Coach: What Work is that?
Brother: The Work
that makes good men better.
Coach: Why do you
ask?
Brother: I see a
lot of men joining, but I see very few improving.
Coach: I’ve
observed the same thing, as have quite a few other Brothers.
Brother: What’s
going on Coach?
Coach: We are our
own worst enemies.Temptation
Brother: How so?
Coach: Our system
points the way to improvement, but it diverts wannabes with a temptation that
few men can't resist.
Brother: Temptation?
Coach: Yes. And it is in the form of a marshmallow
provided by ritual itself.
Brother: Good
Lord Coach. Are you going to go down
another rabbit hole with me?
Coach: Yes, but only if
you want to.
Brother: Of
course I do. Let’s go!
Coach: Good. I like your spirit. Have you ever heard of “The Marshmallow Test”?
Brother: The
Marshmallow Test? What’s that?
Coach: It is a
reference to experiments conducted by Stanford University during the late 1960s
through the early 1970s on delayed gratification.
Brother: Okay. Yes. I
remember reading about it a while back. What
does that have to do with Brothers not pursuing the Work.
Coach: That’s an
important question my Brother. Do you
recall the Ruffians from the third degree tragedy?
Brother: Yes. I
do.
Pursuit Goal
Coach: Do you recall what they wanted from our Grand Master?
Brother: Yes. They wanted the secrets of the Master Mason,
more specifically, “The Master’s Word”.
Coach: Indeed. And when they requested it from the Grand
Master, what was it that he told them?
Brother: He said
that they would have to wait until the Temple was completed before they would to
receive it.
Coach: Yes. Were they willing to wait?
Brother: Of
course not. That’s the whole reason for
them attacking him.
Coach: Which was?
Brother: They
didn’t want to wait to complete the Temple.
They wanted to have what they wanted immediately; before the Temple was
completed.
Coach: Yes. Do you recall what the basis behind the
Marshmallow Test was?
Brother: Yes. It was to test whether someone was able to
delay getting something so that they would get it and an additional reward for
waiting.
Coach: Yes. And
what were the findings?
Brother: Those
who delayed gratification were found to be rewarded better in life than those
who would not.
Coach: What would
you say where the results of the Masonic Marshmallow Test?Flunking the Test
Brother: I’d say
they flunked it.
Coach: Why?
Brother: Because
they were unwilling to wait until the Temple was completed, and while waiting, do the Work to actually complete the Temple.
Coach: What happened?
Brother: They failed in both completing the Temple and
getting what they thought they would get from completing the Work. It brought about a double tragedy.
Coach: I like
that you are using the word “tragedy” in your description.
Brother: Why?
Coach: Let’s come
back to that later. Please tell me
first, what does “completing the temple” mean?
Brother: Okay. I got this.
Coach: Are you
sure?The Temple
Brother: Yes. The Temple represents two parts of a man’s
personal Work?
Coach: Two?
Brother: Yes,
two.
Coach: What are
they?
Brother: His
Heart and his Mind.
Coach: And what
must be done to complete the Temple?
Brother: A man
must bring Order to the Chaos of his Heart and his Mind?
Coach: How does
he do this?
Brother: He does
the Work pointed toward by the first two degrees.
Coach: I
agree. And what occurs when neither is
Worked upon?
Brother: When it
comes to the heart, he does not have the necessary discipline over his body to
bring about successes required by those challenges, problems and troubles his
body faces.
Coach: Would you
please name some of the things that need to be worked upon, as pointed toward by the
first degree?
Brother: Sure. Time management, Emotional management,
Boundary and Standards management, Divestiture of Vices and Superfluities,
Investiture of Virtue, to name just a few.
Coach: So, by
Working upon these, a man brings Order to the Chaos of his heart?
Brother: Yes. And it enables and empowers him to deal with
the demands the physical world places upon him.
Coach: Agreed. You mentioned a second part of the Temple.
Brother: I
did. It was the mind.
Coach: What
occurs when the mind is not Worked upon?
Brother: When it
comes to the mind, he does not have the necessary discipline over his thoughts
to bring about successes required by those challenges, problems and troubles his
mind faces.
Coach: Would you
name some of the things that need to be worked upon, as pointed toward by the
first degree?
Brother: Sure. He will struggle with trivial thoughts. His words, logic and rhetoric will fail him
more times than support him.
Coach: That’s the
trivial aspect. What about the more
complex?
Brother: He will
not have the necessary modeling to understand how the world works and therefore
fail at effectively dealing with the challenges, problems and troubles the world
hands him.
