My Freemasonry | Freemason Information and Discussion Forum

Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

Grand Lodge of Texas Codebook

Should the Grand Lodge of Texas publish an "Official" Codebook?

  • Yes

    Votes: 98 53.3%
  • No

    Votes: 69 37.5%
  • Undecided

    Votes: 17 9.2%

  • Total voters
    184

JBD

Premium Member
From what I understand, you are not allowed to have the Code or Cipher Book in the Lodge at all, but can posses one for personal use. I also feel a Code/Cipher Book, or Monitor should not be in the hands of a candidate, unless there is a word he cannot understand, and the instructor uses it to teach from. I thought it was not allowed, but in the last few months, I have met with others who instruct, and they have said they will let a candidate have their Monitor to study from. My instructor said NO! I learned the questions and answers from Mouth to Ear, and feel that is what is proper. The Code/Cipher Book is a good way to stay sharp on the work if you (like me) don't have anyone close to study with, and stay on top of it. You have to know the work in order to read the code. My 2 cents, and you can kep the change...


My brother - PLEASE - I implore you. Read the 2007 additions to the GL Law. I do not have mine with me this morning or I would quote it for you. It is legal for a MM to OWN one, it is NOT legal for him to have it on Lodge "premises" and you are specifically prohibited from using it to teach a candidate the work.

Regarding the monitor - IMHO - YMMV - the candidate doesn't need the monitor with the proper instruction. There is a lot of information in the monitor that is beyond the EA or FC level eventhough it is not esoteric it can be overwhelming and confusing. Let teach the candidate and let them read later.

BTW - the size change and bolding was intentional that statement is just MY OPINION.
 

owls84

Moderator
Premium Member
I think that we need to do a better job of education. I am for posessing a code book as long as it is within the law. I am for the GL printing their own for a couple reasons. The GL committee on work would still be vital for the purpose of teaching foot work but there is differences between the brothers on the committee on some wording. I have heard it and seen it, this would eliminate that. It would help generate revenue for the GL. Currently the GL is allowing someone else to make money why not bring it home and make it Official. As Bro. Rhit said why have a law allowing it then say well it is not entirely correct. Doesn't make sense.

As far as the monitor. I say not until you are a MM. This is a TON of information and why would you want to throw all that at a Brother. We have the 4 candidate books that are to be given and using them with the proper instruction why on earth would you need a monitor? Do you use the 4 books with the monitor? When I was raised I remember being given a monitor and when I got home I was overwelmed with the information. I mean it goes into Accepting the DDGM and GL officers and so forth. My gosh lets give these guys some incentive to become Master Masons.
 

Wingnut

Premium Member
Sure hope you meant a "law book"! ;)

DOH! Good Catch My Brother! Whats funny (and I got a lot of stares) was I asked a Brother in the hall way at Grand Lodge "where can I pick up the codebook for our JW?" You could have heard a pin drop... Luckily the Brother I asked knows me and knew what I meant and said oh you mean the LAW book not the codes we follow book :)
 
J

JEbeling

Guest
should have went into the Committee on "Hope and Change" and ask them for the official version..? and watch their reaction.. ? they get all bent out of shape when you ask them if something is right in the code book...? :D
 
E

eagle1966

Guest
my vote was yes but I feel that since the code book is allowed now then it should be correct, the current restirctions in place now are adqueat to keep them out of lodge.
but if there is no one with cert. to verify your work then how else will there be correct work
 

JTM

"Just in case"
Premium Member
Would that be a bad thing? During many practice nights I've heard "I checked with the Committee on work and they say to do it THIS way", at the same time another member says "no, I checked with them and they told me I'm doing it correctly".

I may be wrong, but aren't there a few GL's that publish their own codebooks?

that's what makes those nights so fun! :)


lol, some people may not see it that way though.
 

rhitland

Founding Member
Premium Member
I have scanned the working tools and apron and will send that to the EA, FC or MM when they get to that part of the memory work to give them something the can memorize from writting and is usaully the one thing the nail and we do not have to work on. The only way you can use a code book for instructing is if you are instructing another MM at home otherwise you have to be alone and away from Lodge premise.

