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Dealing with lazy EA's

K.S.

Registered User
I guess there were several issues going on at my lodge for a few years about the time of my 1°, a bunch of EA's fell by the way side. Only a handful of us made the trek through the darkness somewhat on our own.
A change in leadership and some brothers departed the lodge, not necessarily on the square, and things got better around the time of my 2°. When it came time for my 3°, the ship had righted itself, and now we have a great lodge with a good group of members who attend regularly. I'm glad and proud that I stuck thru it.
Thank you brother Heilman for understanding the dark times of an EA. As I progress further with my lodge, I intend to make sure myself and our candidates coach extend a hand in the dark, so other men don't have to feel as if they are alone in their 1st step.
 

Preston DuBose

Registered User
As it stands you can bring masonic charges and suspend or expel an EA or FC if necessary, but they do not pay dues nor hold voting rights until they are a MM. They are not entitled to the honors and privileges of a Master Mason. If you want to keep them from attending the stated meeting simply inform the lodge that you will be opening on the Masters degree, invite them to the meal before, open on the 3rd degree, and inform them that the Stewards need some help in the kitchen from the EAs and FCs.

I just wanted to second Bro. Robinson's suggestion here. Perhaps they need the right motivation. I'd suggest handling it Brother to Brother rather than looking to a change in Grand Lodge Law. How about asking the person who recommended the candidate on his petition or some other well-respected Brother to have a word with the EA in question? Not begging to the EA to do the work, but rather making clear statement of expectation. "This is how it works. This is what we expected of you. And this is the consequence of failing to meet that expectation. It's time to man up." Couple that with opening your stated meetings as a MM lodge for a few months and they'll either decide to fish or cut bait.
 

BigLew808

Registered User
Brothers, I went through some of the same things with lack of mentoring. What another EA and I decided to do was to assist each other to study. We also took it upon ourselves to inquire with our WM and other Officers if we could assist those other EA's that came after us.
Our Lodge even had an education committee that hardly met with us. Taking a little time either before dinner or the meeting to help them might make a huge difference for them? It helped our Brothers here in Hawaii and it might help your EA's as well.
Just my opinion
 

Ashlar

Registered User
We invite our EAs' to our monthly dinners and set up weekly classes for them . I have sat at lodge for hours many , many times waiting for just one EA to show up , but all the EAs' were no-shows , they are not interested . So it is not because of a lack of interest on our (the mentors , the Master Masons) part . As soon as the EA degree is over with , they are given a list of names , phone numbers and addresses of mentors to no avail .

I have given up much of my time to teach them so it is not the lodge's fault . Again , I am not going to beg them to study . I (we , my lodge) extended our hand to guide them through the EA degree and they slapped it away , so all blame falls squarely on their shoulders .
 

Preston DuBose

Registered User
I have given up much of my time to teach them so it is not the lodge's fault . Again , I am not going to beg them to study . I (we , my lodge) extended our hand to guide them through the EA degree and they slapped it away , so all blame falls squarely on their shoulders .

Bro. Ashlar,

Do you know if the investigating committees make a point of explaining to the applicants that after initiation they will have to apply themselves to months of memorization work, none of which is written down? I know each lodge is different and I think the new investigation reports have a line encouraging members to do so. I just know from personal experience that nobody told me squat about what would happen. I was very newly married, and if I'd had any idea of the time commitment involved I certainly would have reconsidered the timing. It put a lot of stress on my marriage, and in fact once I was raised I left Lodge for about 5 years (but stayed current on dues).

I think some brothers are unclear about what is secret and what is not secret in our fraternity. Erring on the side of caution, they speak of next to nothing to the detriment of candidate, potential candidate, and the public at large.
 

Ashlar

Registered User
We make it a point to inform them that they will have memorization work to perform to advance to the next degree . We ask them if they have the time ( which I still can not see a couple of hours a week and one night a month at lodge as a hardship) . We also make it a point to inform them that if they do not wish to put in the work to advance , to let us know then (at their investigation ) and we will go no further . We also explain in great detail , what is secret and what is not . So they are not coming in blind and are well informed .

