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Degree tomorrow

Castro81

Registered User
Hello Brothers.
So, tomorrow evening is a FC degree at my lodge. And I already know that without even hearing the brothers, that the lodge will pass them, 10 in total. My lodge has that habit of letting the brothers go through the degrees, even if they are not proficient. One thing that really bothers me, aside from the lack of proficiency, is when it comes to the obligation. They all say it, at the SAME TIME. There is no way to tell who is or isn’t saying the obligation correctly. I feel that i have a duty to stand and say something to the brothers. What do you brothers think. Should i even bother?
 

Keith C

Registered User
I would address your concerns to the Worshipful Master. I assume your jurisdiction permits this many degrees to happen at once and has provisions for how it is to be done. If it is all done in accordance with the Constitution, Rules, Regulations and Edicts of your Grand Lodge, then it is up to the Will and Pleasure of your Worshipful Master to confer the degrees in that manner. I fear if you simply address the Brethren directly that will not be taken well. Here, in fact, you need to have the WMs approval to address anyone but him.
 

Castro81

Registered User
Not sure how much good that would do. Seeing as my current WM was a past instructor and one of his classes did exactly what ive mentioned. All did the Obligation together...
 

BroBook

Premium Member
As Bro Keith suggested, voice your concerns to WM. Question, my Brother, how proficient are/were you? Last thing " be the change you want see " motivate them to become proficient.

Sent from my LML212VL using My Freemasonry mobile app
 

David612

Registered User
This really resonates with me, I used to hate to see people who appear to not be well versed in the proficiency getting passed or raised, my thoughts/questions are thus;
A.does your lodge do mentoring of new candidates, if not why not and if so are you involved?
B.many candidates know the work but make a big old mess of it when presenting it, obviously more evident when you have one or maybe 2 candidates.
C.you are well within your right to vote they not be passed but like a ballot for initiation they shouldn’t get to this point before being turned down, their teachers should be the ones to advise on their proficiency not the work schedule.

D. The solace is that even if one is passed through the degrees the secrets of freemasonry remain hidden unless the brother seeks them out.
 

jermy Bell

Registered User
2 is ok , 3 or more I think not.
What gets my goat is doing 2-3 on a third degree. The 3rd is your night, as a single to experience the ritual. 2 or more and they get to sit on the side lines and cheated out of being raised. I don't attend group degrees anymore. The path is yours and yours alone.
 

David612

Registered User
2 is ok , 3 or more I think not.
What gets my goat is doing 2-3 on a third degree. The 3rd is your night, as a single to experience the ritual. 2 or more and they get to sit on the side lines and cheated out of being raised. I don't attend group degrees anymore. The path is yours and yours alone.
I was initiated with another guy who called off as a fellow craft, personally I think anytime you are doing a degree it should be on a single candidate, I personally would be perfectly happy to deliver work every night in a given week if it meant the candidate gets even a slightly superior experience.
 

Keith C

Registered User
We will do 2 or 3 EA or FC degrees in an evening, but they are done separately for the most part. For the all but the last candidate we skip the recapitulation and only go through that with the final candidate kneeling at the altar and the other standing directly behind. We also do the investment of the apron and working tools lecture with the candidates together. It is permitted to do it all together in PA, but requires a dispensation and that is not how we choose to do it in our Lodge.

If we do more than one MM Degree in an evening the only thing done together is the investment of the apron and working tool lecture.
 

Castro81

Registered User
Its rare that my lodge will do 1 to 3 candidates. The least ive seen is 7 candidates/brothers go through the degrees.
 
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