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!
Chamber of Reflection
- Thread starter Blake Bowden
- Start date
tom268
Registered User
View attachment 1289<----- This is how blue lodge looks in my corner of the world. Usually black suit, and a cut&tails from time to time.
H
Huw
Guest
Hi Tom.
Well, it was a mid-18th-century innovation - so it's old, but not quite from the "earliest times".
As you say, it's a French idea. It has no part in the Craft tradition of any of the British GLs, and of course your Craft (blue lodge) working is mainly based on the British tradition.
Where it is used in Craft, it's usually because that jurisdiction is working the Craft degrees of the Ancient & Accepted Rite (or Scottish Rite, as you call it). The British GLs don't permit the Craft degrees of the A&AR, and also none of the regular US GLs allow that version of the ritual except for the GL of Louisiana (which naturally acquired some French traditions in the old days).
In Europe, the various French GLs (both regular and irregular) all allow that form of working (although they also have other workings which don't use the CoR). In Spain, the A&AR version of the Craft degrees became very popular, almost universal at one time (although more recently, since Spain returned to regularity, they now have quite a lot of Lodges which use an English-style working instead, although the A&AR version is still their majority ritual).
Therefore most of the GLs in French-speaking or Spanish-speaking countries allow (or in some cases even require) the Craft degrees to be given using the A&AR working, and therefore they have a CoR. A few GLs in places which don't speak French or Spanish have also devised Craft workings which make use of a CoR, but that's rare.
However, we all use a CoR in some of the additional Degrees, even here in England. So in that sense, it's known everywhere ... just not necessarily for Craft purposes.
T & F,
Huw
Well, it was a mid-18th-century innovation - so it's old, but not quite from the "earliest times".
As you say, it's a French idea. It has no part in the Craft tradition of any of the British GLs, and of course your Craft (blue lodge) working is mainly based on the British tradition.
Where it is used in Craft, it's usually because that jurisdiction is working the Craft degrees of the Ancient & Accepted Rite (or Scottish Rite, as you call it). The British GLs don't permit the Craft degrees of the A&AR, and also none of the regular US GLs allow that version of the ritual except for the GL of Louisiana (which naturally acquired some French traditions in the old days).
In Europe, the various French GLs (both regular and irregular) all allow that form of working (although they also have other workings which don't use the CoR). In Spain, the A&AR version of the Craft degrees became very popular, almost universal at one time (although more recently, since Spain returned to regularity, they now have quite a lot of Lodges which use an English-style working instead, although the A&AR version is still their majority ritual).
Therefore most of the GLs in French-speaking or Spanish-speaking countries allow (or in some cases even require) the Craft degrees to be given using the A&AR working, and therefore they have a CoR. A few GLs in places which don't speak French or Spanish have also devised Craft workings which make use of a CoR, but that's rare.
However, we all use a CoR in some of the additional Degrees, even here in England. So in that sense, it's known everywhere ... just not necessarily for Craft purposes.
T & F,
Huw
Ecossais
Registered User
I would ask: In Texas craft lodge practice, what is a Chamber of Reflection? Is it not what we have always known as "The Texas Masonic Preparation Room?"
In recent years, some lodges have attempted to introduce a more solemn approach to the Texas Masonic Preparation Room, in order to prevent the members from joking with and harassing the candidate, thereby allowing the candidate to reflect upon his decision to become a Mason, and focus his attention on the degree that awaits him. In doing so, however, these misguided brethren have abandoned some of the more traditional symbolic elements and practices of the "Texas Masonic Preparation Room." Thankfully, however, this is being rectified, as some among our Masonic leadership are making an attempt to bring Texas lodges back in line with more traditional and symbolic Texas Masonic practices.
In my own Masonic experience, I have, over the years, developed a very well-formed idea of what symbolic elements should be found in the Texas Masonic Preparation Room. These are the elements that I found when I was first initiated many years ago, and, as many, many Grand Lodge officers and members of the Committee on Work have also seen this Preparation Room, I can only assume that they approved of the presence of these symbolic elements.
