Making the Most of the Masonic Catechism
In Bro. Robert Davis’s recent TLP article, “What Came You Here to Do?”, he reminded his readers of one of the first and most important questions and answers we encounter as Freemasons. Many of us have fond memories of learning the questions and answers required to prove our proficiency in one degree before moving on to the next – our Masonic catechism. At the very least, it provided opportunities for us to meet and sit with more experienced and knowledgeable brothers in the Craft. In most cases, these opportunities included taking time to learn more about each other, and even to bond as men with shared values and intentions. In somewhat fewer cases that I know of, these sessions involved discussions about the historical content and meaning of the questions and answers. In the rarest cases, teachers have actually challenged their students to think deeply about the symbolic and philosophical dimensions of the catechism, its allegorical allusions to the work of Masonry that we identify when we answer why we became Masons and what we came to do. This last way of working with the catechism is precisely what Bro. Davis demonstrated in his article. Yet the rarity of such contemplation actually occurring in our lodges begs some important questions.
1. Why isn’t the catechism used as a platform for actually developing deeper insight into the teachings of Masonry, and the ways those teachings are meaningful to us as individuals?
One reason that seems obvious for this lacking is that the teachers simply haven’t been taught to do it; it isn’t part of the tradition of advancement in most lodges. Therefore, even if the idea of doing so occurs to anyone, it gets pushed aside because it is considered unnecessary to, or even distracting from, the new Mason’s advancement to the next degree. Of course, this points to an underlying assumption of what it means to advance in Masonry, and that assumption is that it is mostly about getting through the degree ceremonies as quickly as possible in order to be a full member of our fraternity.
A second reason is undoubtedly that many teachers don’t feel prepared to facilitate such a process. To begin with, they have no personal experience of it from their own advancement. In addition, they may not understand the value or the methods of encouraging others to think about symbolism and philosophy. Similarly, they may also be uncomfortable with a process that is actually more about helping a brother explore and clarify his own questions and understandings than simply memorizing the right words. These issues indicate that, all too often, the highest aims of Masonry taught in our rituals aren’t the actual priorities of the way Masonry is practiced in our lodges. In short, our behavior suggests that we aren’t primarily concerned with transforming ourselves and each other into more intellectually, emotionally, and behaviorally virtuous men.
2. What is being missed by not using the catechism in this way?
Perhaps by now it is obvious that the shortest and most direct answer to this question is that we are missing out on Masonry itself! We aren’t really doing Masonry, not really being or even becomingMasons, craftsmen of Wisdom, Strength, and Beauty. We’re just talking about these things in very grandiose and flowery ways, almost as if the whole thing is a big joke, a farcical façade over less noble, less demanding, and less rewarding purposes. If we want to get more specific, all we have to do is review our rituals and catechisms, taking note of all the personal, moral, social, and spiritual benefits they literally and figuratively suggest. The less we do Masonry, the less we unfold everything it holds in waiting.
3. What can we do to encourage getting the most out of the catechism?
To begin with, individual Masons must recognize the opportunities provided by the catechism. Next, they must understand the value of those opportunities. Then they must commit to take advantage of those opportunities for themselves and ensure them for their brethren. Enough brothers making such a commitment can change the culture of a lodge, a district, or even an entire jurisdiction.
In a culture that makes the most of the catechism, brothers talk to each other about the important opportunities it provides for attaining deeper insight into ourselves, our fraternity, and our lives outside the lodge. We emphasize, celebrate, and reward the depth of one’s catechism experience rather than the speed and accuracy with which one performs rote memorization. Every question, every answer, no matter how simple it seems, is actually taken as a veil that conceals as well as reveals Masonic light. We seek and exchange practical tips on how to facilitate such processes instead of simply providing lecture and repetition of the questions and answers. We support our brothers in exploring the very poignant questions and possibilities raised by the words of our rituals. We bare our souls and listen carefully to each other, and share our struggles and our successes in becoming more virtuous men.
4. When will we start doing it?
Yes, when?
This article was originally created for The Laudable Pursuit and can be found at the link below:
http://www.thelaudablepursuit.com/articles/2016/4/21/making-the-most-of-the-masonic-catechism
This brings back a poignant memory from my early years as a Mason. I was raised a few years after my jurisdiction simplified the catechism. Instead of being asked to memorize my obligation it was simply read to me and I was required affirm my assent to each point. Later, while talking to my father, and learned about how the catechism had changed and that both my father and grandfather had been required to memorize their obligation. With all this a background, I was sitting in Lodge one day when I heard it said that what makes a man a Mason is his obligation. I sat there wondering, “If what makes a man a Mason is his obligation, and I don’t know one word of my obligation, how do I know if I am a Mason?”.
At that time my jurisdiction used a one letter key as an aid to memory for ritual work. I obtained this key and began looking through the seemingly endless string of letters until I found a sentence that I recognized. Working back and forth from that spot I was eventually able to locate the obligation begin to decipher some of it. I would go to Lodge and ask the brothers to help me fill in the pieces of my obligation that I had not worked out. Eventually I figured out all the words and began to memorize it.
When I was ready I spoke to the WM before Lodge and explained that I would like to give my obligation before the alter, in open Lodge, as my father and grandfather had done before me, and my request was granted. The nights that I was Entered, Passed, and Raised were pivotal days in my Masonic career. If I had to pick the fourth most important day in my Masonic career it would be the night I gave my obligation before the Lodge.
I believe that one purpose that is served by tradition and ritual is the changing of consciousness. I was surprised over the next few years how often the words of the ritual came back to me in everyday life as I faced some question or challenge. I would think “how am I going to deal with this situation” and the words would come back to me and I would think “a Mason does it like this ………….”.
In those days the ritual contained the word ‘inculcate’. I was unfamiliar and had to look the word up. It means “to impress upon the mind through repetition”. It occurs to me that this is how habits are formed. For me, it was not enough to have agreed to the words of my obligation, or to be able to recognize them when I heard them, I needed to inculcate them so that they worked in my life like a habit. To this day I think how strange it was that I did not understand what I “came here to do” until after I had done it.
Brother Brad, thank you so much for sharing some of your story relevant to this topic. It’s a great narrative illustrating the importance of the old ways.