Onto Day 27 out of 100, and we really are right in the midst of our learning schedule, and we’ve still a long way to go. I bet you’re glad we started when we did, as if this was a 50 day plan it would be very intense. By now it should be routine to allocate some time each day to learn Masonic Ritual. Instead of consciously reminding yourself to do it, it should start getting to the stage that automatically allocate your time and have the blue book in your hand without even thinking about it.
Yesterday was quite a chunk with the First Degree Entrusting, after which the Candidate was handed over to the Junior Deacon for testing by the Wardens. This has given you a breather in the Chair, but now it’s…
Learning Masonic Ritual, Day 27 of 100: First Degree Apron
Fortunately not quite so much today as many previous days this week, but still quite a chunk. As this isn’t one of the larger words it’s easy to overlook if you don’t plan your learning and revision properly, and find yourself cramming this at the last minute (in my book of Emulation Ritual this is on pages 94-96). Remember the short sentence to delegate to investiture with the First Degree Apron to the Senior Warden, it’s a little buried away in the Deacon’s and Warden’s working.
The main chunk of the Master’s work here is following the Senior Deacon’s work, and involves explaining to the candidate when he is to wear the Apron – or more importantly when he shouldn’t, and why.
I will remind you again that you aren’t having to get word perfect at this stage of the study, so don’t worry if you haven’t nailed the Obligation or Entrusting, don’t repeating days, or trying to fit two days of study into one. With each degree there is a 4 week (or 28 day) plan to get you word perfect for that particular ceremony, we are using the time now to get familiar with the text and what is said be who, and when. 15 to 20 minutes a day should suffice, but ensure that the time is spent reading through and repeating, either out loud, or at least quietly mouthing along. After a couple of times try working you way through with the text covered up and see how close you are. Even if you haven’t got the words bang on, hopefully you have the sentiment behind each sentence.