A Brother Asks: When is the Temple going to be completed?

 

A Brother Asks: When is the Temple going to be completed?

Coach: The Temple referred to in the 3rd degree should have been completed prior to knocking on the inner door for the third time. 

Brother: Really?

Coach: Yes. If it wasn't completed, then the candidate is the very ruffian the drama acts out.

Brother: How's that?

Coach: If the Brother didn't complete his temple - the Work spelled out by the first and second degree - he is coming into the degree expecting to receive something he has yet to earn... just like the drama's ruffians!

Brother: But I'm talking about the Spiritual Building. 

Coach: Oh! The Spiritual Building referred to in the first degree is to be started only after the Master's Word can be understood, and not before. Any effort to build it before hand will fail due to infidelity.

Brother: Not before? Why is that? 

Coach: That's because until one completes the Temple referred to in the 3rd degree the Master's Word cannot be understood. It could be put right in front of a man, but it will not be understood for what it offers.

Brother: Wow!

Coach: Furthermore, without the Master's Word, no Spiritual Building can even begin to be started.

Brother: Why?

Coach: Because you cannot build without knowing the building rules & designs! 

Brother: So, when will the spiritual building be completed? 

Coach: Only after one erects it agreeably to God's Rules & Designs.

For More Light:

 The Craft Mastered

For Further Light: 

Completing the Temple

 
 

 

 

 

A Brother Asks: TOP TEN QUESTION MASTER MASONS CAN ANSWER?

 

A Brother Asks: Hey, Coach!  I just got raised and want to continue exploring ritual.  What are some of the questions that Master Masons ought to be able to answer?

Coach:  First off, congratulations on your recent Raising!  Secondly, Great Question, Bro.!  It means you're still seeking further Light  and are not settling on just wearing the Master Mason title - Kudos! 

In light of your question, here are but a few of the many questions that Master Masons should be able to to answer fully had they actually done the Work of the first and second degrees and thought through what was offered to them by the third degree experience.

As you continue your quest, you'll hopefully be able to answer them for yourself.

--------------

THE TOP TEN QUESTION 
MASTER MASONS CAN ANSWER
(WHEN THEY ACTUALLY DID
WHAT THE FIRST TWO DEGREES
TOLD THEM TO DO!)

Question #10: What does the term, “The Work that Makes Good Men Better” mean?

Question #9: How and why does being a Ruffian keep him from knowing The Master's Word, and why can no one ever provide understanding of The Master's Word to a Ruffian?

Question #8: To what does the term, "The Temple of Solomon" refer in the Development of Master Masons?

Question #7: How does one Complete one's Temple?

Question #6: What is a Spiritual Building, how does it differ from the Completed Temple, and which one is required to build the other?

Question #5: What are the Secrets of a Master Mason, how are they brought forth, and how do they differ from The Master's Word? 

Question #4: What do the Secrets of a Master Mason have to do with understanding The Master's Word?

Question #3: What is our Masonic Purpose and where can one find that purpose within the first Craft Lodge Degree?

Question #2: What does the Master's Word have to do with our Masonic Purpose?

Question #1: Where do we find The Master's Word and how does one prepare oneself to understand it?

---------------

On a lighter note, you can find your answers to these and other questions by either doing the actual Work that the first two degrees direct you to do and then applying what you built toward what was offered to you by the third degree experience.  Complementing this course of action, reading good books on the subjects, or attending the next Building Better Builders Workshops to understand what that Work actually is can greatly enhance your efforts. 

Brother: Coach! What is this Building Better Builders Workshop that you refer to?

Coach: Ah!  Another Great Question!

This Workshop is a special program that was developed specifically for the planned for Grand Lodge of Florida's OFFICER'S TRAINING PROGRAM and was put together in early 2023 by the request of a member of the Florida Grand Line.

It was designed to Facilitate a Better Understanding of What is Hidden in Plain Sight, How to Access It, and How to Apply It in Lodge and in Life.

Brother: What can I expect if I attended it?

Coach: Here's what you can expect by attending!

RITUAL 101:
Understanding & Communicating Its Importance
to Member Interest, Recruitment, & Retention

Understanding Ritual is crucial to understanding the purpose of our Masonic involvement.  Those members who have in-depth understanding of Ritual, its meaning, and its purpose in “making good men better” are positioned as both organizational examples and well-springs for members who want to strengthen themselves and to maximize their participation in organizational fellowship, ceremony, and beyond. 

The BBB Workshops focus upon applications of Critical thinking & analysis, the Socratic Method, and the Trivium to Ritual to support Masonic pursuits, membership recruiting & member retention.

