Apparently that's all it was- not an Edict or Decision.It may have been just a reminder that such must be approved by the Committee on Work before being used.
Apparently that's all it was- not an Edict or Decision.It may have been just a reminder that such must be approved by the Committee on Work before being used.
Until such time as a resolution permitting a CoR is presented to & approved by the Grand West in Annual Communication, my advice would be to follow the instructions in the Monitor precisely, which are for the SD to give the reading to the candidate in the preparation room, then immediately turn him over to the MC for preparation for his initiation.So lets get some clarity here. Is this kosher then for immediate use? In this order of events? Or do you guys think we have to get a grand lodge vote on this. Or not sure.
I think the order is..
(a) Master of ceremonies reads the usual stuff from monitor to candidate to make sure they ready
(b) MC takes candidate (in their street clothes and not hoodwinked) to a dark, candlelit CoR for them to fill out some papers (life goals or whatever), leaves them alone, maybe have background music, and then they ring a bell when ready to proceed and MC comes to get them. We decorate this CoR per traditional standards....
(c) MC takes candidate in street clothes to the room adjoining the lodge to become duly and truly prepared (and all that means) and then we start the EA formal process.
(d) Actual 1st degree occurs from beginning to end per usual.
Now perhaps flipping (a) and (b) is required but I am not sure why that would matter. Makes more sense to have (a) and (b) in the order I suggest.
So lets get some clarity here. Is this kosher then for immediate use? In this order of events? Or do you guys think we have to get a grand lodge vote on this. Or not sure.
I think the order is..
(a) Master of ceremonies reads the usual stuff from monitor to candidate to make sure they ready
(b) MC takes candidate (in their street clothes and not hoodwinked) to a dark, candlelit CoR for them to fill out some papers (life goals or whatever), leaves them alone, maybe have background music, and then they ring a bell when ready to proceed and MC comes to get them. We decorate this CoR per traditional standards....
(c) MC takes candidate in street clothes to the room adjoining the lodge to become duly and truly prepared (and all that means) and then we start the EA formal process.
(d) Actual 1st degree occurs from beginning to end per usual.
Now perhaps flipping (a) and (b) is required but I am not sure why that would matter. Makes more sense to have (a) and (b) in the order I suggest.
First I've heard of it, if true.
It is true. The Grand Master has said absolutely NO to the use of a CoR in any Blue Lodge. It is properly part of degrees in other masonic bodies. He has pulled at least one charter so far.
Our Bible Presentation is actually a Monitorial portion of the Third Degree. It is performed after the Charge.
Any proposals to be considered by the Grand West must be received by the Grand Secretary no later than May 15th to be included in this year's Annual Communication.Well thats too bad perhaps that can be legislatively addressed this year.
So is ours, and it has been approved by our Committee on Work. To compare the Bible presentation to a CoR is apples to oranges.Our Bible Presentation is actually a Monitorial portion of the Third Degree. It is performed after the Charge.
This isn't meant to seem, rude but a Chamber of Reflection is an "innovation" in Freemasonry neither the Antients or Moderns Grand Lodges or the Grand Lodges of Ireland and Scotland used them in the beginning of speculative Freemasonry during the late 1600 and early 1700s.
It was introduced into the Freemasonry practised by the Grand Orient of France as a result of the invention of the Rite of Perfection in 1760s France and as that Rite became a part of the newly created Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite Masonry in the 1780s.
This may well be the reason that your Grand Lodges don't wish to see its use creep into your regular Craft Lodges.
I think all Lodges should have a chamber of reflection for the candidate vs. a dusty closet or storage room.
I don't know about SR, but in the Chivalric Orders it is outside of the Degree work, just as it is being described here for Craft Lodge use, and therefore not a "secret" of the Degree.I view it as revealing degree work from other masonic bodies...
So is ours, and it has been approved by our Committee on Work. To compare the Bible presentation to a CoR is apples to oranges.
I view it as revealing degree work from other masonic bodies where the brethren swore they "will not reveal the secrets of this degree to anyone....". In this case those secrets are being revealed to a candidate not even initiated yet.
It is not "required" but it is "allowed"- see the following:Now I need to get a copy of the Monitor for Texas and read up on that. It's my first jurisdiction that requires it and now I already know of two jurisdictions that require it - Very cool.
You know, our state Legislature meets for 140 days every 2 years. It has been proposed that they be allowed to meet for 2 days every 140 years. There may be some merit to that proposal. :wink:May 15 ? That makes the US Congress look like amazon.com![]()
Another way to put the topic to bed in my opinion - Submit legislation to GL authorizing it as optional content, complete with directions on how to conduct it so as to not conflict with the proscribed ritual.
It is not "required" but it is "allowed"- see the following:
BIBLE PRESENTATION
This is not a part of the Master Mason's Degree. A bible may be presented to the newly raised Master Mason if it is the desire of the Lodge to do so. When a bible is to be presented, it should be done after the completion of the degree [after the apron has been presented and the newly raised brother has been seated among his brethren].
The following may be used in making the presentation:
My brother, however men may differ in creed or theology, all good men are agreed that within the covers of the Holy Bible are found those principles of morality which lay the foundation upon which to build a righteous life ...