Perhaps expanding your circle might change this. ;-)
--In my experience, there is no memorization, after the Craft degree lectures. If a man jumps to the conclusion that Freemasonry is a memorization club, then he is wrong.
I asked "why" throughout my first three degrees and got very little other than "just memorize it and it shall all become clear after a while". I finally wised up and asked how long were they in the craft and was it clear to them. The subject was changed soon thereafter. The why is rarely explained and when it is, it is usually something that makes little to no sense in relation to what is being memorized.
--When I was in class, learning the lectures, I never thought to ask "why?". I just took it as a necessity, did the memorization, and then moved on. BTW- In 1982, memorizing the MM lecture was optional. BUT- You had to have it, if you wished to serve as an officer. And I got a nice diploma. I have never had the honor of serving the Craft as an officer. A year after my MM degree, I was sent to Africa.
WOW! ME TOO! Only I think that you and I might have very little agreement as to what "Masonic" education actually is.
--Masonic education is a wide topic. Each man defines education a bit differently.
That sounds awesome until the rubber hits the pavement. Masonic history is all too often a fabricated mishmash of previous member's conjectures or attempts to make the organization more than it actually is. Ritual and background follow a close second to this. And as far as a masonic career, this is a volunteer organization and it was never intended to be a man's career.
--This is why Grand Lodges and Lodges should develop a comprehensive course, consisting of both classroom instruction, and on-line training. Masonic history courses can consist of the following:
The true history of early operative masonry, building of the cathedrals and public buildings in Europe, etc. And the history of how the four lodges cam together and formed the first Grand lodge in 1717. How Freemasonry arrived in the new world, by way of British Military Lodges. etc.
Of course, Masonry is a volunteer organization. But I use the term "career" in an elastic sense. We "labor" in quarries, symbolically. We "receive" Master's wages. And many men donate thousands of hours to the Craft, freely. Some men serve as officers, and that is hard work, where you must endure criticism. Service to the Craft is a volunteer "career".
That would be awesome, once the devil's in the details get beaten out. That would be an unbelievable undertaking.
1- Which history?!?! The fabricate ones that connect the organization to every possible occurrence of Stonecraft-Mystery Schools-Cabala-Alchemy-Hermetisism-etc. OR the one where four London lodges got together to form a Grand lodge for the purposes of having quarterly dinner parties?
--See my remarks above. By "history", I mean a comprehensive approach, "Macro" history about the origins of the Craft, and "Micro" history, about the Grand Lodge and the specific Lodge of the new Mason.
2- How would this make him a better man?
--Learning about Masonry, will not in itself make someone a better man. BUT- If a man appreciates the background and history of the Craft, and the impact that Freemasonry has had on our nation, and the world, it could encourage him to be a more knowledgeable Mason.
"Knowledge alone, is power" Sun-Tzu
3- Why? So he can get further distracted from working upon his Ashlar?
--There are over 100 appendant and concordant bodies in the Masonic family of organizations. Every Mason should have an understanding of the different organizations. I like to think of them as a "cafeteria" of organizations, where each person can choose to participate. One result, of having a knowledge of the appendant bodies: A new Mason could learn about the Order of DeMolay. He would look around his town, and find that there was no DeMolay nearby. Then he could start a chapter. Young men would join up. 90% of DeMolay graduates go into Craft Masonry. His lodge would get some new members. Not immediately, but some years later. And some young men, would get the benefits of DeMolay membership. All because someone took the time to teach the new Mason, about DeMolay.
"Anyone can count the seeds in an apple. Only God can count the apples in a seed" author unknown
4- Would you include how this very same lexicon being taught differs in reality?
--Masonic vocabulary is charming and baroque. There are many archaic terms used in Masonry, which not all men are conversant.
5- Would this be shared with him before or after his degrees and his Betterment Work?
--As I stated previously. Every new Mason should have a basic grounding in how Masonry has affected our national history and character. Many of the founding fathers were Masons. Their impact on the Constitution, and our splendid traditions of religious freedom, were drawn directly or indirectly from Masonic traditions. The exact time that a man obtains this insight and knowledge, does not matter.
6- What if he has no desire to run the gym and merely wants to work out?
--Not every Mason will have the desire or the opportunity to serve the Craft as an officer. BUT- Every new Mason should have a basic understanding of the procedures to be an officer. Whether a man ever serves as an officer does not matter. Our officers are elected by nomination and majority vote, and every Mason needs to understand the basic procedure. If he never serves as an officer, fine. He will definitely be involved in the selection process.
Yes, unfortunately, what is supported by the organization is only improving the members in organizational support.
Yes, but do they have the intellectual knowhow to teach each member how to use these Working Tools Masterfully?
--Not all lodges will have the knowledge or ability to teach new Masons these skills. This is where Grand Lodges can develop classroom and on-line training, to assist new Masons (and more experienced Masons) in how to use the "Working Tools"!