It includes, but is not be limited to, the following areas of focus:

1) Interpretation Basics and Improvement
2) Esotericism - Organizational & Personal
3) Realizing Masonic Perfection in an Imperfect World
4) The 11 EA Working Tools (Yes, ELEVEN!!!!)
5) The Actual Master's Word and not some mis-undestood Substitute!
6) Completing Your Temple & Beyond

All that is offered to the attendees is intended to help them recognize, understand, and be able to explain the answers to these ten questions, and much more.

Brother: WOW!  That's a lot!

Coach: Yes, and you'll be able to answer those question that all Master Masons should be able to answer.

Brother:  When is the next one planned?

Coach: The next BBB Workshop is occurring in Temple TX on August 26, 2023.

Hidden in Plain Sight or It's a Hiram Life for Me!

 

 

 Hidden in Plain Sight...  

or It's a Hiram Life for Me!
--------------------------

This is a statement and question pair 

too often put forth by Brothers who refuse to do the Work: 

• We're still looking for an explanation
  as to what you mean. 
  
  
• Why aren't you giving us the answer
  we demand from you?

Here's were I usually reply:

 

"When you examine the flow of thought
throughout the offered information,
you're more likely to come to see a pattern
within that flow that will make it clearer to you, as in: 

 

the explanation is
'already before you hidden in plain sight'

 

You must seek it for it to become clear to you."

They'll respond Jubalonicly,
"Coach, why don't you just TELL ME?!"
or something to that effect.

I'll respond with something like,
"I Can't, Won't, Shan't give you something
that you must give and thus obtain yourself".

They'll retort that they don't want to be one of my disciples,
they just want a straight answer
and I'll reply 

"I've been straight with you all along. 
You simply don't want to do
the Work required to understand.
You will not get it
because you refuse to think it through.
Which is the ONLY way you'll understand.
...and BTW - There's no need to attack me with lies. 

I don't have any disciples nor do I want any."

Ultimately we end in a stalemate or worse,
they attack me personally,
because they simple refuse to invest themselves
in being any way other than their current state
and want to be distracted from that by focusing upon me.
 

Does this sound even vaguely familiar to anyone else?

 

Has anyone ever thought to ask:

Why didn't the Ruffians simply complete the Temple? 

 

I mean, we do know it was actually completed, 

at least twice!

 

 

 

A Brother Asks: Restrictions on Accepting Secrets

 
 
Brother: Coach, do you have any restrictions that you place on offered information when a Brother tells you that he wants to share something with you Chest to Chest.
 
Coach: Yes,  I certainly do.
 
Brother: What are they?
 
Coach: I have a two simple policies that help keep me legally, morally, ethically and spiritually safe.  Here they are in the form of bottom and top line behaviors:

1. Bottom Line (what to avoid) - Don't tell me anything that you know would get me in trouble or cause harm if I didn't share the information with the proper authorities or those who would be impacted negatively by withholding such information.
2. Top Line (what to shoot for) - Share with me only those things that you know I would have only good conscience keeping in my chest.

Brother: Interesting... how did you arrive at these policies?
 
Coach: I derived them as a consequence of examining in depth the roles played out by those twelve remaining Fellow Crafts within the Hiramic Legend.
 
Brother: The twelve remaining Fellow Crafts?
 
Coach: Yes.  Those Fellow Craft who remained after the other three ruffians followed through on their collective conspiracy.
 
Brother: The other three ruffians?
 
Coach: Yes.  All the Fellow Crafts within the legend were Ruffians.  It was they who followed through on the collective conspiracy, not the other twelve.
 
Brother: You said "Collective Conspiracy"  What does that mean?
 
Coach: They were all involved in the conspiracy together.  It was only the three ruffians who followed through on the conspiracy who did the physical damage. 
 
Brother: Wow!  I had not thought of it that way.

Coach: Many do not.  Furthermore, it was the remaining twelve ruffians who came clean on their part and after they heard of the missing Grand Master. And this only when they feared something awful had happened to him.  Until that moment they were okay with keeping the conspiracy a secret.

Brother: You were careful to say "physical damage".  Was there other damage that was not physical?

Coach: Yes.  There was damage done to trust; the trust one should have between Brothers. 
 
Brother: They violated that trust by keeping the conspiracy a secret?

Coach: Indeed they did.  They knowingly kept secret an extortion plot that was intended to cause damage. 

Brother: Is this why King Solomon told them they they would be held to account for the Grand Master's death had they not found and brought the other three ruffians to justice?

Coach: What do you think?

Brother: I think it was.

Coach: Me as well.

Brother: Do you believe the Grand Master might have lived had they not kept the conspiracy within their chests?

Coach: Perhaps.  But that's not the point.  The Grand Master had to die because the allegory wouldn't work the way it does if he had lived.

