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Tilers Oath

RAY

Registered User
yes you are correct i/we do that also it works great, i was just wandering about the Tyler's oath. if they were to show up by themselves, would you be willing to break it down like that if you had the chance. and should we teach it to them. and just add each level as they progress?

The test oath is for MM only and I see no reason why it would be necessary to teach the EA & FC . I personally have never see any EA or FC visit another lodge by them self's. If this should happen they have there membership card with them and I know of no lodges that would turn them away. I have 9 lodges in my district and know them all and they work with the EA&FC if the occasion arises
 

ddreader

Premium Member
Premium Member
at my lodge we have had ea's and fc's show up from different cities in Texas before by themselves, and from out of state traveling on work, we even had an ea show up from France. we checked them out. made sure they were legitament, and even did exams on them it worked out just fine. and i have even run across mm who did not even know what the tilers oath was. and i know a some of them who do not know it, and could careless about learning it. but since you have not had to deal with this, i can see where my question would make a lot of sense to you. thanks anyway brother.
 

RAY

Registered User
at my lodge we have had ea's and fc's show up from different cities in Texas before by themselves, and from out of state traveling on work, we even had an ea show up from France. we checked them out. made sure they were legitament, and even did exams on them it worked out just fine. and i have even run across mm who did not even know what the tilers oath was. and i know a some of them who do not know it, and could careless about learning it. but since you have not had to deal with this, i can see where my question would make a lot of sense to you. thanks anyway brother.


Brother ,
The key word here is your lodge handles it in Masonic form. You got the job done as you should have. As to your MM's who don't know the tiler's oath, possibly you could help turn it around. There are many elder's 80-90 years old that have difficulty remembering the word much less the oath so this has to be considered when you have elders visit and just remember Texas requirements to get into lodge. I think most lodges are doing the right thing as to visitors. Our system today has removed the difficulty of elders visits and increased visiting Brothers. Many years ago we all were examined in our Texas travels every time we went to another lodge. Things are better now and improvements are being made yearly.
 

Wingnut

Premium Member
I go back to a question Ive asked before (maybe in this thread)... are you examining to keep a Brother OUT, or get a Brother IN?
 

RAY

Registered User
I go back to a question Ive asked before (maybe in this thread)... are you examining to keep a Brother OUT, or get a Brother IN?

You are examining the brother to make sure he is regular so you can admit him and it is not done to keep him out of lodge but to gain admission.
 

Wingnut

Premium Member
Exactly! Ive seen some that seemed to be aimed at keeping people OUT not satisfying the examining committee that they should be admitted. To the other end Ive seen examination committees go to extremes to get Brothers admitted. In one case it was an older brother that came to see his son raised that hadn't been in lodge in at least 30 years!
 

Gerald.Harris

Premium Member
Premium Member
I am not sure I understand what your trying to say. First a Texas Masons visiting other "Texas" lodges is not required to be examined . A paid up dues card and picture ID is all thats required,however if the SD or other members are not satisified they can do futher examination.
Ea's and FC's have a dues card good for a year and usually if these brothers attend another lodge are with there instructor or MM from there lodge and are not examined because they can be vouched for. We try to take our new masons to there respective degrees so they can see and learn a little faster and understand there degree a little better.
I do not believe that this statement is entirely correct. A paid up dues card and a picture I.D. is only a permissable means of obtaining entry into a lodge ( at the option of the Worshipful Master) of a Texas Mason, otherwise an examination is still required.
 

js4253

Premium Member
Premium Member
I do not believe that this statement is entirely correct. A paid up dues card and a picture I.D. is only a permissable means of obtaining entry into a lodge ( at the option of the Worshipful Master) of a Texas Mason, otherwise an examination is still required.

If a Brother Texas Mason comes to visit and the Worshipful Master required more than a current dues card and picture ID, I would question the WM's motive. I think we should encourage visitation, not make it difficult.

I understand care should be taken with visitors from other jurisdictions. Why do we want to be so tough on Texas Brothers.
 

RAY

Registered User
If a Brother Texas Mason comes to visit and the Worshipful Master required more than a current dues card and picture ID, I would question the WM's motive. I think we should encourage visitation, not make it difficult.

I understand care should be taken with visitors from other jurisdictions. Why do we want to be so tough on Texas Brothers.

In my recent Masonic travels I have visited over 70 Texas lodges and never been examined but it is the WM call if he so chooses to do so but evident by my experience not a common practice other than the picture ID and current dues card.
 

kmfisher1

Registered User
Our Lodge uses it regularly as part of visitor examinations.
Our instructors teach it as part of the work too
 

Bill Lins

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
If a Brother Texas Mason comes to visit and the Worshipful Master required more than a current dues card and picture ID, I would question the WM's motive.

A few years back, the Grand Secretary sent out a notice that a man in Huntsville had entered a Lodge in that area armed with a dues card. On his 3rd visit, he was recognized as a recently paroled inmate by a TDCJ officer who was a member of the Lodge. They found out the cowan/eavesdropper had made his own "dues card" in the prison print shop. It doesn't hurt anything to ask a few questions just to be sure.
 

Gerald.Harris

Premium Member
Premium Member
My brother there has been a man who has only received an EA deg in South Texas, but has been trying to pass himself off as a Master Mason on more then one occasion. How would you keep such a person out of your lodge?
 

MGM357

Registered User
My brother there has been a man who has only received an EA deg in South Texas, but has been trying to pass himself off as a Master Mason on more then one occasion. How would you keep such a person out of your lodge?

I noticed you call him a man (not much of one) not a brother. How does he pass himself off as a MM. The due gaurd, penal sign, and distress sign, I guess could be found, but how does he own a MM dues card from the GLoT? Has anyone tried to file charges against him? If anything notify the GLoT!!

Do you know his name? I would like to make sure he doesn't try our Lodge.
 

Bro_Vick

Moderator
Premium Member
Speaking of the tiler's oath, I just came back froma visit to Alexandria-Washington #22 at the George Washington Masonic Memorial tonight and when they examined me they handed me a card with the tiler's oath on it and told me to read it while my hand was on the bible. I politely told them I didn't need the card and proceeded to give them the oath by memory. They seemed impressed. I then had to give the steps, dugards and penal signs then give the passgrip and word of a master mason. it was very interesting, there ritual is very different than ours, but I was able to follow along fairly well.

Yeah, they did the same to me when I visited, I believe I have visited so many times now that they don't examine me. :)
 

Nathan131

Registered User
I was taught the Oath because my father, who was my instructor, believed it to be the best thing in case I do ever go out of state, or even out of country. I believe it should be taught none the less. Besides, you have to know it to get your C Certificate last I heard.
 

js4253

Premium Member
Premium Member
I was taught the Oath because my father, who was my instructor, believed it to be the best thing in case I do ever go out of state, or even out of country. I believe it should be taught none the less. Besides, you have to know it to get your C Certificate last I heard.
You are correct!
 

Jay

Registered User
I learned it with my M.M. work. I have found it THE best way to prove that I am a FreeMason after showing my dues card to the S.D. and Tylor when I go to a lodge I've not been to befor and nobody can vouch for me
 
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