A Brother Asks: The Winnowing Process?

 

A Brother Asks: I always thought the winnowing process was done by the investigation committee. Once candidates made it past that stage, and were initiated, they started working on their own ashlar, if they were serious about being Masons, and not just members.  Am I missing anything here?

 

Coach: It's true that the investigation committee affirms a choice of the petitioner's choice to join and confirms that it would be a good fit.

 

However, our collective Craft Problem is that we have created a Freemasonic Tower of Babel.  And this includes the term "winnowing" when it is applied to our Craft.

 

As a result, word meanings are all over the place and due to our babel tower, we have created our own divisions.

 

So you are clear as to my understanding, here are my best thoughts:

1) FREEMASONIC PATH: Winnowing (as you alluded to in your candidate work comment) occurs throughout the overt Freemasonic progression through the organization's degrees. Proficiencies (memorization) and behavior determine progression.

 

2) MASONIC PATH: Additionally, this winnowing process continues throughout the actual candidate's implementation of what the degrees espouse for him to do.

 

Here are the levels of winnowing that a candidate must engage in should he want to follow the Masonic Path successfully, not just the Freemasonic path.

1) Stepping through the West Gate - Winnowing yourself from the profane and into the sacred temple.

 

2) Apprentice's Work - Winnowing yourself from the burdened (vices & superfluities) and weak (Virtue challenged) and into the world of the unburdened and virtuous.

 

3) Fellow Craft's Work - Winnowing yourself from the uneducated and unknowing and into the educated and knowing.

 

4) Master's Work Part 1 - Winnowing yourself from the Ruffians and into the completed Temple World.

 

5) Master's Work Part 2 - Winnowing yourself from the seekers of the Master's Word and into the Comprehension of The Master's Word.

 

6) Master's Work Part 3 - Winnowing yourself from those who just comprehend the Master's Word and into the erectors of the spiritual building world.

 

As you can see, a whole different set of proficiencies and behaviors come into play, should this path be taken as well.