Brothers on the sidelines
This is a shorter version of an education paper I have written for my lodge . I shortened it down because of my slow typing .
I have sat on the sidelines for the Entered Apprentice and Fellowcraft degrees at other lodges in my district and in my own lodge where there may only be two or three brothers on the sidelines , or in some cases , I was the only one . But Brothers come out of the woodwork for the Raising of a young Mason . I have wondered to myself why that is . One degree is no more important than the one before it or the one after it . Yet , we wonder why these newly initiated Brothers never come back to be Passed or Raised . The Entered Apprentice degree is where we make the first and greatest impression on a new candidate . Which do you think would leave the biggest impression and bring him back ? Most , if not all of the seats on the sidelines filled in support of this new Brother coming into our Fraternity , showing him what brotherhood is about ? Or him coming to light and looking around and finding only the officers and a couple of Brothers on the sidelines ? I think we know the answer to this one .
As for the Fellowcraft degree , again we should all come out in support of our Brother . And it wouldn't hurt , even for the oldest Mason , to have a refresher course in the beautiful and instructive lessons of these lectures in this degree . Somtimes I think we lose sight of these lessons .
So the next time a Brother tells you they are going to have an EA degree at their lodge and asks you to come and visit and you think , I'm just to busy , think how you would have felt if others thought the same way when you were initiated . It's only a couple hours that you'll be there , and there's nothing on TV worth watching anyways .
I have sat on the sidelines for the Entered Apprentice and Fellowcraft degrees at other lodges in my district and in my own lodge where there may only be two or three brothers on the sidelines , or in some cases , I was the only one . But Brothers come out of the woodwork for the Raising of a young Mason . I have wondered to myself why that is . One degree is no more important than the one before it or the one after it . Yet , we wonder why these newly initiated Brothers never come back to be Passed or Raised . The Entered Apprentice degree is where we make the first and greatest impression on a new candidate . Which do you think would leave the biggest impression and bring him back ? Most , if not all of the seats on the sidelines filled in support of this new Brother coming into our Fraternity , showing him what brotherhood is about ? Or him coming to light and looking around and finding only the officers and a couple of Brothers on the sidelines ? I think we know the answer to this one .
As for the Fellowcraft degree , again we should all come out in support of our Brother . And it wouldn't hurt , even for the oldest Mason , to have a refresher course in the beautiful and instructive lessons of these lectures in this degree . Somtimes I think we lose sight of these lessons .
So the next time a Brother tells you they are going to have an EA degree at their lodge and asks you to come and visit and you think , I'm just to busy , think how you would have felt if others thought the same way when you were initiated . It's only a couple hours that you'll be there , and there's nothing on TV worth watching anyways .
Total Comments 3
Comments
 |  I try to attend all the degree work I can. Sadly with my current job doesn't allow me to attend all. I like to go to the EA degree's most to help welcome a new Brother. But any chance I can get to go to any of the work I will. |
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| | I have been attending all EA, and FC degree work I can. It helped me understand and become proficient in my lecture, and helped support my fellow brothers in adjacent lodges. I definitely have seen a difference in attendance between a 1st and 2nd. When I am raised in August I would like to earn a proficiency and lectures card, and be able to participate in the degree work. If you are close to west TN, Henry County I would like to have you visit when I earn my 3rd. All the best |
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| | I believe the attendance is very important for a new member. They dont know what they are walking into. And to be brought to light with just officers and one other member? Its sad. I'm new to this being recently raised. But I will make an effort to go to all degree work and greet every new member that joins the lodge. I'm in a small lodge. 200 plus members, but have only seen 10 a couple times and a max of 25. Even the officers were different everytime I received a degree. |
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Recent Blog Entries by Ashlar2006
- Taking over my life (01-18-2008)
- Brothers on the sidelines (01-11-2008)
- Why I love the Fraternity (12-26-2007)
