March 27, 2011

Scottish Rite

I went ahead and put in a petition to the Scottish Rite. The Scottish Rite is what is called an apendent body of Freemasonry and is the second largest group in the US. There are approxamently 1.4 million freemasons in the US and of those 550,000 are also Scottish Rite masons. The Scottish Rite confers the 4th through 32nd degrees. If accepted, I will receive the degrees in what tey call a reunion. The reunion will be held on the 9th and 16th of April from 7:30 in the morning till about 5:00 each evening. There is not any memory work involved in receiving the degrees.

The degrees are NOT above the third degree. The Master Mason degree (the 3rd degree) is the highest degree in masonry. Everything else is considered a side degree. This is a fact that confuses many because they see a higher number. How it has been explained to me is that the Scottish Rite degrees just expand on the 3rd degree.

I was a little concerned about putting in the petition so soon after being raised. I do want to learn as much as I can in the blue lodge. I have a very strong connection to my blue lodge and that is my first house. Anything else is just an  extension of that lodge. After reading many post in online forums as well as talking to other Brothers I feel like it would be a great experience to help me increase my knowledge. I can be as active as my time will allow and plan on concentrating on the blue lodge right now. I want to learn as much as I can but do want to spend the time getting down the blue lodge as much as I can. I see the SR as a place to expand my knowledge for now and become more active as time will allow later.

I will be giving back my third degree catechism before that in my mother lodge. I am ready for that. It will give me the option of taking a chair in the future. I hope I can go through the chairs in the blue lodge. Everything in masonry connects back to the blue lodge and we should do whatever we can to support it. This journey has already made me a better man. I hope that I can continue to grow. This has been a great honor that I just hope that I can give back a small amount of what I have received. Freemasonry is an organization that is nothing but honorable.

March 8, 2011

Two nights of firsts

I was able to attend a stated communication (regular meeting) for the first time last night. I was also asked by our Worshipful Master if I would sit in the Junior Stewards chair for the night. I did and was honored that he asked. We voted on 2 new petitions and the passed and the initiation was scheduled for the next night. We discussed some other business about paying some bills and giving some money to a couple places. It was a relatively simple meeting. The best part was getting to meet with some new and old friends. The WM encouraged me to return my third degree proficiency as soon as I could. I am working on that and should have it ready by next month's stated.

Tonight I did attend the initiation of the 2 candidates we voted in last night. I was again asked to ill the Junior Stewards position. That was a little more involved than last night but was instructed what to do before the meeting started. That was a great experience and only hope that I can participate in the future on more degrees. It is an honor and a privilege that I do not take lightly. We try to make the night as special for those going through the degrees as possible. I just hope I did not mess up to bad to detract from the experience.

There is a third degree scheduled for next Monday night and I plan on attending it to watch the entire thing. I am excited about being able to do that. I am even going to be a part of the degree team. It will definitely be a learning experience again.

March 6, 2011

Lecture service

I attended a lecture service held at our lodge on Saturday morning. In the state of NC, All lodges are required to have 5 hours of instruction on the ritual every 2 years. The even number lodges on even numbered years and odd number lodges on the odd number years. That was a great learning experience. Attending that made a few things come into context a little better. We spent 5 hours discussing how things happened in the lodgeroom and why. We are lucky do have a Deputy District Grand Lecturer (DDGL) in our lodge that gave the instruction. It is very interesting to me to see this. There is a district wide school of instruction happening at another lodge at the end of April. I plan on attending that one as well.