Should Worshipful Masters hold a Certificate?
Brother Blake, I voted yes on this issue for several reasons. The first of which is Article 187 which requires that the three principal officers of a new lodge must be able to collectively confer all three degrees in Due form. I know that there are those who will argue that we are not seeking dispensation to open a lodge. On that point I agree, but I feel that if it is a requirement for a new lodge, why shouldn't it be the same for an established lodge.
Secondly, I have been a District Instructor for going on 8 years. I have seen the lodges all perform their work, both during degree conferral, and during opening and closing ceremonies.The lodges that have Masters or Wardens who have certificates , all do better ritualistic work, hands down then lodges that do not. They also seem to have more confidence in the way that they conduct their business. I feel that if a Master has his ritualistic work memorized, then he does not spend hours worring about if he is right or wrong, and has more time to devote to carrying on the non ritualistic business of the lodge.
Thirdly, I believe that if a brother has the iniative to even consider working the chairs and becoming a Worshipful Master of his lodge, then he should commit himself to learning the work. I find it hard to understand why a brother who does not know his work would want to sit in the East and embarrass himself and his Lodge in front of his own members or visitors. If he does not feel this way, then I would question his reasons for accepting the nomination in the first place. Is he seeking recognition, self satisfaction, or is he doing this simply to make some one else happy?
Fourthly, I feel that he should have it in his heart to conduct the business of a Masonic Lodge in its entirety, without help from an outside source. He should have enough pride in himself and his Lodge to want to be able to do what is required of a Masonic Lodge, What would happen if his was the last Lodge standing after some great disaster that destroyed all surrounding lodges. Who would carry on the work?
Lastly, I want to state that I feel there is a place for all brethren in this great fraternity of ours, the ritualist, the business men, the lawyers, the intellectuals, philosophers, any and all good men who wish to better themselves, their lodge, and the fraternity in general. I know brothers who will never be ritualist who are some of the greatest masons I know and love. I still state that if they want to become a Worshipful Master they should at least learn how to open and close a lodge, teach a candidate the required work of each degree, and listen to a visitor give a trial oath, to determine if they are a mason or not. All of the requirements for a "C" Certificate.