Mass Degree/Order Conferrals

In Freemasonry, there are differing opinions on the efficacy of mass degree conferrals, which may occur in larger events (such as festivals) where Masons from multiple jurisdictions get together to confer the degrees of Masonry due to there not being enough cast members to perform the ceremony in each local jurisdiction. This may occur in Craft Masonry with a Grand Master's class (provided that the candidate has already been initiated an Entered Apprentice and only with cast members belonging to that grand lodge's jurisdiction) or in appendant/concordant bodies (i.e. the Scottish Rite, the York Rite, etc.; may include cast members from multiple grand jurisdictions).

In Craft Masonry, I received each degree with at last 1 month in between each as indicated in my list of the degrees/orders I've received. However, as indicated in the same list, I also received all* York Rite degrees/orders within the space of two days. I have therefore had the pleasure of experiencing degrees both ways; they each have their advantages and their disadvantages. There are likely far more than what I list hereafter; the following are only what personally come to mind:

Advantages - Time Between Degrees

• In order to move on to the next degree, the candidate must prove himself proficient in the degree he has already attained. This leads to the candidate developing a foundational knowledge in order to better understand the ceremony he next experiences.
• The candidate learns Masonic etiquette, thereby equipping him better to visit foreign jurisdictions for once he becomes a full member.
• The candidate and the members of the lodge/group get to know each other between degrees. By the time the candidate has received the final degree, he has already established a rapport with the members of the lodge/group; he hopefully has developed friendships and has confidence in them, just as they hopefully have with him.
• The candidate can participate in small roles for other candidates' ceremonies that he himself has already experienced.

Disadvantages - Time Between Degrees

• An event or a series of events (i.e. lodge members getting sick, etc.) may occur that prevents a lodge from coming together at the planned date to confer the degree.
• The candidate and/or lodge members may have to travel far to get to the lodge for each degree ceremony.

Advantages - Mass Degree Conferrals

• A candidate whose job and/or school prevents him from attending regularly could receive the degrees in a matter of days; he can pass off his proficiency on other dates as allowed by his lodge, grand lodge, or appendant/concordant group's jurisdiction.
• Areas that do not have enough cast members can send their candidates to such classes/festivals; this gives potential to grow a local area's cast members for the degrees.
• A candidate or cast member may need to travel far; however, he will only need to travel once in order to obtain the degrees for which he has been elected to receive.
• For classes/festivals that draw degree teams/cast members from multiple states, one gets to see each degree's ritual performed differently every year if one wishes to return.

Disadvantages - Mass Degree Conferrals

• Experiencing one degree ceremony already feels like taking sips from a fire hose; however, degree ceremony after degree ceremony all day (especially for multiple days for the appendant/concordant groups) can feel overwhelming.
• Regarding such classes/festivals for appendant groups, the candidate may not be able to get to know cast members or fellow candidates, especially in events for candidates and degree teams from multiple states.
• The candidate must learn proper etiquette on-the-fly with his local lodge or local appendant/concordant group(s).
• There may be travel expenses (i.e. food, gas, hotel, etc.).

As a Christian, I believe that The Holy Bible gives us good counsel in Ecclesiastes 3:1, which reads:

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

I think that, in general, such classes/festivals should be the exception, not the rule. However, I do believe that such classes/festivals have their place where and when necessary.

I received the York Rite degrees/orders at the Colorado River Fall Festival in October 2019; I'm headed back this coming October 2021 (pandemic conditions permitting) as a cast member for the Illustrious Order of the Red Cross, for which I am very excited.

                                                                                    

[*] Except for the Super Excellent Master degree in Cryptic Masonry, which I hope to attain in October 2021.