I heard of some kind of accelerated program that consolidates the first three steps of becoming a master Mason. I was told you could do all three steps and become a full fledge master mason in one day.  Please explain if you could.

Thanks JJ

(This information is general in nature, and may not apply to Massachusetts)

Good Question.  Some states, including Ohio and Virginia, have what is called “One-Day Classes” or ODC’s.  I reside in Virginia, so that is where I have the most experience.  A One-Day class is where all three (3) degrees are conferred on a man in one day. The Three degrees of symbolic Masonry, are the Entered Apprentice, the Fellow Craft, and the Master Mason.  In Virginia, the ODC’s are held on a Saturday. The candidate must make application by filling out a petition form.  The individual is then investigated to determine his fitness for Masonry. A ballot is taken, which must be unanimous. (This procedure is identical to the procedure for applying for Masonry, where the the three degrees are taken separately).  Once an individual is accepted into the Craft, he is told to report to the lodge building at 0600am on a Saturday morning.

The lodge serves a breakfast meal, then the first degree is performed, then the second degree of Masonry is performed. Then a lunch is served, and the Master Mason degree is performed in the afternoon, then a dinner meal is served. Basically, you walk in the lodge building at 0600am, and then walk out at 6pm a Master Mason.

ODC’s have enabled shift workers, and individuals with night-vision problems, and others, to participate in Freemasonry. Northern Virginia has the second worst commute in the country, some men spend two hours in the morning getting to work, and two hours driving home at night.  Weekend Freemasonry has enabled more men to participate in the Craft.

I must stress that not all states have ODC’s. I encourage anyone who is interested, to contact the Grand Lodge in their state of residence.

From my perspective; you are doing yourself a disservice by taking the express route through the degrees.  There is much to retain and absorb from each degree, and work to be done within a degree before you advance.

Having been made an Apprentice, and later passed on to Fellow Craft; I look forward to being raised to the level of Master as a result of the work I have put in.

Personally, if all I had to do was show up for twelve hours to be made a Master, I would come away with an empty title and in hindsight realize that I had missed so much.

Again, this is from my perspective, but I would say not to rush things.

The Grand Lodge of Massachusetts allowed there to be a one day class during the previous Masonic year.  It is only when a Grand Lodge approves a one day class that a one day class can occur.
Many people have different views on the one day class, and each person’s thoughts to that view are valid.
In today’s busy world, men are working 1st, 2nd, and or 3rd shifts.  If a local lodge meets only on Tuesday nights, and a man works the second shift, it may be hard for him to make the time to become a mason.  For him, the one day class if very helpful, and allows those great men who work those untraditional shifts a chance at becoming a fellow mason.
On the flip side, many men take the one day class so they can move on within masonry such as the Shriners, and spend little to no time in the blue lodge (the lodge in which one receives their three Masonic degrees).  Other’s may join the fraternity to just simply carry a membership card and say they are a mason, and for these individuals, a one day class does not truly support the Masonic teachings.  A man, although being a mason, will miss out on those great teachings you learn throughout the degrees to make a good man better.
I personally take pride in knowing that I received my master mason degree in the same fashion as George Washington, Ben Franklin, Paul Revere, and many many more great men.