My Freemasonry | Freemason Information and Discussion Forum

Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

Cipher books

nrsman

Registered User
I am a Newley initiated EA. I just turned in my work lecture the other night by help from my mentor with the aide on the oklahoma masonic cipher book. My question is as an EA am I allowed to look at any section that pertains to the EA degree or what am I allowed to look at or not. Note , the cipher book is my mentors and I have only looked at EA related sections and nothing else.


Freemason Connect HD
 

chancefwalls

Registered User
Yes you can look at the opening of the lodge in the 1st degree n you can look at the 1st degree its self. But nothen more.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747
 

crono782

Premium Member
Depends on your jurisdiction. In tx, cipher books are strictly forbidden for any candidate instruction and not allowed in open lodge.


Freemason Connect HD
 

chancefwalls

Registered User
In mo you can the sec can have hes open. But only for helpin someone who gets stuck. Not out side of lodge you can read the degrees you been threw

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747
 

Bro. Stewart P.M.

Lead Moderator Emeritus
Staff Member
I am a Newley initiated EA. I just turned in my work lecture the other night by help from my mentor with the aide on the oklahoma masonic cipher book. My question is as an EA am I allowed to look at any section that pertains to the EA degree or what am I allowed to look at or not. Note , the cipher book is my mentors and I have only looked at EA related sections and nothing else.

So I can look at the section on opening the EA lodge

As the other Brethren have already mentioned to you, the answer to your question varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. The Brethren that you SHOULD be asking are the Brethren "of knowledge" in your Lodge, I suggest the Worshipful Master and or Secretary. That is the best and correct answer to your question.


Personally in my humble and uneducated opinion, you have no business owning or borrowing such literature. Cipher books whether we choose to admit it or not are a crutch. A cipher book in the hands of any Brother of an educational degree equaling to that of an Entered Apprentice or Fellow Craft is a huge mistake, and will only further ruin your Masonic developmental experience ESPECIALLY if the cipher book includes more information than should be learned within your current degree.
 

LittleHunter

Registered User
Agreed. In FL, you get a cypher with the EA catechism after your EA, a cypher with the FC catechism after your FC and only the complete cypher after your MM. Nevertheless, I find that the cyphers can mess people up more than it helps. It's really only useful for tweaking what you already know. Take advantage of whatever (mouth to ear) education your mother Lodge and GL provide.


Freemason Connect HD
 

nrsman

Registered User
We do not get just the section of the degree we have. I am honest in not looking at other sections just the EA section.


Freemason Connect HD
 

Brother_Steve

Premium Member
Is oklahoma a mouth to ear state or a cipher state?

In nj we are given a cipher to study for tbe relavent degree we are on. Only after being raised can we ask for thr full opening, closing and full workings of the lodge.

We are not allowed to have them in open lodge or during instruction. The only thing allowed dhring instruction outside of lodge is the piece of paper. Even then, our mentors teach it by mouth. At least mine did when I met with him.

Your mentor is either new to mentoring or your state is very relaxed when it comes to the work.

Remember, your sole focus is learning your oath, what it means to you and comitting it to long term memory. The opening of a lodge in the first degree is off no concern to you. We open on the 3rd and drop to X to confer degrees so you wont really see an opening on the 1st. At least bere you wont because some business is being disposed of before a degree is held.
 

FlBrother324

Registered User
I am a Newley initiated EA. I just turned in my work lecture the other night by help from my mentor with the aide on the oklahoma masonic cipher book. My question is as an EA am I allowed to look at any section that pertains to the EA degree or what am I allowed to look at or not. Note , the cipher book is my mentors and I have only looked at EA related sections and nothing else.


Freemason Connect HD

First, let me congratulate you on your EA Degree initiation. Welcome to the Brotherhood.

As Br. Stewart stated, it would be wise to consult the Brethren in your Lodge, in your jurisdiction for guidance.

As for Florida, no ciphers allowed in Lodge during tiled meetings, only during practice or mentoring sessions. As stated before we only give the new Brother a copy of the Catechism cipher they are presently doing. The complete cipher book is only given to the Brother after he becomes a Master Mason.

Check with your mentor to see if you can attend an EA Degree at a Lodge before you give back your Proficiency.

Best of luck in your search for Light.
 

nrsman

Registered User
Ok now I'm nervous, my mentor had me use the work lecture section of the cipher book (that is all) to help me learn my lecture. And I just found the oklahoma constitution where it says the cipher book is not to be made available to EA for learning their work. What do i do? Please oklahoma brothers help. I don't want my journey to end this soon nor do I want to get my mentor in trouble. Advice PLEASE!!!!


Freemason Connect HD
 

trrogers

Registered User
Congrats on your initiation my brother...u will not get in trouble for being given the book by your mentor..u should return it to him though..as far as the work goes u r only to have access to information pertaining to your current degree and material pertaining to your proficiency test to move on to your next degree...I will tell u this...after u learn your test questions..learn as much as u can about the workings of EA degree and I tell u this because masonry has an abundant amount of information..information that increases with ever degree...strengthen your mind as a mason by taking full advantage of your degree work and all that pertains to it...good luck and stay focused...open your mind and retain retain retain..best wishes my brother..Travis Rogers..St. Thomas Lodge # 9679 United States Virgin Islands..


Freemason Connect HD
 

dfreybur

Premium Member
You need to check with your jurisdiction. Generally a brother doesn't have access to most of the GL publications until being raised so that's my best guess but it's only a guess. I took my degrees in California which is a cipher state and I was issued a small cipher booklet for each degree that contained the proficiencies but not the rest of the degrees. Again my best guess is that's what will be available to you in Oklahoma.
 

Leo

Registered User
Any brothers have recommendations for any good Masonic teaching books? Such in the like of morals and dogma?


Freemason Connect HD
 

Leo

Registered User
Freemasons for dummys is good I was tokd.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747

I've been looking into more of the teachings for the higher degrees
Like 32nd Scottish rites teachings, I know I'm rushing a lot but I need as much knowledge as possible


Freemason Connect HD
 
Top