I have been to an exam for certs and the Com. on Work member did not know how the working tools for the FC where laid out nor could it be agreed upon what was right, and as JTM said the night got fun after that.
 

Wingnut

Premium Member
Just my (mostly) humble opinion of course, but the actual 'secrets' of freemasonry are readily available, no doubt about it. Anyone with a computer and the knowledge of google can find them. I can post links to all of them... but I wont. I swore an oath to the GAOTU and took upon myself to an obligation to NOT tell the secrets. The secrets arent really the concern, its our character and honor that is...

again just my thoughts
 

Nate Riley

Premium Member
Just my (mostly) humble opinion of course, but the actual 'secrets' of freemasonry are readily available, no doubt about it. Anyone with a computer and the knowledge of google can find them. I can post links to all of them... but I wont. I swore an oath to the GAOTU and took upon myself to an obligation to NOT tell the secrets. The secrets arent really the concern, its our character and honor that is...

again just my thoughts

That's my take on it, too. Someone was grilling me a while back about all of the secrets. I told them that "the secrets of Freemasonry have been long published and are available. But I gave my word that I would not reveal any of them, further I gave my word that I would protect them. So, don't even ask me to confirm them. It is nothing personal, I am just keeping my word."
 

RAY

Registered User
When the code books were voted on and passes the only thing that changed was it was no longer a Masonic offense to own one. Law was set into place that prohibited the use of it on Masonic property or to use in front of a candidate to teach him. I was and still am against it because of two reasons. One-it takes away fellowship with another brother when learning or going over your work Second it's already being abused and there has been occasions where it was seen in and on lodge property and some MM are teaching out of it. At least when it was an offense to own one this never occurred to my knowledge. I have studied with a couple of brothers eye to eye over 25 years and wouldn't trade one minute of my time with them for all the code books in the world.
 

Wingnut

Premium Member
I dont know of anyone that uses the code book in lieu of actual mouth to ear, more of an enhancement when going over it alone between classes as a reminder or aid to the memory
 

Sirius

Registered User
I have studied with a couple of brothers eye to eye over 25 years and wouldn't trade one minute of my time with them for all the code books in the world.

That's how its supposed to work. All of the efforts to make it easier to be a Mason, only cheapen Masonry. If we continue on this path, we're the Oddfellows. Last one out, turn off the light.
 

rhitland

Founding Member
Premium Member
There have been 1.4 million Texas Code books sold since it was created in the 20's sometimes and since we legalized it 10,000 have been sold and that is a big number. OK GL legalized it and keep the copy writes and printed their own and sold them for 50$ a whack. So if we had keep the copy writes since 07' we would have made 500,000 and over the life of the book the GL ot TX would have made $70,000,000.00 give or take a few million. So I wonder how many MM there have been since 1920 I dare say it would be close to 1.4 million which means allot of MM are buying the thing so why not put the money in our bank and not some profit based company?
 

rev.jake

Registered User
How many TX Masons have a code book? Would it not be better for GL to publish one than to get one published by an unoffical source. It is easy to take care of the obligatgion. Don't put them in the book. I have seen the mess in Chapter and Council with the officers using a book. I got tired of the few who refuse to learn the parts, or cannot learn the parts.
 

JTM

"Just in case"
Premium Member
a) "let's give everybody an excuse not to learn the work and lodge it safetly within our breast"

or

b) it's a good reminder of the work for those that don't have a better one.

make your choice.
 

rev.jake

Registered User
a) "let's give everybody an excuse not to learn the work and lodge it safetly within our breast"

or

b) it's a good reminder of the work for those that don't have a better one.

make your choice.


b.

I had the privilege of teaching 2 brothers their work. Neither one was good at memory work. Both are still active and served in the line to the advantage of the Lodge and Masonry. So why not help them with a code book?
 

RAY

Registered User
No brainier there Rev. Its a Masonic offense to begin with so as a starter I recommend you study the Constitution -Resolutions of the Grand Lodge of Texas. Many Ea's and FC's are on this site and shouldn't witness a lot of these post. My 2 cents worth!
 
Top