THE BUILDER NOVEMBER 1917

THE FAITH THAT IS IN THEM---A FRATERNAL FORUM

Edited by BRO. GEO. E. FRAZER, President, The Board of Stewards

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS

Henry R. Evans, District of Columbia. 
Harold A. Kingsbury, Connecticut. 
Dr. Wm. F. Kuhn, Missouri.
Geo. W. Baird, District of Columbia
H.D. Funk, Minnesota
Frederick W. Hamilton, Massachusetts
Dr. John Lewin McLeish, Ohio.
Joseph W. Norwood, Kentucky.
Silas H. Sheperd, Wisconsin.
Jos. W. Eggleston, Virginia
M.M. Johnson, Massachusetts
John Pickard, Missouri
Oliver D. Street, Alabama. 
S. W. Williams, Tennessee.
Joe L. Carson, Virginia
T.W. Hugo, Minnesota
F.B. Gault, Washington
C.M. Schenck, Colorado
H.L. Haywood, Iowa
Frank E. Noyes, Wisconsin
Francis W. Shepardson, Illinois
H.W. Ticknor, Maryland

Contributions to this Monthly Department of Personal Opinion are
invited from each writer who has contributed one or more articles
to THE BUILDER. Subjects for discussion are selected as being alive
in the administration of Masonry today. Discussions of politics,
religious creeds or personal prejudices are avoided, the purpose of
the Department being to afford a vehicle for comparing the personal
opinions of leading Masonic students. The contributing editors
assume responsibility only for what each writes over his own
signature. Comment from our Members on the subjects discussed here
will be welcomed in the Correspondence column.


QUESTION NO. 7--
DEGREE TEAMS.--Should a lodge organize two or more degree teams
among its members and employ such teams alternately in the
conferring of degrees as a means of offering thorough instruction
to all members of the lodge? If so, how should such teams be chosen
and organized? If not, what other means do you favor for increasing
the familiarity of new members with ritual work?

Assign Work to the New Mason.

In my judgment there should be but one "Degree Team" in the
ordinary lodge, and that should be made up of the officers of the
lodge. Every officer should be required to know accurately and do
well the work of his own station, and at least that of the next
higher station. And he should be present at every meeting of the
lodge.

One of the Master's most important and exacting duties should be to
see to it that all the active and interested workers of his lodge
are given frequent opportunities to assist in the conferring of
degrees. On the night when a wide awake, alert young Mason received
his third degree he should not be allowed to leave the lodge room
until he has been assigned some small but definite portion of the
work to learn. When he has been properly drilled in this part he
should be given all opportunity to show his proficiency on the
floor. Keep your "promising material" busy and you will keep it
interested. A lodge of active workers is a live lodge.

There are at least two objections to "two or more Degree Teams."
First you segregate a bunch of workers and practically eliminate
the remaining members from the work. Second, there will soon
develop a tendency to substitute "Degree Teams" for the officers in
conferring of degrees. 

John Pickard, Missouri.

Spirit of Rivalry Helps.
The organization of two or more Teams for working the Degrees in
the Lodge-is a good one--especially if they are chosen as a result
of a sort of examination as to proficiency, and not through
favoritism of the Master of the Lodge. A spirit of rivalry and an
opportunity at some later meeting, when there is no work, for
correction of any errors--encouraging the members of the Lodge not
members of said Teams to make such suggestions or corrections,
accompanied by a full and free discussion on the point or points
named for correction, would undoubtedly produce excellent results.
Of course, when it comes down to actualities, there is nothing that
equals putting only men in office who either know the work or will
get it up promptly. Then occasionally, when an officer is absent,
appointing brethren from the rank and file to take the place.

No brother should be put in office who will not, to the best of his
ability, do the work of the position into which he is installed. He
should consider it a point of Honor to fully prepare himself, and
he who can and don't should be regarded as one who lacks many of
the essential qualifications for becoming a Good Mason. 
S. W. Williams, Tennessee.

* * *

"Lodges of Instruction" a Better Plan.
I do not approve of distinctive degree teams. The officers of a
Lodge should be qualified to exemplify the ritual, or they should
not be elected to office. The tendency of teams is to exalt the
rendition of the ritual above everything else, and while perfection
in this detail is most desirable,. it is only one phase of Lodge
activity. The study of the history and philosophy of the craft, and
a proper understanding of its teachings and tenets is just as
important.

