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Well, I think I will be taking the big leap...I believe that very few bretheren actually have any clue as to what lies under the surface of Masonry. Sure, many are familiar with the lectures and have the degrees memorized. Many know what the seven liberal arts are,what the types of columns are, etc...BUT, how many really know much more than that? How many brothers know what the part of the degree where a candidate is aked for something of a metallic nature is called? How about when a candidate is led around the lodge? How many brothers can name all the jewels of the officers and/or give their meanings? How many know about alchemy, Hermeticism, esoterica? (Of course, I know ALL the brothers here know ALL about these things, right?) There is an unbelievably vast amount of information on Masonry which most brothers (including myself) are unawre of. I have therefore made the decision to begin a monthly "class" at our lodge to teach other brothers about all things masonic. I hope to not only educate others and help them to find more light, but also It may bring our attendance up. Perhaps a few members will come on a more regular basis, if they know there will be something more for them. This would also give brothers around the area a "reason" to attend our lodge. I see a great deal of good coming from this endeavor. So, with that said, are there any educational officers or anyone currently instructing, who can give any tips or pointers???
The obligations...there's a boatload of education right there. There are so many different areas just covering the basics to discuss. The symbols, the different aprons, the directions (E, W, S). Just the words we use in the lodge would take quite a while to go through.
I will play it by ear until we go dark for summer. Perhaps in the fall I will step it up, maybe change the format (once I figure out what that format will be) depending on how it goes. Thanks for the advice brother.
Thats a great thing your doing. We here in the 17th district of Florida are just starting a district wide, monthly masonic education meeting. We have our first meeting on march 19th. Our first meeting I'm going to start the group on " The Landmarks of FreeMasonry ". We should keep in touch so we can bounce ideas off of each other. Glad to see there are other groups starting up. Fraternally, Ed
Br. Jason
I think that what you are doing is a very good thing. I serve on the Education Committee for the GL of NJ as well as the GL of NJ Strategic Planning Committee "sub committee on education" (Cory S. served on this with me this year). It is challenging to weave continuing education around the topics you mention but it can and should be done more often in all lodges. As I stated before, providing the brethren in your lodge with educational programs is the right thing to do and you should be commended for that! The fraternity needs new energetic brethren like you. I may be misinterpreting the tone of your post but the ritual is the foundation of what we do as Freemasons. Memorizing lectures and working your way up through the chairs is a gift you give to your lodge. It takes all kinds of men to make a lodge great. Be careful about passing judgement on brethren who enjoy being on the sidelines or who love ritual but may not be into masonic history or the esoteric. We are all rough ashlars working each day to hone ourselves into a near perfect ashlar. Each man is different and the most important thing in a lodge is strong leadership in the chairs who drive the lodge's culture and inspire others (as you are doing with your educational programs) to perform above their potential and live our values each day.
I am new to masonry. I was raised last year and immediately became interested in the history and symbolism of the Craft. I would love to learn more, and think you have a great idea. I wish we had something like this at our lodge, but I'm not familiar enough with it to be able to do it. Maybe one day I'll be able to it and turn our lodge around. At one time we had one of the strongest lodges in the state of GA, but now its dying. As I said I wish I was able to attend this and I hope it turns out well for you.
Cory Sigler
created this social network on Ning. 