SUGAR COATING MASONIC EDUCATION
However improper curiosity may be as a principal motive for applying for the
degrees, it is probable that no man ever passed through the West Gate for his
initiation as an Entered Apprentice without an eager desire to know "what will
happen next?"
Immediately thereafter the candidate usually develops a healthy curiosity as
to the "why" of that which "happened next." Entered Apprentices and Fellowcrafts
are generally hungry for explanations of the reasons and for the motives behind
the words and acts of a degree.
Man is incurably curious; his desire to know and to understand is the
mainspring of invention, discovery, civilization and progress; it is the driving
force which leads men to learn.
Worshipful Masters can - and many of them do - make use of the desire to
know, to make better Masons of the brethren of their lodges. Masters are charged
with the duty of giving the Craft "good and wholesome instruction," or causing
the same to be done. But one of the principal methods developed by Masonic
educators, the "educational meeting," is a method of instruction more injured
than helped by its name! For many brethren had boyish experiences with
"education" which lead them to associate with that word a process which is dry,
dull and uninteresting.
What is here called a "sugar coated" Masonic educational meeting is just the
reverse; interesting, intriguing, alive, vital and satisfying a great curiosity.
Lodges which have tried any of the educational experiments here listed usually
repeat them, and almost invariably the repetition is to a "packed house."
Here are some suggestions for "sugar coated" educational meetings; all of
them have been tried, and all found successful methods of interesting the Craft
in the various phases of Freemasonry.
1. BREAKING RULES TO MEND THEM
Certain unwritten rules of Masonic conduct, as well as some specified by
Grand Lodges, become so much a matter of custom in lodges that many brethren
lose sight of the reasons therefore, if, indeed, they ever knew them.
The Worshipful Master may arrange a program in which a number of brethren,
instructed beforehand, to deliberately commit or attempt to commit infractions
of the rules. When the error is made, the Master, or some previously instructed
brother (a Past Master), explains the mistake and the reason for the rule. For
instance, in most Jurisdictions it is not considered courteous for a brother to
pass between the Worshipful Master and the Alter (except when in the process of
conferring a degree). When the instructed brother crosses the lodge between the
Altar and the East, the Master may admonish the "culprit" that it is not
considered proper, and call upon some previously instructed Past Master to
explain that, in theory, the Great light and the Square and Compasses on the
Altar; are dedicated to God, the Master and the Craft; and, therefore at no time
should his view of them be interrupted. A brother who attempts to leave the room
during a ballot may be corrected and the reason given; Grand Lodges usually hold
that a ballot on a petition, interrupted by any one entering or leaving the
room, is invalid, since such an action may interfere with the secrecy of said
ballot. Similarly, a brother balloting may object to the officer in charge of
the ballot box standing so close to the altar that he might discover how a
brother votes. Either or both of these incidents provide an excellent
opportunity for a little talk upon the sacredness and secrecy of the Masonic
ballot, and its importance. Others are: speaking more than twice to the same
question, speaking without being recognized, speaking without rising, addressing
an individual brother or the lodge instead of the Master, making a motion to
appoint a committee with certain specified personnel, offering a resolution "to
adjourn" or to "lay a motion on the table," are suggested infractions of Masonic
law and custom, all of which may be corrected in an educational meeting in an
interesting way.
2. DISSECTING A DEGREE
Especially recommended for lodges which have little work to do is the
dissection and explanation of the first section of any degree. A dummy candidate
is initiated, and the ceremony interrupted at each stage by some brother who
offers a little explanation of the symbolism of that part of the degree; entry,
circumambulation, rite of destitution, the antiquity of the Apron, origin of the
Lesser Lights, etc. Such dissection and exposition of parts of a degree require
some little study by those who take part, but by giving each brother who offers
an interruption only one subject, the work of preparation is minimized and the
variety increased by having many take part.
It is suggested here that inquiry be first made of the District Deputy, or
the Grand Master; in some Jurisdictions the practice of using a dummy candidate
has been frowned upon, as derogatory to the dignity of our ceremonies. When it
is explained that the purpose of the idea is educational, however, it is
probable that no difficulty will be experienced in obtaining cooperation from
those in authority.
