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Super Excellent Masters Degree - Dallas

Bro. Stewart P.M.

Lead Moderator Emeritus
Staff Member
Is anyone from the Masons of Texas site planning on attending the Super Excellent Masters Degree coming up in Dallas on June 12th??

I was thinking about meeting up with some of the Brethren here at the ceremony. I will be bringing my wife along for the degree and lunch...
 
H

Huw

Guest
Gee, Stewart, I can understand bringing your wife to lunch ... but you're bringing her for the degree? :confused1:

I guess your ritual for SEM is probably a little different from the version I know over here, but presumably not terribly different. I've been in the Chair to confer it several times, and it's a nice piece of work ... although it's one of the shorter degrees, at least in the version I know. How long does it take in your version?

T & F,

Huw
 

Bro. Stewart P.M.

Lead Moderator Emeritus
Staff Member
It is my understanding that this degree is one of the few that is "open" to spouses etc. The only portion of the degree that is restricted is the actual obligation. The degree is being hosted over at the Dallas Scottish Rite Temple so that the costumes & props can be utilized. The only other degrees that I am aware of that are "open" are that of the Shrine. Ladies are welcomed to observe everything but the obligation and "hot sands"

As to the contents, I am not one who can answer that question. This will be my first time through.
 
H

Huw

Guest
Hi Stewart.

It is my understanding that this degree is one of the few that is "open" to spouses etc. The only portion of the degree that is restricted is the actual obligation.

Oh, wow! In that case, the content must be substantially different from what I know. Our SEM is strictly tyled, because it has secret modes of recognition and so forth, like any other Degree. I guess your version can't have that.

T & F,

Huw
 

Bro. Stewart P.M.

Lead Moderator Emeritus
Staff Member
Hi Stewart.



Oh, wow! In that case, the content must be substantially different from what I know. Our SEM is strictly tyled, because it has secret modes of recognition and so forth, like any other Degree. I guess your version can't have that.

T & F,

Huw

I never lead anyone to believe that there were no "grips & words" or other secret work. I simply stated that "those" items would be kept strictly tiled. The Dallas Scottish Rite facility is quite large and has many rooms to move about. In fact if I am not mistaken there are a total of 4 lodge rooms not including the large auditorium where this degree will be held. I am also quite certain that this version of the SEM degree is quite similar with other jurisdictions just as the regular lodge rituals are. I am certainly looking forward to obtaining this the last of the YR Council degrees.

I did confirm yesterday via e-mail that the ladies are welcome to attend this event.


Of course based on the member response here to this thread it appears that I will be the only MoT member at the event.
 
H

Huw

Guest
Hi Stewart.

I never lead anyone to believe that there were no "grips & words" or other secret work.

Actually yes, you did lead me to believe exactly that, although I now see that this wasn't your intention. You specifically stated that the "only portion of the degree that is restricted is the actual obligation", which implies that there are no other portions which would need to be tyled such as Signs and so on. However, fair enough, you've now clarified that this isn't what you meant.

Nevertheless it remains clear that what you do must be rather different from how we confer this degree. If we allowed visitors for those parts which don't absolutely demand strict tyling, then we'd have the visitors shuffling in and out repeatedly every five minutes, which would be absurd. Obviously you must at least be doing things in a different sequence, and I still wonder if the content is also rather different.

I am also quite certain that this version of the SEM degree is quite similar with other jurisdictions just as the regular lodge rituals are.

Well, Craft rituals generally seem to be fairly similar within the US, but are noticeably different to what happens overseas, such as what I do here in England, although the meanings are pretty much the same.

I don't know much about what you do in the Council over there, and perhaps it's not dramatically different. However, in some (but not all) of the other additional Orders, what you do is very significantly different from how I do them here - more different than in the Craft degrees, even to the extent that the meanings are quite different. I don't know whether or not it also applies to the Council degrees, but it'd be interesting to find out.

I am certainly looking forward to obtaining this the last of the YR Council degrees.

Of course! Have a great time.

T & F,

Huw
 

JBD

Premium Member
For those who were wondering - EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT Degree, Excellent Facility, Great Cast - lots of work went into this one - lots!
Yes the degree was open to the wives. There was one preliminary section that was not, but the rest was open. My wife learned a lot, the setting, costumes and workers really added to it.
 
H

Huw

Guest
Sounds fascinating. Someday I'd like to get over there and see how you do it, it'd be great to compare notes, but I probably can't for a while.

So I guess that you explain the modes of recognition right at the start, and then afterwards let the guests in and work the rest of the ceremony, but without giving any Sns Tns or Wds during the working?

T & F,

Huw
T.I.M. Grand Master's Council #1 T.I. (EC)
T.I.M. Penge Council #256 (EC)
 

Bro. Stewart P.M.

Lead Moderator Emeritus
Staff Member
JBD, we must have just missed each other at the degree, of course there were over 90 candidates from what I was told. It was an awesome degree and my wife also enjoyed it!
 

SSG_Morrison

Registered User
I would like to join Texas Chapter 362 RAM, Texas Council 321 RSM, and Worth Commandery #19.
I am a member of Fort Worth Lodge 148, but I am unable to be an active participant because I am in the Army and currently stationed at Fort Riley, KS. I will be moving to Colorado Springs, CO by the end of they year, but I would like to keep all of my memberships in TX. All of my family is in TX as well as my wife's family, so we visit often. My Grandfather went through his degrees at Panther City Lodge, and my dad went through York Rite with Texas Chapter 362 RAM, Texas Council 321 RSM, and Worth Commandery #19, but I'm affraid he hasn't been active in York Rite in some time, because of the death of his father in law, (my step mother's father) who was an active member in Texas Chapter 362 RAM, Texas Council 321 RSM, and Worth Commandery #19 until his death.
 

JBD

Premium Member
JBD, we must have just missed each other at the degree, of course there were over 90 candidates from what I was told. It was an awesome degree and my wife also enjoyed it!


No, I was hiding from you :)

I guess, there were a lot of people there.
 
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