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Conducting Business on the EA Degree

Should business be conducted on the EA degree?

  • Yes

    Votes: 17 68.0%
  • No

    Votes: 6 24.0%
  • Depends

    Votes: 2 8.0%

  • Total voters
    25

Ripcord22A

Site Benefactor
It does make me wonder how it would go if you were in a jurisdiction where you open on an EA or FC degree and have an EA or FC visiting. I think I just don't understand how it would work because in my jurisdiction part of the examination of a visitor is for them to prove they are a MM. Or maybe the jurisdictions that open in the EA or FC degree to conduct business tell their members that it's better to be a MM before you visit other lodges, and would you get your dues card as an EA or an FC.

Those that have not reached MM MUST have someone that can vouch for them.
 

dfreybur

Premium Member
As far as Texas is concerned, EA’s and FC’s are not “dues paying” and do not go NPD.

Sure, that's the current rule. It does not match the worldwide standard.

My point is - Do we have a justification for this divergence from the worldwide standard other than "that's how it was when I petitioned". An actual reason that has some benefit. With data if there's an assertion about attendance.

The change to MM only paying dues was part of the long obsolete Baltimore Convention during the Anti-Masonic political movement before the US Civil War. No longer a valid reason to diverge from the worldwide standard.
 

David Duke

Premium Member
Sure, that's the current rule. It does not match the worldwide standard.

My point is - Do we have a justification for this divergence from the worldwide standard .....

What worldwide standard? The work is different from Grand Jurisdiction to Jurisdiction and always has been an I would be willing to bet will always be. Why should the general practices and laws be different?

While we are a global fraternity and should welcome all brothers we should also respect the customs and traditions of each GL. I see no reason to "standardize" Masonry other than Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth.



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Ripcord22A

Site Benefactor
What worldwide standard? The work is different from Grand Jurisdiction to Jurisdiction and always has been an I would be willing to bet will always be. Why should the general practices and laws be different?

While we are a global fraternity and should welcome all brothers we should also respect the customs and traditions of each GL. I see no reason to "standardize" Masonry other than Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth.



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Meaning we(US GRAND JURISDICTIONS) are the only ones in the world that open on the MM for the majority of meetings
 

tldubb

Premium Member
My Jurisdiction only conducts business on the 3rd. But if the day ever comes I would support on 1st, or 2nd. Change things up a bit, see if keeps the participation of up in lodges...


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MarkR

Premium Member
It does make me wonder how it would go if you were in a jurisdiction where you open on an EA or FC degree and have an EA or FC visiting. I think I just don't understand how it would work because in my jurisdiction part of the examination of a visitor is for them to prove they are a MM. Or maybe the jurisdictions that open in the EA or FC degree to conduct business tell their members that it's better to be a MM before you visit other lodges, and would you get your dues card as an EA or an FC.
In Minnesota, an EA or FC can only visit another lodge if he's accompanied by a MM who actually saw him initiated or passed to vouch for him.
 

MarkR

Premium Member
Sounds like a good idea, but what if you had other business that can only be dealt with on the 3rd Degree?

Such as? The only thing I can think of would be a MM Degree. But if there was a situation where business would need to be done with only MM present then u simply open on the MM deg.
Yeah, the only things I can think of that can only be done on the MM degree are conferring the MM degree and conducting a Masonic trial. We wouldn't take a EA or FC to a lodge that was conducting a MM degree that night, and outsiders should not be visiting at all at a Masonic trial.
 

Bro. Stewart P.M.

Lead Moderator Emeritus
Staff Member
Yeah, the only things I can think of that can only be done on the MM degree are conferring the MM degree and conducting a Masonic trial. We wouldn't take a EA or FC to a lodge that was conducting a MM degree that night, and outsiders should not be visiting at all at a Masonic trial.

This is correct.
 

dfreybur

Premium Member
What worldwide standard?

Notice I did not mention landmarks. It is not a landmark to conduct monetary votes on a specific degree.

Not one jurisdiction outside of North America *ever* switched to conducting monetary votes in the Master Mason degree. Not even all jurisdictions in North America made the switch.

Your jurisdiction, your rules. I get that. It's why I expressed my opinion as myself. I don't support any of my jurisdictions maintaining a difference from the international standard univsally practiced without data as to why.

In Minnesota, an EA or FC can only visit another lodge if he's accompanied by a MM who actually saw him initiated or passed to vouch for him.

Among my jurisdictions California and Illinois practice that.

Texas issues a new brother a provisional dues card good only for EA, then one good only for EA/FC meetings. Texas, as usual, is wierd. It's crazy to call it a dues card, but that's just one more bit of evidence to support my personal opinion that it's time to go back to charging dues from the gate.

Sounds like a good idea, but what if you had other business that can only be dealt with on the 3rd Degree?

The word business has specific meanings in Masonry. One of those two meanings is monetary business. There's no need to only discuss expenses on the Master Mason degree in my opinion. The other meaning is the ballot box. I don't care if EA/FC participate in the ballot but it is my opinion witnessing the ballot is an excellent teaching experience for them.

I have had Masonic Education presentation ready that discussed third degree topics, when EAs showed up. Ah well, do that particular presentation at a different meeting.
 

Glen Cook

G A Cook
Site Benefactor
Yeah, the only things I can think of that can only be done on the MM degree are conferring the MM degree and conducting a Masonic trial. We wouldn't take a EA or FC to a lodge that was conducting a MM degree that night, and outsiders should not be visiting at all at a Masonic trial.
In Utah we must demonstrate the catechism of each degree each year, and will require opening in the appropriate degree.

We must also open on the MM for installation and funerals, even if we then allow in the public.

In UGLE installations we have work to in each degree as well as the Board of Installed Masters.

In each of these instances, brethren who do not possess the requisite qualifications may retire for a short time.
 

Warrior1256

Site Benefactor
Grand Lodge starts tomorrow and this is one of the pieces of legislation being voted on. Hoping we continue to open on the MM degree in Kentucky for reasons previously stated
 

Bloke

Premium Member
It does make me wonder how it would go if you were in a jurisdiction where you open on an EA or FC degree and have an EA or FC visiting. I think I just don't understand how it would work because in my jurisdiction part of the examination of a visitor is for them to prove they are a MM. Or maybe the jurisdictions that open in the EA or FC degree to conduct business tell their members that it's better to be a MM before you visit other lodges, and would you get your dues card as an EA or an FC.

We don't have dues cards. In relation to admission, we work by convention rather than rule. I took an obligation to keep secrets, if I am satisfied I am not breaking that obligation, I would admit an EA I did not know. I would be looking for a travel letter, or dues card or passport. If he had none of those, I would apologise, not admit him, but ask him to come to dinner and if returning, get him to obtain them. If he had them, I would prove him in the degree he has, but ..... well, I dont want to give hints, but I would examine him remembering he is only an EA or FC.
All that said, most commonly, when admiting an EA or FC, they normally come via GL and are directed specifically to me - same with visiting MMs (hello Tomas if you are reading :) )

Hmm. Do you have public grand honors in addition to private?

I know the question was not directed at me, but no, our grand honours are grand honours and they are given the same way in public and private - but by Freemasons only.
 

Warrior1256

Site Benefactor
Just got back from the first day of Grand Lodge for Kentucky. The proposal for opening lodge on a lesser degree than MM was voted down by a large margin.
 
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