A Paper for…

Sequoia Council No. 228 (AMD)

… to better serve the Craft through the medium of study and research…

Tulare Masonic Temple, 135 W. Tulare Ave., Tulare, CA.

Masonic Education

By Rudy Olano

Lincoln Lodge No. 34 (Phil)

Hanford Lodge No. 279 (CA)

The impetus for Masonic Education as a “platform” by the Grand Master is very commendable.  The Grand Lodge of California recently issued a Memo regarding the New Masonic Education Course outlining the sec. 26340 of the CMC.  The completion of Basic Masonic Education Course via open book fashion is I must say an innovation.  This open book essay type to be approved by the local Lodge Committee is I assume to be in addition to the required traditional memorization of certain portions of the lecture.  This type of examination is based on the supposition that the candidate will answer the questions based on what he had learned by reading and discussing of the subject with other brothers.  Though it offers alternative means of educating our candidates, the process is open to the possibility of getting “canned” answers over time.  A multitude of great ideas and inventions never got off the ground because it was never written.  Getting people to sit down and write an essay is not an easy thing to do. We can never be sure or avoid other well-meaning brothers to provide help via Xerox copy of accepted answers. 

In my myopic view, this process is a band-aid solution to the wider problem of dilution of our standards and a bend over backwards approach to accommodate those who might otherwise fail to qualify.  The educational value of the long form lecture and proficiency in all degrees were continuously being underestimated.  Instead of using this old and tried method, we give the candidates an option for a short/easy or long/lots-of-work form of Masonic Education.  Now they are used of short/easy-watered-down version, they would find out that there is no option to 3^rd degree proficiency.  No wonder few ever tried to give the long form and since it’s a requirement for holding office, a number of them fade way.  A knew of few brothers who made an effort for 3^rd degree proficiency was due to the nice large certificate. Now, that incentive was no longer printed and available.

My point is that we should use the long form of lecture and proficiency in all degrees as mandatory requirement for Masonic Education.  This return to the basic might be hard to some but I would argue that this process could weed out those candidates that don’t have the determination to do what is required.  What is the real value of completing the Basic Masonic Education Course when a candidate could not even recount his experience or proceedings in his degree?  An open book essay type of examination might have a place but I am afraid that it would only leads and contributes to lowering the standards to cater for expediency of those candidates that do not possess the “right stuff.”  Just like the military or religious vocation, Freemasonry is not for everybody.  There are requirements and standards to be meet. 

We could also do more when presenting the lectures such as the use of visual aids, graphics and other techniques to help the candidates remember what was being discussed.  It really pained me to watch an hour long monologue and trying to picture a certain point within the circle supported by two perpendicular lines. Then you throw the mosaic pavement, indented tessel and Blazing Star which are now invisible due to the modern carpet floor in many lodges. Bewilderment and glazing eyes can be observed from the sidelines.  Traditional painting that represents Masonic symbols must be use during lectures or projection of visual aids/graphics is recommended as an aid to a more effective Masonic Education. 

I personally prefer quality instead of quantity and support the return to-the- basics notion of the traditional observance lodges.  They are the “gatekeeper” of the Craft and hope that the concept spreads and be adopted thought the Masonic world.