Lodgeroom UK

Some time ago i visited a Chapter in Holland and all the companions used their books.Those doing the floor work had a small book on a gold chain around their necks.The ceremony appeared to be just as sincere and intense as any other i have seen but flowed seamlessly ( i think,but then again it was in Dutch so...)

I believe the members of the GLdeF also have the book open in lodge.

Good for them.

Does not mean we have to adopt such practices.

No! And I was not advocating that either, simply stating a fact.

Chestnut wrote:Does performance increase by more live performances or by plenty of practice and rehearsal?

As a musician I would say that rehearsal is a great way to learn in order to perform, but performing is what actually embeds it in your brain. However this is all academic. I don't think books should be in the temple at all. I think hard work and dedication are necessary if you want to take on an active role in the ritual. If you do not want to do that then that's fine, but wanting to be involved without being willing to do the work isn't an option.

To quote Thomas Eddison "Opportunity is missed by most people because it comes dressed in overalls and looks like work".

Chestnut wrote:Good for them.

Does not mean we have to adopt such practices.

Neither does it mean that we don't have to.

I have had many a discussion about learning ritual and have always given my take on it by quoting from the First Degree working tools:
"The rude material receives its fine polish but from repeated efforts alone". There is nothing easy in learning ritual and to be a competant ritualist requires some bloody hard work.

And to quote again what has been said by many Freemasons, "you only get out of Masonry waht you put into it!"

I agree with the committee it's down to lots of homework to make it work on the night, but as has been said it's acceptable to have a prompt if needed, but i would say pick one prompter and only one, i have been at lodges where the charge has came to a sticky point and a few brethern are shouting out which is no use what so ever!
I had a sticky point the other night during my first ever charge on the floor, which the RWM seen fit to allow me to try when i was doing my SB bit, to also do the NE Corner and Tools, But i did the final tool before the second tool and required a Prompt from my choice of Prompter and only him, and i recovered to complete the charge, (it was perfect in the bedroom mirror) this was with a substitute candidate, but the RWM has asked me to do it again (So he has show a bit of faith in me) when our new Candidate goes through in 2 weeks hopefully i will get it spot on, it's a lot different with visitors in the columns.

Dundee Brother wrote: i have been at lodges where the charge has came to a sticky point and a few brethern are shouting out which is no use what so ever!

Happened to me once when doing the 2nd degree WTs (we do the "long" version as standard)

Despite having done it a number of times, I went blank - I heard at least 3 prompts from round the Temple. Only problem was every one of them was wrong!

Wayne

wayne cowley wrote:[quote="Dundee Brother" i have been at lodges where the charge has came to a sticky point and a few brethern are shouting out which is no use what so ever!

Happened to me once when doing the 2nd degree WTs (we do the "long" version as standard)

Despite having done it a number of times, I went blank - I heard at least 3 prompts from round the Temple. Only problem was every one of them was wrong!

Wayne[/quote]

Is this not why it is a good idea for 1 nominated brother to have a book open so that he,and he alone,can prompt?

Sometimes these wild prompts/guesses are not even from the same order, never mind degree or lecture!

BigI wrote:
Is this not why it is a good idea for 1 nominated brother to have a book open so that he,and he alone,can prompt?

That's a good idea, but some prompters are very difficult to restrain. I visited one Lodge where a member was loudly calling out "turn right now" to the Deacon during the ceremony!

In my mother Lodge we had a brother who audibly recited the words through the whole ceremony. When I was JD I found it very off-putting.

I've seen 2 Lodges where financial penalties ("charity donations") for unwanted prompts and cellphones ringing are announced at the start of the meeting. It seems quite effective but it shouldn't be necessary.

S&F, Jules

No books allowed in my Lodge and our SW is the official prompt.

No books in 151 either, DoC is the ONLY prompter, and he's me!!!

I vote for learning the ritual and not reciting from book - afterall we aren't a book recital club are we?. We are all busy but you CAN find time if you want to. Open books in lodge are IMHO a no no.

The bit about younger guys having less time to learn it is bull. I'm not in my 20s or 30s anymore - but I have heavy professional and domestic commitments as well as commitments to Round Table - I still find myself able to find 30 - 45 mins a day to have my nose in the book. If you want to learn you will find spaces in your day for it - on the train, dare I say on the throne wherever - theres always time.

Equally LOI is not for learning the ritual - its for rehearsing and checking what you do and don't know. The odd 'refer to manual' is OK but in general the books should be closed.

My proposer once said to me look upon your red book (Taylors .... only the best ahem) as a friend. I have and its never been hard work.

I think if you start out with failure in mind you'll never succeed in learning it. Knowing it off by heart also means that you get a feeling for the meaning of the ritual and your delivery is so much better.

Quite often for me 'Taylors' turns into 'Taylors with a broad smattering of Shearer's' but because I know the ceremony a substituted word isn't an issue because I know the import of the piece.

However, one WM of my mother lodge was so beset by nerves it was obvious that he would struggle. However whilst he had his own crib card he never opened his book... he wasn't a good ritualist but he was a good WM. So in some circumstances some written prompts if not obvious are OK...I think.

I would suggest that if someone isn't ready to take the chair they are asked to sit as SM or DM for as further year until they are ready to sit in the big chair! Unfortunately we no have the luxury of having huge numbers to be able to pick someone on their 'merit and ability' and usually have to take whomever is willing to take the chair.

Sad, but perhaps too many Lodges have diluted the quality of prospective officebearers and reduced the need to prove ourselves.

bboy wrote:I would suggest that if someone isn't ready to take the chair they are asked to sit as SM or DM for as further year until they are ready to sit in the big chair! Unfortunately we no have the luxury of having huge numbers to be able to pick someone on their 'merit and ability' and usually have to take whomever is willing to take the chair.

Sad, but perhaps too many Lodges have diluted the quality of prospective officebearers and reduced the need to prove ourselves.

That's why we have put PMs back into the Chair for the last 3 years; until those progressing are ready.

We go straight from Sw to the Chair.... that's why our official prompt is the SW!

That seems a lot of pressure added onto the SW before he attains the chair!

bboy wrote:That seems a lot of pressure added onto the SW before he attains the chair!

Perhaps....but it can take 14 years plus to get there... plenty of time to learn the Ritual.