Then again by putting the ritualistic work in the hands of teams
you minimize the dignity and importance of the official positions
of the Lodge. The office of Master, for instance, is one of great
honor. It is supposed to be bestowed as a reward of loyal service
and in recognition of superior ability. It is his duty and
privilege to enlighten the Brethren and give instruction to the
novitiate. Any plan of Lodge work that would lower the prestige of
this office would be unwise. I think the end sought by the use of
degree teams can be better secured by the establishment of Lodges
of Instruction. 


Joseph G. Greenfield, Georgia.
The Prerogative of the Master.
The Lodge should not organize Degree Teams because it is the
prerogative of the Master of the Lodge. He is elected to rule and
govern the Lodge; he is chosen with confidence in his ability, and
for the Lodge to organize Degree Teams would be an infringement of
his prerogative and an assumption of responsibility which
rightfully belongs to him. If Degree Teams are chosen, they should
be chosen by the Master.

It is desirable that every Mason should become familiar with the
ritual. I believe it is the desire of every Master, who has a full
conception of his duty, to promote its study and assist the
brethren in attaining the "work"; but the various conditions which
obtain in different Lodges make the "Degree Team" desirable in some
and undesirable in others.

Elect as a Master a Mason who has learned the use of "all the tools
and implements of Masonry" and he will promote zeal and industry
and will see that the zealous brother has an opportunity to work,
if qualified to make the required impression on the candidate.
Silas H. Shepherd, Wisconsin.

* * *

No Exhibition Work in the Lodge.
You ask "should a Lodge organize two or more degree teams amongst
its members?" To this I would reply BY ALL MEANS, if there is the
talent in the Lodge to support such teams,--but when you ask
"should such teams be employed in conferring of degrees as a means
of offering thorough instruction to all members of the Lodge?" I
would reply decidedly not.

My idea is that all the work of the Lodge should be performed by
the regularly installed officers.

Each individual officer has his allotted task for which he was duly
elected, his proper performance of these duties is the warrant by
which he holds the office, and his proficiency in these duties is
his recommendation for promotion. Some of these duties you propose
taking out of his hands, stultifying his position, and probably
lead him to neglect to perfect himself in that portion of the
Ritual the Degree Team would take over.

If such teams are selected they should exemplify the work for the
benefit of the members of the Lodge in a Lodge of Instruction such
as you find attached to all large and active English Lodges. The
teams could of course be drawn from the best ritualists in the
Lodge, and might meet weekly or monthly under the auspices of the
Lodge.

I object to exhibition work in the Lodge, such work to my mind
always creates a feeling amongst those present that the
exemplification of a word-perfect ritual is the object in view, not
the instruction of the candidate, or the benefit of the craft,
besides criticism and correction cannot find voice at such a time
and in such a place, while in a Lodge of Instruction they would be
quite in order. 
Joe L. Carson, Virginia.

Opposes Innovations.
The question, if I understand it correctly, is whether a lodge
should have one or more "degree teams" for conferring the degrees,
and, in reply, I beg leave to say that, in my opinion, it would be
better to have the Master and his officers confer the degrees, as
the ritual implies, and that a team substituted for the Master and
elective officers is an innovation. Personally I am opposed to
innovation, for cogent reasons.

In District of Columbia it was formerly the custom for the Master
to permit the Wardens each to confer a degree, that the lodge might
be able to judge of his qualifications, but this permission has
been so amplified that the Master has been able to divide this
degree work between the Wardens and even the Deacons, which I do
not think is so interesting or in the best interest of a lodge.
Multiplying innovations might, in time, lead to the use of a
phonograph for delivering the lectures and the charges. Why not? 
G. W. Baird, District of Columbia.


"Teams" Detract From Lodge Responsibility.
I do not believe in Degree Teams in Blue Lodges, whether such Teams
are organized in the Lodge for work in the Lodge, or whether they
are organized among Masonic Clubs for work among the Lodges
generally. Here in Massachusetts we have several such Teams
connected with railroads and other organizations employing large
numbers of men among whom are many Masons. These Teams go about
working the Degrees or parts of them in Lodges in which their
fellow employees are taking their Degrees. While they have not yet
been forbidden there are grave doubts among many of the most
serious minded of our members as to their desirability.


