Ashlar2006
Masonic Mafia
Ok , I was told by a Mason who has been a Mason all of around two years that he was troubled that I leave my rituals laying around all over the house , you know our OB and all , on another forum because anyone could pick them up and read them . And then my GL was called into question by the same person for printing our Monitor (or ahiman rezon ), just like most all other jurisdictions does , again because of our OB and all .
Now My ritual (or Monitor ) has the bulk of the lectures but omits modes of recognition , the obligations , preparation , and a few other things . The rest of the degree lectures are written in full . My YR rituals , the bulk is written in full , and the "secrets" are coded .
So what does your jurisdiction (and your opinion) say about what really is to be kept "secret" and what is not ?
I was obligated not reveal the modes of recognition , anything that is written out in full in our Monitor IS NOT considered secret . I do not hand my ritual (or monitor ) over willing and say "here , read this ." , but I do not go out of my way to hide them either . My wife once picked up my ritual (or Monitor) and started to read it as a joke thinking I would throw a fit . I did not say a word because I knew she would be bored within a few sentences , which she was .
For to long , when you asked an old timer about Masonry , the usual answer was "I can't tell you anything about it !" . And new Masons are confused as to what they may talk about and what they may not or what non-Masons are allowed to read and what they are not .There is nothing in my ritual that someone could use to gain entrance into a lodge , absolutely nothing . Well , the Tyler's Oath , but that is given in a certain manner that is not included in our ritual and without that little piece of info , the Oath is useless .
Another example , in my monitor is explanations of the working tools . I will tell anyone who asks what each working tool means . We explain in detail the meaning of the Square and Compasses in my ritual and I will in turn explain them in detail to anyone who asks . So are these to be kept secret because they are in a ritual (or Monitor) ?
Heck , come to think of it , much of the Monitor are rituals that can be seen by the public such as officer installation ( along with each officers OB ) , Funeral ritual , cornerstone laying etc; etc; .
Now My ritual (or Monitor ) has the bulk of the lectures but omits modes of recognition , the obligations , preparation , and a few other things . The rest of the degree lectures are written in full . My YR rituals , the bulk is written in full , and the "secrets" are coded .
So what does your jurisdiction (and your opinion) say about what really is to be kept "secret" and what is not ?
I was obligated not reveal the modes of recognition , anything that is written out in full in our Monitor IS NOT considered secret . I do not hand my ritual (or monitor ) over willing and say "here , read this ." , but I do not go out of my way to hide them either . My wife once picked up my ritual (or Monitor) and started to read it as a joke thinking I would throw a fit . I did not say a word because I knew she would be bored within a few sentences , which she was .
For to long , when you asked an old timer about Masonry , the usual answer was "I can't tell you anything about it !" . And new Masons are confused as to what they may talk about and what they may not or what non-Masons are allowed to read and what they are not .There is nothing in my ritual that someone could use to gain entrance into a lodge , absolutely nothing . Well , the Tyler's Oath , but that is given in a certain manner that is not included in our ritual and without that little piece of info , the Oath is useless .
Another example , in my monitor is explanations of the working tools . I will tell anyone who asks what each working tool means . We explain in detail the meaning of the Square and Compasses in my ritual and I will in turn explain them in detail to anyone who asks . So are these to be kept secret because they are in a ritual (or Monitor) ?
Heck , come to think of it , much of the Monitor are rituals that can be seen by the public such as officer installation ( along with each officers OB ) , Funeral ritual , cornerstone laying etc; etc; .