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Here we go again!!!!!

ebojones

Registered User
Well there is a saying that history repeat itself. I started my RA journey on Jan. 10th and finished on Feb. 14th. The experience is memorable just as my experience was as I journey to the sublime degree. Starting with my MM degree. We were prompted to pay a certain amount of money for items such as gloves, constitution, and certificate. Well we only received the certificate. We had to buy gloves online on our own, and constitution from Grand Lodge. We never got what we paid for so we blew it off. Well the same 3 of us were prompted to join the Royal Arch and pay $100 for 5 items that we woul get after the degrees were completed on the 14th of Feburary. Well guess what? NOTHING received but excuses as to why our apron, gloves, penny, skull cap, and certificate are not here. All other candidates from other lodges got theirs after final degree. We paid for these items on Dec. 5th of 2014 with receipt in hand. I have had it. I am starting to see a very ugly patern here that is about to be stopped in it's tracks. I called my High Priest Saturday, and asked if our items arrived as promissed on Friday, and was just abruptly told they are not here, and ended conversation. My other two brother are wanting to just quit, but I will fight this until I cant anymore.
 

Companion Joe

Premium Member
It sounds like you've had a terrible experience with your local bodies. I honestly don't know what to tell you because I have never experienced anything like this in Masonry. I did have tickets to a banquet one time where someone forgot to order one important thing -- the food! -- but everyone got their money back.

Of course, in my jurisdiction, the only items you receive as part of your degrees is your presentation apron and blue book from the Blue Lodge.
 

ebojones

Registered User
Sad to say the addoptive bodies of OES is more enjoyable than my Mother lodge, and we are a new chapter that had our first official meeting this past Saturday. I wont say that this Masonic journey with my Blue Lodge hasn't been trying. To say the least!!!! My first Royal Arch meeting is this coming Tuesday, and have no ritual, apron, or any of the other items I paid for in December. Sad Sad Sad......
 

Companion Joe

Premium Member
Don't give up on Masonry - Blue Lodge or Royal Arch. It won't do anything about the money you have paid, but you might want to look into other lodges and chapters in your area. I won't stoop to say your current groups aren't on the level, but it certainly seems like their management could be handled better.
 

ebojones

Registered User
Well the option of going to another chapter crossed my mind, but the District High Preist was one of the 3 officers initiating us. We know there were supposed to be several more officers present to properly do the ceremony. With that said I dont have a lot of faith in the other 1 chapter in my district. That is where we were initiated. At the other chapter in my district. I need to know how to get out of this mess. I am not a quitter, but I am no foot stool either. I will not leave my Blue Lodge or OES chapter.
 

Companion Joe

Premium Member
Are there any Past High Priests in your Chapter that seem to be on the ball? If the HP and Sec aren't doing their jobs, it is the duty of the PHPs to see that the Chapter is running as it should.

If the PHPs can't provide a satisfactory response to your questions, check with the District Deputy. That's about the best advice I can give. That route may cause waves within the Chapter, but from the sounds of it, that might not be the worst thing that can happen. If an individual Chapter is gaining a reputation for taking people's money and not providing what is supposed to come with it, then that is a problem, and the Grand Chapter needs to know.
 

Warrior1256

Site Benefactor
Sorry to hear of your troubles brother. I will be starting my Royal Arch degree next month. Just have to wait and see what it is like.
 

Ripcord22A

Site Benefactor
In Oregon we got everything....opening closing for all degrees with alternates. All degree work, everything but it's all coded
 

dfreybur

Premium Member
Is it the norm for new MMs to be issued rituals? Or is it abnormal? Just curious...

The rules for books vary widely by jurisdiction. Some states issue a book with almost all spoken ritual printed out to every Master Mason - Illinois even has a printed floor work manual. Some have ciphers available for purchase with many lodges issuing one to each officer. Some don't allow a book in the building.

So your question needs to be asked within your jurisdiction not among jurisdictions.
 

Companion Joe

Premium Member
In Tennessee, every newly raised Master Mason receives a "Tennessee Craftsman" which has some things spelled out in plain language and some things just as *** or _ _ _. It does not have the lectures, obligations, or opening and closing (although it does have the opening and closing charges). Most of the other ritual is in there with the aforementioned stars and dashes. It also contains the funeral service, officer installation, and cornerstone laying, all of which are spelled out because they are public ceremonies.

It's not as though someone off the street could pick it up and learn the ritual. It's not even coded. If you don't know what goes in the *** or _ _ _, it's pretty much useless.

We have similar books for Chapter, Council, and Commandery.
 

Bill Lins

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
In Tennessee, every newly raised Master Mason receives a "Tennessee Craftsman" which has some things spelled out in plain language and some things just as *** or _ _ _. It does not have the lectures, obligations, or opening and closing (although it does have the opening and closing charges). Most of the other ritual is in there with the aforementioned stars and dashes. It also contains the funeral service, officer installation, and cornerstone laying, all of which are spelled out because they are public ceremonies.

It's not as though someone off the street could pick it up and learn the ritual. It's not even coded. If you don't know what goes in the *** or _ _ _, it's pretty much useless.
Sounds like your book is much like the GLoTX "Monitor", which we present to every new MM. The "code book", aka "cipher work" or "ritual", is something else entirely.
 

Companion Joe

Premium Member
Yeah, I think monitor would be a good way to describe it. For us, the "Code Book" is the governing document for all lodges. A copy of it is supposed to stay on or within reach of the secretary's desk, and WMs should have a copy in their possession. If there is a question on some piece of protocol or procedure, you refer to the Code Book and say "According to Section 2.3 we are supposed to ...."
 

Bill Lins

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
Yeah, I think monitor would be a good way to describe it. For us, the "Code Book" is the governing document for all lodges. A copy of it is supposed to stay on or within reach of the secretary's desk, and WMs should have a copy in their possession. If there is a question on some piece of protocol or procedure, you refer to the Code Book and say "According to Section 2.3 we are supposed to ...."
Here that's called "The Laws Of the Grand Lodge of Texas" or, more commonly, "the law book".
 

GKA

Premium Member
I am sorry to acknowledge that you, my companion, are getting a glimpse of the major problem with the York Rite governing bodies
They are so dysfunctional, it is amazing they can even assemble for their grand chapters, councils and commandries.
I have witnessed such poor attendance due to this type of disregard that our chapter has gone three months unable to open because of insufficient member attendance. I fear that if something major is not done to correct this atrocity, we may loose our charter.
 

crono782

Premium Member
Very sad to hear. I would say that this is a localized occurrence. Most Chapters do not act like this, although in my Chapter (in my 2nd term as HP/TIM), we don't issue gloves or caps, the chapter has fairly nice aprons that members wear, the coin/penny is given after the MkM degree and ritual upon being Exalted or receiving the SM degree (help me out @KSigMason or @Companion Joe , I forget the term for receiving the SM degree) respectively. So we have a lot less to order for new candidates. Still, we take our Chapter/Council pretty seriously so I find it hard to fathom another one being so flippant about new Companions.
 
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