THE PREPARATION ROOM: Here is a list of the symbolic elements that should be found in any well-organized Texas Masonic Preparation Room:
1.) A small table, with a chair.
2.) Hanging from two or three nails, hammered randomly into the wall, there should be several mis-matched pair of wrinkled and stained light-blue pajama tops and bottoms. These should be in a condition that would preclude the candidate wanting to touch them, much less wear them.
3.) Upon the table should be an inoperable 25-inch television set that some old brother donated to the lodge many years ago. Upon that television set should be a 1960s-style rabbit ear antenna. The symbolism of these items should be clear to everyone, and should not require any further explanation.
4.) Also on the table should be a cheap glass ashtray, about the size of a large cereal bowl. (This can be purchased at any Wal-Mart.) The candidate should be encouraged to deposit his loose change, car keys and jewelry into this ash-tray. It is important that hard residue from cigarette ashes be visible in the ashtray. Again, the symbolism here is clear.
5.) In the corner of the room there should be several old mops and brooms. This is to symbolize the fact that this room is used as a broom and mop closet most of the time. The presence of a long mop handle that no longer fits any mop tells the candidate that no one has cleaned out this room in a very long time.
6.) On the wall, there is an old hat-rack where there is a collection of various ropes, many of which haven't been used as a cable-tow in many, many years.
7.) Also on the hat-rack, there should also be a collection of a dozen or more coat-hangers, some made of wire, and some made of wood, but no two should match.
8.) The hat-rack should also have at least three old past masters' hats. These should be of a style that was popular back in the late 1940s and '50s. (Additional old hats can be found scattered around the Wor. Master's station and the Secretary's desk.)
9.) Under the table, or in a corner of the Preparation Room, there should be a old cardboard box, into which members of the Eastern Star Chapter have deposited a dozen or so home-made centerpieces from a banquet held at the lodge hall many years ago.
10.) Although not required by the Committee on Work, it is strongly recommended that an old mouse trap be visible in the corner of the room or under the table. It is not necessary that an actual dead mouse be in the mouse trap, but in some lodges, this is considered traditional.
11.) The room should be softly lit by two bare flourescent bulbs, no more than 3 feet in length, one of which should be burned out, and the other should flicker and sputter intermittently.
12.) Lastly (and this is extremely important), it is important that at least a half dozen of the members of the Lodge come into the Preparation Room prior to the degree and tease and joke with the candidate about "riding the goat" and other traditional aspects of Masonic humor. You may even want to designate one lodge member to give the candidate a good wedgie after he has changed into the blue pajamas. And, in the few minutes remaining before the degree begins, the Master of Ceremonies should engage the candidate in a barrage of personal questions and small talk about sports, politics, or whatever comes to mind. This will serve to take the candidate's mind off of "Freemasonry," which, of course, in Texas Masonic practice, is the LAST thing we want him to focus on.
In recent years, some lodges have attempted to introduce a more solemn approach to the Texas Masonic Preparation Room, in order to prevent the members from joking with and harassing the candidate, thereby allowing the candidate to reflect upon his decision to become a Mason, and focus his attention on the degree that awaits him. In doing so, however, these misguided brethren have abandoned some of the more traditional symbolic elements and practices of the "Texas Masonic Preparation Room." Thankfully, however, this is being rectified, as some among our Masonic leadership are making an attempt to bring Texas lodges back in line with more traditional and symbolic Texas Masonic practices.
In my own Masonic experience, I have, over the years, developed a very well-formed idea of what symbolic elements should be found in the Texas Masonic Preparation Room. These are the elements that I found when I was first initiated many years ago, and, as many, many Grand Lodge officers and members of the Committee on Work have also seen this Preparation Room, I can only assume that they approved of the presence of these symbolic elements.
THE PREPARATION ROOM: Here is a list of the symbolic elements that should be found in any well-organized Texas Masonic Preparation Room:
1.) A small table, with a chair.
