The Midnight Freemasons: Master Craftsman Continues After Two Years

Master Craftsman Continues After Two Years

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

Robert H. Johnson

The last time I wrote about the Scottish Rite Master Craftsman Program was a little more than two years ago. It's hard to believe it's been that long. It was right around the time they decided to switch things up a bit. Master Craftsman 1 became part 2, part 2 became part 3 and the new program based on the symbolic lodge (the first three degrees) and using Albert Pike's Esoterika was made into part 1. It made sense, a natural progression of sorts.

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Program I: The Symbolic Lodge - What I hope to do next

Program II: Scottish Rite Ritual and History - What I did first, because it used to be part 1

Program III: Scottish Rite Philosophy - What I'm on now because it used to be part 2.

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So, two years ago I finished Master Craftsman pt. 1 (now part 2) and surely I'v completed the rest right? Well, I have no trouble telling you that upon completion of the then first installment of the program, (based on the AASR SJ degrees) I bought and sent in for Master Craftsman pt 2, (the deeper philosophy of those degrees - more essay question answers etc.). I was really excited to start it. But...I didn't. It sat in my secretary for a while. How long? What if I told you I just mailed in the first quiz for grading? Yep, that's right. I waited two years to start the damn thing.

It's been a long time and it also took a bit longer to get in the swing of writing essays based on questions that were pretty well constructed to make us explore some of those deep meanings. I wrote out my essays in cursive script on nice paper, folded them up along with my quiz sheet and mailed them in yesterday morning. I have to say it feels good to get that thing back in the mail.

Now I have no idea what they will say when they receive it. Undoubtedly, they will likely laugh at the fact it took me two years (a little more actually), to get the quiz back to them. When I get the next installment, I will try to place a deadline on it, one a month so that I can complete MC2 (now MC3) in a reasonable amount of time. Once I finish this one, I will definitely start MC1, based on Esoterika. I just hope it doesn't take me another 2 years to start it.

Check out all the info on the programs by clicking the link HERE

~RHJ

3 comments:

DesmoLightNovember 3, 2017 at 8:40 AM
Hilarious, Brother Robert. I started Part 2 a few days ago. I have sit on it for nearly 2 years myself. But it is a fantastic course, I just lost my way to more light! Time to get busy on Part 2
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Patrick MasonNovember 3, 2017 at 11:33 AM
Rejoice in returning back to it Brother. I ordered MC1 in 2011 and finished it in 2017! In that time, however, I was deployed once (still active Army), earned a bachelor's degree, and finished a Master's degree. My point is there's no shame as long as we continued to work on the rough ashlar within us. I'm choosing the new MC1 before moving on to MC3. I hope it will contain significant study of the 2nd degree. I've always been fascinated by that degree's practical applications. - Patrick Mason, 32° KCCH
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UnknownNovember 6, 2017 at 8:50 AM
Brother Johnson,

If I may make a small correction to your post. Master Craftsman II (or part 2 in your post) was discontinued, it did not become Master Craftsman III. The original programs we MC I (now Scottish Rite History & Ritual), MC II (discontinued), MC III (now Symbolic Lodge) and in 2015 at the Biennial Session we released MC Philosophy (what people refer to as MC IV).

If I may add, here are the books required for the programs

Symbolic Lodge: Albert Pike's Esoterika & Excerpts from Arturo d Hoyos' Scottish Rite Ritual Monitor & Guide
Scotish Rite History & Ritual: Arturo de Hoyos' Scottish Rite Ritual Monitor & Guide and A Bridge to Light
Philosophy: Albert Pike's Morals & Dogma Annotated by Arturo de Hoyos and A Bridge to Light

All these can be purchased at www.scottishritestore.org

Thank you for spreading the word about our program.

Cordially & Fraternally,

Stuart C. Pool 32°
Master Craftsman Program Manager
Assistant to the Director of History, Heritage & Education
Supreme Council, 33° | Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, SJ, USA
1733 16th St, NW | Washington, DC 20009-3103
Direct: 202-777-3198 | www.scottishrite.org
Email: spool@scottishrite.org
7 am – 5 pm, Monday – Thursday | Closed Friday

Scottish Rite Master Craftsman Program
Scientia Est Potentia | Knowledge Is Power
Learn more: https://scottishrite.org/members/masonic-education/srmc/
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Master Craftsman Continues After Two Years

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