Learning Masonic Ritual: The Simple, Systematic and Successful Way to Master the Work Paperback – June 12, 2013

A reasonably short read that presents a memorization system that works. While focused on tacking the long monologues that appear in the degree rituals for officers, I was also able to apply it to memorizing the "long form" proficiency required for the degrees in my state. He emphasizes how to memorize optimally, with less effort, and setting a schedule. And most importantly, scheduling time to not only have the words down, but also to work on presentation and NOT BEING BORING.While actors use phone apps like "Script Rehearser" to memorize their lines, there are some particular requirements for masons that make that unworkable. But it's also true that the rituals have been memorized word for word for hundreds of years before us, and previous masons built a lot of memory hooks built into the ritual texts, including passages with alliteration, rhymes, and patterns of letters. Part of the fun of masonry is finding these patterns as you memorize the ritual words.The author touches on this as much as he is able to in the untyled forum of a book available to the public while still maintaining masonic secrets, and there are no spoilers that would make lower degree masons avoid this book.Faced with memorizing 16 pages of dialog in cypher text was intimidating. Smith's book gave me the tools to handle that, and succeed, without stressing out, and having a realistic idea of how long I would need to work to get it down and sound natural.

Added new methods to memorizing.

This book was written mostly for brothers working under the Grand Lodge of England, so the terms used for the various parts of the work, as well as some of the officers' titles can be confusing to those of us in the southern U.S., but Brother Smith still delivers a good lecture on both the joys and importance of the ritual, as well as an effective means to help learn and polish your parts. My mentor took me by a slightly different path, but I still recognized some of the things they made me do; this book offered more light on why to do it that way, and some options to improve the process. An excellent essay, and we'll worth the modest price.

Thank You Brother Rick! This book helped me to learn the Third Degree quicker than I learned the first two degrees without it. The way the techniques are presented and the order in which they are laid out, helped me to accomplish my goal of reaching the East much faster. I will be purchasing a book for each member of my line in 2017. I highly, VERY HIGHLY recommend this book for anyone wanting to learn the Ritual Work!

This book is not a long read. It could have been shorter. The method described is simple and one that I already employ. What I was looking for in the reviews and feel that should be noted is this book is written for Craft Masonry in England. Would I have know I would have perhaps not purchased it as most of the information relayed in this publication does not relate to North American Masonry though similar it is very different. You may be better served by a how to memorize.....poetry book or mind palace. Kindle version was not over priced and a good value for what it is.

An extremely useful book for any sincere Mason who wish to deliver the best pieces for his Lodge. Rick has unveiled practical secrets that could unleash the fullest potential of any ordinary Mason into a star Ritualist. If you're looking for just ordinary learning tips and boring advice on mastering masonic ritual, this book is NOT FOR YOU.

This was very enlightening and I have learned many good lessons and organization skills to follow. I would recommend this book to any of my brother's who are interested in learning rituals. Thank you for all the pointers.

THANK YOU VERY HELP FULLMARIA

Enjoyed reading this book to implement some of the learning techniques

Excellent

It’s a very good read

Having a mechanical background I found the layout and structure of the book very easy to read and understand. Through your company, I would like to contact the author to gain permission to use part of this material at a Lodge lecture. Is this at all possible.

Quite simply it's as it says on the tin. Bite size chunks are offered for your daily advancement and it's pretty manageable, I think!