From the East – September 2019

Welcome back Brethren,

        We’re starting the second half of our Masonic year.  I’m a bit surprised at how fast the first half passed, although someone smarter than me (large field there) once said, “When you get over the hill, you pick up speed.”. 

We still have much to do in our “Quarry”.  We have petitioners awaiting initiation.  As they move through the degrees, it is up to us to provide them with guidance, and instruction as the “well-informed Brothers” noted in the EA lecture.

I’d like to share some thoughts expressed by Brother Ronald S Davenport of North Carolina; Catechism of Masonry.

The catechisms a Mason is required to learn as he progresses through the degrees are often, at the outset, regarded as considerable chores and candidates sometimes wonder why they are required at all.  But they serve useful purposes for the fraternity and although he may not realize it at the time they are particularly useful to the Mason all through his life.  It would be an extremely rare thing to ever hear a Mason regret having to learn the catechisms.

In committing the catechisms to memory the candidate is of necessity further

impressed by the lessons and instructions he received in the degrees, for this is what the

catechisms are all about.  He thus begins his Masonic career a much more knowledgeable Mason than would otherwise be the case.  He learns to memorize, and ability that will serve him and Masonry well through the years.  When he visits a Lodge in which he is not known to be a Mason, the knowledge he gained in learning his catechisms will enable him to prove his eligibility to visit.  He will, as a good and active Mason, have many occasions to feel thankful for the lessons he learned in his catechisms.

Sometimes, despite their professions of good intent, men seek Masonic membership out of pure curiosity, or for other piddling reasons.  The requirement that candidates learn the catechisms will often weed these out at an early stage; their motivations will not lend themselves to the effort required.

The catechisms pose no problem for men of reasonable intelligence and energy.  It is rare to hear of anyone failing to learn a catechism is they really want to.

 To touch on the line of thought from Brother Smith, that I wrote about in the June Trestleboard, it is up to us to provide the help that will enable them to shape their rough ashlar into a stepping stone, rather than a stumbling block.

I look forward to seeing you in Lodge!

Fraternally,

Rick Young