Printed Rituals

by Midnight Freemason Contributor 
RWB Michael H. Shirley








R.W.B. Michael H. Shirley



  1. Some interesting points. We were just discussing this last week and the points you raise cause you to adjust my position somewhat. I think that if we spent half the time working with candidates/Leaning Brothers as we do talking about "thats not how I had to do it" I think we would serve many of the other beneficial purposes that are lacking such us the Brotherly interaction that used to come from mouth-to-ear instruction. What I mean is that we want them to learn mouth to ear but by and large, we dont have brethren stepping up and offering their time to post. It has nothing to do with the book.

  2. I wouldn't worry too much about the rituals . There are several sites online with rituals as well as the ones written by Edmond Ronayne which have the complete ritual fully explained. The cat is out of the bag and its like arguing about the moon a complete waste of time.

  3. As a Virginia Mason, I am intimately aware of the printed/not printed question. However, I, as RWB Shirley, learn better visually and feel that having a book in front of me would add benefit. What about those non-Masons out there who may get there hands on a copy of the ritual, though? What would that do to the craft? I am sure there are certain steps to prevent these books from being sold to non-Masons in Masonic environments such as a Grand Lodge website or at meetings, but what prevents those books from later making their way to Ebay? These are certainly not questions that I am qualified to answer, but I appreciate the post and the opportunity to discuss it.

  4. To paraphrase Bro. S. Brent Morris, you can go into just about any bookstore, library, or go online and find most of the secrets of Freemasonry. But I made a promise to not reveal them, and I intend to keep that promise.