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VWB Greg Stewart Deputy of the Grand Master in District 4 of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Washington for 2003-2005 Mailto: underthetable@earthlink.net 13316 3rd NE |
What We Learn From Lectures (December 2004)
Most of you may be aware of the work Grand Lode is doing on the electronic lecture. I am confident it will be accurate in word and form. I also believe it will come in handy when a Brother is not available to deliver the lecture live. I hope this will not become a crutch and here is why. I recently attended a first degree at Doric Lodge. We barely had enough Brothers to open Lodge on the first degree and I was looking around to see who would give the Charge and lecture for a regular as I was not prepared. The ritual went well and it was time for the lecture. Dan Harrity, one of our newest members, delivered an inspiring lecture. It was inspiring because of the quality of the presentation and the way it was explained instead of just being repeated.
While hanging out with the guys and discussing the night's festivities I realized there is more than simply giving information. Some people learn better from reading and some learn better from listening and observing.
When I heard my first lecture I looked around to see these items that were supposed to be in the Lodge room. It was later explained they were symbolic and that is why I didn't pick up too much. A close friend, now my father-in-law, gave the second degree lecture. It was then I started to realize the kind of work that goes into such memorization and understanding. I followed along in the book at a later degree and when he repeated 26 pages and missed two word I was real impressed. The point I am trying to make is the need to attend degrees even if you do not have a part. The lectures when offered live and with such understanding become more than ritual. They are a part of what we learn as Masons and in order for them to work must be repeated until complete understanding is achieved. It is my hope this explanation will increase the attendance at all degrees as our new candidates and Brothers deserve the full rights and benefits of each degree when they want them.
District Four Installations:
Fri., December 3 - Occidental No. 72, 7:00 p.m., Buffet after
Sat., December 4 - Doric No. 92, 3:00 p.m., Buffet after
Sat., December 11 - Green Lake No. 149, Dinner 6:00 p.m., Installation 7:00 p.m.
Fri., December 17 - Walter F. Meier Lodge of Research No. 281, Buffet 6:30 p.m., Tyled Installation 7:30 p.m.
Thanks to both the Deputy of the Grand Master in District 4, and the Masonic Monitor which publishes his articles for allowing us to reprint them. The Masonic Monitor is published monthly (except August) under approval of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Washington. The Masonic Monitor can be contacted at: 6619 132nd Avenue NE, PMB 237, Kirkland, WA, 98033-8627, USA. Phone: (425) 822-4605 - FAX: (425) 822-2535 - Email: masonicmonitor@earthlink.net.