To learn or not to learn , that is the question

[JJ]

I forgot to add a comment about the difference between English and Irish workings. There is much less ritual for the principle officers to learn in the Irish workings as most of it is done by an officer with no equivalent in the English ritual.

JJ

[gcgregory]

I have a young family and a busy job, but learn the ritual. At first it was very hard, but as I learnt more and more, my memory has improved and this has helped me elsewhere. I think the learning, or at least the effort is one of the important lessons of masonry... The 1st degree WTs tell us this.

[asabovesobelow]

I forgot to add a comment about the difference between English and Irish workings. There is much less ritual for the principle officers to learn in the Irish workings as most of it is done by an officer with no equivalent in the English ritual. JJ

Does this particular office have a name attached to it?

[JulesTheBit]

I forgot to add a comment about the difference between English and Irish workings. There is much less ritual for the principle officers to learn in the Irish workings as most of it is done by an officer with no equivalent in the English ritual. JJ

Does this particular office have a name attached to it?

Chris

In most irish Orders he's called a degree conferer, or just sometimes just conferer. In Lodges/Orders where there are several people competent to do it he's sometimes appointed on the night.

Another interesting difference is that in the IC prayers and obligations must be read. Doesn't matter how well you know them, the IC doesn't want to take a chance on something so important having errors.

S&F, jules
Irish Craft, RA & Knight Masons

[SussexFreemason]

I think we need to begin with the end in mind - and surely that is to ensure that the ritual we perfom is meaningful and special to the candidate receiving the benefits of it.
Freemasonry is not the same as Rotary, Lions or your golf club committee - there are import dimensions and lessons to learn and enjoy.

If i couldnt do justice to a role I would feel that I have let myself and the Lodge down and would expect someone to tell me (however sympathetically) that I was not doing justice to it before we got as far as the meeting. I dont mean word perfect but acceptable to the pace of proceedings and to ensure the meaning of what i say or do is well communicated.

In my opinion Lodge of Instruction is a vital tool in acheiving satisfying ritual. For us younger masons we are benefitting from seeing the more experienced brethren who regularly attend and learning from them. You dont learn much by only seeing the lodge opened and closed 6 times a year - one installation meeting etc!!

As another commenter quite rightly said sections or roles can be delegated or a candidate can be delayed, it is not a rush to the chair. A strong Director of Ceremonies should be able to put the right steps in place to see that the meeting goes as well as it can - he is the director - would a theatre director allow an actor to perform if he clearly didnt know his lines?

So lets just have the IPM with a book as a prompter would be just off stage in a real theatre. Lets remember that we want each important stage of a candidates to be really memorable and special for him and lets all do the very best we can to play our own important part in it.

[kudos100]

my proposer sat in for the wm at my initiation i was stunned when i realised later he had learned it of by hart and very impressed and when i ask why he had sat in the chair he just said so it was a special ocasion for me later i saw that wm struggled not though lack of trying or commitment but just not his thing later in a conversation with the tyler he said to me we r not looking for stars but people who try there hardest and do there best and surely that is what we r all about supporting eachother and helping fellow bros to reach there potential so we should take what ever measures to help and encourage any brother who is doing his best

[Janner]

In my lodge and in most every lodge I have been in learning was the norm, reading was an exception and in many cases frowned on, unless as a last resort .
I have seen ritual learnt but presented in a monotone and with no feeling. I have also seen ritual read (by someone who has spent time reading and understanding it so that it is read) with feeling.

There are two things to consider. How does the recipient of the ritual feel and how does the deliverer of the ritual feel.

Personally I have gained more understanding of the ritual by learning it and trying to understand what I have learnt rather than just learning by rote (like the times table) or just reading. As a candidate when some one can look me in the eyes (rather than stare at a book) and speak the ritual so that it is personal then it has more meaning.

[mgreene1036]

I agree that learning the ritual is better as long as you learn the meaning not just the words.Whilst this is better for thse delivering the ritual i cringe when i hear prayers and obligations done poorly. If this cannot be done 100% perfect it should either be read or delegated. The candidate deserves the best experience possible.

[daves]

I was talking to an EA recently who said how surprised and delighted he was that Brethren who delivered the ritual and charges did so from memory. He said that it made the whole ceremony that much more special for him that Brethren took so much time and trouble just for him. He was especially impressed by the Brother who delivered the Final Charge not only word perfect, but with meaning. As we say in our Lodge, the ceremony is all about the Candidate.

[Chestnut]

You learn the ritual, by learning you understand, by understanding it, you apply, by applying it you become a beacon of light for FM.

There is no place for reading it.

[Bernie]

If this cannot be done 100% perfect it should either be read or delegated.

Sorry Brother, but I absolutely disagree with you. I accept I have highlighted that one sentence and most certainly agree that the candidate deserves the best experience possible. However, if only those who are 100% perfect can deliver ritual within lodge then we might as well resort to the books now. I have seen ritual delivered 100% faultlessly, but with no real feeling. Similarly, I have seen the reverse of this. Again, I've seen brethren who can deliver the ritual faultlessly but, on the night, have a mind fart. None of us are perfect all the time. Most of us just hope to be perfect some of the time.