Coach: Are you saying
then that the Ruffians did not complete the Work, as in, bringing order to the chaos
of their hearts and heads?
Brother: Yes. I guess I am.
Coach: Guess?
Brother: No. I certainly am.
Coach: I thought
so.The Tragedy
Brother: You said
we would come back to why you liked my use of the word “tragedy” in describing
the Ruffians. Would you explain why?
Coach: Of course,
most men focus on the loss of the Grand Master and say that was the tragedy of
the third degree drama.
Brother: Well,
isn’t it?
Coach: Although
it is in one sense, mostly due to the loss of the Master’s Word that so many
focus upon, it was not the real tragedy.
Brother: Okay, I
get it.
Coach: Good! Please explain it to me if you would.
Brother: The real
tragedy is the losses the Ruffians suffered as a result of flunking The
Marshmallow Test.
Coach: Which
were?
Brother: They didn’t
complete their Temples.
Coach: Which
means what?
Brother: They had chaos in the hearts and heads.
Coach: Which
brought about?
Brother: The loss
of vital life skill development which ultimately lead to their untimely deaths.
Coach: Yes. They could not effectively deal with life and
as a result, they lost everything they wanted and more.Worst Enemy
Brother: So, why
are we our worst enemies in this?
Coach: Think
about it.
Brother: In what
respect?
Coach: Why would
every Grand Lodge have this specific Masonic Marshmallow Test before every
member that wants to be a Master Mason?
Brother: Okay,
that’s the second time you used the term “Masonic Marshmallow Test”, why have
you stated it this way and what is it?
Coach: Nice catch
Brother!
Brother: You’re
delaying. Come on Coach. Let me have it.
Coach: Okay,
sure. But let me ask you please, what
did the Ruffians want?
Brother: The
Master’s Word.
Coach: And why
did they want it?
Brother: So they
could Travel, Work, and Earn Master’s Wages.
Coach: Yes. And they wanted to do all this without having
the skills of a Master.
Brother: What!?
Coach: Yes. Think about it. They didn’t complete their Temples.
Brother: So?
Coach: Completing
the Temples would mean they had brought chaos to their minds and hearts; mastering them both...
Brother: Okay, I
get it. Mastery! Completing the Temple means they would have
mastered their hearts and heads! Got it!
Coach: And not
having completed their Temples would do what?
Brother: It would
sabotage their work efforts and hence their results.
Coach: Meaning?
Brother: They
would not be able to Travel, Work and Earn Master’s wages.
Coach: Why?
Brother: Because they
would, through their non-masterful results, be known as Ruffians and not Masters.
Coach: Exactly! No one would pay them Master's Wages for shoddy work. It would be looked at as rubbish.
Brother: Agreed. But let me
take it further.
Coach: Okay, go
for it.
Brother: This is
why The Grand Master could not give them what hey wanted.
Coach: Why?
Brother: Because
what they wanted required them to do the Work that brought about Mastery.
Coach: Meaning?The Naked Truth
Brother: You can’t
get mastery from someone else. It can't be handed over. You have
to develop it for yourself. Wait!
Coach: Okay, I
see it coming.
Brother: That’s
the Master’s Word!
Coach: What is?
Brother: Masterful
Skills!
Coach: And?
Brother: Making
what you say happen and doing so Masterfully?
Coach: You think?
Brother: No, I
know. That’s got to be it. No wonder it can’t be written or spoken.
Coach: Yes. It protects itself.
Brother: It sure
does.
Coach: I’m
impressed you connected the dots. Kudos!
Brother: Thanks. But what about this Masonic Marshmallow Test?
Coach: What about
it?
Brother: What is
it?
Coach: Connect
the dots again Brother.The Masonic Marshmallow
Brother: Okay,
The Marshmallow Test is about delayed gratification and how you benefit by waiting.
Coach: And in the
case of the third degree?
Brother: Well, it’s
not just about waiting.
Coach: It isn't?
Brother: It isn't. It’s about
making sure you finish the Work while you wait.
Coach: Is it any work?
Brother: No. It’s
the Masonic skill development Work pointed toward by the first two degrees; the
heart and head development.
Coach: So what’s
the twist?
Brother: The
twist is not just waiting. It’s about
doing all the Work necessary to cultivate Mastery of one’s heart and mind while waiting!
Coach: So, The
Masonic Marshmallow Test is what?
Brother: Good
Lord!
Coach: Ah! The light is going on.
Brother: Blindingly
so!
Coach: What do
you see?
