Most Masons today cannot remember the time when each Lodge in this jurisdiction did its own thing with regard to ritual. But, there was a time when this was so, and there are a number of Brethren to whom we owe a great deal for their work in correcting this condition.

First of all, we must be grateful to the officers and members of individual Lodges that recognize and meet their ritualistic responsibilities. Say what you will, the Lodge that takes pride in its ritualistic performance, will, in most instances, excel in other areas, because that pride will extend to other endeavors.

Unfortunately, we have some Lodges that do not take pride in their work. Many of us know of Lodges that must ask for outside help in conferring degrees, or that do sloppy work, even to the point of breaking Masonic Law by reading parts of the ritual, or not completing all of the degrees as is required by law.

The newly-made Mason who receives his degrees in such a Lodge has been shortchanged. Not merely from a financial standpoint, but from a moral standpoint. We are cheating him, our Brother, when we send him out into the Masonic world untaught and unimpressed.

Freemasonry is such a beautiful system of morals and each new Mason deserves its full message. He can perceive its beauty in one of two ways -- by observing the lives of good Masons, and by receiving the three degrees, correctly and impressively conferred. We owe him both opportunities.

The degree work has been greatly improved in many Lodges through the efforts of dedicated District Deputy Grand Lecuturers. These fine Brethren spend hours and hours in both individual and group instruction. Their task is never easy, but when they finally get two or three members in a Lodge genuinely interested in upgrading ritualistic proficiency, these usually prove to be the spark that ignites the fire.

Poor work cannot be changed overnight, but neither need it take a year. What it requires, most of all, is a sincere desire to do good work and a willingness to spend the time and effort required to achieve good work. And it requires leadership. The desire and willingness must come from enough members to achieve the goal. The leadership must come from the Master. The help to accomplish these goals is at the fingertips of the Lodge by a request to the District Deputy Grand Lecturer.

We need a greater commitment from the Masters of some Lodges. The Masters need increased cooperation from the members in some Lodges. We need to accord more recognition to our District Deputy Grand Lecturers, and to make more and better use of them.

We need, most of all, a determination that all candidates receiving degrees in our Lodges, receive all to which they are entitled -- the entire beautiful story of Freemasonry. To do any less is to be untrue to our great Fraternity, and less than honest with our candidates.

The above article was originally printed under the title "Ritual Corner" in the Summer 1981 issue of The Missouri Freemason.