Having some encouragement, I think it may be desirable to address the subject of learning and memorizing the ritual. Since this is a public forum designed mainly for the public to learn about Freemasonry, I’ll keep it on that level. I’ll be glad to be more specific to those who have already been initiated and are looking for help or advice, via private messages.

The question is sometimes asked, do Masons perform their rituals in Lodge from memory, and if so, why? The answer is Yes, all ritual work has to be done from memory; no one can have a book open in front if him and read from it in open lodge. There are a couple reasons for this.

Firstly, the ancient regulations prohibited, in the strongest possible terms, putting any of the secrets (which extended to the entire ritual) in writing. This is the reason why we today know nothing about what the ritual was like prior to 1730 when the 3rd degree was composed and added to the ritual. There are no records of the former ritual, or at least none have yet been found. This prohibition has since, to a greater or lesser degree, been somewhat relaxed in nearly all jurisdictions. There is hardly any Grand Lodge today which does not allow some kind of written text for the use of Lodge officers, and maybe candidates, to learn the ritual; but they have to memorize it and can’t use it to actually perform the ritual in Lodge.
Secondly, the effect of the ritual on the candidate is thought to be much more impressive if delivered from memory rather than allowing the officers to refer to a script. It’s also handier, since the officers are often moving around the lodge, not just standing or sitting in their places. This makes perfect sense if you imagine seeing a stage play where the actors have a script in their hand and consult it to see what their lines are.
Thirdly, we believe that requiring the officers to memorize the ritual, and requiring candidates to memorize at least a summary form of it, ensures that they have the lessons of the ritual as firmly impressed on their minds and hearts as is possible.
Fourthly, since nearly everyone requires some assistance in the learning process, a fraternal bond is created among those who have to work together in what may be a somewhat lengthy and arduous process. Instructors and mentors usually become fast friends with those with whom they work.

What is a written text like? There are three types of written resource. The full-text ritual, the cipher ritual, and the Monitor.
A full-text ritual (fairly uncommon) is what the term implies: the entire content of the ritual is written out in plain English (or whatever language) which anyone can read. In some cases, very small sections containing the core secrets (such as passwords, signs, grips) may be enciphered.
A cipher ritual is not actually written with a cipher in the strict sense of the word. It is usually the text written without the vowels. Usually an apostrophe replaces an initial vowel and common symbols are used for very frequent words, such as * for the, / for and. This doesn’t make a great difficulty for anyone to figure out, and it isn’t intended to; otherwise it wouldn’t be useful for anyone using it to learn from. Usually the central core secrets are either omitted (to be learned word of mouth) or further encrypted by showing only the first letter of each word.
A monitor is a partial full-text ritual, containing parts of the ritual written out in full, the rest either omitted (to be learned word of mouth) or maybe enciphered by either of the methods noted above. It may also include diagrams or woodcut pictures to indicate the sequence of parts not written out.

How do you learn from such a text?
The text is chiefly intended to recall to his memory what a Mason has already heard at his initiation, but could not at that time commit to memory. First, we sit down with the copy and an instructor or mentor. Together, we go over it to be sure we understand the meaning of all the words. Then if any parts are enciphered, we go over that to be sure we know what the words are. We are then ready to begin memorizing those parts by repeating them to ourselves, checking the written text, until we have it. Lastly, or at the same time, the mentor goes over all the parts not printed by teaching it a little at a time, word to mouth, as often as necessary until we have it by memory. A good instructor will, as he goes along, point out how the various parts fit together, where there should be pauses or emphases, where there may be gestures or other actions. He will also correct pronunciation and diction and advise on delivery (usually counselling to slow down, as most people tend to talk too fast for public delivery). The learner, if he is preparing to participate in performing part of the ritual, must very carefully review his entire part to decide on how to break up phrases and sentences into understandable pieces, how to vary his voice to avoid sounding monotonous, where greater or lesser emphasis is needed, where and how long to pause. He also needs to practice it out loud, alone or with his mentor, to check the clarity of his diction and his pronunciation, if he’s speaking slowly enough, and to be sure he is using enough volume to be audible in the farthest corner of the lodge without seeming to shout.

Learning the ritual usually seems to be an almost impossible task for most men, but almost any man can do it if he has the motivation and the patience. Every man who does his best and succeeds takes pride in his accomplishment and looks forward to greater challenges.

G’day Brothers!

Have you noticed that even though you have not tried to memorize the ritual, whenever you watch a raising you know what the ritual is?  MM is my favorite so I probably pay more attention to that than the first two, but I would bet that I know most of the ritual for those as well… Of course it helps that this is a regular part of lodge but still.

