J
jwardl
Guest
Personally, I would like to see the code book divided into EA, FC and MM sections - including the cathechism, opening & closing, etc.
It already is -- or do you mean separate volumes (covers)?
Personally, I would like to see the code book divided into EA, FC and MM sections - including the cathechism, opening & closing, etc.
Perhaps... not being a tiled blue lodge, they could do that.
I was even handed copies of the work in MS Word.
Brethren, as with many other things in Masonry today this post reminds me of the story of the chicken and the pig wo decided to make breakfast for all of the other animals on the farm. The chicken wanted to serve a traditional farmer's breakfast of bacon and eggs. The pig wasn't as enthused because of the different level of commitment involved. By providing the eggs, the chicken was involved with preparing the meal, but in providing the bacon the pig would have to be totally committed...
So, the question must be answered of whether or not we want our newest Brothers to simply be involved with Masonry when it is convenient for them by providing a codebook or do we want them committed to the ideals and traditions of the Fraternity? As with everything there will be exceptions but the new Brother who attempts to learn his work from a codebook will not have the commitment to other activities that will inherently develop in the relationships formed while learning in the traditional manner.
Also, how would you expect the Brother to learn the work correctly if he can't ready the codebook? I've got a copy of the most widely used one...it is full of mistakes and you have to know the work to know what the code is supposed to represent.
The last thing I would ask is this...who is going to make the young Brother feel better when he memorizes the work from the book perfectly and something is said about his mistakes later (and I promise you that it only takes about 30 seconds to know that someone is doing "book work.")?
When I was initiated in 1987 and started learning my work there may have been a code book but no one said anything about it. I learned the "old" way. There were no dues card issued to me and no real interaction with the lodge. My only contact with the lodge was through my instructor and the brother I originally requested the petition from. Life got hectic and I fell through the cracks before I could turn my work in. Long story short, it took me 19 years before I was raised. I am very glad I decided to pick up where I left off. I will say, even with having learned the EA work completely 19 years earlier I was surprised how much stuck when I resumed years later. I credit my success to my excellent instructor who talked me into getting back involved with Masonry.
King Solomon and his followers has been around for a long time and a majority of Texas Masons own one. But that is a secret. Don't tell anyone.
I had to pay 2 years back dues, petition again and they assigned an investigating committee. Then they voted on me.