1st Inspection

I survived my first inspection last night as my Lodge presented its EA degree, with yours truly as the centerpiece...playing the role of the candidate. I had a feeling they were going to ask me to do it, being the new guy. Honestly, I was reluctant to do it. Having just been initiated a couple months ago, I wasn't sure I wanted to water down the experience by going through it again. In the end, I decided that helping out and "taking one for the team" was more important. And really, after it was all said and done, I gained even more from doing the degree again.

Usually our Lodge has about 20ish attendees. Last night there was about 60. I'm usually not the nervous type, but that's a lot of people, including some district and state level bigwigs. I also met some Commandery members for the first time. Maybe its just me, but wearing those hats and uniform in Blue Lodge just seemed a bit out of place. I don't think it was just me though, I overheard a few rumblings about it.

At any rate, we survived, and passed. The WM got stricken with a case of the nerves towards the end, but aside from that, it went off without a hitch.

I would never say receiving a degree a second time is watering it down. I always tell newly made Masons of any degree to go see one as quickly after yours as possible. There is just so much going on, and along with general excitement of the moment, there is no way to fully appreciate it the first go around. To get to play the candidate again so soon would really be beneficial, I think. This time, you can really listen and absorb.

When I received the Order of the Temple, I remembered only one thing about it because I wasn't the active candidate. Sometime later, I played the part of the candidate for Commandery inspection, and it meant so much more.

For the first few months after my initiation, I went to ever degree practice that I was invited to and was asked to be the candidate at every one. I must have been so about 12 times, but I have to admit, it helped with my EA work and it helped me learn the degree as well.