Bro. Richard Dryfuss

Freemasons For Dummies

Yup. Congrats to him.

I do think it was a little premature for him to receive the SR degrees in the same day. As a brand new MM he has a lot to learn before anything in the higher degrees will make sense to him. I guess those things happen to famous people though.

YEP..... one of our semi-regular posters on here was present at the ceremonies....

Apparently, he receive the degrees "at sight" at a banquet.

I doubt he is actually going to study or learn anything. I never really did understand the whole "at sight" thing. Especially it being a Landmark of the Order.

"Poof, you're a Mason!"

Tyled Section... what's that?

Probably not, but I was giving him the benefit of the doubt. The whole "at sight" thing has me perplexed too. I understand what it is, I just don't get why it's done. Too me, it cheapens the work I had to do to become a MM. He didn't even have to sit through a ODC.
<edit- apparently he did have a ODC. I stand corrected>

I saw that too. I think they moved it because there was some scuttlebutt about if permission to Talk about his "appointment" to MM was given or not.

Patience grasshopper.

I think it makes a little more sense now.

LANDMARK EIGHTH

The prerogative of the Grand Master to make masons at sight, is a Landmark which is closely connected with the preceding one. There has been much misapprehension in relation to this Landmark, which misapprehension has sometimes led to a denial of its existence in jurisdictions where the Grand Master was perhaps at the very time substantially exercising the prerogative, without the slightest remark or opposition. It is not to be supposed that the Grand Master can retire with a profane into a private room, and there, without assistance, confer the degrees of Freemasonry upon him. No such prerogative exists, and yet many believe that this is the so much talked of right of "making Masons at sight". The real mode and the only mode of exercising the prerogative is this: The Grand Master summons to his assistance not less than six other masons, convenes a Lodge, and without any previous probation, but on sight of the candidate, confers the degrees upon him. after which he dissolves the Lodge. and dismisses the brethren. Lodges thus convened for special purposes are called occasional lodges," This is the only way in which any Grand Master within the records of the institution has ever been known to "make a Mason at sight". The prerogative is dependent upon that of granting dispensations to open and hold Lodges. If the Grand Master has the power of granting to any other Mason the privilege of presiding over Lodges working by his dispensation, he may assume this privilege of presiding to himself; and as no one can deny his right to revoke his dispensation granted to a number of brethren at a distance, and to dissolve the Lodge at his pleasure, it will scarcely be contended that he may not revoke his dispensation for a Lodge over which he himself has been presiding, within a day, and dissolve the Lodge as soon as the business for which he had assembled it is accomplished. The making of Masons at sight is only the conferring of the degrees by the Grand Master, at once, in an occasional Lodge, constituted by his dispensing power for the purpose, and over which he presides in person.

From: The 25 Landmarks of Freemasonry

After reading that, it seems that the degrees were actually conferred. It was just done by the MWGM? Hence the term "at sight"? Interesting.

I'll go on record to say that even though I don't understand the whole at sight thing, I understand that it's the Grand Masters decision to do so, and I respect that. I'm not questioning his authority at all.

Same here. I was under what apears to be a misunderstanding of the process.

I think the terminology is what is misleading. One would think that they would have thought of a better way to designate such an honor.

I moved it to the Tyled section, because i felt Bro Dryfuss (or his PR) should be the one to make his being a Master Mason public knowledge. In some GLs (mostly European) revealing the identity of MMs is against Code. ... At the time, there was no other public announcement of that fact; other than Google had already cached and linked the open forum post at MM.com .... It wasn't until about 2 or 3pm yesterday reports from other services started showing up.


Max ... admin at MasterMason.com

A restricted section of the forum, accessible by MMs only, for private discussions. The Tyled forums & discussions are not scanned & index by search bots for public info.

LOL His comment was being cheeky because there has been a lot of discussion about creating a Tyled or restricted section here on this forum.

Bro. Max, I think he knew what it is. I believe he was making a tongue in cheek remark about our previous discussion of this forum not having one.

That sir, is correct. For the record, my remark was not intended to be disrespectful in any manner either.

Back on topic though, was this truly an "on site" or was there a ODC involved as I think I read earlier in this thread?

My weak understanding of "on sight" is a ODC presided by the MWGM. Again, someone with more knowledge may need to lift the veil on this one.

Well true ... just answering FamilyMman's question. I think your are a Quarryman at MM.com, just your Nic is slightly different.