There will be a launch early in 2021 from UGLE of a set of webinars covering the three Craft degrees, as well as the the Royal Arch. These can be viewed and used by Lodge Mentors and Royal Arch Ambassadors for their candidates as a further aid to knowledge and understanding of the degrees that candidates have taken. They will be available on Solomon and are an excellent tool for the Lodge Mentor so that is something abut which to look forward.
The Second Degree webinar was broadcast before Christmas and it was well received by the Learning & Development Team Solomon Group, of which I am part, and looks like a great step forward. I received this link from the Learning & Development Team at UGLE and it is excellent! It’s called Seek and Learn – The Second Degree. What tools we now have to inform, advise and delight our new brethren, in fact any mason of any age or seniority.
https://solomon.ugle.org.uk/course/view.php?id=80
I have always said that the introduction of the Members’ Pathway and Solomon are game-changers and we can make masonic learning and development a lot of fun which will be a great asset in keeping our candidates in masonry.
On that point, I would encourage all brethren to sign up to Solomon, irrespective of their degree, and to use the excellent resources available so that you can really make that daily advancement in masonic knowledge.
Here’s something which I found on a social media page called ‘The Crafty Visitor’ so I cannot claim and credit, but I liked it!
The Masonic Deck of Cards
One evening a Lodge Mentor retired with a young Brother who could not witness a ceremony in a higher degree.
The Mentor produced a pack of playing cards and said to the younger Brother, “Did you know that you can learn a great deal about Freemasonry from these?”
“No, indeed,” said the young Brother. “What can they teach me?”
“They are useful for improving your memory,” said the Mentor. “Look here, now.”
“The ACE reminds me of the Great Architect of the Universe.”
“The TWO reminds me of the 2 Great Pillars at the Porchway or Entrance of King Solomon’s Temple.”
“The THREE reminds me of the 3 who rule the Lodge: the WM, the SW and the JW.”
“The FOUR reminds me of our progression in the Craft: Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft, Master Mason and Worshipful Master.”
“The FIVE reminds me of the 5 Noble Orders of Architecture: Tuscan, Doric, Ionic, Corinthian and Composite.”
“The SIX reminds me of the 6 Principles of our Order: Brotherly Love, Relief, Truth, Faith, Hope and Charity.”
“The SEVEN reminds me of the 7 Liberal Arts and Sciences: Grammar, Logic, Rhetoric, Arithmetic, Music, Geometry and Astronomy.”
“The EIGHT reminds me that we have members from all faiths. Muslims believe that there are 8 paradises, signifying God’s mercy. In Buddhism 8 is a lucky number.”
“The NINE reminds me of the working tools: 3 for each of the 3 degrees.”
“The TEN reminds me of the 10 Commandments on which our Order is based. TEN was also the Pythagorean symbol of perfection or completeness.”
“The JACK reminds me of the word we share in the Fellow Craft Degree.”
“The QUEEN reminds me of the widow who bore the famous son and also of our Sovereign.”
“The KING reminds me of King Solomon, the principal figure of our Order.”
“There are TWELVE face cards which remind me of the 12 Tribes of Israel and the 12 Signs of the Zodiac.”
“There are TWO colours which remind me of Night and Day, as well as Good and Evil.”
“There are FOUR suits which remind me of Prudence, Temperance, Fortitude and Justice.”
“I am most grateful,” said the young Brother. “I will never forget all that you have said. But tell me, there are two cards which you haven’t yet explained.”
“Oh, those,” said the Mentor. “Those are the TWO JOKERS who Proposed and Seconded you after telling you that it would take no more than one evening a month. . . “
These card illustrations are kindly supplied by Matthew & Michael Ltd from their ‘Mysteries & Secrets’ Deck http://www.matthewandmichael.co.uk/shop
The company has a 2021 offer on at the moment: save 21% on the 1st 20 of each product. Their new game is ‘On the Square’ (The Editor of The Second Rising is a big fan, but is not, alas, the Matthew of the game inventors!).
Stay Safe everyone
Keith
Provincial Grand Mentor