Brother: That makes sense.  But how did you arrive at your insights?
 
Coach: It was precisely the fact that they kept information in their chests that harm was done to someone who would not have been harmed had they revealed the conspiracy appropriately and in a timely fashion. They had to do this for the point to be made!

Brother: So, that's the point?

Coach: Yes!  Don't keep things in your chest that could harm others if not known.  Furthermore, don't commit to keeping information secret that could and will harm when not shared.

Brother: What about your other policy? 

Coach: What about it?

Brother: How did you arrive at that?

Coach: It's a complement to the first.  The first is incomplete without it.

Brother: How so?

Coach: Well, if I don't want to know information that would be entrusted to me for all the wrong reasons, wouldn't I want to be entrusted with information that should be held in confidence for all the right reasons?

Brother: Well, sure.  That makes perfect sense.

Coach: Good.  There are two types of information shared as secrets: That which can harm myself or others if held back and that which can harm myself or others if let out.

Brother:  Ah! I get it!  The former is an unholy alliance; the latter is a sacred trust.

Coach: Indeed!  And I only want to be involved in the receiving end of the latter; the former simply doesn't sit well with me at all and for the right reasons too.
 
Brother: But what if holding back information prevents someone from facing the harm brought about by the consequences of their actions being known?

Coach: That falls under the heading of unholy alliance.

Brother: How so?

Coach: Someone who withholds information to aid others in outrunning accountability is engaging in either illegal, unethical, immoral or non-spiritual actions.

Brother: That makes sense.  The harm is self-inflicted and withholding information only draws things out and delays the inevitable.

Coach: Yes, and when others are involved, it delays proper justice, thus harming those involved who deserve justice.

Brother: There's a lot to this sharing secrets that I had not considered.

Coach: There sure is.  Talks like this help bring things to light and invite us to consider things more in depth.

Brother: Indeed!

A Brother Asks: How can I Spot Craft Ruffians?

A Brother Asks: Coach!  I'm a bit frustrated and hurting.  I'm not liking what I'm seeing in and getting from some of my brothers. Could you give me a quick guide?  How can I spot Craft Ruffians?

My Response: Let me respond by providing you a quick and easy to use list of behaviors you can use to assess your Brothers should you want to identify them as Ruffians.

The Short List* for "You might be dealing with a Ruffian when he…"

1. You might be dealing with a Ruffian when he inaccurately and purposely misrepresents a Brother.
2. You might be dealing with a Ruffian when he bears false witness and intentionally misquotes a Brother’s words so that they reflect poorly upon that Brother.
3. You might be dealing with a Ruffian when he maligns, misrepresents or vilifies a Brother’s intentions.
4. You might be dealing with a Ruffian when he indignantly condemns a Brother’s Work.
5. You might be dealing with a Ruffian when he sabotages a Brother’s pursuits and endeavors and the support that others might provide him.
6. You might be dealing with a Ruffian when he attacks, belittles and berates the institutions and faiths with which a Brother is associated.
7. You might be dealing with a Ruffian when he dismisses a Brother’s education as being suspect and not what he would choose for himself.
8. You might be dealing with a Ruffian when he misleads others about a Brother based upon his own conjectures.
9. You might be dealing with a Ruffian when he silently and continuously endorses the assassination of a Brother’s character.
10. You might be dealing with a Ruffian when he purposefully deals with a Brother indirectly, deceitfully so and with malicious intent masked in righteousness.
11. You might be dealing with a Ruffian when he encourages and endorses social pressures intended to sway Brothers toward his will and pleasure by manipulating those who surround and influence his target.
12. You might be dealing with a Ruffian when he assures Brothers, by what he says and through what he does, that he mean others harm and he does so beyond any shadow of a heartfelt doubt.

F&S,

Brother John S Nagy
 
(*Based upon the Extensive Lists, Instructions and Works found within:
Building Ruffish - Uncommon Field Guide for Uncommon Masonic Education - Volume 6)



 

Dear Brother McCarthy...

Dear Brother McCarthy[1],

You have publicly condemned, put down and dismissed the honest observations, frustrations and criticisms of your Brothers.  You did so because you are far more concerned about and interested in how potential and existing members may view our organization than you are about properly addressing Brothers' legitimate thoughts and feelings about it.  I recommend that you focus upon effectively dealing with the issues, problems and challenges that these Brothers put forth instead of trying to kill the messengers.  The change in your manner and attitude toward them is more likely to produce positive results for all involved than the destruction which occurs when you sweep them away with your oppressive Broom of Harmony.

These Brothers that you wrongfully accuse, detrimentally label and aggressively belittle for speaking their minds and sharing their hearts take great pains to express their thoughts and feelings about the important issues, unaddressed problems and continuous challenges plaguing our organization and at times do so in the face of overwhelming societal pressures to remain silent and compliant.

