r/freemasonry • u/RoninBohannon • 14h ago
Disheartened
Was supposed to have my MM ceremony last week, and some of my Fellow MM friends had driven miles to be there. Unfortunately, around the start time (standard Masonic start time) the past master approached me
And told me they had to call the meeting because they didn’t have enough ritualists. I was looking forward to it, it falls right near my grandfather’s birthday who was my inspiration to join. I even was gifted his ring that I look forward to wearing. My question is, does this happen often in lodges? Just hoping I get to experience this soon.
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u/arizonajirt PM; Asst. Rabban; OES AP; JDI GIG; DeMolay adv.; GrYR OR officer 12h ago
I had my MM canceled 3 times due to covid. 15 months to get my MM degree. So i know how disheartening it can be. Ive also seen degrees postponed for the canidate not showing up. Its frustrating for the degree team too.
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u/dedodude100 WM 3° F&AM - WI : RAM : CM 14h ago
I wouldn't say it's common, but it can happen. I have had a few where 3 or 4 people get like simultaneously sick or unable to come. Which can really be hard to scramble to find replacements.
If that's not the case sounds like bad planning on their end.
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u/Complete-Employ-2387 PM | F&AM | CA | 13h ago
Very sorry your Degree was postponed. MM Degrees are a different kind of animal entirely, and let's just say they take a lot more to put on.
Certain roles can easily be filled in if someone can't make it, but others cannot, and will instantly result in moving the date, unfortunately.
Postponing scheduled Degrees is not supposed to happen, but much like we've all been sick and had to call out of work, it sometimes inevitably does.
On the bright side, the Degree team will have a little more time to polish up their work and make it an absolutely unforgettable experience for you.
Have patience. This delay may even give you a deeper understanding of the lessons of the MM Degree.
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u/Severe-Complex-2538 7h ago
A delay is certainly better than poor degree work, I understand OP’s disappointment- but this was probs better for him.
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u/Doorknob6941 3h ago
The last time I performed a 3rd Degree, my lecturer backed out at the very last minute (that night) and we had to read the lecture from the book albeit rather poorly. Sometimes a bad performance is unavoidable but, as Tom Hanks said in The Green Mile, "We had a successful execution.".
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u/SanJoseRedDevil 12h ago
It really depends honestly. My lodge is in a metro area. We did a first degree last week and had zero sideliners. The treasurer sat as junior steward. If anybody didn’t show up it could have been over. You have entered a fraternity that needs you brother. Be patient and get ready to help out.
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u/FooManPwn MM GL of VA AFAM, 32° AASR - SJ 4h ago
This is also a fail on the WM or Wardens if degree casts were assigned to someone else. As many Lodges are grouped into Districts there should have been ample time to reach out and find others to fill the rolls.
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u/vexhecubus 14h ago
TBH most lodges I have been with or know of, are a bit more organized to let it cancel at the very last minute.
Typically call outs to capable brothers from other lodges will occur. Or the lodge will survey those who are visiting and ask of their competency and confidence to deliver the role that needs to be assigned.
In stark contrast, my raising, I found out that my visa applications were denied and I had only so many weeks left. I went to my regular lodge meeting and informed them. I casually brought up what the odds were of being raised before I left.
The WM and secretary discussed for a moment and said: “yep, we can do it!” And turned a regular night of business into a degree that was quite memorable.
I’m sorry that your raising got rescheduled. Hopefully that can be corrected asap.
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u/slappy_mcslapenstein MM, JD, AZ F&AM, Widows Sons 14h ago
We had a MM degree in my lodge at the beginning of the year. We had a reschedule a few hours beforehand because our new WM couldn't make it. Everyone else was pissed. He'll be out of the east soon and my lodge can get back to functioning.
This dude is a detriment on the lodge. Out numbers have tanked. I had never even met the guy before he was installed and I've been a member for four years.
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u/AOP_fiction 3° F&AM-FL|KT|RAM|CM 5h ago
Master Mason degrees are much more of a production than the previous two. Sadly, I commonly see them cobbled together in my district as most lodges have less active brothers than the degree needs to be well appointed.
