The Fourth Ruffian. . . !

How good are you at learning, understanding and remembering ritual?

Have you, like me, spent many hours trying to learn a bit of ceremony by rote (repetitive reading and reciting using the little blue book) only to be faced with brain-freeze during the ceremony? Or worse, a ‘teflon’ brain when it comes to remembering your bit?

I have lost count of the number of times I have spent time worrying about my part of the ceremony, then on the night in the temple got it wrong or forgotten it and then, afterwards, beaten myself up over it. Worse still to be embarrassed by the groans, tuts and audible whispers of sarcasm or criticism from a minority of brethren in the temple.

Perhaps you too have shied away from taking on an officer’s role, rather taking a back seat because you struggle to learn and remember the ritual.

I have tried various suggested ways of learning ritual: attending lodges of instruction (LOIs) and lodges of rehearsal (LORs), as well as recording myself reciting from the book and then playing it back endlessly to myself. I have tried learning little bits at a time; highlighting in the little blue book; I even tried putting it to a tune and singing it to myself! All have failed in one way or another.

I know my short comings have held me back in my Freemasonry, both in progression, as well as in attending LOIs and LORs, simply because I do not want to be treated like a naughty school boy by certain brethren who in many cases have been masons for years (some, I am sure helped, Hiram at the building of the Temple!).

But does not being able to deliver flawless ritual mean I am a lesser Freemason than someone who is a “professional” at performing ritual in the temple? Does not holding my wand correctly or not giving the right knocks or signs make me a poorer Mason?

Surely Freemasonry is more than taking part in a series of morality playlets? I know people who are poor ritualists, but love their Masonry and live by the tenets of the Craft, and others who can put on a flawless ‘stageshow’ at a moment’s notice, but do little outside of lodge apart from trying to scale the slippery ladder of progression to Grand Lodge.

Now I know we all join the Craft for our own reasons; hopefully the majority want to give something back into society and support our communities. Living the three tenets of Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth.

To have someone try their best and need help in the ceremony, but deliver with sincerity and if a suitable occasion arises, a bit of humour in the right place, in my humble opinion makes for a much better ceremony rather than a cold clinical performance.

I have always been honest and up front saying I will give 100% and do things to the best of my ability and will attend as many LOIs and LORs as I can. If I cannot learn part of the ritual or am struggling, I will put my hands up and ask for help. This attitude had been supported by brethren and they have helped me go all the way to being Worshipful Master.

So, my advice to anyone who is shying away from taking an office and progressing through the Chair of King Solomon is: be honest, give it 100% and do your best. There is no shame in asking others to help you with your ritual in the lodge. If they cannot accept you for who you are and for what you can and cannot do, I would suggest finding a more supportive lodge where they demonstrate the core qualities of the Craft.

Finally, my article may ruffle a few feathers and is my opinion only. Someone’s opinion is a gift given to you.  It can be likened to a gift of a gaudy jumper: you can either cherish and wear the jumper, or put it into a drawer never to be seen again. Same with an opinion: cherish it or dump it; the choice if yours.