Brother: The
Masonic Marshmallow! It's the title of "Master Mason" being dangled in front of the
Candidate.
Coach: Dangling?
Brother: Yes. He usually accepts it never realizing it
means very little in respect to his ability to truly Travel, Work and Earn
Masterfully if he doesn't Work on developing what is necessary to do just that.
Coach: You mean,
the candidate usually accepts the title before he earns it?
Brother:
Yes. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what
I am thinking.
Coach: And his
Brothers encourage him in all this?The Tangled Web
Brother: Yes. Very few members encourage candidates to complete their
Temples. Most everyone in charge of
candidates coming through dangles that Masonic Marshmallow in front them. And they say, "All you have to do to earn that title is memorize and give back". There's no activities centered around cultivating the mastery the degrees point us toward.
Coach: And as a
result?
Brother: The
candidates get caught up on pursuing the title rather than the skills such a
title denotes.
Coach: And what
is the impact on the quality of our membership?
Brother: Every
single member who flunks the Masonic Marshmallow Test is likely never to go on
to develop heart and head mastery.
Coach: Why?
Brother: Because they got their Masonic Marshmallow. No other Work is required of them!
Same Old Same Old
Coach:
Brother: Other
people who are likely going to flunk the same test.
Coach: Why is that?
Brother: Because like minds and hearts attracts like more of the same.
Coach: So, what
was the original question?
Brother: Why aren’t
more Brothers pursuing the Work?
Coach: Why do you
think this occurs?
Brother: Most
members don’t even know the Work is there to do? And even if they know, it's not required of them by the fraternity.
Fairness
Coach: I
agree. Do you think the test is
fair?
Brother: The Masonic
Marshmallow Test?
Coach: Yes.
Brother: Yes. In
this respect…
Coach: Go ahead.
Brother: Those
who come in expecting better, but who get distracted from the Work by the superfluities of
titles, will do so in life as well.
Coach: And?
Brother: Those
who come in expecting better and who keep focused upon for what they came in to do
will likely leave soon after they receive the title?
Coach: You mean, what they came here to do?
Brother: Yes! Exactly!
Coach: Why?
Brother: Because
they soon realize the Masonic Marshmallow Test screens them out.
Coach: How so?
Brother: They
soon realize the members are not focused upon developing better men.
Coach: What?! No! Say it isn't so!
Brother: Seriously Coach,
stop with the humor. You see it too. You can’t spend the amount of time in the
Fraternity that you have without realizing the primary focus of lodge activities is making
new members, not Masterful men.
Coach: Yes. I see it as well. So, you asked
a question about members not pursuing the Work
Brother: I have…
Coach: What is
the answer?
Brother: Brothers
are not pursuing the Work because they flunked the Masonic Marshmallow Test. They
focus on obtaining the titles; not the skills that such titles denotes.
Coach: I’d have
to agree.Something Better
Brother: How do we change this?
Coach: We share the Light and hope members have eyes to see it, hoping too that they have hearts to embrace it as well.
Brother: But won't members get insulted by hearing this.
Coach: How so?
Brother: They're being told indirectly they flunked the Masonic Marshmallow Test. No?
Coach: Does it matter?
Brother: Good Question! I'd have to say, "no". Not really.
Coach: Why?
Brother: Those who are insulted by it care more about their image than bettering themselves. So, telling them what they already know will change nothing other than affirm what they already know to be true.
Coach: And?
Brothers: Those who are not insulted already know as well. However, they might take this Light as a wakeup call to make necessary changes for themselves and the next generation.
Coach: We can only hope. Well, that and continue to do the Work to assure that our Temples are finished.
What To Do
Brother: But there must be more that we can do.
Coach: Well, there is.
Brother: What is it?
Coach: Make sure you complete your Temple.
Brother: Other than me benefiting personally, how will that make the Fraternity better?
Coach: Are you not part of the Fraternity?
Brother: Well, of course.
Coach: By bettering yourself, do you not contribute to the betterment of the Fraternity.
Brother: Yes, I would. Okay, I get it. The Fraternity only gets better one Brother at a time.
Coach: Yes, and?
Brother: ...and furthermore, I become a role model for betterment for other members as well.
Coach: Yes. And you also become a leader.
Brother: How So?
Coach: You show others what's possible when you apply yourself toward completing your Temple.
Brother: Okay, I get it.
Coach: You do?
Brother: Yes I do.
Coach: What do you "get"?
Brother: To make a better Fraternity, I need to focus on making a better me.
Coach: I agree. It all starts with you, doing the Work. No?