Ultimately, what we are after is ritual delivered with feeling. I can't see how this could possibly happen when the brother is reading it out of a book.

[Chestnut]

Very few eople can deliver the ritaul 100% perfect. For those who can silver matchboxes are available. See how few of those have been given!

Any ceremony needs to be delivered with the minimum of falterings. Every Brother should be encouraged to perform as much or as little as they wish. Sometimes it takes a little push to get them on their way. Suddenly the backbencher becomes a willing ritualist.

Anyone with a modicum of intelligence, practice and inclination can learn and deliver meaningful ritual. 10-15 minutes a day is all it takes.Too often the unwilling Brother has not devoted the time to learning it.

I am afraid its all part of the discipline which FM teaches us. Ultimately he just lets himself down.

[Eldberg]

Coming from Sweden, I am impressed by British and American masons who learn everything by heart. In our system, the WM has the ritual open in front of him. There are only a couple of passages he needs to learn, those he speaks while away from his chair. The Wardens and the Master of Ceremonies have less to say and often learn it by heart, but usually keep little cards with the text, just in case they forget.

Thus we usually get a word-perfect ritual, but perhaps the small mistakes you get when speaking from memory gives the ritual a more personal and "living" character?

Åke

[Chestnut]

Word perfect read ritual does not necessarily mean either the reader or recipient understands it. If its commended to memory you have more chance of understanding it and living by it.

[Huw]

Hi Chestnut.

Very few eople can deliver the ritaul 100% perfect. For those who can silver matchboxes are available. See how few of those have been given!

About 350 in total, ever. Fewer than 100 living holders. And only 10 living holders who have done it for all four ceremonies (degrees + installation). So yes, it's difficult and rare, it takes huge effort to go that far.

But I agree with you that anyone of normal mental capacity who persistently puts in a modest effort can eventually achieve a pretty decent standard in the work, and that's what's needed to give the Candidate a good ceremony.

T & F,

Huw

[armst25]

I think it should be from memory, by the time I reached the chair I had carried out every part of the three degrees, I also sat in every office from IG, JD, SD, WJW WSW Depute Master then the chair most for two years. Since being through the chair I have carried out every part of the Installation and been the installing master in nearly all the last 6 masters all sitting for 2 years. the ritual is not always word perfect but the meaning is there, and if it is a new candidate if you say it with feeling that is what matters. I have heard word perfect ritual delivered without feeling and Feeling delivered without perfect ritual and I know the one I would rather have. With feeling every time.

[Huw]

Hi Åke.

You assert that in Sweden you "usually get a word-perfect ritual" by reading it.

Frankly, I find this extremely difficult to believe. I have heard ritual read on numerous occasions, yet I can't recall ever hearing it read word-perfectly. The vast majority of people cannot simultaneously read and repeat aloud without making errors, because it's difficult for the human brain to focus on both the reading and the speaking at the same time.

In addition, when Brethren are reading ritual, it is more difficult to put some feeling and meaning into the words. I have occasionally heard a ritual read with feeling and meaningful intonation, but only by Brethren who could actually have managed fairly well without the book. When you know the work, you can pay some attention to how you are saying it; those who don't know the work are usually too busy reading the next words to give a good delivery.

From time to time, I've had the rare joy of witnessing a truly superb delivery, both accurate and meaningful ... but only ever from those who have learned the work thoroughly and thought about it carefully.

T & F,

Huw

[Huw]

Hi Chestnut.

Word perfect read ritual does not necessarily mean either the reader or recipient understands it. If its commended to memory you have more chance of understanding it and living by it.

I agree. Learning the ritual does not by itself guarantee that you can deliver it well to a Candidate, nor even that you understand it yourself.

However, learning is the starting-point of understanding: if you know what the work is, then you might know what it means, but if you don't know what the work is, then you can't know what it means. Learning doesn't automatically make you a better Mason, but (as you correctly point out) it surely improves your chance.

T & F,

Huw

[Eldberg]

In addition, when Brethren are reading ritual, it is more difficult to put some feeling and meaning into the words. I have occasionally heard a ritual read with feeling and meaningful intonation, but only by Brethren who could actually have managed fairly well without the book. When you know the work, you can pay some attention to how you are saying it; those who don't know the work are usually too busy reading the next words to give a good delivery.

Delivery from memory and from reading are two different skills, I think. Most of the Masters I've experienced in Sweden have been really good at it. But I agree that the words come out best if you have incorporated them, made them your own.

Åke

[daves]

Just because you read it, won't make it perfect. I was at an Initiation recently and for whatever reason, the WM decided to read the Obligation from the Ritual. Unfortunately he missed out a line, and had to repeat the phrase again - didn't sound good at all; a stumbled recitation from memory, with all its faults, would have been better. The venerable Brother sitting next to me had steam coming out of his ears!