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Master Craftsman

JVan357

Registered User
Brothers,
I have been a Master Mason for about 5 years now and am about to petition the Scottish Rite. My question is that since the Master Craftsman Program is open to anyone, is it a good idea to take it before receiving the SR Degrees?
I am the type of person that doesn't want to "ruin" the effect of the degrees by reading too much in advance. Any advice my SR brothers could provide would be great. Thanks.
 

Morris

Premium Member
I would say it depends.

It will not ruin the experience in my opinion so I'll get that piece out of the way.

The benefit of starting the program is if you do a one weekend reunion. Its very difficult to grasp the degrees that are spoke about instead of acted out and I believe that's where you would benefit from the program.

I'm not sure if I would or wouldn't recommend if you completed over multiple reunions because I can't relate. I also can't relate if you're in the northern jurisdiction.

Thats my take. Hope that helps!
 

MarkR

Premium Member
Does your Scottish Rite Valley confer more than the 5 "obligatory" degrees, and does it do so over more than one "reunion" weekend? If so, getting the Master Craftsman program and completing the appropriate sections as you go along will be a very meaningful learning experience for you. If it's a reunion weekend, completing the Master Craftsman right after you go through will help make some sense out of the blur of getting too few degrees too quickly.
 

chrmc

Registered User
I think that they are open to anyone, and MC3 is on blue lodge, so you could take that any time.
MC1 is about the SR in general and some of the degrees in particular, but I think you can easily take the quiz before having seen all 32 degrees. I would probably wait with starting it until you'd joined the SR.

What you will find in general is that with these degrees you'll end up seeing them several times whilst studying them in Morals and Dogma, Bridge to Light and similar. Each degree are slightly heavy and can require a lot of contemplation, so it'll be a long learning process.
 

Zaden

Registered User
If you do it before going through the degrees you will need to purchase a copy of Bridge to Light. It is given to you after your degrees, but the MCP only includes the SR Ritual Monitor and Guide. I'm almost through the study part for the 3rd quiz of MCP 1 and I did my degrees in May.
 
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