As a bit of background recall that, in 2018, the Committee on Education of the Grand Council of Cryptic Masons of Oklahoma developed twenty-four Lessons on Cryptic Masonry, in an effort to foster more opportunities for educational presentations during Council meetings. Each of these twenty-four lessons outlines a self-contained educational presentation. The material for these lessons is drawn from two readily available sources:

THE COURSE — The Cryptic Masonry Education Course, which was published in 2017 by the General Grand Council of Cryptic Masons, International.

THE RITUAL — The Ritual of the Grand Council C.M. of Oklahoma, as adopted in 1954, with subsequent amendments.

Every other month we will suggest one of these lessons that a Illustrious Master may use, if he so desires, as an educational presentation in his Council meeting.

This month’s suggested lesson for Council meetings is “Royal Master Lesson #3,” which is found on p. 9 of the Lessons on Cryptic Masonry.

Outline of the Lesson:

(i) Read the excerpt of the Royal Master degree regarding the “Interruption of Adoniram” found on pp. 12-13 of THE RITUAL.

(ii) Read the section on “Adoniram” found on pp. 40-41 of THE COURSE.

Discussion Questions:

(i) Answer question 7 on p. 52 of THE COURSE.

(ii) Discuss question 3 on p. 54 of THE COURSE.

(iii) Adoniram is told, more than once, that the Master’s Word can only be given in the presence of all three Grand Masters. In the final section of this degree, he is installed as the successor to G⸫M⸫H⸫A⸫, but he is still not given the Word. Discuss what you think this denial symbolically represents.

These questions are only meant to begin the discussion and to hopefully spark further discussion and interest in the chosen topic.