Grand Master one day classes.

I believe that the one-day classes, the Grand Lodges are conducting, are watering down the intelligence of the average Master Mason. The work required to obtain that degree which separates men from mason. By allowing men to bypass this work we have doom our lodges. What is next, the admission of women. Please post your opinion of this issue here.

From what I understand, the one day classes have been very unsuccessful and Grand Lodges have realized that the results the one day classes have created are less than acceptable. Besides not having targeted the number of people they were hoping to, I think Grand Lodges have seen that the quality of masons coming from the one-day classes have been sub-par.

This is by no means a bash on any brothers who HAVE taken the ODC, some masons have been interested enough to continue their studies and become the kind of mason we have come to expect from a regular lodge, but many men HAVE taken the ODC just to join and be able to say they are a Freemason (they probably thought they would get immediate benefits from this, such as jobs and such... boy were they disappointed!) and then never have to give it a second thought.

I once suggested that instead of having an officer practice on a different night than that of a regular Lodge meeting that you have practice instead of dinner. That way you will have just rehearsed a lot of the stuff you will be covering in the meeting. And you don't have to be out an extra night. For instance our Lodge practices on Monday has meeting on Tuesday and I go to church on Wednesday. Thats three nights out right there and there is no way you can look foward to any of it. Not when you work hard as a Brick Mason with all the glory of a garbage collector. That idea comes from many years of having a short rehearsal pryor to going on stage and playing gospel music, It really helps.

There are a lot of things that can be improved, I personally think Ambulances need working turn signals instead of flashing ones, so people will have some idea of where they are headed but will anyone listen , I doubt it.

Originally posted by Silent Professional
I believe that the one-day classes, the Grand Lodges are conducting, are watering down the intelligence of the average Master Mason.

Substitute 'knowledge' for 'intelligence' and I might agree with the statement. Nothing that happens inside freemasonry has any effect on one's intelligence at all.

Which regions/states actually offer the three degrees in one day?

Mass ceremonies sure build member numbers and dues. I don't know what the measures are for retention.

Trinityman, I disagree. Overimbibement at festive banquets can destroy brain cells and certain facets of general ability (and immediately observable intelligence).

[edit on 26-6-2005 by MaskedAvatar]

Originally posted by MaskedAvatar
Which regions/states actually offer the three degrees in one day?

Quite a few Grand Lodges in the USA have done, and are doing, this. Thankfully, mine has not, and refuses to do so.

Masonic Light:
Which state are you located in?