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Strongly Discouraged...

Bro. Stewart P.M.

Lead Moderator Emeritus
Staff Member
I was seriously hoping this was a photo of you in a fez!!! I don't see why you are so worried about the Scottish Rite, you're already a Shriner!:17::beer2:

I have one of me in a fez too, on my FaceBook page. I belong to Hella Temple in Dallas!
 
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barryguitar

Registered User
Brother Stewart, Having met you last year at a forum in Grand Prairie I was instantly impressed by the seriousness in which you practice the craft. I am so thankful to you and the other moderators here on MoT. This was upsetting to me that you feel this way. I took a little time thinking I would compose some long winded retort in defense of Scottish Rite. I will just say this: All the esoteric stuff that I thought I was looking for when I became a Mason but didn't receive in the symbolic lodge I did find in the AARS. The number one thing that the Scottish Rite offers, specially here in the valley of Dallas is the University Symposium Lecture Series, and it is not required that you be a SR mason to attend. We have an education night, last Thursday of every month, that features a different speaker each month on a wide range of topics, and believe me they have been marvelous! The fellowship after the meetings are often as good and informative as the lectures themselves. I would like to extend to you an invitation to come join us in Dallas for one of these nights and get a good taste of what you will be missing.
 

MarkR

Premium Member
...in many case in York Rite you work thru yuor degrees one by one, like the blue lodge with no proficiency lecture... whereas in the SR you spend a day and a half or so in the Reunion and come out the end as as 32nd. Easier that way if the Shrine is (was) one of your goals...
Not so around here. The York Rite bodies have been doing one-day "festivals" I think they call them. In my SR Valley of Rochester, we don't do reunions at all; we confer or communicate all 29 degrees over a ten month schedule each year. The Minneapolis Valley to our north confers all 29 degrees in full form twice a year (over about five months each time) and they do a spring reunion, and the St. Paul Valley confers all 29 over the course of a year and also does a reunion.
 

Bro. Stewart P.M.

Lead Moderator Emeritus
Staff Member
Brother Stewart, Having met you last year at a forum in Grand Prairie I was instantly impressed by the seriousness in which you practice the craft. I am so thankful to you and the other moderators here on MoT. This was upsetting to me that you feel this way. I took a little time thinking I would compose some long winded retort in defense of Scottish Rite. I will just say this: All the esoteric stuff that I thought I was looking for when I became a Mason but didn't receive in the symbolic lodge I did find in the AARS. The number one thing that the Scottish Rite offers, specially here in the valley of Dallas is the University Symposium Lecture Series, and it is not required that you be a SR mason to attend. We have an education night, last Thursday of every month, that features a different speaker each month on a wide range of topics, and believe me they have been marvelous! The fellowship after the meetings are often as good and informative as the lectures themselves. I would like to extend to you an invitation to come join us in Dallas for one of these nights and get a good taste of what you will be missing.

Bro. Barry, many thanks for your compliments. I do indeed take our fraternity and its rituals Very seriously. Masonry means the world to me and I am a better person for having been a small part of it!! Bro. Kurt Joye (also posting here) has also invited me to these open nights that the SR puts on. unfortunately these have a habit of conflicting with the floor school or degree nights at TBH, since we are active on both Tuesday and Thursday evenings. As a senior officer, I am obligated to attend. I do wish to make one ot the SR educational events in the near future though!! Please keep me posted!
 

Bro. Stewart P.M.

Lead Moderator Emeritus
Staff Member
Brothers, I have NOTHING against the AASR. Please do not misunderstand my sentiments. Financially, I have my "eggs" in one basket... The increased cost of the AASR just simply comes at a bad time in my masonic career. I have been and always will be dedicated to my home lodge, and to the YR. Maybe some day after I can pay my endowments in my other appendant bodies, then I can afford the AASR... One can always hope!!


Keep your work True and Squre!

Stewart
 

BroBill

Site Benefactor
Site Benefactor
Not so around here. The York Rite bodies have been doing one-day "festivals" I think they call them.

We do both forms in Texas- full form, single-degree and Festival form. Everyone has preferences and/or opinions as to which is "best"; for instance I prefer the single degree, long form. However there is a place and need for both forms and both serve York Rite Masonry in Texas very well.

I would never endorse one form over the other as "best", but I would certainly say I personally prefer the single-degree, full-form when the candidates are able to schedule and be present at each degree.

