Keith C
Registered User
Last night I completed my first Entered Apprentice degree conferral, immediately followed by my second. They went really well. I only got "stuck" a couple times and was quickly jump started by a whispered word. I did forget the same phrase in both degrees, despite realizing myself, and being advised between degrees that I had forgotten it. Some sort of mental block as I can rattle it off without issue talking to myself in the car on the way to and from from work!
Some observations both on the Degree work and on standing in the East.
I was more nervous in anticipation of the Degree Conferral than I was in preparation for receiving the EA degree back 2 years ago.
I felt a profound connection to the new Brothers on whom the Degrees were conferred.
For a major portion of the recapitulation I was on auto-pilot. The words just came from my mouth seemingly without any effort or thought.
The damned Top Hat is heavy and hot!
It is no fun not being able to sit down for all of that time!
When I prepared the Trestle Board for the evening I placed several Brothers in chairs new to them and they all stepped up and did a great job.
I asked the Past Master who was in the East when I was Entered to sit in the Senior Deacon's chair, and having him to my right hand throughout the evening was a HUGE help. Just the physical presence and knowledge of his moral support relaxed me and assisted in getting over the stress and nerves.
With that milestone done and over with, I can know get down to finishing up my memorization of the Fellowcraft Degree, so that I can emulate it in September and be OK'd officially to stand for election for Senior Warden for the next Masonic Year.
Some observations both on the Degree work and on standing in the East.
I was more nervous in anticipation of the Degree Conferral than I was in preparation for receiving the EA degree back 2 years ago.
I felt a profound connection to the new Brothers on whom the Degrees were conferred.
For a major portion of the recapitulation I was on auto-pilot. The words just came from my mouth seemingly without any effort or thought.
The damned Top Hat is heavy and hot!
It is no fun not being able to sit down for all of that time!
When I prepared the Trestle Board for the evening I placed several Brothers in chairs new to them and they all stepped up and did a great job.
I asked the Past Master who was in the East when I was Entered to sit in the Senior Deacon's chair, and having him to my right hand throughout the evening was a HUGE help. Just the physical presence and knowledge of his moral support relaxed me and assisted in getting over the stress and nerves.
With that milestone done and over with, I can know get down to finishing up my memorization of the Fellowcraft Degree, so that I can emulate it in September and be OK'd officially to stand for election for Senior Warden for the next Masonic Year.
