Master's Message
April 2008

The initial idea of a One Day Class was abhorrent to many Masons and probably still is to some. The thought of bypassing the Ancient Rituals and becoming a Mason in one day was an entirely new concept, or as one cynic put it, "in as a Mister at 9:00 a.m. and out as a Master at 4:00 p.m." and that was it. The problem with this idea was that there was no follow-up.

However, this concept has changed. Supplementing the One Day Class with walk-thrus and mentoring will slowly take the place of the ritual and will give the candidate a broader experience in Masonry than with ritual alone. In each degree the candidate then will have the experience of knowing "this is what I did and this is why I was doing it." Immersing the individual in Masonry in the One Day Class and following up with additional mentoring and then walk-thrus should give the candidate a more balanced idea of what Masonry is all about.

Along with this there will have to be lecturers or "teachers," if you will, who must be knowledgeable of the work in the Lodge Room and be able to explain it to the new candidate in a manner that he wil understand and appreciate.

This is a new concept and as such will have its flaws so we must be patient and give it time to work out all its minor problems and who knows, if this trend continues, in fifty years the One Day Class could be the "coming in the same way and manner as all others have gone before."

Fraternally,
R.W. Robert James Rawding
Worshipful Master