I realize that you are tired of hearing what they have to share or are weary of how they share.  I know from your responses that you find their sharing draining upon your spirit because you truly have no real solutions for what they convey and don't want others to see these issues.  I understand that you are fed up with hearing their incessant chirping.  These are neither in dispute nor the focus of this letter. Your attitude and manner toward them is.  Neither helps in dealing with the real issues and you by your actions have created an unnecessary distraction that takes focus off what truly needs to be dealt with.

Moreover, by your focus and actions, you miss things of extreme importance!  These messengers are rich resources and role models who tell you and others volumes about the perceived mental, emotional and spiritual health of our organization.  They should be encouraged to continue to express themselves and to take appropriate actions that shall help them and others toward transforming our organization and our members toward the better. 

What's more is that they are not alone!  For every one of these Brothers who speak of these matters and in which you make effort to trivialize, demonize and distort by negatively labeling them, there are countless others who remain silent and eventually leave due to the very things that these men speak of and which continue unaddressed.

Keep in mind; many of our Brothers never got the training that our organization espouses and probably never will get it through normal channels if things remain as they are. Many haven't learned to subdue and circumscribe themselves to communicate in a way that is acceptable to you.  By no fault of their own they were encouraged to and allowed to Pass without completed Work.  They were never required to do any of this talked about but unoffered training.  As a result, they still have rough edges to them. 

Furthermore, many haven't learned how to elegantly evoke and apply the Trivium because such training simply was not required of them to be labeled "Masters" within our organization.  They are communicating the very best they can, they are doing so with extremely little to no organizational training and sometimes do so in the face of unnecessarily inconsiderate and intolerant opposition. 
 
Nevertheless!  They are our unsung heroes and we should not dismiss and put down their untempered voices, no matter how dissonant they may come across.  They have a truth to share and we should take notice not in its delivery, but in what truth is conveyed.

If you don't realize how important these voices are to our organization by now, let me put it to you in a way that I hope you might better understand: 

• Killing messengers hurts us all.  This was clearly and solidly exemplified by our Third Degree Drama!   Like yourself, the Ruffians didn't want to hear a messenger who a) delivered the truth, b) did so nine times over, and c) faced cruel opposition in doing so. 
• They used the demands of time to attack that messenger. They used the demands of morality to attack him further. They even used brute force in an effort to slam into place his compliance; all unsuccessfully.  They eventually killed the messenger of truth and buried what remained of him under a pile of Rubbish.  
• Our Society has never been the same!  More than just a messenger was lost; so was an important truth that mattered to the Craft.

There are countless messengers who are outspoken and even more that remain silent and who walk away from our organization. They do so for good reasons too.  When they do, they take their messages with them.  They do so in disenchanted, disillusioned, apathetic, indifferent and sometimes frustrated silence.  They see how others were treated when something was said that was deemed to be inappropriate and unwelcome by those who want all to turn a blind eye to issues, problems and troubles rather than do what is required to put them to rest, or at least to put systems into place to properly manage them. 

When they leave, their messages are lost too, that is, until such time that existing members rediscover them, usually buried deep within piles of Rubbish designed to hide them from view by those who would rather have them go unseen.  When these messages are eventually rediscovered by our members, their effluvia are usually so overwhelming that no one wants to deal with them. 

 I hope that you are never foolish enough to think that killing the messenger kills the message.  Wisdom tells us that message stench does not go away and that messages require action sooner or later.  Messages have a nasty habit of hanging around and pestering their targets one way or another until delivered. 

There are things though that are clear about your expressed view toward these messengers in all this:  

1. You are more concerned about the organization's superficial appearance to potential & existing members than you are concerned about existing members being driven off by unaddressed issues, dismissed problems and legitimate concerns.  
2. You are not above the behavior and attitude of Ruffians in your approach and results in dealing with Brothers.
3. Your manner and attitude tells me that you truly are not after the best interests of all involved. 

Before you are ever tempted to label messengers as "frustrated", "disillusioned", "jaded", "disenchanted", "disgruntled" or something else designed solely to color and thus dismiss or suppress their messages or oppress the messengers, know that the messengers you devalue love the Craft or they would not be invested in sharing these messages.  They are whole heartedly willing to bring things up and speak up, speak out and speak about things that are extremely difficult, awkward and uncomfortable to and for others.  They are likely more interested in what is best for the Craft than you could ever perceive.  They are better friends to the Craft than those who do and say nothing when doing and saying something is necessary or those who want so much not to hear them that they would rather kill the messengers than listen and engage in constructive discourse to better ends.

