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Intender

Chicago Glenn

Registered User
So, I sat down with the individual claiming to be my Intender. I has read that the Intender is supposed to be my guide, a "trusted friend." Within a few minutes, my entire first degree became an unadulterated farce. I swore not to divulge the secrets and rituals of Masonry to any non-Mason...or so I thought. He said that most of the guys that memorize the "long form" have their wives ask the questions. I thought it was a test or a bad joke. It wasn't. I pressed. He was dead serious. He did the short form. However, that was how he got through, as well. I talked to someone from another Lodge. He laughed tragically and said absolutely not. That's not the way it was supposed to be. When I brought it to the attention of another member of the Lodge, the recent former worshipful master, he said he would pass along my "concerns." My concerns? If those vows mean nothing, why take them at all if you are going to contradict them days later? Is this practice just indicative of Illinois or is this widespread in the United States?
 

Bloke

Premium Member
Hello Brother.

This is a tricky one - and it depends on the specifics your obligation and the local Masonic culture.

I know many Brethren who practice with a wife or daughter. They openly admit this and would not be brought up on a Masonic Charge here. However, the wife or daughter will not know the "Secrets" of Freemasonry as we (those in my Constitution) define them. These are the ways we recognize each other a Freemasons. For us, to reveal those other than an approved candidate or Freemason is to break our obligation. However, I could give a charge (like the working tools) in public and not be breaking my obligation - because it contains no "secrets". I used to leave my ritual beside the bed and my ex said she read it, I had no problem with that, because all the secrets were left as blanks.

Freemasonry is symbolic in many ways (indeed many rituals might say that very thing), and it confused the hell of our me we promised not to write the secrets yet had a ritual book. We can do that, as I later discovered, because the ritual books has blanks where the "secrets".

As an EA (I assume you are one) always err on the side of caution and follow your rules as you see them and your conciseness. For me, I only practice ritual with other Freemasons, but also have developed a much stronger understanding of Freemasonry over time and understand things which, at first view, confused the hell out me...
 

David612

Registered User
In my jurisdiction if it is written then it it’s not “secret”. I personally don’t talk ritual with anyone who isn’t a mason and in person but that’s me.
 

Keith C

Registered User
Here in PA our Ritual Manual is not to be read by any non-Mason. The only things that could be practiced with a non-Mason's assistance are the 3 Degree Charges, which are printed separately and the "Public" versions of the Officer's Installation Charges, as they are done in an untyled environment.
 

Jim Licquia

Registered User
A different Intender question. My Intender has been great in guiding me through the first two degrees, with one left. I will be raised sometime in the next month. My question is would it be inappropriate to offer him or his family a modest gift of some sort such as a gift certificate to a restaurant; or a Lodge donation in his name as a way of saying thank you?
 

Bill Lins

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
I see nothing wrong with that. I gave my instructor a gift after turning in my MM work and I've had students do the same for me. It is a token of gratitude from those who understand the great amount of time & effort their instructors put in to teach them.
 

Brother JC

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
A different Intender question. My Intender has been great in guiding me through the first two degrees, with one left. I will be raised sometime in the next month. My question is would it be inappropriate to offer him or his family a modest gift of some sort such as a gift certificate to a restaurant; or a Lodge donation in his name as a way of saying thank you?

I carved my mentor a small square and compasses as a thank you gift. It sat on the mantel in his reading room.
 

Bloke

Premium Member
I carved my mentor a small square and compasses as a thank you gift. It sat on the mantel in his reading room.
Nice !
One of my guys gave me a bottle of scotch - it was one of the first physical gifts I was given having mentored someone, another an electric shaver, another a pocket watch, a few S&Q pins which is not standard, another gave me the masonic ring off his finger, that was very special.. These are nice, but what really counts is watching them flourish having mentored them, esp when they take an office like WM, DC, SEC or GM... but I think WM and DC are the best, because in those positions they are key developers of the next generation...
 

CLewey44

Registered User
On the Netflix special from earlier this year/last year, I believe one of the Mason's that was maybe learning the JW position, was practicing with his wife.
 

Elexir

Registered User
On the Netflix special from earlier this year/last year, I believe one of the Mason's that was maybe learning the JW position, was practicing with his wife.

And while it might be allowed in his juristiction, other rules apply in other juristictions.

Only in Texas. Kinda glad I didn't move there and become a mason.

Not just in Texas. Other juristiction also has rules against that sort of thing.
 

Bill Lins

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
Only in Texas. Kinda glad I didn't move there and become a mason.
If one can't follow the rules... Our obligation prohibits us from sharing "the secrets of FM" with non-Masons & the esoteric portions of the memory work are considered a part of the secrets.
 

Scoops

Registered User
A different Intender question. My Intender has been great in guiding me through the first two degrees, with one left. I will be raised sometime in the next month. My question is would it be inappropriate to offer him or his family a modest gift of some sort such as a gift certificate to a restaurant; or a Lodge donation in his name as a way of saying thank you?
I acquired the 3 Festival charity Stewards jewels that were issued by UGLE in the year that he was born and presented them in a smart case to my proposer.

Sent from my EML-L09 using Tapatalk
 

Schuetz

Registered User
Illinois - I was even encouraged to practice with my wife (from a family of Shriners). As has been said, if it's written down, then it's not secret.

Q. E. L. Schuetz, M.M.
Shekinah Lodge No. 241 • IL
Murphysboro Lodge No. 498 • IL
 
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