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Long Form only.
The long form catechisms are the building blocks for the rest of the rituals. If one chooses not to participate in further in ritual nothing is lost by knowing the long forms.
As a past DI, I would say if 3 or so Brothers are genuinely interested in the learning the ritual I would gladly show up. It possibly could breed a little more interest from others. With a little time and effort you might be able to put on an EA degree and possibly breathe a new life into the...
I've read the minutes of my Mother Lodge from 1927 and the biggest things were; lack of attendance, lack of participation in degrees and trying to raise dues.
The more some things change the more they stay the same.
Most members are satisfied with Masonry just the way it is. Eighty % are not going to participate no matter what you do. Free beer and dancing girls may help in the short run. Take their dues and stop worrying about them. Get on with our own business of being a Mason. Why make our own...
and that my Brother, is the shortcoming of the ritualist not the ritual. Like any other instructions...you can heed the lessons or ignore them.
The beauty of ritual is that it can be passed on by those who do not understand it to others who might.
Memorization is one thing, understanding what is memorized and putting it to work in your life is another thing altogether.
Personally, the memorization process is important to me. By the repetition it focuses my mind on what the lessons are. Sometimes it has taken years for me too see...
Since you asked......I would go where the tangible connections make me the most comfortable rather than the intangible connections with the past.
Whatever you decide, I wish you the best experience possible.