Perhaps this message to you about your dismissive manner and attitude toward these messengers is unwelcome by you.  Please know that your indirect message, your Ruffian methods and feigned concerns are clearly evident, seen and understood; even by those new to the Craft.  

Like those heroes of an earlier Freemasonic McCarthy era, know that some messengers shall not remain silent in response to your attempted censor, abhorrent mislabeling and implied slander.  They love the Craft far too much to be beaten into quiet, shameful and fearful submission.  They also love it so much that they have likely already forgiven you for your shortsighted views and destructive manners toward them. 

I recommend that you try to Earn their Forgiveness by Supporting them and our organization toward Betterment!

F&S,

Brother John S. Nagy

PS - Please feel free to share this in response to attacks, ad hominem or otherwise, or with anyone you know who is being attacked, bullied, labeled and oppressed because the message they share is viewed unfavorable to the Craft by those who object.

----------------------------------

[1] McCarthy:  The man to whom McCarthyism, the practice of making accusations of subversion or treason without proper regard for evidence. It also means "the practice of making unfair allegations or using unfair investigative techniques, especially in order to restrict dissent or political criticism, is attributed to for his wide and deep use of the same during his time as a national political oppressor and manipulator.

Grand Lodge AL Declares Open Season on Ruffians

Montgomery AL – In an effort to clear out the Rubbish from its Temple, the Grand Lodge of Alabama has declared open season on Ruffians.  The move is yet one more made by several Grand Lodges around the world and over the past few years to improve the quality of the Craft by reducing membership counts involving poor quality members.

When asked about the motives behind the move, Grand Master Art N. Cianse said, “Well, it should be obvious as to why we took this step in the right direction.  Good God!  Even our Ritual tells us how to deal with them!"  He took a deep breath and added, "But it took far too long a time for us to get around to doing it.”

When pressed further as to why this specific step was being taken and why now, Art replied, “Okay, Okay!  Let me put it kindly… we’re hearing terrible stuff from the Brothers, at least, from those not too dramatized to talk about it.  A whole lot of our members are being driven off by the Rubbish these rogues are throwing at them.” He paused and continued, “Seeing as there’s only one source of Rubbish that we know of, we’re aiming our sights quite literally on taking out the trash.  The fact that we're having some good old fashion Southern style fun at the same time is purely a way to increase the retention of who we truly want in the organization.”

You might ask: What does open season mean?

Right Worshipful Y. Dewy Bother seemed to have the skinny on the details.  “We’re real keen on having fun and most of us like hunting." He snickered and added, "We figured we'd kill two birds with one maul so to speak by allowing our Brothers to have a daily three bag limit on any Ruffians they can track down and…” he hesitated a little, looking for the politically correct words to express himself. “…well, let’s just say the rubbish will be removed from the Temple once this whole project gets underway.”

Worshipful Brother Bring M. Hoeme, a spokesman for the Grand Lodge welcoming committee said, “This will be a double boon for the fraternity.  The members we already have will no longer have to deal with the Trumpery these Ruffians pile and throw everywhere.  We will offer our newest members a discounted Grand Lodge Sanctioned Ruffian Hunting License incentive just for joining. Current members will get a two for one deal when they bring in candidates who want to participate.”

When old timer and Past Master Worshipful Brother Willy Listen was asked his thoughts on this, his only reply was, "I sure wish we had free license to do this in my day.  It would have made a world of difference for generations of men coming through."

For details on obtaining one of these Official Ruffian License, please contact your local Lodge Secretary.

F&S,

Brother John S. Nagy

PS -  If you're interested in a great Field Guide to the North American Ruffian, one that will show you how to identify them in their natural habitats, how to track them efficiently and deal with them more effectively, you can find it here.

 

 

Craft Admits Ruffians in Fold

Clef Rock, Jerusalem – In an unprecedented press conference held today outside the gates of what is believed to be the Temple of Solomon, leaders of Freemasonic Orders from around the world gathered to make an announcement that finally confirms suspicions long held about the Craft.  The suspicion?  That Ruffians fill the Craft rosters and some are violent, impetuous rogues.

Conference Chairman Drew Belum explained, “We needed to come clean, confront this issue head on and keep hitting it until it goes away." He quickly chided, "They simply want what they want when they want it and if we dare even allude to their actually earning what they demand, watch out!”

When asked by one of the reporters at the scene whether the rumors were true, Spokesman Heesa Cowan said quite candidly, “Yup!  We have ‘em in our midst. They’ve been with us since before anyone can remember.  The worse thing is their impact.  We occasionally have to clean up after them, especially when they make demands that can’t be met.”  He looked uncomfortable and added, “It’s pretty embarrassing too.  Every time they go all uncircumscribed, we end up having to replace another leader.  Do you know the cost of replacing leaders these days?”

