I mean if you were to do a CoR and did it completely before ever opening a lodge period, it would be hard to argue that you were tinkering with ritual.
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The Grand Master disagrees with you. And if you pause and consider what you said, if it's not "ritual", then what is it?
Oh I'm aware that he does and of course we abide. Same thing that the bible presentation is (in an overly simplified sense): fluff. However, just because its non ritual doesn't mean it can't be made meaningful.
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The Grand Master disagrees with you.
And if you pause and consider what you said, if it's not "ritual", then what is it?
If, as it appears, he only reminded the Brethren of the existing law giving total control of all things ritualistic to the Committee on Work, then there is nothing to be presented or approved @ GL- the law already exists. If some wish to be allowed to have a CoR, they will need to submit a resolution to be considered. As stated earlier, the soonest such could happen would be in December of 2014.And what the Grand master says, goes. Plus he gets to decide if his decision goes to vote at GL to get ratified to become permanent. In this case he has not yet put it on the agenda for his year. It's an interesting strategy that kicks the ball forward giving everyone plenty more time to think about it.
Well eventually, Texas GL should vote on this, I suspect that a majority of the votes would support.
See I think the above is where you may be wrong. Though we are seeing a general trend towards a more formal and traditional form of masonry in many of the urban lodges, I do not think the same winds are blowing in the rural parts of Texas, and most certainly not in Grand Lodge.
I would personally expect a vote on the CoR to fail miserably in GL (sadly) if for no better reason than "it's not the way we've always done it"
I remember when I went through my EA degree, while I was impressed with many parts of the degree (lecture, obligation, the way I was duly and truly prepared, and also the fact that everyone memorized their lines)...I was disappointed that the degree was not better, more cool. I was comparing it to my preconceived notions (yes, I had seen CoR mentioned in a book of masonic symbolism that I had purchased so was surprised it did not occur).
I attended an EA Degree at a TO Lodge last night, and I must say that the CoR was done in excellent taste, and that the Candidate was duly impressed. Plus, it was probably one of the most impressive Initiations I have seen.
This is a great example of why candidates should be encouraged to go in cold. If you don't trust your friends to take care of you are you actually ready to adopt them as brothers? So don't learn about the content of the degrees in advance. It spoils the emotional impression made during the degree.
See I think the above is where you may be wrong. Though we are seeing a general trend towards a more formal and traditional form of masonry in many of the urban lodges, I do not think the same winds are blowing in the rural parts of Texas, and most certainly not in Grand Lodge.
I would personally expect a vote on the CoR to fail miserably in GL (sadly) if for no better reason than "it's not the way we've always done it"
Last year, San Marcos Lodge successfully proposed the allowance of positioning the Lesser Lights in alternate locations. Their resolution would serve well as a guide for one allowing the use of a CoR.perhaps allow some lodges the option of being traditional observance lodges and implement the idea.
In the case of Lodges that I have seen using the CoR, nothing is replaced. The preparation, questions, and entrance are all the same. The CoR precedes everything in the Monitor, everything already in place regarding the Degree....explain why that is better than our current ceremony in the preparation room.
Are they proposing that the candidate be taken into a CoR, given a ceremony there, then taken to the Preparation Room for the Senior Deacon's charge?