I believe that the work of a Masonic Lodge should be maintained on
a very high level of seriousness and responsibility, and that
while, of course, a vacant Jewel may be temporarily filled at the
discretion of the Worshipful Master, the work of the Degrees should
be in the hands of the officers of the Lodge who are chosen or
appointed for those responsible duties. The candidate has a right
to receive his obligations and instruction from the officers of his
Lodge and not from substitutes unless such substitution is
absolutely necessary.

No Mason should be advanced in Masonry unless, and until, he has
learned the Lectures of the preceding Degree. If there is danger
that he may forget it there is the opportunity for him to keep his
memory refreshed by attending Sodality Meetings, or even by regular
attendance at the Communications of his Lodge. 
Frederick W. Hamilton, Massachusetts.

Experience With Teams.
Basing my answer upon personal experience in my own lodge,
Excelsior No. 369, which is a fair representative of the average
prosperous urban lodge of more than three hundred and fifty
brethren--I am inclined to think that one Degree Team thoroughly
trained is ample. For three years we have had in our lodge a team
of fifteen which by occasional rehearsal and almost monthly work in
the third section has acquired an excellent reputation for
efficient work. Even so, in spite of the interest evinced by the
members there are evenings when we have not a sufficient number of
the degree team present to utilize the full fifteen in the work,
and rather than use "raw or untried material" we generally put on
the second section with the ruffians, eliminating the others. Such
happenings are the exception, however, and by keeping alive the
interest of the trained team, sending them individual notice of
rehearsal, etc., we find one full team quite sufficient to keep in
training.

Up in Columbus, Ohio, there is a large lodge, "Humboldt," which has
acquired the reputation of having the finest trained degree team in
the country. They may be said to have many teams embodied in one
large whole. With them degree work has become a specialty refined
to the nth power. At their inspections and on occasion of the Grand
Lodge meeting in Columbus, Humboldt exemplifies the Master's degree
with a magnificence of realization, and spectacular dramatization
rarely if anywhere equalled in Blue Lodge Work. Masons travel from
all over the State to see this justly famous team on dress parade.
More than three score generally participate, and the E.A.'s, F.C.'s
and Masters are all historically costumed even to the bronzing of
the skin and appropriate hirsute adornments. Spot light, music and
solemn processional with trained elocutionary rendering of the
ritual are marked features and you can imagine the painstaking,
almost continuous rehearsal necessary to attain such perfection. It
means something to "make" Humboldt's degree team.

Another of our Cincinnati Lodges, old Yeatman, has two trained
teams which have acquired quite a reputation, at home and abroad.
Yeatman established the custom of exchanging visits with other
lodges and exemplifying the work with an individual interpretation
that offers an inspiration to many of the smaller lodges. At times
the lodge makes a visit to Equity lodge in Chicago or to some
neighboring city in Indiana or Kentucky, thus affording an
opportunity for contrast between the work of different
jurisdictions.

Just across the river from Cincinnati are three Kentucky lodges
meeting in the same temple in Covington, which may be said to make
a specialty of dramatic rendition of the ritual. It is hard to say
which one of these--Covington, Colonel Clay or Golden Rule--does
the best work. The Kentucky work lends itself admirably to
specialization on the part of the degree teams. Here in Ohio, each
candidate must be taken through each section alone, and receive the
work in full. In consequence our ritual is perforce shorter than
that employed in Kentucky, where the candidates are taken through
in "classes" and the full ritual utilized only upon one candidate
selected for its exemplification. As a result, in Kentucky there is
offered opportunity for many interpolations, such as a prologue
magnificently staged showing the workmen engaged in the erection of
the Temple, and an unfolding of the conspiracy of three which leads
up to a wonderful culmination permitting of many dramatic
incidents, and the interpolation of some soliloquies calling for
considerable histrionic ability. These lodges have several
organized degree teams, with frequent rehearsals which render their
work in the ultimate par excellent.

It is largely a matter for individual lodge determination, however,
and to my mind one team of fifteen men frequently rehearsed is
quite ample care for the average lodge. Basing my opinion upon the
average attendance at most lodges, two teams would tend to make the
Secretary's duties too arduous in dragging the component parts to
rehearsal.

