Petitioning the York Rite in the Summer

[Mac]

Brethren,

After much contemplation, I've decided to petition the York Rite bodies at the end of the semester.

Do you have any recommendations on seeing the work done locally versus at a festival?

Looking forward to ever more light.

 

[chrmc]

Personally I am a big proponent of taking the degrees individually rather than at a festival. It'll take you a longer time for sure, but for me you get much more out of it. Getting so many degrees in one day and just sitting on the sideline watching them is not what I wanted out of this experience, so I'm doing them individually.

But good luck in any case.

 

[Pscyclepath]

I've done (and seen) some of both... and strongly recommend taking your degrees one at a time in your local chapter, council, and commandery. That lets you focus on the lessons in each degree, and absorb them before moving to the next degree. Plus, having some skin in the game (actually taking part in the degree and floor work, as opposed to sitting on the sidelines watching someone else go through the motions) keeps your attention focused and better impresses the lessons in your mind.

Drawbacks to the festival format is that it tends to be a very long day going through all the degrees, and at the end of the day, the lessons, modes of recognition, and even the names and faces of your classmates tend to get all jumbled together, leaving you pretty much confused. And, with the compressed time frames, they tend to"short-form" some of the degrees, particularly the Royal Arch, and you miss a lot of the beauty that comes along with the lessons.

If you take your time, you will have a better opportunity to absorb and appreciate the profond lessons and beauty in the ceremonies.

My two bits...

 

[widows son]

I just went through the MMM degree with 2 other guys, id rather go through on my own but I'd say individual rather than all at once is much more memorable.

 

[Mac]

Sounds like going through them individually is worth pursuing. I'll ask about it when I submit my petition. Already printed out and filled in, just won't let myself submit it until at least April or May.

 

[BroBill]

Brethren,

After much contemplation, I've decided to petition the York Rite bodies at the end of the semester.

Do you have any recommendations on seeing the work done locally versus at a festival?

Looking forward to ever more light.

Congratulations Brother on continuing your degree work! I always recommend taking the degrees one at a time rather than in a festival. Some times and in some circumstances brethren need the festival form, but if time is on your side do the degrees one at a time.

While you are waiting for your degrees to start, you might want to go sit in on the first three degrees again just to refresh yourself on the story. If you do, pay close attention to the lectures. Become as familiar with "the story" as you can before you start your Chapter/Council degrees just to refresh yourself on where you left off after the third degree.

Good luck and enjoy the next leg of your journey!

BroBill

 

[BroBill]

I just went through the MMM degree with 2 other guys, id rather go through on my own but I'd say individual rather than all at once is much more memorable.

It is normal to do the Chapter and Council degrees in groups of three. That's different than a festival where you may have many candidates with just one "exemplar" in each degree. You will understand the form using three candidates later. Many Chapters/Councils get dispensations to do a series of the degrees with one or two candidates and it's really not difficult to get that granted, but the standard form requires three candidates.

S&F
BroBill

 

[KSigMason]

I hope you enjoy the degrees and orders of the York Rite. I'd say one should go through each degree as you would through the Blue Lodge, but if you go through a festival I still hope you enjoy yourself.

 

[widows son]

Thx brethren.

 

[Danbeaux]

I did part of my degree work in the York Rite at a festival, However; I also volunteered (was volunteered) to be the actual candidate.....so I actually went through the steps as opposed to just sitting off to the side and reciting an obligation. I do not think I would have enjoyed that.

I finished my York Rite work over the course of two evenings later in the year. Especially the last of the degrees I would encourage you to do solo...very striking to say the least.

No matter how you proceed enjoy the Light, and welcome.

 

[widows son]

I've been told that the YR degrees work better when there is three. Why is that? Or something I'm going to find out when I get the RAM?

 

[Paul E. Wunsche]

You will find out why you need "three" candidates as you go through. As far as going through a festival or indivdually it is a matter of time, if you have time indivdually is the best way. If you must go through a festival I would advise you to make arrangements with the Commandery you will be going into and ask that they confer the Order of the Temple on you in their assylum at a called conclave. This will insure that not only are you the only candidate but the Order will mean so much more to you.

 

[Danbeaux]

You will find out why you need "three" candidates as you go through. As far as going through a festival or indivdually it is a matter of time, if you have time indivdually is the best way. If you must go through a festival I would advise you to make arrangements with the Commandery you will be going into and ask that they confer the Order of the Temple on you in their assylum at a called conclave. This will insure that not only are you the only candidate but the Order will mean so much more to you.

Yea....what he said.

 

[widows son]

Well I'd love to enter commandery but, I'm not a professing Christian, ill probably stop at the end of the cryptic rites.

 

[Mac]

It's been a while since I've had to actively circumscribe my passions, but man I'm excited about joining the York Rite. From a historical standpoint, I'm especially curious about the Holy Royal Arch. In Britain, it looks like some groups under the priory actual meet as Knights of Malta (with the mantles and all). This is not to be confused with the Knights of Malta out of Italy.

Does the Commandery ever meet as KoM, or strictly as KTs?

 

[KSigMason]

It's been a while since I've had to actively circumscribe my passions, but man I'm excited about joining the York Rite. From a historical standpoint, I'm especially curious about the Holy Royal Arch. In Britain, it looks like some groups under the priory actual meet as Knights of Malta (with the mantles and all). This is not to be confused with the Knights of Malta out of Italy.

Does the Commandery ever meet as KoM, or strictly as KTs?

Usually the Commandery just meets as Knights Templars. I'm sure you could have the Priory open for instructional purposes. The opening of the Knights of Malta is a bit quicker than opening a Commandery of Knights Templar.

 

[Bro_Vick]

Usually the Commandery just meets as Knights Templars. I'm sure you could have the Priory open for instructional purposes. The opening of the Knights of Malta is a bit quicker than opening a Commandery of Knights Templar.

We have opened as Knights Malta, but usually most conclaves want to open in the order of the temple, since that is the degree they get "graded" on.

S&F,
-Bro Vick

 

[Mac]

Decided to take the leap now. Submitted my petition today. I was told it might take a month or two to get processed, based on the meeting schedule for the three bodies. Glad I did turn it in early!

 

[BroBill]

Decided to take the leap now. Submitted my petition today. I was told it might take a month or two to get processed, based on the meeting schedule for the three bodies. Glad I did turn it in early!

Enjoy the work brother! You might try to watch the first three degrees if there is time and they are conferred before you begin the Chapter leg of your journey! Also, did you read over the back of the petition form before you submitted it? It's often overlooked, but there is some very interesting information provided for the the prospective candidate. If you didn't read it, you might ask to borrow a blank petition and read over the material on the back. Just some suggestions depending the time you have available.

S&F
Bro. Bill

 

[KSigMason]

Decided to take the leap now. Submitted my petition today. I was told it might take a month or two to get processed, based on the meeting schedule for the three bodies. Glad I did turn it in early!

Awesome to hear. One of my best friends is turning in a petition to receive the degrees and orders. I'm excited since I will get to knight him and I was the one who Raised him.