We even reinforce this before we go to open lodge on their Initiation night . We sit them down and ask again if they are willing to put in the work of all that is expected of them . I am very blunt , and I will tell them not to waste their's and our time if they are not willing to work with a mentor . All we hear is " I am ready to put in the work !" , and then we never hear from them again .

Now this is for those EAs' who have never came back . We have those who truly want Freemasonry and had taken their time to study and put in the work .
 
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Bill Lins

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
As soon as the EA degree is over with , they are given a list of names , phone numbers and addresses of mentors

This may be part of the problem. In our Lodge, we expect the Brother who gave the prospect his petition to be his mentor (not to be confused with his instructor). The mentor is responsible for finding a suitable instructor for the new Brother, monitoring his progress, and helping to resolve any issues which may arise. To me, the personal relationship with both the mentor and the instructor is more likely to result in the EA staying interested and enthusiastic than just giving him a list of names & numbers & expecting him to go down it until he finds someone to work with. Why don't y'all give it a try?
 

Ashlar

Registered User
We call our "Instructors" mentors and/or coaches . Those who proposed the candidates are what we here in my area call "friends and family" as we do not get many outsiders who are unknown to at least a few members of my lodge . Almost all of our EAs' are friends or family members of our Master Masons , so it is not a lack of contact with any of our Master Masons , so that does not fly .

Our proposers do stay in contact with them , but I see this as a way to weed out those who do not want Masonry . I wanted Masonry so I took it upon myself and called a member of my lodge to coach me , it was not the job of my Father-in-law (who proposed me) to do this for me . I guess I see things a little differently and you can consider me a hard a** but I came looking for them , they did not come looking for me . I was an enthusiastic EA and FC , I am a full grown man who was explained how it works (and how to get in touch with an "instructor") and because I wanted to be a Mason I did not need any hand holding .

And that is my point . Some want us out there begging , pleading and babying these EAs' to work with their coaches . They are all full grown men also and if they do not want Masonry , let them stay as EAs or leave the Fraternity all together . When I had questions , I called my coach or someone else in lodge and they either answered them or put me in touch with someone who could . Because of an accident , I was in so much pain going through the degrees , they had to allow me to sit down to catch my breath . They tried to postpone my degrees , but I would not allow it because I wanted to be a Mason . I made the call on my own and studied and worked with my mentor (aka: instructor) in the same mind numbing pain , sometimes while in bed , because I wanted to be a Mason . I do not think it is too much to ask a man to make a call on his own and work for something important .

Do not take what I am saying wrong as I do agree with you that the proposer should stay in touch with the EA (and FC) whom he had given the petition too , but I do not think he should be begging and pushing him to study his catechism . I talk to MY EAs' all the time , but I do not push them , if they do not want it then it is no skin off my nose . Just gave me good practice conferring the EA degree for those who do want to be Masons .
 
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Bill Lins

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
Didn't say anything about "begging or pushing" and I am not in favor of doing either. What I was referring to is letting the candidate know that we are interested in him & how he is progressing and that we are invested in his succeeding in his efforts. I have seen more than a few EA's who were basically abandoned by the Brethren of their Lodges and left to find their own way.

Masonry is far removed from most of the experiences of the profane. An initiate can and, I believe, often does become overwhelmed. Just as college fraternities and our military provide new members with guides or mentors to encourage them and help them learn the ropes in the new and unfamiliar situation they are in, I believe our Brethren and Lodges, as well as our EA's, would be well served by emulating their example.
 
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Rescue51

Premium Member
I have been an EA for a while now. (too long) but, I am in the Military and a Husband and Father. I have been deployed, transferred, and otherwise busy with family, school, and work. I am currently looking for a lodge around Saginaw, Tx. I would love to finally finish my degree work, but my time is very limited. Any suggestions? Always looking for guidance.
 

