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!

EA's and the Book

Nate Riley

Premium Member
Interesting how there are such differing views on what is and isn't esoteric in our lodges.

A good rule of thumb is, if its written in the monitor its not secret. Hence, the charges, most of the working tools, the apron presentation, Bible presentation, etc. are not secret.
 
Last edited:
H

Huw

Guest
Hi Nate.

A good rule of thumb is, if its written in the monitor its not secret. Hence, the charges, most of the working tools, the apron presentation, Bible presentation, etc. are not secret.

That would be logical.

However, from what Bill is telling us, that's not what the GLoTX rules say, regardless of logic - he specifically says there are things published in your monitor which are nevertheless now regarded as secret (even though they weren't previously regarded as secret). Presumably this means that your monitor is now an illegal publication, possession of which is a masonic offence?

T & F,

Huw
 

js4253

Premium Member
Premium Member
The big question to me is how did he get it. If it was given to him by a Brother, this needs to be addressed with that Brother.

When I was learning my work, my teacher would sometimes take bathroom breaks and come back with new perspective. But I had no clue the book existed until I had been raised and maybe after I turned in my Masters work.
The book is easily found at Barnes and Noble ?sp? so anyone with the money can walk in and buy one. I knew about the book before I became a Mason. I never thought about getting one until I had learned the Q & A and had done my proficiency. Also, I didn't know where I could get one. All the books I had seen were the old ones that had the snap closure. They are really probably antiques. Here is a question maybe Brother Bill can answer. Has anyone ever been brought up on Masonic Charges for owning the book? They would have to suspend or expel a lot of Brothers if the Law were applied to everyone. I was happy when the law was changed. It made honest men out of many Texas Masons. You would be surprised at the number of books that are given to Lodges after a Brother passes. Their wives bring them in because they don't know what to do with them.
 

Bill Lins

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
Here is a question maybe Brother Bill can answer. Has anyone ever been brought up on Masonic Charges for owning the book?

Not that I've ever heard of. I have seen in the minutes of my Lodge where the DDGM had been sent to investigate reports that Brethren possessed & were using "cipher" books- that was back around 1980. There was nothing stating what, if any, action was taken or what the result of the investigation might have been.
 

js4253

Premium Member
Premium Member
Not that I've ever heard of. I have seen in the minutes of my Lodge where the DDGM had been sent to investigate reports that Brethren possessed & were using "cipher" books- that was back around 1980. There was nothing stating what, if any, action was taken or what the result of the investigation might have been.
I heard some of the DDGM confiscated a few but never heard of any further action.
 

Ashton Lawson

Premium Member
I learn my work from a 60 year lifetime "A" Esoteric Certificate holder, and I continue to learn from him in regards to proficiency with anything Esoteric. I also learn from a member of the C.O.W. At-Large when I have a chance to sit in his lodge. One of the issues that is greatly irritating for me, is interuptions during teaching, by other Master Masons kind enough to tell me "that's not how the book has it!" Then they procede to argue with me in front of a candidate about whether or not an unsanctioned code book is what we should follow or not.

From what I can tell, that book has errors, yet it is being used as a guide instead of referencing a member of the Committee on Work for help.

Thus my RAGING irritation at the use of this stupid book. It's lazy masonry, and it's mere existence is divisive.
 

Bill Lins

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
Bro. Ashton,

If the book is used as intended (as an aid to the memory of a Brother working alone), then I see no conflict. The Brother should be knowledgeable enough to find & discount the errors therein. I agree with you in that too many of our Brethren are misusing it.
 

rhitland

Founding Member
Premium Member
At GL last year it was stated the code book has 13 mistakes which we where also told was minor. So they recommended not printing a new one and just let us continue using the current book since the errors are so minor. I could not have learned the lectures without my code book and I am almost in need of another because I have broke the spine from use on mine and it is not very old. I did take mine to my instructor who is a life time certificate holder and he corrected the mistakes in it so mine is mistake free. ;) The law also from what I read does not say that a candidate cannot have the code book if he finds it own his own. On another point at teh Fort Worth Temple library where many widows have donated tons of books from passed Brothers you will find quiet a few code books tucked away in the back of the cabinet as the Brother above alluded to. :)
 

bullrack33

Premium Member
EA's and FC's should not even be told of the existence of a code book in any form.

Thus my RAGING irritation at the use of this stupid book. It's lazy masonry, and it's mere existence is divisive.

While I can see your point of view, there are some of us out here who have memory issues and we do not always have knowledgeable Brethren available to ask about something specific. With that in mind, the fact that I have memory loss caused by combat related PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) doesn't make me guilty of "lazy Masonry"

I'm not trying to start flaming, just trying give an example of where my copy of the book comes in handy. After all, my wife says that if our address wasn't on my drivers license, I would forget where I live......:24:
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Hippie19950

Premium Member
Brother Mike, I understand your reasoning!! I have the same, but have done pretty good for the last 35+ years, and getting better. Not well, but better :) I tell folks I drive around, and look for something familiar, and stop in and ask if I am supposed to be there to work... My Bride used to change the living and bedroom around when I was at work (2nd or 3rd shift), and I really would think I was at the wrong house!!!
As for the book, there are times when it is needed, or useful. I feel that it should ONLY be permitted to be used AFTER one makes his way through all 3 Degrees. If the Instructor needs help, it should be read (cipher) out of the view of the candidate. I was told the "Books" were "Tampering with untempered mortar", and was something I should not do... I made it without them, but do use the cipher from time to time when studying by myself, and get stuck...
 