In increasing the familiarity of new members with the ritual work,
the main incentive is to "get them to lodge" which can most often
be effected by maintaining the esprit d'corps of officers and team
and putting on the work with a degree of excellence that it may
never become monotonous. A Worshipful Master generally sets the
pace, and if a parrot sits in the east, too often his subordinates
will follow suit and slovenly work ensues, which is the death
warrant to full attendance. 
John Lewin McLeish, M. D., Ohio.

"Mouth to Ear."
Lodges should be left to arrange these and all similar matters as
they see fit. Teams, if organized, should be flexible so as to give
all who wish to be active an equal chance. Classes of instruction
are the best means of imparting the ritual, but perhaps this
opinion is due in part to the fact that this writer is so proud of
having been the founder in 1891, and every Saturday evening for
eight years, the teacher, of the Richmond Masonic Class. It
flourishes today and has hundreds of graduates who are perfect
ritualists. It has been imitated all over the State and is a great
help to our Grand Lecturer.

The one means we would condemn without limitation, is that
unmasonic cipher and printed rituals. They violate our obligations
and make public to all who want it our ritual. Virginia has none in
Lodge or Chapter and we are proud to be the last of the ancient
"mouth to ear" institutions. 
Jos. W. Eggleston, P. G. M., Virginia.


Good Officers May Not Be Good Ritualists.

We ought to get away from the idea that the officers of a lodge
should do the ritualistic work. A man may make an excellent Master,
but be a very poor ritualist. The Master should be an executive
officer. If the conditions are such that the ritualistic work can
be done better and more impressively by a select team, then it is
the part of wisdom to use a team, but in the team work the officer
for a particular station should always fill that station for the
year. Good team work can never be obtained by shifting the officers
from one station to another. An officer should know "How" before he
should be permitted to confer or assist in conferring a degree on
a candidate. The only difficulty in the matter is who shall decide
as to competency ? As a rule the Master or any officer thinks he is
a "Whale" at the business. 
Wm. F. Kuhn, Missouri.

Alternate Teams.
The question of degree teams in the Blue Lodge appeals to me. I
have always advocated it in my own lodge. Two teams should be
organized among the lodge members to alternate with each other in
working the Third Degree. This is the great dramatic degree of
symbolic Masonry and should be presented with all the fervor
possible, properly costumed and given with appropriate mise-en
scene. It does not do, especially in large city lodges, to leave
the working of this degree entirely to the line officers. The
Master may or may not have any dramatic talent. Where he possesses
no histrionic ability the work suffers, and the lodge members lose
interest and do not attend the meetings Scottish Rite Masonry
rarely if ever turns the degree work over to the officers. Men are
selected who have demonstrated dramatic talent. The rivalry for
supremacy among the many teams enhances the interest of the
ritualistic work. The more men you can get to work in the lodge the
better. Teams might be obtained to work the First and Second
Degrees as well as the Third. By releasing the Master from
ritualistic labor, you would give him more time for charity and
other work on the outside of the Lodge. 
Henry R. Evans, D. C.


THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED

The stone which the builders rejected, 
And out among the rubbish was thrown, 
Its value not then was suspected, 
Its mission was wholly unknown. 
But the work soon came to a standstill, 
For want of a keystone they said, 
And a search in the ruins until 
It was found, and its mystery read.

And have ye not read this scripture, where 
The stone which the builders rejected, 
Became the head of the corner--there 
Was the good work and true work accepted? 
So through the journey of life beware 
Of the work an imposter selected, 
His attempt at your wages to share-- 
When the fraud by a sign was detected.

What is this, then, that is written ? 
Pray Tell the truth, which is ever respected; 
All who work in the quarries for pay, 
The worthy are never neglected; 
The Temple at last is erected, 
The craftsmen acquitted with honor, 
The scone which the builders rejected 
Is become the head of the corner.
--Odillon B. Slane.

A PRAYER
By Paul Laurence Dunbar

O Lord, the hard-won miles
Have worn my stumbling feet; 
Oh, soothe me with thy smiles,
And make my life complete.

The thorns were thick and keen
Where'er I trembling trod; 
The way was long between
My wounded feet and God.

Where healing waters flow
Do thou my footsteps lead. 
My heart is aching so,
Thy gracious balm I need.