K.S.

Registered User
WOW. That's all I've got. It seems to me like everything else in life, once you've been doing something for a long time, it's real easy to get complacent and forget what it was like to be a poor blind candidate.
If my lodge would have taken a "get with the program or get down the road" attitude, I would have bid masonry farewell. But I do see your point about not wanting to push them to do their degree work.
I guess it's all matter of opinion and lodge discretion, but remember that masonry at the EA level can be exciting and mysterious, but scary and lonesome all at the same time. I've been there. We all have. -Just my opinion.
 

K.S.

Registered User
My suggestion brother Rescue51, keep up on your degree work when you can and keep in touch with your lodge as much as you can. That way you won't fall by the wayside as I did when I was an EA. Good luck brother, keep in touch. -from a fellow sea-farer. (Navy)
 
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Mac

Moderator
Premium Member
The points raised in this thread, namely that of balancing the responsibility bestowed on the candidate with his ability to make it work in his own life are good reasons to reconsider how much we give him to do. Honestly, the memorization is nice and all, but there are word-perfect brothers out there who know very little about the degrees through which they have passed. I think a paper or presentation on the degree shows ownership more than recitation does.
 

cjapgar

Premium Member
I agree Mac. A paper or presentation engages the Brother into a better understanding of the degree work and instills those moral and spiritual lessons that guide us through our lives. Our lodge has an alternate proficiency for each degree which is a written test then a recital of certain parts of the cats. They have a choice to do this or a full memorization and recital. I did the alternate proficiencies for my FC, and thought it to be a lot more in depth.
 

towerbuilder7

Moderator
Premium Member
I will keep my response simple. The attitude of an EA should be of service with freedom, fervency, and ZEAL Brother. If these gentlemen aren't showing that zealous attitude toward the most important aspect of their Masonic "youth", that lends itself to a thought provoking point. Brothers spend a lot of their time teaching, so a Man who comes in on his own free will and accord should do the same. Asked and he received. Sought and he found it. Knocked and that door has been opened......but, no Brother can nor should they insist or even urge a Man to put in his memory work. Release them.
 

towerbuilder7

Moderator
Premium Member
As I mentioned on the thread, a Man who enters on his own free will and accord after "asking and having received, seeking and having found, and knocking and having the door opened should in no way be urged, compelled, nor even asked repeatedly to memorize his degree work. As a "youth " in Masonry, one should serve with freedom, fervency, and zeal.....after that one year Brother, I would politely inform the Men their affiliation would be discontinued. If the commitment isn't there now, what type of workers would they become upon completion of their degree work and raising?. I suspect not much different. I pray you will make the decision that is in the best interest of your Lodge Brother.......
 

Rescue51

Premium Member
I have not completed my EA work because I am in the military(reserves now), full time husband, full time father, I have a full time job and I go to school full time at nights. I do this so I don't have to be active duty and deployed all the time. I don't have time for myself let alone finishing my EA work. I know that there are " lazy" EA's out there, and I know that this thread is about them, but not all of us who haven't completed out obligations as EA's are all "lazy" or bad workers. I just wanted to share my two cents. I know this wasn't about me personally, but those EA's may have other problems that you are not aware of. Others are just Lazy. Have a great weekend everybody!
 
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Mac

Moderator
Premium Member
I think it's never a good idea to make sweeping generalizations. If you have a genuinely lazy EA, then just consider him cut loose. If you have an EA who has a rough schedule and can't find the time to meet with a "well informed brother" an hour a day like so many want, but you think he is a good addition to the Craft, then invest your time and energy into working with his schedule.

The whole point of a brotherhood is fraternity, give and take with our brothers.
 

Bill Lins

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
As a "youth " in Masonry, one should serve with freedom, fervency, and zeal.....after that one year Brother, I would politely inform the Men their affiliation would be discontinued.

Under current GLoT law, there is no provision for doing so.
 
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