The memory work if we want to call it that inculcates all these lessons and the importance of performing them. If it has become memory work to us, then it contanins nothing, no spritual life or Divine guideance, all in all it is meaningless beside the point of proving to other Brothers that you are a Mason which a dues card is fine with me. I for one believe the lesson taught in the degress are brought to life by a Brother and is full of Divine guidance far beyond just the words we memorize. The questions and answers and the quality of them are left to the Lodge so if a Brother has trouble as some do the Lodge knows this and lets him slide to an exstint; as far as open and close we have to have this and knowing how to do it properly I think is so small a task to ask of someone this is a non-issue. You only have to learn your position for that year to be certed it is not hard at all maybe 1 to 2 hours of work if you never heard it. The lesson we are made to memorize become a part of us and how we determine our reaction to the world and its changes and gives us comfort there is a whole legion of Brothers acting in unity with us. I think where the problem comes in is that there are peolple in the world that just walk right past common ground to ther own tin can to holler from and it is up to those Master Mason who know the lesson to apply them at this moment and like creme rise above.