Grand Lodge policies on one day classes

1 or 2 Day Craft Degree Conferrals

Thanks are due to Greg Myers of Maine, who helped supply some of the information on this chart, based on information he received from other jurisdictions.

I am attempting to compile all details about U.S. Grand Lodges’ use of 1-Day Classes to confer the EA, FC, and MM degrees. The only purpose for compiling this information is to make it available to Masons throughout the U.S. so we can all have better knowledge about what other jurisdictions do.

If anyone wants to send me email, especially if any of the information on this chart is not correct or if you know of additional information that should be included, please send me email by clicking on my email address: paulb’at’bessel.org 

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The following, from the Washington State Grand Lodge Proceedings for 2001 (pages 50-52, Grand Secretary’s report), will probably be of interest:

“The good news is that the number of Entered Apprentice Degrees conferred in the year 2000 was 14% greater than in 1999. The bad news about the good news is that we still do an absolutely abysmal job of getting men from the Entered Apprentice Degree through the Fellowcraft Degree and then raised as Master Masons. . . . Of those 458 men who took their Entered Apprentice Degree in 2000, . . . only 62 were raised as Master Masons. . . .the year 2000 was . . . pretty average . . .

“You may regard one-day conferrals with unabashed horror, but I have to tel you that one-day conferrals succeed where our Lodges fail, for several reasons:

(1) The quality of the work is uniformly good.

(2) The candidates are placed in an environment where they are assured of success and generally free from criticism.

(3) The instruction offered candidates between degrees is generally to the point, well delivered, and does not give the candidate any opportunity to slide off into the distant world.

“. . . The one-day conferral is a lot like going through basic training with a rather kindly SDI. And that is why it works. Most Lodges virtually ignore candidates between Degrees. As a generality we put emphasis on the presentation of the material. That is, we focus all of our attention on the ability of the guy conferring the Degree, giving the lecture . . . Many of them do a flawless job but the real purpose of the exercise is to communicate to and with the candidate what Masonry is all about and how he – the candidate – fits in the Lodge. In the one-day conferral the candidate is surrounded by people, made to feel important, and humanely indoctrinated in the tenets of Masonry. . . . the rate at which one day Degree recipients proved up exceeded the rate at which Lodge conferrals proved up. I would earnestly recommend, therefore, that at least four one day conferrals be scheduled annually.”

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Additional details are shown below the following chart

Alabama
From 1998 Proceedings:
Rejected a resolution that would have permitted a weekend program to advance EA’s and FC’s who had not advanced for 1 year or more.

