VWB C. Blair Leckie Deputy of the Grand Master in District 4 of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Washington for 2005-2007 Mailto: cblairl@excite.com

 (December 2006)

Those of you who have taken the time and endured reading my offerings in this space for the last, almost two years now, have noticed a recurring concern. It is about the manner in which we practice our ritual. My Brothers, I am concerned. While I have witnessed openings, closings and the conferral of degrees where it is obvious that practice and preparation had taken place before their performance, it troubles me to say that this is not the norm in our district. The members of those lodges who expect excellence and perform our ritual at that level know who you are. What concerns me for Masonry, is that the members of those lodges who do not perform at the level of excellence, do not know who they are. It has become acceptable practice to be unprepared. It has become good enough not to put the effort into learning the ritual. Reading one’s part directly from the cipher gets the nod of approval. I guess I am concerned because when I am privileged to experience our rites performed with preparation and respect, it is a meaningful and often moving experience. One is reminded of how it should be. Unfortunately, all too often, the ritual is performed without regard for the honorable legacy handed down by Masons past, without concern for the words and what they mean to us and without respect for candidates, visiting brethren, and ourselves.

One of the essential objectives of Masonry is to make good men better. We may have lost sight of the fact that it takes hard work and preparation to make good men better – especially good men. The performance of our ritual is a telling indicator that we may be relaxing our efforts to improve Masonically. I know that this critical discourse may appear to you as preaching. It is beginning to sound like it a bit to me as well. I also know that I am no better or no worse than any of you. I am a Brother meeting you on the level expressing his concern for the state of our craft as I see it. So it is with humility that I offer up this challenge for the Brothers in District Four. Be duly and truly prepared. Make suitable proficiency in the performance of our ritual. While no one really demands or often expects perfection, it is the goal. Perhaps the demand should be that preparedness and proficiency in our ritual is our unwavering expectation.

Thanks to both the District 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.