Some don’t think a laid-back Brotherly approach was the best way to deal with the problem though.  Sol Wisemen of the conference board of directors was quite adamant about it.  He had this to say, “We need stricter penalties for these inconsiderate and impatient unruly rogues.  It doesn’t matter that they’re in the Craft or for how long.  It only matters that we treat them accordingly, like the immature entitled brats they are.  I say let them be the architects of their own demise.”

It’s not a surprise to some though. Craft Observer Hyta Freemen, an old timer who claims to have seen it all, shared this, “None of this is new.  All ya hafta do is look at the Craft’s history.  It ain’t no secret neither.  It’s been known in Craft circles for some time now that Fellow Crafts have long had a tendency for wantin' rewards and titles before they earn 'em.  In fact, our own statistics clearly show that three out of fifteen of 'em will go so far as to do violence against instructors they believe can give 'em what they want.  That’s a whopping twenty percent!” 

 

Readers might ask themselves, "What exactly are Ruffians?"  When queried, Brother and Lodge officer Taylor Doormen energetically retorted this, “Unfortunately, they’re Craft members who want what they have not truly earned and who demand it to the point of being violent toward those who they believe can provide it.”

 

It was clear from the general mood of those in attendance that there was a need to Raise awareness of this issue within the Craft.

 

F&S

 

Bro. John S. Nagy

 

-------------------------------

For more information about Ruffians and Ruffianoscopy, please contact a Local Freemasonic Lodge or pick up a convenient field guide like, “Building Ruffish” to learn more.

 

 

A Brother Asks: When Someone Posts Quoted Ritual?

OR: When you condemn something for being what you think is RITUAL and draw far more attention to it by your condemnation than what was posted!

A Brother Asks: Good Morning Coach.  What should a Brother do when another Brother quotes Ritual on line?
Coach: Great Question!  I’d make sure he’s actually quoting Ritual and not just putting something up that sounds like ritual.

REALITY CHECK

Brother: Whoa!  I had not thought about that!
Coach: Thought about what?
Brother: If what is quoted is actual Ritual.
Coach: Yes.  Many Brothers react rather than respond to things that look like quoted Ritual.
Brother: React rather than respond? What’s the difference?

REACT vs RESPOND

Coach: Reacting requires little to no thought about what you have before you and giving even less thought about what you do about it.
Brother: And responding?
Coach:  Responding requires you actually think deeply about what is before you and treat your next actions with equally deep thought.
Brother: Would you give an example of reacting please?

EXAMPLE

Coach: Sure. It’s when you quickly jump to conclusions about what you think you know about what you think you're seeing or what you think you're being asked. You cause more damage to relationships than you could ever begin to imagine by taking actions that are inappropriate to the real situation rather than the imagined one.
Brother: I mean a real life example.
Coach: Okay. Here’s a case in point.  A Brother quoted that we are first made Masons in our hearts.
Brother: But we are!
Coach: Perhaps, but he quoted it like it this was in Ritual.
Brother: Well, isn’t it?
Coach: It is not.
Brother: Wait!  I see this claim all the time and one Brother after another responds like it is in Ritual.
Coach: Yes. I have seen this as well.
Brother: Well, what do you do when you see this?
Coach: I let the Brother know that he is not quoting Ritual and recommend he investigate it further.

TWO PATHS

Brother: What happens next?
Coach: Usually one of two things.
Brother: The first?
Coach: He responds by saying he needs to look into it and he then goes away and investigates.
Brother: Then?
Coach: He eventually comes back, agrees with me and thanks me for giving him the incentive to explore the claim further.
Brother: Good times!
Coach: For sure!
Brother: What about the second?
Coach: He reacts by immediately disagreeing, sometimes officiously. He doesn’t investigate at all and then tries to bully me and others into accepting his claim, even though I and others know it’s false.
Brother: This reflects very poorly upon the Craft.
Coach: Indeed.  However, you’ll get this every time you advance anyone who doesn’t do even the bare minimum Work required to advance properly.
Brother: Can you provide another example, one more subtle and not so obvious?
Coach: Sure. At first glance a meme I posted recently*, one of many, appeared to be quoting Ritual. 
Brother: Yikes! Appeared to but it was not actually a real quote?
Coach: Exactly!  The operative phrase here is “appeared”.

