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EA work

Keith C

Registered User
I gave my E.A proficiency almost 6 months ago, and still have not been passed to the F.C Degree... They just keep saying next month we will give you the next degree, but it never happens.... Does my lodge not want me to progress?? I am ready to give up... what should I do??

What Lodge and Grand Lodge?

To me this sounds a bit suspicious as most "regular" lodges would not act in this fashion.
 

CLewey44

Registered User
I've never seen a proficiency turned in on same night as the degree. I'm sure it's ok in some states. That seems also like a 'gimme' since people from other lodges may have come for ritual reasons and technically, if the brother being examed completely blew and was voted down, you'd have some ticked off guys possibly. Plus it implies, 'you're good' no matter what and that's not really a good message. And believe me, I didn't do mine flawlessly but I've seen some when I was an FC or EA that were terrible and if I had the gall or ability then, I'd voted them down. The one's where the questioner is just feeding them every single answer to 90% of all questions. That's another story for another thread I guess tho....stepping off soap box now lol.
 

MWS

Registered User
Interesting. In Ontario (Canada) it's done the same night. In my Lodge the Candidate's proficiency is tested or "cleared" by a mentor and the Master to make sure he is capable before he is scheduled for his next degree. The degree night is mainly a formality in front of the brethren.
 

Keith C

Registered User
Here we do not test proficiency in Lodge, this is done by our Masonic Education Committee once a month. Degrees are conferred at "Extra Meetings" on the same day of the week (in our case Wednesdays) of a week other than the stated meeting.
 

Warrior1256

Site Benefactor
it implies, 'you're good' no matter what and that's not really a good message.
Agreed.
I didn't do mine flawlessly but I've seen some when I was an FC or EA that were terrible and if I had the gall or ability then, I'd voted them down.
Same here.
The one's where the questioner is just feeding them every single answer to 90% of all questions.
I saw one exactly like this.
In my Lodge the Candidate's proficiency is tested or "cleared" by a mentor and the Master to make sure he is capable before he is scheduled for his next degree. The degree night is mainly a formality in front of the brethren.
I can see this.
Here we do not test proficiency in Lodge, this is done by our Masonic Education Committee once a month.
Thanks for the information. I had never heard of this.
 

HoldenMonty

Registered User
For me one of the things that has helped since I think I'm more of a visual learner I go into my head and imagine seeing it all again as I'm being told it. In Pennsylvania we have a mentoring program for each degree but the only requirement for me to get the next degree is to learn the specifics of the previous degree that tie into the next degree.
 

Thomas Stright

Premium Member
For me one of the things that has helped since I think I'm more of a visual learner I go into my head and imagine seeing it all again as I'm being told it. In Pennsylvania we have a mentoring program for each degree but the only requirement for me to get the next degree is to learn the specifics of the previous degree that tie into the next degree.

No memory work?
My GF was a 55yr MM in PA but I never knew he was one until his funeral....
 

Keith C

Registered User
No memory work?
My GF was a 55yr MM in PA but I never knew he was one until his funeral....

Indeed, the only memorization is the dialog associated with the grips. Otherwise it is an understanding of the precepts of the previous degree and, as I understand it, this varies in detail from Lodge to Lodge. Mine was pretty extensive, but we do not have to be able to recite anything from memory. You only need to memorize degrees if you are in the line. You have to be signed off as exemplifying the Business of The Lodge and the EA Degree before being eligible to be elected JW, The FC Degree to be elected SW and the MM Degree to be elected WM. I have until the end of October to exemplify the Business of the Lodge and EA, as our current SD decided to step out of the line and I am now in line for the JW Chair for next year.
 

Center

Registered User
I found amazing how freemasonry can be so deep, and I am not meaning here to the even laudable fact few Freemasons authors recognized after years from their initiation how can be insightful some aspect of an EA ritual. When I was young at school had to learn by heart poetry and literature. Then in the last two decades this method was seen as wrong, as according to different pedagogues dull repetitions were not stimulating cognitive abilities. But then, 2 years ago different scientific papers found that commit to memory notions is not only really useful for the brain, but also increases the ability to understand the content in a much deeper way! Changes the scientific paradigms, the technology, the cultural anthropological borders of different societies, but still several aspects of the masonic method remain always pure wisdom, even after centuries.
 
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