EA question

[Brother Mike in NY]

I was recently initiated as an EA and have a cypher to learn my obligation as well as a mentor. My question is if it is acceptable to use online resources such as Quizlet to help memorize my obligation?


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[coachn]

I was recently initiated as an EA and have a cypher to learn my obligation as well as a mentor. My question is if it is acceptable to use online resources such as Quizlet to help memorize my obligation?


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The purpose of learning the obligation is two fold:
1) To have it so that you can remember and use it to make better choices.
2) To spend time bonding with the people teaching it to you.

#2 is more important so don't miss out on every opportunity to engage in that bonding.

 

[Tylerl90]

I was recently initiated as an EA and have a cypher to learn my obligation as well as a mentor. My question is if it is acceptable to use online resources such as Quizlet to help memorize my obligation?


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I don’t recommend online resources because there will be subtle differences between every Grand Lodge that will throw you off. It is best to learn the obligation the correct way, which in your case is a cipher and mentor. Remember the promises you made in your EA obligation when thinking of writing/typing anything out. *hint hint*


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[Thomas Stright]

I was recently initiated as an EA and have a cypher to learn my obligation as well as a mentor. My question is if it is acceptable to use online resources such as Quizlet to help memorize my obligation?

I would say No... Well here in Texas we can't write out any of the work.
And only a MM can use a cypher (and not on lodge property).

 

[Bloke]

I would say No... Well here in Texas we can't write out any of the work.
And only a MM can use a cypher (and not on lodge property).

We hand our ritual books around like confetti... I have them scattered all over the place.. they are not in cipher - but do have blanks to hide the "secrets"... people will have them in rehearsal - but the only one which should be open in lodge is at the Sec's desk for prompting..

 

[Number4]

You can look on line by all means without violating your obligation, but as has already been said, there are so many local variations that will do more harm than good at this stage by confusing you. On line sources can be useful a little later once you know the correct responses, but only in reminding you the sequence they fall in (which is half the battle when you get to the longer parts in the later degrees)

 

[jermy Bell]

We raised a person who read everything online. It's all there. He knew who what when where the whole 10 yards. Don't think it was his cup of tea at the end. He has never come back. So, if it's a rush to know everything right now, you joined the wrong organization, and you won't go any further.

 

[TheThumbPuppy]

My question is if it is acceptable to use online resources such as Quizlet to help memorize my obligation?

If I understand your question correctly you would like to upload the text on your account on Quizlet to help you learning it by heart with their flashcard system.

If I remember correctly how Quizlet works, paid accounts' data can be private or public (depending on what you choose), while free accounts' data can only be public.

Common sense would lead me to believe that you are not allowed to publish publicly these text on a free account.

However even passworded accounts are not safe, so I would not upload anything I wouldn't want to be publicly shared on any account, whether public or private.

That applies to any type of platforms, including "private" groups on Facebook, "private" Google docs, "private" Apple iCloud, etc.

If you want a flashcard system to memorise something you could download a free program or app for whatever device and operating system you use. I'm not sure, but perhaps Anki would serve your purpose.

 

[Thomas Stright]

Common sense would lead me to believe that you are not allowed to publish publicly these text on a free account.

Nothing can be written if you understand your obligation....

 

[TheThumbPuppy]

Nothing can be written if you understand your obligation

Are there some obligatory jurisdictional notes on this?

Also shouldn't the "spirit of the law" be more important than a literal interpretation? In this case the spirit of the obligation is to not make certain specific things (text, etc) public.

I'm interested to hear some other points of view on this.

 

[Glen Cook]

Nothing can be written if you understand your obligation....

I understand my obligation quite well. It does not say that.

 

[coachn]

I understand my obligation quite well. It does not say that.

yep

 

[otherstar]

I understand my obligation quite well. It does not say that.

It does say that in Texas. I have no idea about the EA obligation in other states.

 

[Glen Cook]

It does say that in Texas. I have no idea about the EA obligation in other states.

And you have highlighted the issue: if your ob says that, fine. Mine only limited writing that would lead to knowledge of the secrets of Freemasonry by those not authorized to know them.

 

[coachn]

And you have highlighted the issue: if your ob says that, fine. Mine only limited writing that would lead to knowledge of the secrets of Freemasonry by those not authorized to know them.

Same here! And the bigger issue is how that obligation is interpreted by the ONLY person authorized to do so: the GM of the jurisdiction.

 

[otherstar]

Same here! And the bigger issue is how that obligation is interpreted by the ONLY person authorized to do so: the GM of the jurisdiction.

Indeed. The GMs in Texas have been fairly consistent about it. All of our memory work is learned mouth to ear with no cipher in the presence of the candidate (there is a ciper published by Macoy that is "authorized for use in Texas" but it is not to allowed in the Lodge building, nor in the presence of candidates. As an aside, EAs in Texas have quite a bit of memory work for the EA degree, not just the obligation. @Bill Lins could probably tell you more than I could on that front.

 

[Bloke]

Indeed. The GMs in Texas have been fairly consistent about it. All of our memory work is learned mouth to ear with no cipher in the presence of the candidate (there is a ciper published by Macoy that is "authorized for use in Texas" but it is not to allowed in the Lodge building, nor in the presence of candidates. As an aside, EAs in Texas have quite a bit of memory work for the EA degree, not just the obligation. @Bill Lins could probably tell you more than I could on that front.

Thanks goodness we have a ritual book ! I know learning mouth to ear would be a great experience, but I am not a good aural learning, plus our young guys do not have the time. Having a ritual book really empowers younger members to deliver charges..

 

[coachn]

Indeed. The GMs in Texas have been fairly consistent about it. All of our memory work is learned mouth to ear with no cipher in the presence of the candidate (there is a ciper published by Macoy that is "authorized for use in Texas" but it is not to allowed in the Lodge building, nor in the presence of candidates. As an aside, EAs in Texas have quite a bit of memory work for the EA degree, not just the obligation. @Bill Lins could probably tell you more than I could on that front.

We have to memorize and give back the entire degree from knocking to working tools. Code is permitted for memorization but not give back.

 

[otherstar]

We have to memorize and give back the entire degree from knocking to working tools. Code is permitted for memorization but not give back.

That would cover the first section of the Texas work. The second and third section cover the non-monitorial parts of the lecture. All of it is learned mouth to ear from an instructor and and remains one of the more cherished memories of my Masonic journey.

 

[coachn]

That would cover the first section of the Texas work. The second and third section cover the non-monitorial parts of the lecture. All of it is learned mouth to ear from an instructor and and remains one of the more cherished memories of my Masonic journey.

Same here.