Alaska
The Grand Lodge website says the following resolution will be voted on at the Grand Lodge session April 7-10, 1999, in Fairbanks:
Resolution 99-1
To Amend Chapter 20 – Conferring of Degrees
To the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Alaska:
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: To allow the Grand Master to hold a One-Day Ritual Class.
RESOLUTION:
WHEREAS, the rush, rush pace of today’s society is very demanding on our time; and,
WHEREAS, most of our Lodge have experienced a dramatic decline in their membership of the past two decades; and,
WHEREAS, many of our candidates have been unable to complete their degrees in a timely manner; and,
WHEREAS, many Grand Lodges throughout the United States have started having One-Day Ritual Classes to help build their membership; and,
WHEREAS, many professional people, business leaders, political leaders, etc., do not have time in their busy work schedules to learn the Posting Lectures of our Ritual;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that Section 20.01 of the Alaska Masonic Code which now reads:
Section 20.01 Bylaw
DEGREES, LIMIT ON CONFERRING. A Lodge may confer degrees upon not more than fifteen candidates in any one calendar day. It may not confer a degree or portion of a degree upon more than one candidate at a time except that the Lectures, including the Middle Chamber Lecture, and the Charges may be delivered to more than one candidate at a time. The first and second sections of each degree must be conferred on the same calendar day.
be amended to read:
Section 20.01 Bylaw
DEGREES, LIMIT ON CONFERRING. A Lodge may confer degrees upon not more than fifteen candidates in any one calendar day. It may not confer a degree or portion of a degree upon more than one candidate at a time except that the Lectures, including the Middle Chamber Lecture, and the Charges may be delivered to more than one candidate at a time. The first and second sections of each degree must be conferred on the same calendar day. The provisions of this paragraph may be waived by the Grand Master for the purpose of conducting a “One-Day Ritual Class.” (See Section 20.121)
And, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that Section 20.06 of the Alaska Masonic Code which now reads:
Section 20.06 Bylaw
DEGREES, INTERVAL BETWEEN. Without dispensation, a Lodge may not confer either the Second Degree or the Third Degree on a candidate in less than two weeks from the time of conferring the preceding degree. The Grand Master may grant a dispensation to confer the Second Degree or Third Degree within less than two weeks upon a member of the Armed Services of the United States, including the Air Force and Coast Guard, or upon a Brother changing his home to a distant locality. No such dispensation is effective unless the Master of the Lodge asking for such dispensation is satisfied the candidate is proficient in the preceding degree; as is provided in Section 20. 11.
be amended to read:
Section 20.06 Bylaw
DEGREES, INTERVAL BETWEEN. Without dispensation, a Lodge may not confer either the Second Degree or the Third Degree on a candidate in less than two weeks from the time of conferring the preceding degree. The Grand Master may grant a dispensation to confer the Second Degree or Third Degree within less than two weeks upon a member of the Armed Services of the United States, including the Air Force and Coast Guard, or upon a Brother changing his home to a distant locality. No such dispensation is effective unless the Master of the Lodge asking for such dispensation is satisfied the candidate is proficient in the preceding degree; as is provided in Section 20. 1 1. The provisions of this Paragraph may be waived by the Grand Master for the purpose of conducting a “One-Day Ritual Class.” (See Section 20.12)
And, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that Section 20. 1 1 of the Alaska Masonic Code which now reads:
Section 20.11 Bylaw
PROFICIENCY IN THE DEGREES. A candidate may not be passed to the degree of Fellowcraft, nor raised to the Sublime Degree of a Master Mason without proof of proficiency in the preceding degree. This may be done by either: 1. memorization and recital of the Standard Proficiency as detailed in the Standard Work Cipher of this Jurisdiction; or, 2. by completion of a written Study Guide provided by the Grand Secretary as an education in Freemasonry and the memorizing and recital of the obligation of each degree as the Brother progresses through the degrees.
The choice of proficiency method shall be made by the Worshipful Master of the Lodge, and can be changed as the situation may dictate.
If option (1) is selected, the Standard Proficiency may be done by examination in open Lodge or by a committee appointed by the Master of the Lodge to examine such Candidate. If option (2) is selected, the completed written Study Guide is reviewed by the Master of the Lodge or a Committee of one or more members of the Lodge and if completed correctly the Brother is declared proficient by the Master and may progress to the next degree. The obligation of each degree must be given in accordance with the provisions in (1) above. The signs, tokens, and words must also be demonstrated at the same time.
