Post by Jumile on Nov 23, 2004 21:17:11 GMT
I figured I'd create a thread for this topic, rather than continue on from an existing thread...
During my time as a a profane man and Candidate, and indeed now as an EA, I felt the single biggest thing that was missing for me was information. Not a small thing, I'm sure most of you will agree.
While driving (passenger really...ahhhh) to last night's meeting, I was thinking about JM Ward's excellent degree Handbooks (The Entered Apprentice's Handbook, etc), the various resources I've gathered since I began seeking in March, the fora I've found (*nudge nudge*), and the various other pieces of information I've found invaluable in my progression - all the while carefully avoiding anything that may "spoil the story" (or that I simply shouldn't know yet). From the numerous occasional link posts I make to various fora and the, "Oh, man... that's fantastic!" responses I often get, it occurred to me that perhaps my lodge could do with a useful information pack (note the emphasis) that members could hand to people who ask them about Freemasonry.
I realise we're always going to have differences of opinion on what constitutes appropriate information (my own great-uncle is an example of the old guard), but I think we can all agree that the days of keeping quiet about it and expecting a prospective Candidate to go through the Initiation without any information are rapidly disappearing. And rightly so, I believe - it's important to remember what's really secret and what's merely spoiling a story.
Anyway, my plan is to put together:
Obviously I won't be able to complete these until I've been through them myself. I am able to do the first two, however. Of course, if any of you feel you can offer opinions (ha!), ideas, advice, caution, etc, then I'm all ears.
Let me re-iterate that I'm doing this for my own lodge, but do hope to make it available to all if it turns out to be a worthwhile proposition. As an Apprentice, I feel it right to pass the right of release to my lodge's officers. No man is an island, and all that.
Let's hope that these best laid plans don't go agley, eh?
During my time as a a profane man and Candidate, and indeed now as an EA, I felt the single biggest thing that was missing for me was information. Not a small thing, I'm sure most of you will agree.
While driving (passenger really...ahhhh) to last night's meeting, I was thinking about JM Ward's excellent degree Handbooks (The Entered Apprentice's Handbook, etc), the various resources I've gathered since I began seeking in March, the fora I've found (*nudge nudge*), and the various other pieces of information I've found invaluable in my progression - all the while carefully avoiding anything that may "spoil the story" (or that I simply shouldn't know yet). From the numerous occasional link posts I make to various fora and the, "Oh, man... that's fantastic!" responses I often get, it occurred to me that perhaps my lodge could do with a useful information pack (note the emphasis) that members could hand to people who ask them about Freemasonry.
I realise we're always going to have differences of opinion on what constitutes appropriate information (my own great-uncle is an example of the old guard), but I think we can all agree that the days of keeping quiet about it and expecting a prospective Candidate to go through the Initiation without any information are rapidly disappearing. And rightly so, I believe - it's important to remember what's really secret and what's merely spoiling a story.
Anyway, my plan is to put together:
- Candidate Pack: The "So you want to be a Freemason?" bumpf. Including what they need for their Initiation (how to dress, some of what to expect, where to look to set any nerves at ease, some resources to read, etc).
- EA pack: Including an explanation of what the EA degree symbolised, what needs learning for Passing, some more resources, some of what to expect, some more resources, etc.
- FC pack: Including an explanation of what the FC degree symbolised, what needs learning for Raising, some more resources, some of what to expect, some more resources, etc.
- MM pack: Essentially the "You made it!" bumpf. Including what the MM degree symbolised, where in the Craft a MM can now go, an overview of the side orders that are available and when to begin considering them, an explanation of rank/honours, and more resources.
Obviously I won't be able to complete these until I've been through them myself. I am able to do the first two, however. Of course, if any of you feel you can offer opinions (ha!), ideas, advice, caution, etc, then I'm all ears.
Let me re-iterate that I'm doing this for my own lodge, but do hope to make it available to all if it turns out to be a worthwhile proposition. As an Apprentice, I feel it right to pass the right of release to my lodge's officers. No man is an island, and all that.
Let's hope that these best laid plans don't go agley, eh?