Carleton College Northfield, MN
There's a Japanese-style garden behind my dorm at Carleton College. I'm staying here for the week for an Advanced Placement Teachers Institute to learn about the redesign of the AP course I teach: AP Government and Politics US. The garden has been a peaceful place and perfect for me to practice parts of the First degree. I'm going back over it to refresh my memory.

I passed my examination and wrote it about it on this blog, and it's coming back. I have used much of what I've learned in memorizing the Entered Apprentice degree, but it's helpful for me to go back over all of it, in order.

Finished: Third degree test is in the books!

Today, I finished my Third degree test to complete my Masonic Instructor requirements. My friend, RW Brother Darrell Fremont has mentored me throughout this long (too long!) journey and I owe him a huge debt of gratitude. Thank you, Darrell, for sticking with me and encouraging me to finish. I needed all of your assistance!

And it was fitting that my 3rd degree test was proctored by Harvey Woody at Star Lodge in Madrid, Harvey's mentor was Don Sardeson, who tested me on the 2nd degree. And Star Lodge is the mother Lodge of my Lodge: Operative Lodge #308 in Polk City, Iowa.

Now, it's back to the 1st and the 2nd degrees to prove that I still know the ritual!

Fellowcraft Exam passed

I passed the Fellowcraft degree exam this past Monday (Aug.24) thanks to the help of my mentor Darrell Fremont. The exam consists of reciting from memory the 2nd degree men pass through to become a Freemason. Next up- the Master Mason degree!

Entered Apprentice exam passed!

It’s been a long road, but I finally passed my Entered Apprentice examination yesterday at the South Central Iowa MI-DL Club. The exam required me to memorize the entire Entered Apprentice degree which is about an hour long. Thanks to the help of Brother Darrell Fremont I was able to do it!

Next is the Fellowcraft and then the Master Mason degree. If I’m able to memorize all three, I’ll then earn my Masonic Instructor certification.