3. YOU MUST - YOU MUST NOT!
The average lodge member knows little about Masonic Law. The very term
"Jurisprudence" seems repellent. Yet Masonic Law is intensely interesting, and
may be made to appear so to the lodge by any brother who will devote a little
time and attention to developing a talk on those parts of our legal system which
most intimately touch the brethren. Masonic Law is vastly different from civil
law; most Masonic Law is a matter of "thou shalt" rather than "thou shalt not."
A few salient points chosen for their interest to the average Mason, and
explained; first, as to their origin; and second, as to their use or necessity
will interest the lodge. It is not at all an arduous task for a clever brother
to arrange such a talk. He may use any good book on Jurisprudence as a
foundation, Mackey or Pound for choices, as both are complete and concise.
4. COMPETITION IS THE LIFE OF - EDUCATION!
The more brethren that take part in an educational meeting, the greater the
enjoyment. No scheme for an educational meeting yet developed exceeds the lodge
contest in this respect, since it gives everyone in the lodge room an
opportunity to participate. The educational contest is conducted by a Master of
Ceremonies asking a series of questions, carefully prepared in advance, the
correct answers to which can be given in a word or two, a date or a name.
Supplied with paper and pencils, the brethren write and number their answers to
the questions, as they are asked. Then they exchange papers, the correct answers
are read, and the brethren mark the replies "right" or "wrong" according to the
facts. The winners, of course, are those who have the greatest number, the next
greatest and the third greatest answered correctly. Interest is such a contest
is increased by offering prizes. These may be very inexpensive; a good Masonic
book, a subscription to a Masonic Magazine, a Masonic lapel pin are all
appreciated.
The questions should not be complex; answers should be facts, not opinions.
For instance, "In what lodge was George Washington raised?" "Who is the Grand
Master in this state?" "How old is this lodge?" "How many lodges in our Grand
Lodge Jurisdiction?" These are the type of questions that need only a word or
two for an answer with facts. Such questions as "Do you think Masonry is a
religion?" should not be included, since any answer must be an opinion, not a
fact. Questions like "Explain the part Freemasonry played in the Revolution"
should not be asked, as it would require a lengthy reply. In giving out the
correct answers, a clever Master of Ceremonies will be able to offer some "good
and wholesome instruction" of Masonic value; for instance, if the question is:
"How many landmarks are recognized in this Jurisdiction?" If the correct answer
is "twenty- five", the Master of Ceremonies may explain that some Jurisdictions
have less, others more; that many Jurisdictions have adopted Mackey's list,
while others have condensed Mackey's twenty-five into a lesser number; which,
never the less contains all of Mackey's points, and so on.
A lodge debate will draw a crowd and keep it interested for the best part of
an hour, with pleasure and profit to all. Debating teams may be composed of two
or more brethren on each side of the issue; two to a side usually produces a
snappier debate than three. Some questions of universal Masonic interest should
be chosen; such as "Resolved, that dual membership is advantageous to the
Fraternity," or "Resolved, that Masonic trials are better conducted by a Grand
Lodge Commission than a particular lodge."
Such debates should be planned well in advance. An impromptu debate often
produces amusing results. Two captains are chosen; each captain chooses six
debaters. The Master then announces the subject. Each debater is given two
minutes and must sit down when the gong rings at the end if his time, even if in
the middle of a sentence. The simpler the subject, the more lively the debate.
Such questions as "Resolved, that this lodge should start a library," or
"Resolved, that the fees for the degrees are too low" (or too high!) will
produce more debate than more abstruse questions, because brethren seldom argue
well on difficult matters unless they have previously spent some time in
preparation.
It is not suggested that these "sugar coated" methods of holding Masonic
educational meetings should replace older, tried and true forms in which some
learned brother delivers an address upon a Masonic subject, or presents an
illustrated lecture. The speaker and the lecturer we have always had with us;
illustrated lectures on Masonic subjects will always be of interest to the
Craft, as will the well conceived and delivered address.
But we tire of anything in too great qualities. Quail is considered the best
eating, yet it is a restauranteur's tradition that no man can eat a quail a day
for a month!
The Masonic educational meeting conducted on new, different lines - of which
the above list is only suggestive, not complete - will largely "take the curse
off" the word "educational" meeting. Brethren who are provided with "sugar
coated" education do not stay away on "educational nights" but come out in full
force. Once the lodge members begin thinking "I wonder what new idea the Master
will spring tonight!" when an educational meeting is announced, and the Stewards
will have to go to the basement after extra chairs. Sugar coated pills do the
same work as those more difficult to swallow - and they are much easier to take!
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