The Leader
BEST PRACTICE: Outstanding ritual
HOW-TO: Make your ritual work outstanding
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BEST PRACTICE: Outstanding ritual
Outstanding ritual is a must at Atwater Larchmont Tila Pass Lodge No. 614. The Los Angeles lodge holds ritual practice most weeks of the month, and it shows. They just placed first in their district in the 2015 Ritual Competition.
Officers Coach Guillermo “Bill” Munda reports on the lodge’s approach, and what keeps brothers motivated.
Background: Outstanding ritual is a standard set by our founders, and our brothers are 100 percent committed to achieving it. We get together regularly to hone and improve our work.
The weekly routine
- If there are no scheduled conferrals, we meet for ritual practice at the lodge every Tuesday evening besides the stated meeting.
- We prepare food for dinner before practice, and most of the time, we invite spouses and partners to join.
- We usually have a group of about eight brothers. It’s a mix of officers, non-officers, and all degree levels.
- Before each practice, the master announces which ritual we’ll work on. That determines who the practice is open to: all brothers; just Fellow Crafts and Master Masons; or Master Masons only.
- We keep the setting informal, and we do both individual and group practice.
- If someone needs extra help, there are always past masters in attendance who are ready to coach individually.
- Every month, we stay up-to-date on recent adjustments to the California ritual by attending the Officers School of Instruction, presided over by our district inspector. Officers are required to attend.
Beyond memorization
- We spend time making sure we understand the significance of what we’re memorizing. Outstanding ritual work should convey meaning and emotion.
- Many parts must come together for the ritual to be effective. We encourage everyone to listen to and learn about what other brothers are saying, and to learn others’ movements as cues for their own.
- In the end, practice, practice, practice is the only way to have outstanding ritual.
Everything Masons do in and out of the lodge is based on the degree ritual. It introduces candidates to the fraternity’s teachings, and instills lifelong lessons in everyone performing it. It’s also a powerful bond among brothers. I believe that the entire strength of the lodge is built on an outstanding ritual.
Contact: Bill Munda
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HOW-TO: Make your ritual work outstanding
Start improving your lodge’s ritual with helpful tips from Grand Lecturer Jack Rose and members of the Ritual Committee and Ritual Task Force.
Memorization
- Everyone has a different style of learning, so find the method that best suits yours: visual, aural, verbal, physical, social, or solitary.
- Make up original mnemonic devices for difficult words or transitions. If they’re your own, they’ll be more memorable.
- Use your position in the lodge room as a visual cue for lines.
- If you’re memorizing a long piece, learn the last paragraph first, and work backwards. When you recite the finished piece, the last paragraph will be the one that you’ve recited the most, so it will be strongest.
- Practice, practice, practice. Find opportunities in your daily routine to recite ritual.
Teamwork
- Group practice is crucial. Designate one member of the ritual team to organize the practice schedule and keep everyone focused, excited, and committed.
- Learn parts other than your own. If someone forgets his line, you’ll be able to carry on or even prompt him.
- Trust your team. Make sure you can rely on their movements to cue you and that they can rely on yours.
Meaning
- Many of the words in ritual come from old English, so their meanings and pronunciations may not be clear. Keep a dictionary handy, and take time to understand the text.
- Experiment with emphasizing different words in a sentence, and try out different places for pauses. Decide which combinations best convey the ritual’s message.
- Think about the meaning of the floor work, such as the relationships that the floor work creates between you and other brothers. Movements in ritual are as symbolic as the words.
- Study how the ritual evolved to its current state. Consider attending the 15th Annual California Masonic Symposium, which will cover the history of the ritual. Learn more about the Symposium
The ritual unlocks Masonry’s traditions and lessons. The process of learning it and making it outstanding teaches discipline and teamwork – and helps deepen brothers’ connections to the craft.
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The Candidate Learning Center is an online candidate education program with innovative resources, including, photos, video interviews, interactive games, online articles, and journaling exercises. To access it, log into the Member Center at freemason.org and go to Reports & Features > Candidate Learning Center.
Candidate coaches: Ask your secretary to designate you as a coach in iMember and link you to the candidates you are coaching, so you can keep track of their progress.
Candidates, lodge officers, and other members: Each course is $15. To access courses after purchase, simply log into the Member Center and click on the Candidate Learning Center.
Lodges may purchase access for individual candidates or groups. For more information, contact Member Services at memberservices@freemason.org.
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Stay on track of lodge business and prepare for important deadlines. Here’s your June checklist:
Executive Committee
- Remind members to celebrate Masonic Homes Month
- Attend or plan to attend the 2015 Lodge Management Certification Program
- Along with the senior warden, identify and approach members for 2016 open elected and appointed officer positions
- Along with the senior warden, identify and approach members for the 2016 Audit, Membership Retention, and any other committees
- Set calendar for 2016 and identify event leaders
Senior Warden
- Along with the Executive Committee, identify and approach members for 2016 open elected and appointed officer positions
- Along with the Executive Committee, identify and approach members for the 2016 Audit, Membership Retention, and any other committees
- Set calendar for 2016 and identify event leaders
- Continue preparing 2016 budget
- Set installation date and approach installing officer, master of ceremonies, and chaplain
- Review all candidates’ progress towards advancement
Secretary
- Send list of members with late dues to the master for the Retention Committee
- Send any suspension notices
- Charity Committee considers remissions
Questions? Contact Member Services at memberservices@freemason.org or (415) 776-7000.
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By partnering with Masonic Assistance, you can make sure your fraternal family knows where to turn when they need support.
An Outreach Committee is your vehicle for fulfilling your fraternal obligation to members and widows. Observe Masonic Homes Month by downloading this step-by-step guide for creating a committee, plus get proven tactics for year-round outreach.
Download: Guide to a Successful Outreach Committee
Distribute and discuss among lodge leadership and Outreach Committee.
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Last month we asked if your lodge planned or participated in a Make a Difference Month event with local youth orders last year. Of those who responded:
30% - Yes
57% - No
13% - Don't know
Eighty-three percent said their lodge will participate in Make a Difference Month this year.
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