David Duke

Premium Member
I agree with the worry that the "book" will make us become lazy in learning our work but I believe if used properly it will serve a purpose and help keep the work consistent.

After being away from the craft for over 10 years I had lost my work and went back to my original teacher and "relearned" it as I originally did from the "instructive tongue". I wanted to also learn the lectures this time around since we had only two brothers that had all three, and begin learning them. I had learned the EA and FC and was learning the ninth class when the brother who was teaching me was diagnosed with cancer (sadly he passed away this April) and could no longer work with me, the other brother moved so I had no one locally to learn from. This is when I decided to get the "book" and learn it on my own and was able to get my certificate earlier this year. Do I feel as if I had "cheated"?; simply stated NO but I do wish that I had been able to completely get it from another brother.

I have never had the best memory in the world and have always struggled with keeping it pure i.e using "this" instead of "which" and have found that the book enables me to keep my work as close to perfect as possible. When used this way I have no problem, I do feel however that a candidate should never have it nor should it be used in front of him by the instructor as the connections created during the learning process are what builds our fraternity of brothers.
 
M

mark!

Guest
I was introduced to the little friend the night of my MM initiation. I was very fortunate to have a JW at that time working with me, at least 8 hours a day and 6 hours on Saturday. He studied with me every day for an hour on my lunch break, and an hour after work on Saturday. I wanted to be able to take all of my proficiencies as soon as I was able. Afterwards, I got my book and have since studied it at home on areas of interest and that I'm rusty on, which here lately is a lot. But, a quick search on the internet provides a fully printable book, free of charge, if one only knows where to search. Technology is great, however sometimes it's too great. I wonder if there isn't a "translated" version about somewhere. Sadly, there probably is.
 

LDSpears

Premium Member
What is the name of the book and where did you get it. I too have been out for a while and I am getting back active and, like you, forgotten more than I should have. Thanks.
 

Timothy Fleischer

Registered User
Brothers,

Perhaps I am "old school," "set in my ways" or "just plain old fencepost stubborn," but on this matter I am unequivocal:

I am opposed to candidates having any book whatsoever, other than the Monitor of the Lodge. The Monitor is published and approved by the Grand Lodge of Texas and is therefore the only GLOT-approved "aid to memory."

Fifteen years ago, I went through the degrees. My instructor was in his early 70s and possessed a lifetime certificate for instruction. During the winter, we sat in his office one hour a week (all that my schedule allowed). During the spring, we sat beneath a giant Texas live oak tree in his backyard. I would not give up those afternoons for ANY shortcut.

My instructor has always had a special place in my heart as a Brother Mason who took hours of his time for my benefit. I do my best to pass this along to those I instruct. I will try to shape my schedule to fit theirs, as long as they make the first effort to reach out.

I know of other brothers (at least one of them with a Class A certificate) who will let their candidates know that there is an "aid to memory" that they can get from B&N or any other large book seller. In my opinion, this violates that important lesson that was so memorably inculcated in my mind when I first took a chair at the Secretary's desk.

Maybe the best approach is this: Since that illegitimate book as titled "an aid to memory," then it should be just that. To me, this means that candidates who are "learning" their work should not be given the book or even informed of its existence. In fact, I have told my few candidates that if I suspect that they are "cheating" that they will have to find a new instructor.

Certainly, making reference to the "aid to memory" during ritual practice in the lodge room, or in practice with a candidate on lodge property would seem a violation of the law mentioned in so many posts in this thread.

But, men who are told from day one that they should rely on the "aid to memory" instead of the instructive tongue think that the aid is the rule. It is not. When there are difference about the Ritual, they should be answered by the Lodge Instructor, Worshipful Master, DDGM, Committee on Work or District Instructor, not a book that no Texas Mason is allowed to carry onto Lodge property or have in the presence of a candidate.

However, it can act as an "aid to memory" for those who have proven themselves proficient in the work. It is nothing more than an aid. But it SHOULD BE an aid to those who have already "learned" the work.

My opinion.

Tim Fleischer, PM
Salado Lodge #296 AF&AM
 

Bro Mike

Registered User
I think the seriousness of improper use of the codebook was stressed during GL this weekend. That was one of the points stressed when dealing with the issue of the Lodge Charter that had been arrested during the year.
 

Bill Lins

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
Yup- that was just one of that Lodge's many sins. Their WM didn't help them with his speech, either.
 

Dave in Waco

Premium Member
Bill_Lins77488 said:
Yup- that was just one of that Lodge's many sins. Their WM didn't help them with his speech, either.

I think his speech finished them off and killed any sympathy they might have had.
 

Benton

Premium Member
Cliff Notes/gist of said speech for those of us not attending? Or would it be improper?
 
Top