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lodge ritual exams

lodge exams

  • 100%

    Votes: 15 24.2%
  • 75%

    Votes: 10 16.1%
  • 50%

    Votes: 11 17.7%
  • 25% or less

    Votes: 28 45.2%

  • Total voters
    62

RAY

Registered User
Since I instruct 2 lodges I am up to date and most of our young Masons still know there work but many of our elders (68 years old and up) do not
 

RichmondMiMason

Registered User
Do you mean Degree Work, 1 letter char?...for Each degree?. Here in Michigan they did away with it, but I am one who is doing it the old way but that is my Choice, and I believe if I can do it anyone up here can do it, it's Long but well worth the Studying. It taught me also to not just learn it, but always have it in your heart and follow it.

Nick Fuller
JD Richmond Mi 187
 

HKTidwell

Premium Member
Yes he is referring to the degree work. Texas requires all petitioners to learn the work mouth to ear. I may be wrong in this but the basic requirements is for a person to be proficient in answering the questions, some lodges go further and encourage the candidate/brother to learn both the answers and questions to each degree. To be honest in the long run I think this is best because it creates a better group of teachers.

The more I reflect on this the more I think my lodge would be higher in the number of brethren who could answer and be proficient. When I was learning the work some of the "older guys" would sit in on me learning and while they might not know it 100% if the person, who was teaching me that night got off, you'd hear a cough or a comment about well doesn't this come next and so on. And most of these "Old guys" made a claim about not remembering or not knowing the work but when placed in a group going over it every bit of it came back.

I use the term "Old Guys" because sometimes we don't give them the credit they deserve. They are the bedrock and from them we have gained so much. At some point I think I'm going to write a story/article about "The Old Guy".
 
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Bro_Vick

Moderator
Premium Member
When you wrote members, I was think of active members, not the entire membership, in that case I would change my answer to less than 25%.
 

RichmondMiMason

Registered User
Sorry up here in Michigan we never Get Old, or gonna be the Old Guys....Decline in Masonary, anyone that comes in now is Over 50 yrs of age, so a few Brothers will always be Young.....lol
 

jbolt

Registered User
While you may be correct about the certificate holders being able to pass Committee on Work’s official "proficiency test for an A Certificationâ€â€”I believe 90+ percent or more of Mason’s know the intent and live by the tenants. Most Americans cannot quote the “The Declaration of Independency or the Bill of Rightsâ€, but they know what’s in them.
 

Bill Lins

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
While you may be correct about the certificate holders being able to pass Committee on Work’s official "proficiency test for an A Certificationâ€â€”I believe 90+ percent or more of Mason’s know the intent and live by the tenants. Most Americans cannot quote the “The Declaration of Independency or the Bill of Rightsâ€, but they know what’s in them.

True, but one can find the Declaration of Independence & the Bill of Rights written out in reference materials. We need Brethren to be proficient in the work in order to pass it along to those who follow in our footsteps.
 
J

JEbeling

Guest
Man I am sure glad I am under the 68 year old group... ! but just by a hair... !

Proficienty exams are very good to get things straight .. ! and words that have worked in wrong.. ! I always learn something at every exam for the last 25 years... !

If the committee on "hope and change" will quit adding to the work and moving it around... ? hehehe ( that was for Bill.. ! )
 

cale

Registered User
Deeper understanding comes from contemplation. Doing the work is more than memorizing words it causes one to contemplate the meaning.
 

jwhoff

Premium Member
25%. The other 75% are too busy talking about how important the ritual is. Kind of like combat: those who talk about it and those who've been.
 

Brother Joe

Registered User
I am proud to say that I was only initiated in April and raised in September; but I just passed the Committee on Work Exam for a C Certificate. I believe the memory work is an important piece to keep members interested. Especially as the members that teach the material to younger masons are getting older. The younger brothers of the lodge need to pick up the torch and carry it for the next generation for the sake of our great society and the lodge itself.
 

jwhoff

Premium Member
Brother Joe, if I had five more like you, I'd start a new civilization. Don't lose that white-hold zeal brother. Burn bright for those who cannot see!
 

CajunTinMan

Registered User
Man I am sure glad I am under the 68 year old group... ! but just by a hair... !

Proficienty exams are very good to get things straight .. ! and words that have worked in wrong.. ! I always learn something at every exam for the last 25 years... !

If the committee on "hope and change" will quit adding to the work and moving it around... ? hehehe ( that was for Bill.. ! )

Off topic. But one thing that makes me feel good about going to Lodge is when one of the older guys tell me that they are glad to see us young guys working so hard. And I'm 50. Where else could I get an ego boost like that?
 

Brent Heilman

Premium Member
Off topic. But one thing that makes me feel good about going to Lodge is when one of the older guys tell me that they are glad to see us young guys working so hard. And I'm 50. Where else could I get an ego boost like that?


I know that feeling. I am 40 and get told the same thing. A couple of nights ago I was thanked by one of the Brothers from my lodge for being as active as I am. Me and another guy have been very active in trying to move the lodge forward and improve the experience for everyone. He said if it wasn't for me and this other guy he probably would have dropped out because he was getting burnt out. He said our enthusiasm for the Craft has rekindled his and the same went for a couple of other guys. It feels great knowing that we have made a difference to them and that the Craft hasn't lost a few Brothers because of complacency.
 

scialytic

Premium Member
I know a lot of brothers here think the ritual is very important.I was just wondering what percentage of the members of your lodge could pass one of the exams(EA,FC,or MM)?

100%

75%

50%

25% or less

Unfortunately, I probably only know less than 10% of the Brethren at my Lodge and I've been to nearly every dinner since May (including the installation of Officers)... :-(
 

scialytic

Premium Member
25%. The other 75% are too busy talking about how important the ritual is. Kind of like combat: those who talk about it and those who've been.
:thumbup:

I can't believe I skipped out on having beers with you at Crickets! What an EEEEDIOTTT, STIMMMPYYYY!
 

Belcher

Registered User
My journey in masonry started on June 9th 2012. I turned in my fc proficiency tonight (Feb. 7th ) And as set to be raised to the degree of mm on Feb 20th. This far i chosen to learn both question and answer in my degree work. I plan to someday teach the upcoming new generation of masons the work as it was thought to me. I have heard it said that in masonry you get what you put in to it. I plan on visiting the lodges In south central Texas and someday Scottish rite and shriner. I'll see you in lodge my brothers.
 
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