April 29, 2009 - OUTDOOR DEGREE

We held an outdoor Master Mason degree with dispensation from the Grand Master. This is the third year in a row we've conducted an outdoor degree, and every year it gets bigger and better. This year, we did a joint degree with Sutherland Lodge No. 174, our neighbor to the north of us and my old Lodge where I served as WM in 2003.

A crowd of over 60 Master Masons were on hand representing ten Tampa Bay Lodges, including representatives from Districts 20, 21, and 22. There were also visiting Brothers from lodges in Maryland, Massachusetts, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Ontario.

I have been receiving congratulatory remarks from the Brethren who attended the degree; for example, "What an outstanding night of fellowship; great degree work and a beauty of a night."

To read more about the event and see pictures from it, click HERE.

Although I have been involved with many such degrees in the past, and I heartily recommend them as a way of stimulating the Craft, it requires considerable organization, planning, and follow-up. As for me, I developed a checklist which helped me assign responsibilities and communicate it to the Craft (I would e-mail it out to the Brethren). I have checklists for all
three degrees, but an outdoor degree requires a little extra planning. Anyway, here is the checklist I used last night; I hope you find it useful:

MM CHECKLIST (Effective: 04/22/3009)
==============================================================
MM DEGREE: Wednesday, April 29, 2009, 7:00PM

CANDIDATE(S):

LOCATION: (address)

REHEARSAL: 7:00pm - Monday, April 13th @ Lodge

ASSIGNMENTS:

1ST SECTION

WM -
SW -
JW -
Trs -
Sec -
CH -
Mar -
SD -
JD -
SS -
JS -
Tyl -
Con -

2ND SECTION

KS -
GSW -
GJW -
Trs -
Sec -
Cha -
Mar -
SD -
JD -
SS -
JS -
TY -

RUF1 -
RUF2 -
RUF3 -

FC10 -
FC11 -
FC12 -

9 FC -

SC/WFM-


Lecture -
Charge -
Bible Pres -

Dress: 1st section -
2nd section -

Props: Trowell, Senior Deacon's tool;
Slips of paper with names of Brothers;
Slips of paper with MM song; Bibles

Bible Passage: Ecclesiastes Chapter 12

Refreshment: Before the degree and brief one at Half Time

MATERIALS

ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS

Dispensation
Request for Courtesy Work
Sign-In Sheets
Master Bible & Square/Compasses
Bibles
Dues Cards
MM Booklets
Names of Candidates
Minutes (template)
Funeral Dirge - paper
American Flag (and anchor)

COOKING & PARKING ITEMS

Safety Vests
Barbecue
Folding table from Lodge
Cooking Implements
Hot Dogs, Hamburgers, Condiments
Refreshments + Ice
Donation Basket
Garbage Bags & Cans

DEGREE ITEMS

Lighter for 3 great lights
Costumes
JW's Jewell
Square & 24" gauge
White Gloves
Low Twelve Gong
Secretary's Scroll
Altar + Cover
Knee Rests
Lesser Lights/Tiki Torches
Mite Box
WM-SW-JW Podiums & Gavels
SD-JD-SS-JS Rods & Holders
Wooden Rod Tappers (floor)
Senior Deacon tool
Aprons & Jewels
Visitor aprons
Working Tools
Lawn Chairs

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

Music - Prelude & Half Time & End
Photographers
Lodge Room Setup
Parking -
Cooking -


I hope this helps you. As an aside, I have also learned to review and update the checklist following a degree in oreder to improve it.

Until next time.

All the Best,
Tim Bryce, PM, MPS, MMBBFMN
timb001@phmainstreet.com
Dunedin Lodge No. 192 F.& A.M.
http:/www.dunedin192.org/
Dunedin, FL, USA
"For the Good of the Order"