After the Brother is declared proficient in the Degree of Master Mason by the Master of the Lodge, he must then sign the Bylaws of the Lodge and pay his dues for the current year. This may be done:
(1) immediately following the examination if the Brother was examined in open Lodge: or,
(2) at the next Stated Communication of the Lodge if the Brother was examined by a committee or if he selected the written Study Guide.
He then becomes an enrolled member of that Lodge. (Section revised 1988, 1990, 1992)
be amended to read:
Section 20.11 Bylaw
PROFICIENCY IN THE DEGREES. A candidate may not be passed to the degree of Fellowcraft, nor raised to the Sublime Degree of a Master Mason without proof of proficiency in the preceding degree. This may be done by either:
1 . memorization and recital of the Standard Proficiency as detailed in the Standard Work Cipher of this Jurisdiction; or,
2. by completion of a written Study Guide provided by the Grand Secretary as an education in Freemasonry and the memorizing and recital of the obligation of each degree as the Brother progresses through the degrees.
The choice of proficiency method shall be made by the Worshipful Master of the Lodge, and can be changed as the situation may dictate.
If option (1) is selected, the Standard Proficiency may be done by examination in open Lodge or by a committee appointed by the Master of the Lodge to examine such Candidate. If option (2) is selected, the completed written Study Guide is reviewed by the Master of the Lodge or a Committee of one or more members of the Lodge and if completed correctly the Brother is declared proficient by the Master and may progress to the next degree. The obligation of each degree must be given in accordance with the provisions in (1) above. The signs, tokens, and words must also be demonstrated at the same time.
After the Brother is declared proficient in the Degree of Master Mason by the Master of the Lodge, he must then sign the Bylaws of the Lodge and pay his dues for the current year. This may be done:
(1) immediately following the examination if the Brother was examined in open Lodge: or,
(2) at the next Stated Communication of the Lodge if the Brother was examined by a committee or if he selected the written Study Guide.
He then becomes an enrolled member of that Lodge. (Section revised 1988, 1990, 1992)
The provisions of this paragraph may be waived by the Grand Master for the purpose of conducting a “One-Day Ritual Class.” (See Section 20.12)
And, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that Section 20. 12 of the Alaska Masonic Code be added to read:
Section 20.12 Bylaw
One-Day Ritual Class. The Grand Master may, at his option, authorize a One-Day Ritual class(es), using the following guidelines:
1. All candidates for the class must have petitioned and been elected by a Lodge in this Jurisdiction as outlined in Chapter 19 of the Alaska Masonic Code;
2. One Blue Lodge will be selected, by the Grand Master, to act as Host Lodge for the One-Day Class. Candidates from Lodges other than the Host Lodge will be handled as courtesy candidates;
3. All three degrees (E.A,, F.C. & M.M.) will be presented in full form during the One-Day Class;
4. Proficiency at the conclusion of the One-Day Class will consist, minimally, of the modes of recognition (step, due guard and sign, grip and word) of each Degree. A candidate who passes said minimal proficiency will be declared proficient by the Worshipful Master of his Lodge. The candidate must sign the Bylaws of his Lodge and Day the current year’s dues. Be then becomes an enrolled member of that Lodge. (A candidate who wishes to go beyond the minimum requirement and complete the entire Posting Lecture or Alternate Proficiency per Section 20.11 should certainly be encouraged to do so.
5. Any member who receives his degrees in a One-Day Class and opts for the minimal proficiency, and who, at a later date, wishes to progress through the “chairs” of his Lodge will demonstrate proficiency in each of the three Degrees, in accordance with Section 20.11, prior to being installed in the office of Senior Deacon, Junior Warden, Senior Warden or Worshipful Master.
Respectfully submitted,
Henry T. Dunbar, PM (!0, 17, 20)
David C. Pratt, PM (10)
Charles E. Corbin, PM (7, 20)
Gerald R. Fairley, PM (10, 20)
Philip S. Lee, PM (15)
Fred V. Angleton, PM(2, 11)
Dennis R. Thayer, PM (17)
John P. Grady, PM (17)
Leonard R. Young, PM (10, 17)
Paul A. Godwin, PM (8)
James W. Morton, PM (17)
Hazen R. Ricker, PM(IO, 13)
Russell W. Sanders, PM (7, 20)
James R. Griffith, WM(13)
D. Scott Thompson, SW (10)
Raymond A. Gallant, SW (15)
Donald A. Witsoe, SW (20)
Report of Jurisprudence Committee: This Resolution is in proper form for consideration by Grand Lodge. The Committee does not express an opinion as to whether this resolution should or should not be adopted.
As it proposes to amend a Bylaw, it will require a three-fourths majority vote for adoption.

