The Gift
Companions of New York State. I am humbled to be your Grand Lecturer for Royal Arch Masons. Admittedly, my strengths are planted in the practical with small sprinkles of an esoteric awareness. My work professionally has been emersed in the theatrical arts and mentorship. I will look to offer an aggressive and rich exploration in the coming Grand Lecturer Conventions. My hope is that we will journey this exploration together.
I continually relay how I see ritual as a gift. Something we each prepare individually to present on a special day. We craft our participation with care and work on our part, not as a burden or as a flippant, unimportant exercise, but as a honed offering we wish to give our candidates to take with them for the rest of their lives. The memory of what they received from us.
How do you prepare your gift? Is it given time to marinate and blossom into a rich, elevated presentation? Is it honed with care? Do you practice how it will land? What is the central idea you wish to give the candidates? Is your Charge expressive and powerful? Is your Q & A rehearsed with your partner and excised of all pauses or search for the next question or answer? What words in the Apron Presentation do you wish to highlight? Is the Obligation fluid and delivered with confidence? Are the grips and signs rehearsed?
When we work on our gift to the candidates it should be with care and thoughtfulness for it is the impact of our gift that is forged into each new Companions memory. Your work will be remembered and your work will be the springboard for what each candidate brings to his gift when they are Companions bringing in new candidates.
R:.E:. James William Gregg
Grand Lecturer; RAM