I think that the important thing to stress here is that you do not really memorize “The Ritual” you actually memorize your part of it.  Not that you do not know the other parts, I mean you have to in order to respond properly, but the important thing is you do not have to fully memorize an entire event, only your parts in it - I suspect that knowing this will help to lesson the fears as it were.

Cheers!

Chris

I would add a couple of points to what’s been said. There are some ritual monitors which encipher certain portions or great chunks using a coded cipher, in particular the one known as the pig-pen or masonic cipher though this is incredibly easy to crack. so much so that school children use it to pass notes in class.

Also, I disagree with the fact that one only memorizes his part of the ritual, say that of the Junior Warden. In most Lodges, a Brother officer may be called on to fill in for a part at a moments notice, which is impossible to do if he has only memorized his portion of it. Furthermore, certified Lodges instructors and grand lecturers memorize all parts of the all of the blue lodge ritual. I think that’s necessary for clarity’s sake as well as accuracy.

I have always respectfully disagreed with creating ANY “cipher”. Don’t you guys think that it takes away from the Mentor/Coach/Candidate relationship? I thought it was a violation in the first place, but I am not well informed enough to really speak on that.

Dr. Christopher Bigner - 07 March 2010 10:29 PM

I have always respectfully disagreed with creating ANY “cipher”. Don’t you guys think that it takes away from the Mentor/Coach/Candidate relationship? I thought it was a violation in the first place, but I am not well informed enough to really speak on that.

It is not a violation actually. Most of the US Grand Lodges publish some form or monitor or small chap-books to learn catechism, etc and many have the “little black book” which contains key parts of the lecture so that someone may prompt and officer should he lose his place. Many mentors however, are lodge instructors and have the blue lodge ritual totally memorized in any case. I know mine did. And it was just recently that the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania went to the use of a monitor book when previously they had been mouth to ear.

[quote author="checkered pavement” date="1268047208And it was just recently that the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania went to the use of a monitor book when previously they had been mouth to ear.

And I can say that here in PA, most brothers in my lodge seem to be pleased that the rituals have finally been written down. Several typo’s in the text have been found, but I’m sure they will be ironed out in time. Being newly rasied, and interested in moving thru the chairs, I understand it’s my responsibility to learn the rituals in their entirety. No small task.

I would also like to say that along with the verbal parts of the ritual, there are the mechanics. They too must be learned and performed in a specific way. I went to our school of instruction for the first time last week, the FC degree was exemplifed, and I watched with great interest just how many details are involved with the mechanics of the ritual. Proper walking, standing, etc. All must be done correctly for greatest impact upon the mind of the initiated and non-initiated alike.

I am not trying to stir the pot here but, here at “Ask a Mason” I really must do just that.

Is it not a cipher? Is it not against a certain “rule”? I was under the impress that “ANY” meant any and all?

I understand the district guys having a book where things are written out. This is how masonry survives so far away from grand lodges, but for everyone to have a copy of a cipher. Am I being too closed minded here? I wouldn’t battle to do away with them, but I would never write one myself. I am asking because there is obviously a flaw in my reasoning that needs to be corrected.

There is nothing wrong with your reasoning, Doctor. I’m sure the ritual in all American and English Lodges is such that we can not, as loyal masons, reduce the least part of the Arts or Points of Freemasonry to any form or method of writing or other representation, using any medium or technique, even if legible only to ourselves.

That said, there are a few points to consider.
1. I don’t know of anything to prevent us from using a written text made by someone else. This may be a quibble, but there it is.
2. A Grand Lodge, which makes the rules and determines the rituals, is not subject to the same constraints as individual members; it is sovereign on all matters Masonic within its jurisdiction and on all its members.
3. If disloyal masons, or eavesdroppers who are cowans, publish monitors and disclose matters which loyal members cannot, I’m not sure that loyal masons have any duty to eschew using such a publication if it is useful to them. On the other hand, it can certainly be argued that obtaining, worse yet buying, such a publication is tatamount to aiding and abetting a crime and enriches the criminal. It’s a nice ethical problem which I confess I have not the learning to sort out.
4. Not everything which is spoken in a lodge is really secret. Indeed, it can, and has been, argued that the only real secrets are the signs, grips, and words which constitute the modes of recognition. A monitor which does not in any way reveal these core secrets is not betraying anything which the Fraternity is trying to hide; on the contary, we are charged to bring our teachings into our daily lives and spread them abroad to all mankind.

I think that everyone has come, albeit reluctantly, to recognize that contemporary masons are not living in the 18th century and are not trained from childhood up to commit a great deal to memory. If today’s lodge members and officers need an assist to bolster their capacity to memorize, then a discreetly written and duly authorized monitor is probably the answer for most.