Arizona
From MSA’s “Emessay Notes,” August 1998:
MSA has reported on several Grand Lodges who have held one-day conferrals. We have done this because of the great interest shown in these conferrals. The Grand Lodge of Arizona has held two one-day classes. The first was on November 22, 1997 in Tucson and the second was on April 18, 1998 in Phoenix. A total of 349 new Brothers were raised. One of the highlights of the 2nd class was the participation in the degree by a Brother who had been raised in the 1st class. The Grand Lodge of Arizona had a positive reaction to the one-day conferrals as did several observers from other Grand Jurisdictions.

California
While California has never conducted a class of this sort, the Grand Master does have the power to make a man a master mason at sight.

District of Columbia
Since 1992, every year the GL of DC holds a “Grand Master’s Class.” In most years this has consisted of conferring all 3 degrees starting on Friday evening and continuing on Saturday, although at least once the EA and FC degree were conferred on 1 day in the Spring, and the MM in a class in the Fall.
Unlike most jurisdictions, in DC the 1-day class is done in an manner so that each and every candidate goes through almost all the ceremonies of each degree, with none being observers. Each candidate is dressed the same as all candidates in traditional degrees, each is received in lodge in the same manner as in traditional degrees, each is conducted by a personal conductor for that candidate alone, each has a separate area of a table (altar) with a separate copy of the 3 Great Lights, each takes the obligations exactly the same way as at traditional degrees, and each goes through the 2nd section of the 3rd degree in exactly the same manner, with the same raising, as in traditional degrees.
Class sizes are usually around 75, but have been higher and lower. Many of the members of these classes form a bond, and many have become officers of their Lodges and Grand Lodge.

Georgia
From an email message:
Georgia DOES NOT allow 1-day classes to confer the 3 degrees.

Illinois
From an email message:
Illinois had its first Grand Master’s Festival on February 6, 1996, under M.W. Grand Master John R. Louden at Medinah Shrine Temple, Chicago (Northeast Illinois). The number raised was over 800. This was followed by Festivals in Belleville, Illinois (far south), Springfield (South Central), and Peoria (Central), that same year, resulting in approx. 2,800 new Masons. These festivals were done with Exemplars, with the new men to visit their “Home Lodge” at the next Stated Meeting.

Maryland
From an email message:  Maryland will hold a one day class on June 19 at the Grand Lodge in Cockeysville, MD. There, the grand line will confer all three degrees. The ceremony starts at 9am. Each candidate will have a personal escort from his lodge that he is going to join. It is expected that in excess of 100 new brothers will be raised.

Massachusetts
From MSA’s “Emessay Notes,” May 1998:
On Saturday, April 4, 1998, the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, under the direction of Arthur E. Johnson, Grand Master, conducted the first Grand Master’s One-Day Class in the jurisdiction of Massachusetts. The Grand Lecturers of the Grand Lodge, with over 65 assistants, conferred the three degrees on a class of 110 candidates in outstanding fashion. Each candidate was accompanied by his sponsor during the ritualistic portion of the degrees. It was noted that the class membership ranged from doctors and lawyers to actors, policeman, firemen, and even one circus performer.

Michigan
From email:
At the Annual Communication in 1997, the Delegates voted to “set aside” the “rules” to permit the GL
Officers to host 4 All Masonic Degree Days through May of ’98. Those 4 Days were held throughout the State with approximately 500 candidates being Raised. Again at the Annual Communication in 1998, the delegates voted again to set aside the rules to permit 2 All Masonic Degree Days. On March 27th one day will be held in Saginaw, MI and on April 24th another one will be held in Marquette Mich.
Legislation as been submitted to be voted on at the ’99 Annual this May, to allow the GM to host All Masonic Degree Days as he may wish. This would make it part of Masonic Law.