I did the Reunion form Scottish Rite degrees and by the time I drove home, all the degrees ran together in my mind. I freely admit that the cause could be "my mind", but I'm not sure how well I was educated in that forum. I will admit however that it could be because of the difference between the Y.R. and S.R. I may have had a different take-away from a Y.R. Festival since the work is so close to the Blue Lodge degrees. In the S.R. it's so different that I had no frame of reference and that may have accounted for why it "ran together" in my mind.

That's all from the "for what it's worth" department.....
 
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tomasball

Premium Member
Let me insert a little perspective here. The Scottish Rite has gone through a lot of changes in its long history. In the twentieth century, the requirement that you had to be either a 32nd degree mason or a Knight Templar to join the Shrine influenced the Rite's practices quite a bit. A lot of men who had no interest in the Rite's teachings and philosophy were joining just so they could "get in on the fun" in the Shriners. The Scottish Rite responded by making it easier to become a 32nd degree mason...abbreviated reunions became popular, and what had once taken an investment of considerable time, money, and mental effort was being conferred in a few hours. Then the Shrine dropped its requirement, and suddenly the Scottish Rite was forced to deal with a new generation of masons who were coming to the Scottish Rite in smaller numbers, but with higher expectations. They were looking for MEANING in each of its degrees. A process of dusting off the more sublime, intellectual aspects of the Scottish Rite began, initially with the formation of the Scottish Rite Research Society, and with the publication of many books that allowed members to glimpse the iceberg under the water's surface. Now the leadership has made some fundamental decisions. The Scottish Rite isn't for everyone. We are going back to the full presentation of all degrees, in some cases over the course of months, and following it up by providing the members with a framework to study and understand the degrees after they have received them. And that is going to cost money. People need to understand that they aren't just buying a cap anymore...everyone is going to have the benefit of the full scope of the Scottish Rite experience. If you don't think that's worth $500, then you're not who we're marketing to.
 

scialytic

Premium Member
That sounds far more reasonable. So $500 up front and then annual dues? About what do the dues run? (Rough average.) I'll look back in the thread, but when's the effective date?
 

Pscyclepath

Premium Member
The Reunion fee typically covers the degrees, first year's due, and some swag like the 14th degree ring, cap, and a copy of "A Bridge to Light" or sometimes "Morals & Dogma." And putting on two days' worth of ritual isn't cheap by itself.

We have the fall reunion for the Valley of Little Rock going on up here at the end of the month, with the current fee being $150. I have not petitioned yet, as I'm still working to finish up my Commandery degrees the weekend after next and getting settled into the York Rite routine, and doing a lot of memory work for my (hopefully) lecturer's card as well as moving up to the Senior Deacon's chair in December. I do plan to try out the Scottish Rite next year, once I works a little slack into my cable tow... The Valley here in Little Rock is one of Albert Pike's old haunts, and I understand the reunions heer are awesome. Looking forward to finding out...
 

Hndrx

Premium Member
I was very disappointed that the Valley of Houston didn't give the copy of Morals and Dogma. They ran out and gave a few of us a coupon for one. Unfortunately, when I called to get them to mail my copy they said they wouldn't do that because the $4 or $5 for book rate shipment would cost too much. Personally, I don't think having to take off work to drive 4 hours round trip and spending more than $50 in gas money is cheap either. I had hoped that they would be more helpful. I don't know at this point when or if I'll get my copy.
 
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Txmason

Registered User
@hndrx
Try getting one on line. Or from an antique dealer. Or buy one from amazon.com

I submitted my petition to the Houston Valley. I hope I get accepted
 

Txmason

Registered User
@hndrk

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/192684243X/ref=mp_s_a_1?pi=SL75&qid=1349663947&sr=8-1
 

scialytic

Premium Member
I got one published in 1928 on Amazon for about twenty bucks (maybe a little more, I can't remember). Good condition too. I know part of it is that it was expected, but that sounds like it won't be rectified. Sorry for that...
 

tomasball

Premium Member
The version of M and D that's being distributed now is the Annotated Morals and Dogma, edited by Art DeHoyos. Somewhat easier to read because of its internal organization and, even more wonderful, it shows the sources Pike was quoting.
 

Michaelstedman81

Premium Member
So, just to go back and see if I can get an "official" number, what are the annual dues going to be?

From what I am understanding, it is just the cost of going through the degrees that has gone up. Joining the Scottish Rite is going to become $500, does anyone know when this will go into effect? Once it does, how much will it be every year?
 

Hndrx

Premium Member
Regarding my copy of Morals and Dogma that the SR owes me, I've decided to give them another call and see if I have better luck talking to someone else and if not I think I may get them to bring it to a stated meeting that I'll be able to attend in Nov or Dec. I'm still a little aggravated with them but I've calmed down some. :)
 
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