staffs
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Staffs
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Post by staffs on Nov 13, 2004 11:37:21 GMT
We all wonder when we should start learning ritual and what and when. Talking to the preceptor of our Lodge he gave us a reccommended learning programme for Craft Masonry that he received when he became preceptor. i have pasted this below and believe me it certainly made a few people cry in their beer. Any Comments RITUAL LEARNING PROGRAMME The following list is printed to enable those brethren who intend to progress through to the Master's Chair to have a plan of study over a seven year period. It shows what should be planned in each of those seven years leading to the Installation Meeting and the year as Master of the Lodge. Year 1 When a Steward you should learn the First degree. Year 2 When a Steward you should learn the Second degree and rehearse the First degree regularly. Year 3 When the I.G. learn the charge after Initiation and rehearse the First and Second degrees regularly. Year 4 When the J.D. learn the Third degree and rehearse the First and Second degrees regularly. Year 5 When the S.D. learn the Second degree tracing board and continue to rehearse the First, Second and Third degrees regularly. Year 6 When the J. W .learn the Installation Ceremony and continue to rehearse the three degrees. Year 7 When the S. W. learn the Investiture of Officers and continue to rehearse the three degrees. Year 8 When the W.M. learn the Inner Working. Perform the ceremonies, Install your Successor and you will have a very happy, successful and memorable year as Master of your Lodge.
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Post by offramp on Nov 14, 2004 8:48:00 GMT
I have used Readerworks to make 9 MSReader .lit books out of the first degree. When I am out and about I open one of the books and start reading! Pocket PCs are so cool.
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staffs
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Staffs
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Post by staffs on Nov 14, 2004 11:31:17 GMT
Offramp if youi have copy of the first degree tracing board i would be grateful if you could send it to me electronically.
In my lodge we only get the blue book of the degrees after the third.
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Sensei
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Website: www.tskc.co.uk TAIRYOKU SKC
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Post by Sensei on Nov 14, 2004 16:02:34 GMT
I have read the above 'plan' and TOTALLY agree with it. When I was initiated I followed basically the same plan but on a faster timeline.
As WM of my Mother Lodge in 1992 I thoroughly enjoyed my year immensely because of it. I went into the Chair with the confidence of knowing what I had to deliver I had learnt to the best of my ability and the Brethren would get, what was expected of me.
I performed all the degrees, 2nd TB, Charge and Trad History as WM.
I had 2 stumbling blocks along the path, however.
1. I was initiated in 1989 2. After my Feb meeting I had 6 weeks to the next. I farmed out the Trad History as I did not know it to be informed 3 weeks prior to meeting that the brother who was going to deliver it, wasn't now. Down to me.
I have always said that on reaching the JW chair you should be regularly revising the 3 degs NOT learning them.
I thoroughly recommend the above plan to ALL Brethren. Thank you Staffs for one of the most valuable contributions to this Forum. (If posted to the 'other' then thet too!)
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staffs
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Staffs
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Post by staffs on Nov 14, 2004 16:59:36 GMT
Sensei.thank you for those kind words,but i have not posted it anywhere else .
Start learning boys .Oh god i was initiated in Feb and am IG in December but according to that programme i seem to have lost two years as steward .HELP
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Post by offramp on Nov 14, 2004 18:35:16 GMT
Offramp if youi have copy of the first degree tracing board i would be grateful if you could send it to me electronically. In my lodge we only get the blue book of the degrees after the third. I have just sent it, it should have a red exclamation mark on it.
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staffs
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Staffs
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Post by staffs on Nov 14, 2004 18:38:19 GMT
Many Thanks Offramp.It wil give me something to learn as i have been giving it a break whilke i perfected the other bits i had been learning,which i practice daily.
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Post by offramp on Nov 14, 2004 19:03:57 GMT
I have got some great stuff on MS Reader. I use this program from Readerworks and I knock them up faster than a fart in a spacesuit. I have just finished a quite superb short version of A True & Faithful Relation... by Meric Casaubon. Anyone here can let me know if he or she wants them!
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Post by Mikepm on Nov 14, 2004 19:24:16 GMT
It's ok trying to learn in that order, but, it can be difficult if your lodge meets 8 times a year, and you only have 4 weeks untill the next meeting, and it's a different degree to the last one, or in one of the lodges i belong to, only have 1 Loi before the meeting! And you can only really learn the inner workings with the assistance of others, IMO. and then normally a few weeks before instalation! Also just as important is the floor workings and signs.
Staffs, doesn't your secretary have books of the first & second degree, which will help you learn those degrees and much more?
In the programme your Dc has set out, there is no mention of opening and closing and calling on and off. I have visited lodges where the ceremony has been performed to a high standard but the opening and closings in the various degrees, have had a lot of blips in them. I think everyone should learn how to open and close in the various degrees, before taking on the task of learning pages of ritual. Also not many lodges do this, but ours does, calling on & off, not much to do but nice to see now and again. I learn the ritual when i'm asked to do it, which normally gives me plenty of time, as we only meet 4 times a year, but i do know more than i think i do ;D
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staffs
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Staffs
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Post by staffs on Nov 14, 2004 19:55:36 GMT
Mike ,our Ritual is Sussex Ritual and it is hard to find ist and 2nd degree books on these. Our preceptor does not tell us thet the programme is hopw we should learn it but gave it to us as guidance. As we pass through the first and second degree we are given copies (blown up to A4) ofthe opening and closings of that degree and the ceremony so we can learn and use them for that purposes,However the first degree TB was not given out but the 2DTB is in the copies we are handed and which i have managed to learn.
Our opening and closing is very well practiced and another speciality as i have mentioned before is the lighting ofthe candles during the opening the like of which you have never seen and is practiced at LOI and is a ritual all of its own relevant to our Lodge.
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Post by Mikepm on Nov 16, 2004 21:47:56 GMT
Staffs, the 1st degree TB is not often heard, but it was performed in our lodge in Sept, and was nice to hear and watch once again. As you know i live in Sussex so know the workings very well, so i would be interested in visiting your lodge at a future date to see the candles. I visit Sackville lodge, which i believe is one of the oldest lodges in sussex, and their workings are not really sussex workings, but workings that they have carried out since there formation. ;D
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Post by offramp on Nov 17, 2004 4:06:19 GMT
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Post by taylorsman on Nov 17, 2004 8:43:23 GMT
Now you HAVE actually made me laugh, Offramp! ;D
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Post by offramp on Nov 18, 2004 12:35:55 GMT
At long last, eh, Steve?
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sarge
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peace and harmony
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Post by sarge on Nov 19, 2004 12:15:51 GMT
Offramp if youi have copy of the first degree tracing board i would be grateful if you could send it to me electronically. In my lodge we only get the blue book of the degrees after the third. lee have a look at pietre-stones web site, apply for a password and in the entered apprentice section is the full 1st degree tracing board lecture regards sarge
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Post by offramp on Nov 19, 2004 16:00:29 GMT
Hopefully Staffs got my version because although the Pietre-Stones Revista site does have it it can be difficult to C + P from that site.
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staffs
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Staffs
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Post by staffs on Nov 19, 2004 18:48:16 GMT
offramp i cannot open it as it has a .lit ending .
can yopu send it in word format ??
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