APPEARANCES CAN BE DECEIVING

Brother: What happened?
Coach:  As you might have guessed, lots of reactions! 
Brother: I can imagine!
Coach: And at first glance, if you think it was quoting Ritual, you'll purposefully mislead yourself into thinking that it was, especially when you don't know your Ritual.
Brother: You mean, without actually comparing to Ritual what was quoted, you’ll jump to a false conclusion?
Coach: Yes! 
Brother: But what you are saying is that the meme that was posted was NOT quoting any Ritual on the face of this earth or any Ritual known to man?
Coach: Exactly!  In truth, the quote was made up to purposefully provoke deep thought about what Ritual was actually saying and doing so without actually quoting Ritual.
Brother: Are you saying that it was "f-a-b-r-i-c-a-t-e-d"!

CREATING OPPORTUNITIES TO THINK (or not)

Coach: Yes!  It was created to purposefully give the impression that it was quoting Ritual, even though it was not.
Brother: But if you know your Ritual, you’ll immediately spot this fabrication and recognize what the meme was really doing, or at least offering. 
Coach: Yes, you'll know the intent. However, if you truly do not know your Ritual, you’ll still believe it was quoting Ritual and jump to false conclusions.
Brother: Wouldn’t that make a jumper look foolish?
Coach: Yes. Well, at least in the eyes of those who know better.
Brother: Is this one of the reasons it is SO important to memorize your catechisms?
Coach:  Yes!  Memorization lays the foundation for knowing Ritual and it prevents you from being shown as foolish for assuming people are quoting Ritual, especially when they are not.
Brother: And when you don't know your Ritual, you'll jump to falsely supported conclusions that are embarrassingly wrong for and to all involved.
Coach: I agree!  When you don't know your Ritual, and think you do, you're compelled by a false notion that others are quoting Ritual, or anything that sounds like Ritual.  You'll take damaging action on wrong conclusions and do so in wrong directions. 

UGLY AFTERMATH

Brother: And you'll be an embarrassment to yourself, to others and to the Craft as a whole. 
Coach: Yes. Your actions will also destroy the trust of your Brothers and lead others to take damaging action that'll rip the very fabric of what makes this fraternity special.
Brother: Wow!  I can also see that you'll show yourself to be a person who doesn't think much about your Fraternity, especially when you make effort to correct a Brother in public, rather than private, as is the way of all Brothers who follow our principles.
Coach: Sadly, yes.  And the shame you bring about by your actions will be upon you and the Craft.
Brother: WOW!  Thinking twice before you take for granted what is being quoted in any meme and what is really being said or asked helps prevent misunderstandings is sure important. 
Coach:  Yes.  It’s important to understand that the first time you read the words within any meme may actually be right then and there, where it is posted for you to see.
Brother: Are you saying that you may likely NEVER have ever heard the meme's quoted phrase stated in Ritual or at any other time before that moment it was revealed to you?
Coach: That is exactly what I am saying.
Brother: Yikes! 
Coach: Yes, that’s a shocker for sure.
Brother: But if the meme did its job, got you to think, you might just pay closer attention the next time you do hear Ritual, especially the part you thought you heard, and remember it the right way and not the way the meme presented it.
Coach: One can only hope.
Brother: And hopefully, as a result, you'll also be less likely to embarrass yourself and your Brothers when you make effort to correct him for something he didn't do.
Coach: Yes.

BUT…

Brother: But what about when a Brother actually does quote Ritual?
Coach: Good! I’m glad you want us to tackle this part of your question.
Brother: Hey!  I am paying attention Coach!
Coach: Yes, you are. Kudos!
Brother: Thanks!  ...Well?
Coach: If they are actually quoting Ritual, there are a number of things you do NOT want to do, ever!
Brother: Like?
Coach: Like stating publically that a person is quoting Ritual!
Brother: But why the heck not? Isn’t it our duty to tell him or call him out on it?
Coach: It is our duty to inform him when we believe he is straying, but only after we have done our due diligences to assure we are not approaching him with righteous indignation that is misdirected and wholly unwarranted.
Brother: Okay, this goes back to responding rather than reacting.
Coach: Yes.  And furthermore, you want to do this in private, out of ear and eye shot of the public to make sure that you give your brother every opportunity to understand why you are approaching him and to verify your suspicions. 
Brother: But that would mean you’d have to actually practice the principles of Freemasonry.
Coach: What good are these principles if you only give them lip-service and not apply them in your daily dealings, especially when it comes to possibly accusing your Brother of something you misunderstood?
Brother: Okay. I see your point. 
Coach: Good!

