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Post by gaslight on Sept 3, 2007 0:18:47 GMT
I just received the latest Notice Paper from Lodge, wherein it states that my 2nd Degree will be conferred by the Masters of our Eastern District Lodges on September 26th. WOOHOOOO!!! Dead chuffed, I am. Sorry, but I'm completely lost. Would a Notice Paper be the same as a Summons, or is it some kind of newsletter? What are the Masters of your Eastern District Lodges, and what do they have to do with your passing? Is this some kind of visiting degree team? Will they take over and conduct the entire degree? The rest of this thread is also difficult for me to follow, as I'm new to this board and still don't know to which jurisdictions various members belong. Some have written of waiting a long time (years?) between degrees. Is this peculiar to some jurisdictions or is it a lodge thing? Two to four months between degrees is about average in the lodges I know, but I see from the database of my mother lodge that one Brother took just a little short of ten years to go from FC to MM. In his case it was a health problem.
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Post by leonardo on Sept 3, 2007 8:12:05 GMT
Two to four months between degrees is about average in the lodges I know, but I see from the database of my mother lodge that one Brother took just a little short of ten years to go from FC to MM. In his case it was a health problem. 10 years is a long time but as you said there were health issues. I have read that in the States it's possible to go from EA to MM in a week-end!
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Tony Grimwood
Member
Asst. Steward, Lodge Howick No. 314
Posts: 190
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Post by Tony Grimwood on Sept 4, 2007 8:09:31 GMT
I just received the latest Notice Paper from Lodge, wherein it states that my 2nd Degree will be conferred by the Masters of our Eastern District Lodges on September 26th. WOOHOOOO!!! Dead chuffed, I am. Sorry, but I'm completely lost. Would a Notice Paper be the same as a Summons, or is it some kind of newsletter? What are the Masters of your Eastern District Lodges, and what do they have to do with your passing? Is this some kind of visiting degree team? Will they take over and conduct the entire degree? The rest of this thread is also difficult for me to follow, as I'm new to this board and still don't know to which jurisdictions various members belong. Some have written of waiting a long time (years?) between degrees. Is this peculiar to some jurisdictions or is it a lodge thing? Two to four months between degrees is about average in the lodges I know, but I see from the database of my mother lodge that one Brother took just a little short of ten years to go from FC to MM. In his case it was a health problem. Yes, Notice Paper = Summons. There are ten Lodges in our Masonic district (Auckland East - New Zealand), the masters of which are coming to our Lodge to work the degree. They will take over from our usual officers after the opening of the Lodge. In our jurisdiction the minimum period between degrees is one month, though this may be shortened by dispensation. Otherwise it's down to the individual Lodge and to the Brother concerned. A lot depends on the Lodge's schedule, i.e. a busy Lodge may necessarily mean a longer wait between degrees, for purely practical reasons. My Lodge offered to confer my MM degree the month following my passing, but I declined it. I hope this clarifies things. Tony
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Post by gaslight on Sept 4, 2007 9:04:46 GMT
Yes, Notice Paper = Summons. There are ten Lodges in our Masonic district (Auckland East - New Zealand), the masters of which are coming to our Lodge to work the degree. They will take over from our usual officers after the opening of the Lodge. Thanks, that makes everything clear. Does this visiting degree work happen very often? That's the same as my lodge. If we have several candidates waiting for degrees, or if the summer break or the winter installation gets in the way, it can be months between degrees. One of the most sensible pieces of advice I've seen came from a GL ad-hoc committee that recommended, among other things, that Brethren get out, visit other lodges (accompanied, of course) and see a degree worked at least three times before they move on to the next. For that to work I guess you'd need to live in an area with a high concentration of lodges, or candidates with extraordinary patience.
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Tony Grimwood
Member
Asst. Steward, Lodge Howick No. 314
Posts: 190
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Post by Tony Grimwood on Sept 5, 2007 20:52:30 GMT
Thanks, that makes everything clear. Does this visiting degree work happen very often? Not very frequently. Most degree work is handled "in-house", and is usually done by the elected officers, or sometimes by the PMs. There are moves afoot in my district to create a "junior Lodge" that will handle most of the degree work, the officers of said Lodge being drawn from among all of the district's Lodges, but the scheme is still under discussion at District Grand Lodge level. Hurry up and wait ... It's a very good piece of advice indeed. I've really enjoyed seeing how other Lodges work and it's certainly broadened and deepened my understanding. I'm fortunate, in that I live on the outskirts of New Zealand's largest city, so there are plenty of Lodges within easy driving range. Tony
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Tony Grimwood
Member
Asst. Steward, Lodge Howick No. 314
Posts: 190
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Post by Tony Grimwood on Sept 13, 2007 3:43:23 GMT
Update time. It looks like my degree night is getting longer. I'm informed that both the district and divisional Grand Masters will be attending, so we get to burn some time see-sawing between the 1st and the 3rd in order to receive them into the lodge. Naturally, the GM's and our WM will play catch with the gavel as well. It's shaping up to be quite an evening - I've even managed to finagle my way out of stewarding on the night, with the boss's blessing! Tony
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imakegarb
Member
One wee, sleeket, cowran, tim'rous beastie
Posts: 3,573
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Post by imakegarb on Sept 13, 2007 5:39:15 GMT
Sounds like you've attracted some attention. Congrats/condolances. And, please, enjoy it ;D
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Tony Grimwood
Member
Asst. Steward, Lodge Howick No. 314
Posts: 190
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Post by Tony Grimwood on Sept 26, 2007 21:07:17 GMT
Bro. Tony, 2° A wonderful evening. The 2nd degree WT charge is beautiful. Tony
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Post by maat on Sept 26, 2007 22:26:38 GMT
Heartiest of congratulations Tony!
Maat
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Post by leonardo on Sept 27, 2007 8:47:34 GMT
Congratulations from me too, Tony.
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Post by waynecowley on Sept 27, 2007 12:10:33 GMT
Many congratulations Bro Tony The 2nd degree WT charge is beautiful. I couldn't agree more - it is one of my favourite pieces of ritual Wayne
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