Minnesota
From email:
The Grand Lodge of Minnesota held its first ever one day degree class October 24, 1998. On that day approximately 165 men were raised as MM, the final candidate being the Grand Master’s son. The second class will be November 20, 1999. If this second class is as successful as the first, Grand Lodge has expressed a desire to continue them. Minnesota does also have in the Code that the Grand Master may make a man a MM at sight. This was the rule used to allow the 1 day class.

Missouri
From an email message:
If you go to the following web site, you can get all of the info on Missouri’s 1-Day class. We call it the Grand Master’s Chance-To-Advance Class, and we’ve conducted 2 already with 1,314 Master Masons being raised.
Chance-To-Advance Class
Missouri Chance to Advance Class
We have another class scheduled this weekend in Springfield, MO with 1,050 candidates signed up. We also have a class scheduled for St. Louis (our 2nd here) in May, and another scheduled in St. Joseph, Mo in August.
We anticipate that by August, we will have raised approx. 3,000 new Master Masons.

The GL of Missouri has “Chance to Advance” Classes for all current EA, FC and MM (who have not shown proficiency). The candidate must be initiated traditionally. Each Lodge has to vote to allow the candidates to participate in these classes which are called by the Grand Master. The one in Feb in Kansas City had 868 newly raised Master Masons. Plus as many if not more current Master Masons watching and being mentors.

New Hampshire
From an email message:
The GL of New Hampshire had its first one-day degree on 4 April 1998, with about 140 candidates. This was for EAs and FCs who had received at least the EA degree in their own Lodges but had not progressed for some reason. Only the FC and MM degrees were worked. There was no memorization required for these candidates. There was an effort by some Lodges to contact candidates who had been left behind many years ago, for whatever reason.
The second one-day class is scheduled for 6 March 1999. It is also for candidates who have received at least the EA in their own Lodges.
One interesting feature of the MM degree at these is that the “history” or “lecture,” which is usually done with a slide show or a carpet by one person, has been done in a somewhat more dramatic form in costumes and make-up borrowed from the Scottish Rite.

New Jersey
From MSA’s “Emessay Notes,” March 1998:
History was indeed made on January 24th, 1998 when The Grand Master of Masons of the State of New Jersey Gerald H. Grosskopf, opened an emergent combined meeting of the Grand Lodge of New Jersey and 96 constituent Lodges for the purpose of conferring the symbolic degrees of Freemasonry on the 434 Candidates present. Every candidate, with the assistance of their assigned Mentor or Guide, was obligated on each degree with the Three Great Lights of Freemasonry in their possession and then received the necessary instruction. At the proper place in the degree EVERY CANDIDATE was raised to the Sublime degree of Master Mason. By the end of the day we had initiated 231 Entered Apprentices, passed 402 Fellow Crafts and raised 434 Master Masons. (Information provided by the Grand Lodge of New Jersey)

From an email message:
the one day classes are by Grand masters Edict, now in its 2nd yr

New York
From an email message:
Not permitted in New York.

North Dakota
Has 1-Day conferrals

Oklahoma
From “The Oklahoma Mason” (magazine of the GL of OK), February-March 1999 issue:

Plan Underway for 3 Big Conferrals – The Dates for the Chance to Advance ’99 Program are: March 13 – Guthrie, May 1 – McAlester, July 24 – Tulsa

The excitement is already building. Plans are being made for the three Chance to Advance ’99 Conferrals.

In essence, the program is the same as in 1997. There will be three opportunities — Guthrie, McAlester and Tulsa — for men who are Entered Apprentices to complete their Degrees in a single day. A masonic education program will provide the proficiency for the Entered Apprentice Degree. The Fellow Craft Degree will then be conferred, and an education program will provide proficiency in the Fellow Craft. Then the Master Mason Degree will be conferred.

But there are some additional features this time. In addition to the usual fine work of the Deputy Grand Lecturers, a special Degree team will present the Fellow Craft Degree in 18th Century clothing, much as Mozart or George Washington or Benjamin Franklin would have seen it.