WRAP-UP

Brother: So, one of the things you don’t want to do is publically confront or accuse. Got it!
Coach: Yes... and?
Brother: And the other thing you don’t want to do is not practice Fraternal principles when you are doing your due diligence.  Sure!  Whisper counsel, but before you do, make sure it applies!
Coach: Exactly! 
Brother: Anything else?
Coach: Yes, if he is actually quoting Ritual, don’t assume the Ritual he is quoting is your Ritual.
Brother: Huh?
Coach: There’s a high probability that your Brother is not doing anything wrong and that what is being quoted may actually be Ritual used by a jurisdiction that is publically open about its Ritual or part of an unused Ritual that is in the public domain.
Brother: Wait! What?
Coach: Yes, there are Rituals throughout the world that are printed in total, (except for specific words).
Brother: Really?
Coach: Yes. And there are a whole bunch of Rituals that are in the public domain that are not used in recognized jurisdictions.
Brother: You mean that they’re obsolete?
Coach: Yes.
Brother: So, quoting things that are Ritual like, from already in print Rituals and unused Rituals is fair game?
Coach: Yes. The first is not quoting Ritual. The second is quoting something that is allowed to be quoted since it is both not a secret and publically accessible. The last is quoting something that is publically accessible, no longer in use and not secret.
Brother: What about discussing it?
Coach: Discussions that don’t reveal any secrets are fair game too. 
Brother: And the things you want to do here when you are still driven to approach a posting Brother on a concern?
Coach: Research, investigate, do your due diligence and make sure you approach the Brother in private so that you understand fully rather than assume and accuse in ignorance.
Brother: Anything more?

IRONIC SECRETS

Coach: Yes.  When Brothers take what is posted into the realm of actually discussing secrets, in your view, caution them in private.
Brother: You mean, don’t post on the thread conversation words that say to the world, “you are discussing secrets” or “you’re quoting Ritual”.
Coach: Exactly! Doing so draws the very undue attention about which you’re cautioning your Brothers.
Brother: In other words, in trying to warn your Brothers about violating their obligations, you’re violating your obligations.
Coach: Yes.  An ironic twist in results that those who are doing the warning never realize that they are themselves doing by pointing things out publically.
Brother: Can you provide an example?
Coach: Sure. I posted a title of a book years ago. And some well-meaning Brother pointed out immediately that I was posting one of our secret words, that I should never write that word and that I was violating my obligation.
Brother: Yes, I can see the irony in this.
Coach: Good!  Unfortunately, he didn't and had he just not said anything that posted book title would have gone totally unnoticed by anyone who didn’t know the connection.
Brother: But he pointed it out, stated the connection and anyone reading the thread who didn’t know, was therefore informed about something they would have not known had he simply remained quiet.
Coach: Yes. Some well-meaning Brothers are worse enemies to the Craft than anti-masons.
Brother: And they take these damaging actions all in the name of virtuously protecting the honor of the Craft.
Coach: Ironic, isn’t it?
Brother: Yes.

WHAT IFS

Coach: So, let’s get back to your question.
Brother: Okay.
Coach: What should you do when things are being quoted that are suspiciously ritualistic in nature.
Brother: Don’t react!
Coach: Yeah, that’s a good start.
Brother: Think it through.
Coach: Yes! 
Brother: Make sure it’s actually Ritual that is protected and not something that only sounds like Ritual, is not protected in other jurisdictions or not some unused public domain Ritual that has nothing to do with your Ritual.
Coach: Yes!
Brother: If I feel what is being shared warrants actions, approach the poster, if he is a Brother, through any private means possible first, and, if it’s impossible to do so directly, try to get a trusted close Brother to do the same through private means.
Coach: And what if the poster is not a Brother?
Brother: Ignore it and move on.
Coach: Why?
Brother: Because it is being posted by a profane individual and that does not warrant further action, unless it is your thread.
Coach: What if it is on your thread?
Brother: I'd have to think about it... I would probably delete it and block the individual as a Cowan or Eavesdropper, especially when what is being put forth is an attempt to stir the pot and gather undeserved Light.

DON'T MAKE THINGS WORSE

Coach: That makes sense. But what if it is a Brother who is posting?
Brother: If I have exhausted all private means, I'd approach the Brother directly in the post and ask him to contact me for a private discussion, giving him every chance to do so in a considerate and timely manner.
Coach: And if all avenues are closed to this?
Brother: Don't post anything more...
Coach: Like?
Brother: Like "I'm uncomfortable discussing...", "We shouldn't be discussing..." or "Remember your obligation..."
Coach: Why?
Brother: Because doing so may lead profane readers to conclusions about what was posted we don't want them to have.
Coach: Agree! And your next move?
Brother: Just that... ...move on and turn it over to someone who may have more success with him.
Coach: Why?
Brother: Because making a public scene does far more damage to the Craft than what was posted.
Coach: Agreed. 
Brother: Good Lord! This is some heavy stuff!
Coach: Indeed!  It separates out the Masters from the Ruffians for sure.
Brother: Agreed!

 

* UPDATE: A meme that I reposted 4 years later with similar results. Some things never change.