2.) Hanging from two or three nails, hammered randomly into the wall, there should be several mis-matched pair of wrinkled and stained light-blue pajama tops and bottoms. These should be in a condition that would preclude the candidate wanting to touch them, much less wear them.
3.) Upon the table should be an inoperable 25-inch television set that some old brother donated to the lodge many years ago. Upon that television set should be a 1960s-style rabbit ear antenna. The symbolism of these items should be clear to everyone, and should not require any further explanation.
4.) Also on the table should be a cheap glass ashtray, about the size of a large cereal bowl. (This can be purchased at any Wal-Mart.) The candidate should be encouraged to deposit his loose change, car keys and jewelry into this ash-tray. It is important that hard residue from cigarette ashes be visible in the ashtray. Again, the symbolism here is clear.
5.) In the corner of the room there should be several old mops and brooms. This is to symbolize the fact that this room is used as a broom and mop closet most of the time. The presence of a long mop handle that no longer fits any mop tells the candidate that no one has cleaned out this room in a very long time.
6.) On the wall, there is an old hat-rack where there is a collection of various ropes, many of which haven't been used as a cable-tow in many, many years.
7.) Also on the hat-rack, there should also be a collection of a dozen or more coat-hangers, some made of wire, and some made of wood, but no two should match.
8.) The hat-rack should also have at least three old past masters' hats. These should be of a style that was popular back in the late 1940s and '50s. (Additional old hats can be found scattered around the Wor. Master's station and the Secretary's desk.)
9.) Under the table, or in a corner of the Preparation Room, there should be a old cardboard box, into which members of the Eastern Star Chapter have deposited a dozen or so home-made centerpieces from a banquet held at the lodge hall many years ago.
10.) Although not required by the Committee on Work, it is strongly recommended that an old mouse trap be visible in the corner of the room or under the table. It is not necessary that an actual dead mouse be in the mouse trap, but in some lodges, this is considered traditional.
11.) The room should be softly lit by two bare flourescent bulbs, no more than 3 feet in length, one of which should be burned out, and the other should flicker and sputter intermittently.
12.) Lastly (and this is extremely important), it is important that at least a half dozen of the members of the Lodge come into the Preparation Room prior to the degree and tease and joke with the candidate about "riding the goat" and other traditional aspects of Masonic humor. You may even want to designate one lodge member to give the candidate a good wedgie after he has changed into the blue pajamas. And, in the few minutes remaining before the degree begins, the Master of Ceremonies should engage the candidate in a barrage of personal questions and small talk about sports, politics, or whatever comes to mind. This will serve to take the candidate's mind off of "Freemasonry," which, of course, in Texas Masonic practice, is the LAST thing we want him to focus on.
Some of these lodges have tried to stop the members from going in and talking with the cadnidates before the degrees. They say they want the canddiate to have some quite time before the degree. Fortanetly the Commitee on Work is putting a stop to all this, and letting us go in and tease him a bit.
Brother Mark
Registered User
My question would be does any lodge actually do the lecture that is suppose to be done by the senior deacon before the degree?
widows son
Premium Member
As the senior deacon of my lodge I do.
widows son
Premium Member
I also don't agree with hazing. That's not what the degrees are about nor do they reflect the nature of the degrees.
Brother Mark
Registered User
Widows... I am glad to hear some lodges do that. My old lodge doesnt do it at all and I think it takes away from the degree a little bit. But I also agree that the hazing isnt needed in the degrees
Freemason Connect Mobile
Freemason Connect Mobile
scialytic
Premium Member
I read all the way through it...but I'm a little thicker than most.
Yup- every time.
Michael Hatley
Premium Member
Same - serving as Senior Deacon this year and I do it. It got missed during my initiation, but I'm pretty sure it was an oversight.
Brother Mark
Registered User
Thats good. I am wanting to learn it for when I become the senior deacon for mt lodge I can do it.
Michael Neumann
Premium Member
I never knew the room was intentionally set up like that. My lodge followed it to a T. My initiation, passing, and raising were truly life changing... something I am very pleased to have been a part of.
