initiation into accepted apprentice

triplet86

New Member
I am in the process of turning in my petition to my local lodge, have to great masters of which i have known for a long time, signing for me. i do have a question though, i am wondering, is there a LOT of memory work for this first degree? i know there will be much to learn and memorize in the other degrees, i'm just nervous about the initiation. My memory is not what i would consider very good, and i don't want to let anyone down, mainly myself, but also the 2 masters signing for me.

Thanks for any help
 
If two masters have signed for you then they must feel you are worthy and able to complete the work or they never would have signed for you. Signing a petition is not something we do just for the fun of it, it is an honor to sign for a person you feel would make a good mason.
 
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Gary

Guest
I'll add to Fireman's comment by saying that the EA degree has the steepest learning curve for a lot of initiates. Not that the work is hard, it's more of a matter of developing the tools you need to remember the catechisms and make sense of them. Because it's all new, it seems hard.

After your initiation, you will be assigned a mentor who will be your guide and resource for doing just that. The fact that you are concerned about this is a good thing. You will do fine. Just remember that every Mason that ever was has done the same thing. The object is not to have you fail, it is to help you better yourself.
 

Bob Franks

Past District Deputy Grand Lecturer
I am in the process of turning in my petition to my local lodge, have to great masters of which i have known for a long time, signing for me. i do have a question though, i am wondering, is there a LOT of memory work for this first degree? i know there will be much to learn and memorize in the other degrees, i'm just nervous about the initiation. My memory is not what i would consider very good, and i don't want to let anyone down, mainly myself, but also the 2 masters signing for me.

Thanks for any help
My friend, if you can learn the Pledge of Allegiance (I am assuming you are in the USA), you can do the memory work required to progress in Masonry. Yes, it is a bit longer, but you CAN do it. I have coached (or taught or mentored) several candidates and not one died of it. :D
More than the memorization, is the other time you will spend with your coach. There's a lot going on outside of the memory stuff! This is where you will learn about Masonry.

Good luck, my friend
Keep us posted on your progress!
Sincerely and Fraternally
 

Duncan1574

Lodge Chaplain & arms dealer
All good answers, I have found that it is the words & sentence structure of the catechism that trips me up, I have the knowledge of what the material is presenting, but I am having difficulty getting the words to come flowingly from my mouth.

I learned the Pledge of Allegiance when I was very young, and the younger you learn something the easier it is to retain. My steel trap mind's hinges are just a bit rustier than they used to be and the WD-40 just runs back out of my ears.....
 
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Gary

Guest
Yeah, the wording can be troublesome. It's a matter of learning it in phrases and using inflection in your voice at the pauses to recite it properly. At least that's what worked for me.
 

Zack

Active Member
Yeah, the wording can be troublesome. It's a matter of learning it in phrases and using inflection in your voice at the pauses to recite it properly. At least that's what worked for me.
It worked well. I heard your proficiency.
 
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Gary

Guest
I agree, but I can't take full credit for my work. I had an excellent mentor. If it weren't for him, I probably wouldn't have learned so well. He had the patience of a saint. As long as I worked, he was willing to spend every day with me.
 

Zack

Active Member
Agreed. He is a good one. If I have a question about the catechisms I go to Lucky.

I know from experience that to teach someone who wants to learn and puts his heart into it is a reward.

So you are going to be installed by the GM I understand, First time that has happened in Springs Lodge. Hope there is a good attendance.
 
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Gary

Guest
Yes we are! I hope there is a good turn out of brothers too. It would be great if you could attend as well! I plan on attending your installation the following evening.
 

wisniewskim

New Member
Memorization

There is no memorization for your Entered Apprentice. There is perhaps 30 seconds for your Fellowcraft, an additional 30 seconds for Master. That is true here in PA and I believe most every other state. In the good old days, there was much, much more.
 
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Gary

Guest
There is no memorization for your Entered Apprentice. There is perhaps 30 seconds for your Fellowcraft, an additional 30 seconds for Master. That is true here in PA and I believe most every other state. In the good old days, there was much, much more.
I'm not sure where you are from, but that is definitely not the case in my Jurisdiction. On the average, it's about 2000 words per degree. I've never heard it done in 30 seconds.
 

Winter

I've been here before
There is no memorization for your Entered Apprentice. There is perhaps 30 seconds for your Fellowcraft, an additional 30 seconds for Master. That is true here in PA and I believe most every other state. In the good old days, there was much, much more.
Not the same in my Lodge, the process of examination and memorization takes a little while for each degree as we work in the Emulation Rite.
 

Ashlar2006

Masonic Mafia
There is no memorization for your Entered Apprentice. There is perhaps 30 seconds for your Fellowcraft, an additional 30 seconds for Master. That is true here in PA and I believe most every other state. In the good old days, there was much, much more.
This could not be further from the truth in my state . There is much to memorize as an EA .

Edit * Just counted them , there is 53 Qs' & As' and the obligation that the EA will need to put to memory .
 

BG_TRBL

Watcher of the posts
I'm not sure where you are from, but that is definitely not the case in my Jurisdiction. On the average, it's about 2000 words per degree. I've never heard it done in 30 seconds.
I have to agree with him. During the degrees, there is minimal information that must be remembered and presented. The candidate only participates verbally for about 30 seconds in each degree. The presiding master is who does the rest of the verbal legwork. Although the individual requirements for proficiency may differ from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, I have never seen a candidate participate verbally more than that.
 

BG_TRBL

Watcher of the posts
This could not be further from the truth in my state . There is much to memorize as an EA .

Edit * Just counted them , there is 53 Qs' & As' and the obligation that the EA will need to put to memory .
Just as a question, is this for the degree or is this for the proficiency? What I had read refers to specifically the degree. The candidate doesn't reiterate all of this during the degree.
 
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