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Texas Commanderies...a modest proposal

tomasball

Premium Member
I wonder if there are many Knights Templar like me, who get upset that after a year of awful, terrible, disillusioning Commandery openings, we scramble for a month or two to be able to do one good opening for Grand Commandery inspection.

Why can't we have the inspections early in our Commandery year, so the officers are forced to learn their parts, then we can have meetings we can be proud of for the rest of the year?
 

crono782

Premium Member
I'm down for anything that helps smooth out ritual overall rather than peaks and valleys of proficiency.
 

Paul E. Wunsche

Registered User
Commandery inspections were at one time held in January and February. There are several reasons for the change, including the inspecting officer traveling on iced roads. Others felt it would give the officers more time to "learn" their work. Brother Queen made mention of proficiency, I would like everyone's opinion on this question. If you have a member(Doesn't matter which masonic body) who is very dedicated to the fraternity, is extremely active, helps set up the lodge for work, helps in the kitchen, is the first to arrive and last to leave and has expressed a desire to go through the line, but is a pour ritualist (Struggles with even the simplest ritual) what do you do?
 

crono782

Premium Member
I hate to be the unpopular voice, but I honestly think that if someone expresses an interest in being in the line, learning the ritual (opening and closing at least, not necessarily degrees) for that office comes with the territory. You cannot have someone speak for you and, grading being what it is, you realize that if you cannot do your part of the ritual openings, you actually hurt the lodge/chapter/council/commandery/etc. If a man is serious about going through the line, he should make it a priority to find a mentor to help him learn ritual. After all, at one time he made it through his proficiencies, right? Why should this be any different? If such a man who was so dedicated to the Craft, any ritually well-versed Brethren should be honored to mentor him in the work. That's my opinion at least.
 

Bill Lins

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
If you have a member(Doesn't matter which masonic body) who is very dedicated to the fraternity, is extremely active, helps set up the lodge for work, helps in the kitchen, is the first to arrive and last to leave and has expressed a desire to go through the line, but is a pour ritualist (Struggles with even the simplest ritual) what do you do?
I have to agree with Bro. Daniel. A successful WM must be in possession of a number of skill sets, including, but not limited to, leadership and proficiency in the ritual. Many good Masons do a lot for their Lodges but simply do not have the leadership skills to run a Lodge. To promote them regardless does a disservice both to them and to their Lodge. To me, one of the beauties of Freemasonry is that there's a place for every Brother's talents. The East is not necessarily that place for all.
 

Brother JC

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
If you can't learn the ritual, then you won't be performing the ritual. In some jurisdictions you aren't allowed to be chosen for a chair unless you prove yourself.
 

JJones

Moderator
I'm in agreement with Cronos and Bro. Lins on this. I'll also say that I believe that if someone wants a position then he should know the work before he is installed.

Don't get me wrong, ritual proficiency isn't equal to leadership. I've seen terrible ritualists that were decent leaders and good ritualists that couldn't lead a fish to water. Regardless, if a brother accepts a station/office then he's accepting a position of leadership and hopefully he already knows the work.

If for some reason a brother just can't learn it, that doesn't mean he's a bad mason or a bad leader...and he could still be of great service to the lodge. But again, service doesn't (or it shouldn't) earn you a year in the East if you can't learn the work.

Just my .02
 

Companion Joe

Premium Member
I think Commandery inspections have gotten out of hand. We already know the date of our Sept. 2015, yes 2015, inspection. Whether its the Grand Encampment or just the Grand Commanderies, someone has lost their sense of purpose. They have changed Commanderies from fraternal organizations that try to do some good to competition drill teams where we are worried about a score.
 

Paul E. Wunsche

Registered User
You have a valid point, which leads me to a few questions: what is the main focus in your home Commandery and your Grand Commandery? What charity or program, if any do the support and promote? and what is the main purpose Knights Templar?
 

Companion Joe

Premium Member
My home Commandery tries to send a local preacher on a Holy Land pilgrimage every other year, and of course we support the Eye Foundation. As for the Grand Commandery, it seems to me the main purpose is having the grand officers ride around, take part in every inspection, and grade Commanderies.
 

cacarter

Premium Member
I think Commandery inspections have gotten out of hand. We already know the date of our Sept. 2015, yes 2015, inspection. Whether its the Grand Encampment or just the Grand Commanderies, someone has lost their sense of purpose. They have changed Commanderies from fraternal organizations that try to do some good to competition drill teams where we are worried about a score.

This. Exactly this. This past year I got the feeling we were there for the purpose of getting high scores and winning awards rather than anything else. Oh ya, we made sure everyone was an endowed (or whatever its called) member of the Eye Foundation and we passed the hat at Christmas for some kids toys. Other than that it was about accumulating points for the Grand Commandery awards, drill competition, etc.
 

Companion Joe

Premium Member
A year or so ago, we had a guy - God bless him - who paid the Eye Foundation money for everyone in the state who hadn't done it on their own. Whatever it was, $5, $10, I'm not sure because I didn't send it in, this man did so the state would hit 100%. I got a letter in the mail thanking me for being a life contributor or whatever, and I was just like "OooooK."
 
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