Brother: Yes. My Mastery starts by my completing my Temple.
Coach: Yes.
Never Completed
Brother: But, there's a problem with that.
Coach: What's that?
Brother: I've heard Brothers say you never complete your Temple; not until you're dead.
Coach:
Coach: Yes. It's just an excuse to cover up the fact that they are not applying themselves toward doing both the Apprentice and Fellow Craft Work pointed toward by Ritual.
Brother: So, it's a red herring?
Coach: Exactly!
Brother: Please explain.
Foundation
Coach: The Apprentice Work
matures a male from Youth to Manhood.
Brother: But I've heard Brothers claim that they are forever Apprentices.
Coach: More nonsense. That's a good indication that they don't understand Ritual and what it's intended to do. They are likely throwing in a bit of their personal faith into it too.
Brother: So, what you are saying is the Apprentice Work can be completed in our lifetime?
Coach: Not only can it, it has to be completed before one starts on the Fellow Craft Work.
Brother: Why?
Coach: Because an ordered heart is required to properly focus upon the Work that brings order to the chaos of the head.
Brother: Okay, I get it. It's foundational Work and it must be completed before one starts to build the building, I mean, Temple walls. Wait! Isn't completing the Temple also preparing the matured male for Age?
Coach: Indeed it is.
Brother: But I've heard Brothers claim that they are forever Apprentices.
Coach: More nonsense. That's a good indication that they don't understand Ritual and what it's intended to do. They are likely throwing in a bit of their personal faith into it too.
Brother: So, what you are saying is the Apprentice Work can be completed in our lifetime?
Coach: Not only can it, it has to be completed before one starts on the Fellow Craft Work.
Brother: Why?
Coach: Because an ordered heart is required to properly focus upon the Work that brings order to the chaos of the head.
Brother: Okay, I get it. It's foundational Work and it must be completed before one starts to build the building, I mean, Temple walls. Wait! Isn't completing the Temple also preparing the matured male for Age?
Coach: Indeed it is.
Staged Learning
Brother: Wow Coach, that's pretty messed up?
Coach: What's messed up?
Brother: Brothers claiming to be forever Apprentices.
Coach: Yes. What does all this say about the claim of the forever Apprentice?
Brother: They have yet to finish their foundation Work.
Coach: Yes and some have yet to even begin that Work. That's exactly what they are bragging about proudly and with great zeal. It truly is false humility based upon the mistaken belief that learning only occurs at the Apprentice level. It's only a starting point for learning and it has to be completed to learn at a mature level.
Brother: Isn't the Apprentice level where you prepare to learn?
Coach: Yes. You're clearing debris, firming up what needs to be firmed and smoothing out things that need to be smooth. You're creating a mature base on which to build further.
Brother: I see that.
Coach: Good! So, what are you doing at the Fellow Craft level?
Brother: You're learning how to learn. As a result, you Build a house of learning! That's what you are doing by completing the Temple.
Coach: What's that?
Brother: Finishing up your base level schooling so that you get started learning for real.
Coach: But aren't you learning through each stage?
Brother: Yes, but the first two stages are preparing to learn and learning how to learn. When you complete the Temple, that house not made by hand, you set the stage to learning what you prepared yourself to learn.
Coach: What's that?
Brother: Philosophy and Theology! You cannot possibly study these two subjects seriously without completing the heart and head Work first.
Coach: Agreed! Then what can you say about these forever Apprentices?
Brother: They are certainly not good role models, especially for setting the standards for serious learning.
Coach: Yes, they have yet to complete their house - that Temple of learning. Unfortunately, they speak with such confidence at times that newbies who do not know better believe their nonsense without question.
Brother: Yes. I've seen this more times than I can recall.
Building the Temple
Coach: Me as well. It is only after the Temple's foundation is laid, that the Temple walls above the foundation can be started.
Brother: That's the second phase, the head Work?
Coach: Ah! You've been paying attention.
Brother: Yes. It's all very interesting and I want to make sure I take it all in.
Coach: Why?
Brother: I have a Temple to build and I do not want to skip any of the Work that will complete it.
Coach: That's good to hear. So, I take it you're not complacent with your Masonic Marshmallow?
Brother: You mean, that "title"?
Coach: Yes.
Brother: No way! I've a Temple to complete.
Coach: Good! Have at it then!
1 comment:
Having just read this in 2022, I liken the ruffian reference and Marshmellow test the same as a Perpetual Path program some Jurisdictions perform on those willing to write a check. They "receive" the degrees and are made Masters. Only for those unwilling to put in the work.
Post a Comment