Oklahoma’s famous Indian Masonic Degree Team will present the second section of the Master Mason Degree in Tulsa. The outstanding Yellow Jacket Degree Team will present the second section of the Degree in Guthrie, and a team is being located for McAlester. Those teams will perform in “King Solomon” costumes, to add color and historical context to the Degree.

Also, this year, the Master Mason Degree will be followed by a special education program discussing the nature and meanings of the Master’s Obligations. The program is not a proficiency, but an explanation of what they have promised, and what it means to live the life of a Mason.

Things are already happening. A list of entered Apprentices and Fellow Crafts who have not advanced has been sent to each Lodge. Eighty six Lodges have already notified the Grand Lodge that they plan to participate, and 52 have already sent in their lists.

Several days ago, the Grand Lodge wrote to the 1,806 Brethren who joined during the 1997 Conferrals. We told them that the program was going to happen again in 1999 and suggested that, if they had friends who wanted to join the fraternity, this would be a good time to talk with them.

One such Brother called the Grand Lodge on January 21st. He was excited about the possibilities, and told us that he had 4 good friends who had wanted to join the fraternity but who, because of work schedules, simply could not make the time to go the traditional route. He asked about getting petitions, and mentioned that he had found Masonry very rewarding and was attending his own Lodge regularly. Now, he had a chance to share what he had found, and he wasn’t going to miss the opportunity.

The Chance to Advance ’99 Conferrals are going to be great days, with fellowship, Masonic educaton, and exciting Degree work. Share it with your friends, and join the day as an Intender — a Mason helping the candidate through the day. You’ll leave with a great feeling.

From an email message:
The Grand Lodge of the State of Oklahoma does not allow one day conferrals of all three degrees except when the Grand Master allows it. In the summer of 1997, there were three such days in which an Entered Apprentice could be declared proficient and receive his Fellow Craft and Master Mason degrees. It was then up to the Subordinate Lodge to examine the brother and declare him proficient on the Master Mason Degree.
This year’s Grand Master has approved the same program. The conferrals will be held in Guthrie, McAlester and Tulsa at the Scottish Rite Consistories unless the size of the classes dictate moving to a larger facility. In 1997 the classes in Guthrie and McAlester were conferred in the Scottish Rite Consistories, but by the time the Tulsa “One Day Conferral” came around, the number of participants were too many for the Consistory. The Grand Lodge rented a local High School Performing Arts Center to hold the conferrals.
I do not recall the exact numbers, but it was somewhere around 500-600 for Guthrie, 700-800 for McAlester, and 800+ for Tulsa.

Texas
From an email message:
Not done in Texas. (yet)

Virginia
In 1996 the Grand Master by edict ordered 5 1-day Conferrals to be held in different areas in the Commonwealth. Several hundred candidates received the 3 degrees in one day, most by watching the Committee on Work members put on the degrees in a manner similar to Scottish Rite degrees. Each candidate did, however, have an apron, Bible, and S&C, and all were told to repeat the obligations together.
This was very controversial, and it has not been repeated.

Washington
From an email message:
Ch. 21 Sec. 21.01 B.L.- Rules on Conferring
5. Notwithstanding any provision or requirement to the contrary, a constituent Lodge or Lodges may complete unfinished degree work or confer any or all of the degrees on any number of candidates in a single day or more at a Special Communication of the Grand Lodge opened by the Grand Lodge for such purpose provided the candidates have been regularly elected by a Lodge to receive the degrees of Masonry. [This subsection was adapted for a trail period from June 1997 to June 1999; to be resubmitted for adoption or deletion at the 1999 Annual Communication.] (Revised 1997)

Wyoming
From an email message:
Wyoming has had at least one “Grand Master’s Class” every year since 1994 at which the 3 degrees are conferred. The GM has the option of not having one during his year if he chooses not to do so (but none have so far).

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Canada
New Brunswick uses 1-day classes.  All other Canadian jurisdictions do not.