Diary of becoming a Fellow Craft Mason

This is purely the experiences of the author, and may not be exactly how things will happen to you, but hopefully it will give the reader a rough out line of what to expect when they join the Brotherhood of Freemasonry.

The journey continues

Well, time has certainly flown since the previous chapter of my diary as a Mason started.
Since being initiated last year, I've become a father for the second time, changed jobs, started to learn to drive, and made arrangements for my wedding...
And Masonically, its been an interesting time too! Our Retiring WM had to retake the Chair due to unforeseen circumstances which meant our Installation in October turned into a Proclamation and meant that I was only out of the Temple for a few minutes.
I was also named as the Assistant Secretary, even though I was actually installed, which did raise a few comments from the Provincial Officers who attended...
All my role encompasses is to take the meal bookings for the meetings, design the seating plan and inform the chef of dining numbers.
In November I was asked to perform the duty of Senior Deacon for the new candidate which I have to admit I was rather nervous about as I was only asked the week before the ceremony whilst at the LoI and wasn't told all I had to do until part way through the actual Initiation!
Thankfully everything went well and I was congratulated on how well I had done.

Having had confirmation that I am to be Passed on the 21st of January, I ordered an FC apron and the 2nd Degree Emulation book in preparation for the night and set to the task of learning my answers to the questions that I will be asked as part of the ceremony.
The Emulation degree books (which are in my books review section) are very handy little books. They not only give you basic info about the degree you have just taken, but also help prepare you for the next degree as well.
As well as this they also have the lectures for the degree and info about the tracing board for that degree as well.
Whilst this may not sound a particularly difficult task, it is not simply a matter of learning the answers by rote...
I had already decided that I should learn the essence of the question too, just in case, as can easily happen to the best speaker, our WM either reworded the question, or mixed the order of the questions up.
A colleague also advised me to do this as he has been to a number of 2nds where this has happened. If the candidate for Passing has merely learnt the answers, in order, by rote, then if anything goes awry, he's scuppered...
By learning both the essence of the questions, and the answers to them, if anything goes wrong in a few weeks time, I should hopefully be alright. Even without the mouse and female fallow deer that heard me rehearsing as I walked through the local woods on my way to and from work.
I was feeling very confident until I was asked by the DC to seat a 'Mystery Mason' at the FB. That got me a little concerned as I was asked to sit him near to myself...

The Night Arrives...

Having rehearsed my questions, got my apron and my 2nd degree book, which was still in the shrink wrap, and sorted out the table plan after several re-writes, our DC picked me up and took me to the centre.
I started to set out the place cards and my guests arrived. It was great to meet some of the guys from the Forum.
Anyway, the Lodge opened in the 1st degree and then the other EA was asked to leave so the ceremony of my Passing could begin.
It went well with three of my visitors having been press ganged into taking offices. I went through the 1st part of the ceremony then left to be prepared for my part.
I left the Temple to get myself ready for the next part and returned to the Temple.
A visitor from the PGL was there who was representing them as a Provincial Grand Orator. The lecture he gave was very interesting and was well received.
The rest of the ceremony went well, we closed in the second and reopened in the 1st and the EA was readmitted so we could continue with the normal proceedings
After the meeting, I was congratulated on having done very well and that it was nice to hear a candidate answer so clearly and confidently. Although I have to admit that at one part during the ceremony I did feel a bit nervous for a short while...
The FB afterwards was very enjoyable and everyone seemed to have a good meal.

The plan for my 3rd was changed so that our remaining EA would be passed next month, in February, but due to work commitments he can't do it so its back to the original plan again and I'll be doing my 3rd. He'll then do his second in March, and I have a suspicious feeling that I'll be taking an active role in that...and then he'll do his third whilst I'm in Sri Lanka on my honeymoon in April.
I was given a copy of the questions for my 3rd which look to be a lot easier to learn than the 2nd and the evening ended.
As various people had told me, the ceremony was much more impressive and meaningful than the 1st and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I'm now looking forward to my 3rd and getting ready to learn my questions.

Well, I learnt my words but kept getting one bit wrong - muddled my 'left' and my 'right'. I think the deer I regularly met on the path through the woods on my way to and from work knew the lines as well if not better than me. LOL.
Anyway, I learnt them, got my shirt cleaend and ironed, shined my shoes and made ready for the big night.
On to the next chapter...

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