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Texas Codebooks

Blake Bowden

Administrator
Staff Member
I finally picked up my Codebook today! Previously the only source I've known about was Brown Bookstore in Houston, but Barnes and Noble carries them:

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/King-Solomon-and-His-Followers-25/G-A-Gavitt/e/9780880532594/?itm=2

You can actually see if a store near you has them in stock. If they do, you can have them hold a copy at the cash register. It's a little challenging to figure out what you're looking at. I have a pretty easy time on the Q&As, but the other stuff I have to think about and fill in the missing pieces.
 

Bro. Stewart P.M.

Lead Moderator Emeritus
Staff Member
Depending on the Brother that you are conversing with you will receive either positive or negative feedback relating to these code books. After the "limited" approval of useage, it was amazing how many of us "all of a sudden" had one when they previously did not.

Personally I went through my degree-work after the legalization and I purchased my copy from Barnes & Nobel online. The book was a HUGE help to me while I was comming up through the degrees by allowing me additional review time when I wasn't conversing with a well informed Brother. It was difficult to locate a study partner close to where I was living at the time (Waxahachie), when I wasn't actually at the Lodge. After I completed my EA work, I was able to comprehend most of the coded text; and after my MM degree I am able to comprehend ALL of the text. Now I benefit from a brief "review" right before Lodge on our degree conferral nights, if I need it.
 
J

JEbeling

Guest
Thanks Blake.. ! have an EA I am teaching that wanted one..? now can just give him the website if he wants one.. !
 

nick1368

Registered User
i have had one since the "approved" them. when i went to Barnes & Nobles that next weekend after GL I had to ask where it was. The clerk laughed and said I was about the 10th person that had asked for that book, she took me to where they were and they had about 1 copy left...a week later a Brother went and he said the had about 10 copies....i have used it to refresh my memory some but I honestly couldn't tell if its in my truck or desk at work this moment.....
 

Bill Lins

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
Brethren, I would caution y'all that there are inaccuracies in all the books I've seen to date. Rather than accept as Gospel what is printed therein, I recommend you get with a DI or "A" certificate holder & identify where & what the mistakes are.
 
R

RJS

Guest
That is an interesting point you bring up. I wonder how much this book will affect things later on down the line.

When did Gonzales get a B&N? :)
 

Blake Bowden

Administrator
Staff Member
Haha I was in your neck of the woods! I think the codesbooks are godsend. For example, at my Lodge there are no practice nights at all, which stinks. We just had an EA degree and nobody had a clue who was going to teach him! There are a small amount of Brothers who could, but they live 30+ miles from the candidate. A Brother who lives near me can do it, but he's retired and has some health issues. We've had 4 EA's since December 2007, and I was the only one to complete the work. Sorry for the rant, but we complain about lack of membership, then when we get the guys in..we drop the ball. Our Secretary has been ill for awhile, but I was embarrassed that our shiney new EA didn't even get a dues card. Anyway, I have a codebook to teach me the questions so I can work with him.
 

david918

Premium Member
It must be tough without practicing.A bunch of us meet every Tuesday in Wharton except for our stated meeting and every Thursday in El Campo except for our stated.Even with an expert teacher like brother Bill and practicing twice a week we still manage to use the Wharton/El Campo ritual at times instead of the Texas ritual.:)
 

Blake Bowden

Administrator
Staff Member
So y'all don't even meet once a week to do QA?

Nope. We don't have any practice for Q&A or Degrees. Fortunately Brethren from Hardeman Lodge 179 in Luling 20 miles away hold practice every Wednesdays and come to our aid when degrees are needed.
 

jonesvilletexas

Premium Member
Brothers if you check with the GLL you will find that an EA, FC cannot have one or can you teach them with one. And by the way what code book did we (Grand Lodge Members) approve?
The answer is I believe no particular one
 

Scotty32

Registered User
I will not use the code book ever. By repeated use, no one will bother to learn it anymore. Our DI said the same happened in the York rite.
 

jonesvilletexas

Premium Member
That is right brother Scott; I was told the something and have seen it happen. I have thought all along that this same thing will happen to the Blue Lodge, and have been proved right in a short time that they have been approved. You cannot receive the same lessons out of the book as you can from a well learned brother. Yes you learn the words but there is more to it than just words. I know that there is good reasons for the book and will not debate them for they are right in there reasoning.
 
R

RJS

Guest
from what I have heard...there are 3 mistakes in the code book

Brother Nick, my friend has one and when I looked through it I found over 20 in just a short time.

I think that is a perfect example of how different each lodge is and how nice it would be to have something to keep all lodges on the same page.

Also everything that I have read about the code book resolution only states how they can be used but not by who. Could some one post up the exact wording?
 
B

Brother Secretary

Guest
WHOA!!! hold the phone!!! JEbeling, I was under the impression that it was okay for MMs to have the book and they were not to be used in Lodge or with a candidate, certainly not to be handed to an EA. Once he figured out how to read it, what would keep him from just reading the FC & MM. I believe you'd be doing this EA a great disservice by encouraging him to buy it.

It's an aid to memory, not a substitute for an instructor.

Just one man's opinion.

Jonesville, GL approved: King Solomon and his Followers, an Aid to Memory, the Lone Star edition.
 
R

RJS

Guest
The exact wording of the section pertaining to code/cipher books in the Rules and Regulations.
 
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