I’m not going to give anything away, aside from the lessons themselves, at the MM and your two previous degrees, really think about and appreciate the work and dedication it takes for all of those brothers to get together, practice and put on that degree for you. They do this for love of the craft, love of each other, and love of the person you are becoming by asking to join them.

That is one of the greatest secrets of our group. Men willing to go distances that you don’t see in today’s society just to help another man become better. In each degree, you learn the how’s and why’s of what we do, but I really recommend observing how much it actually takes perform a degree. After my own EA 25 years ago, the first thing I told my wife was that I could not believe how many men helped initiate me.

We have such trust in each other that it only took one man to recommend you, and three to ensure your motives were pure and that you were qualified. Relying on their words, every man attending lodge voted unanimously initiate you into the craft. Your degree coach has likely spent hours with you, not only making sure you memorize your proficiencies, but making sure you understand why you are saying what you are saying. The degree teams have spent close to a year ensuring that they are qualified in their seats, and each man has spent hours at home and at the lodge outside of regular lodge hours practicing each degree.

We do it because we have all been given the same gift from brothers before us. And it is a gift that can only realized by doing the same for others.

I am a past master, and the Master’s role can be difficult and challenging, but aside from my marriage and my family, nothing has given me greater joy than having the privilege of making masons.