degree work unless, perhaps, you use them there to escort candidates. And I have no idea what you mean by a "FC Lecture" in a MM Degree.
However, Royce, it's nice to see you blogging again and I trust you'll have a good year as JW.
Justa
In my rush to get back to the blog, I may have been unclear.
The all degree day consists of 3 degrees in succession. Some candidates are initiated during the first degree, more are passed during the second degree, and even more are raised during the third degree.
At our lodge, three active members kept the lodge operating for several years.
Two candidates were raised at an all degree day in 2006. Since then, I was raised, then three others. The last two were raised in our lodge, but without all-degree days our lodge would have had a difficult time raising members. As it was, raising members now is a challenge. How do you give the brother the degree he deserves without the people it takes to perform the ritual?
As far as the FC lectures are concerned, they were given -- suprisingly -- during the second degree ritual. There were three separate rituals -- hence the "all degree day".
If you've never seen a 3rd degree, or participated in one other than your own, I suppose you wouldn't know what role Stewards play. Trust me, four Stewards look impressive during the first section. Or at least I thought so.
Royce, you remarked:
The last two were raised in our lodge, but without all-degree days our lodge would have had a difficult time raising members. As it was, raising members now is a challenge. How do you give the brother the degree he deserves without the people it takes to perform the ritual?
You've lost me here. How would you have difficulty raising members if you conferred the three degrees on three seperate evenings? Is it because a team of people from other Lodges is only available on a certain day?
If you've never seen a 3rd degree, or participated in one other than your own, I suppose you wouldn't know what role Stewards play.
I've been a Mason for 25 years and have presided over, or have been part of, conferrals in four different rituals. In two of them, Stewards have no part in the ritual. In the third, a single Steward is involved in preparation. In the fourth, the Steward may (depending on the version of the ritual the Lodge is using), be outside, answering the queries of the SD at the door (other Lodges assign this to the JD). Hence my question.
Justa
I've seen four stewards in action and it is militaritic precision, especially when you have a marshall who knows how to flourish.
As far as individual or mass degrees, whatever works to get the job done. The important part is not to use tapes or videos for lectures. Proficiency is when a mason is truly made...and that is not done by others, only himself.
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