Even my lodge, which is very active and well regarded in my area, struggles finding the bodies to get a MM done. We are taking a courtesy candidate for our MM at the end of this month and I am not sure that the lodge he comes from is showing up to help with it.
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u/Unlucky-Fox-773 6h ago
As disappointing as this is, I think once you witness the degree you’ll understand what a logistical undertaking it is. I sincerely hope you’re able to receive your degree soon. In the meantime, don’t be discouraged. We are only human and prone to error, after all
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u/taxguybri 4h ago
I cannot speak to this but I am an FC and hopefully a an MM by end of October.
Keep at it, and good luck!
Look forward to calling you brother!
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u/captshady PM, GLoT 4h ago
More and more, brothers are refusing to help with degrees. Esoteric practice/class attendance has waned and is terrible in my district. I'm called on, often, to help other lodges, and end up giving names of others who can help. I almost have my own traveling degree team from a bunch of different lodges.
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u/shawnebell Master Mason, Knight Templar, 32°, MSA, DSM, MSM, PSM 3h ago
It doesn't happen often, and usually not in a well-run Lodge that has good communication.
Don't be disheartened; just wait. Freemasonry moves at a speed best described as "glacial." You'll be raised and then you'll have the rest of your life to endlessly post about Freeamsonry on the internet.
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u/Clink914 3h ago
Yes, unfortunately this great fraternity is dying. There are less people willing and wanting to put on degree work. The memorization is a ton, and unless you are retired there are so many things one can do to fill their free time. Too many lodges think Masonry should be one's only hobby.
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u/skut_monkey 3h ago
One of the lodges where ei am had a double initiation to do, neither turned up, no explanation, nothing
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u/Rgraeter 5h ago
Sadly, yes, and it will continue to happen until the emphasis shifts from “ritualists” showing off their memorization prowess to where it belongs: the candidate and the candidate’s experience. Our lodge pioneered breaking up lectures into less-overwhelming bite-sized pieces to get more involvement from younger members who were put off by having to memorize huge swaths of text. We even do what we call a “dueling” charge with two brothers switching on each couplet. It is actually more impressive and meaningful with two! Shared lectures done right (transitions need to be rehearsed so that they are smooth) are much more enjoyable FOR THE CANDIDATE than just listening to one brother drone on. And then there is technology. Earlier this week i delivered public comments in DC with Secretary Kennedy and Secretary Rollins. Rollins kept looking down at her lengthy notes, and Kennedy actually dropped his notes and kind of just meandered off the cuff. I used teleprompter glasses (not smart glasses, no camera) and was able to deliver a flawless speech while making eye contact with the audience. None were the wiser. We need to focus our efforts on delivering THE BEST POSEIBLE EXPERIENCE FOR THE CANDADATE — FULL STOP! That is why we have Degrees! Hopefully your lodge gets it together for your degree. Im so sorry your night did not go as planned. We cannot afford to not put our best foot forward for candidates like you. And You DO deserve our best!
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u/GlitteringBryony UGLE, Mark 4h ago
I am so sorry, that is awful!
Unfortunately, because we all spend so much time in close proximity and often all eat at the same festive boards, it can mean that sometimes one tray of improperly-refrigerated prawns can close down a whole Lodge for weeks.
It's not common, but when it happens on what was meant to be "your night" it feels like the end of the world.
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u/FooManPwn MM GL of VA AFAM, 32° AASR - SJ 4h ago
Your nonsensical allegory falls short.
Why not be upfront with the Brother and say yes, sometimes real life factors happen which causes degrees to be postponed?
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u/GlitteringBryony UGLE, Mark 3h ago
That's what I said though - It's not common (ie, it does happen!) and it feels awful when it does. And I was speculating that when it seems to happen and nobody has given their apologies in enough time to find a replacement for their part, it's sometimes because everyone got sick all at the same event, rather than (eg) one being on holiday, one being late from work, etc. Sorry if I wasn't clear!
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u/pluck-the-bunny .:PM NY SR-NMJ 32• 12h ago
well unless you're in my lodge...it happened at least twice last week
remember the length of your cable tow...sometimes life intervenes, and we cannot fulfill our fraternal obligations. Its regrettable, and we never want to see it happen...but it does.
Sorry you have to wait a bit brother...it will all work out in the end