Part 1: Accountability
Greetings, Sir Knights! As this hits the interwebs, we are just 263 days from the start of the 69th Triennial Conclave in Salt Lake City, Utah. In some ways, it feels just like yesterday we were departing Minneapolis. It’s hard to believe we are on the downslope now.
One of the topics on which our Grand Master has recently spoken is ritual, and more exactly, the lack of ritual proficiency across the Grand Encampment. He points out that at least five Grand Commanderies are unable to confer the Orders because of a lack of Knights who can actually confer the work. Not five Commanderies, but five entire Grand Commanderies. If this is accurate (and I have no reason to think it is not), there are a lot of Commanderies which are not in compliance with Section 176 of the Constitution, Statutes, and Decisions of the Grand Encampment, which requires that each Commandery create one new Knight Templar every twelve months. We are in the midst of an existential challenge to our Order, yet we have entire jurisdictions which cannot execute the basic function of creating Knights.
I’ll say this, because it seems no one else is willing to do so: This is totally unacceptable, and we must address this issue immediately.
First, let me say that I know there are many Commanderies and individual Knights doing a lot of great ritual work and bringing a good number of men into our Order. Keep up the great work, and lend your skills at learning the work to help those who find it a challenge.
For the rest of us, it’s time to address accountability.
Department Commanders, have you been tracking the work in your Departments? If not, why not? The Grand Master is concerned about it, so you should be, too. If you are tracking this issue, what steps have you taken to recognize excellence and hold those who have come up short accountable? If you have found a good way to help Grand Commanderies in need, have you shared that with your counterparts?
Grand Commanders, have you visited your Commanderies who are in violation of Section 176, and if so, what steps have you taken to work with them to get into compliance? Have you invoked the probationary period on non-compliant Commanderies and aided them in developing a plan of action to become compliant? Does your Grand Commandery have an inspection process that ensures competency in the work of all parts in all Orders, and not just a “certification” of the Commander or an evaluation of selected parts of the work? If all of your Commanderies are “Ritual ninjas” and have remained Section 176 compliant, have you shared the story of your success with your counterparts in your Department?
Past Grand Commanders, have you offered your experience and skills to your Grand Commander to assist the Commanderies in “getting up to speed” with the work? Did you leave some work undone in the area of proficiency within Commanderies and be willing and able to assist a Commandery or two in getting back on track? Have you dusted off your Ritual book and refreshed your own work? (I have been cleaning up my own proficiency as Prelate in the Order of the Temple, and also getting back into the High Priest in Red Cross and Prior in Malta so I can be of assistance in my Commandery and others in my area in particular). If you are no longer in your “home” jurisdiction, have you sought out the Grand Commander where you now live to offer assistance?
Commanders, how are things under your own command? Do you have every part covered by at least two of your own Knights? Have you appointed one or more Ritual instructors/coaches to assist the younger Knights in learning the work and tactics? Are rehearsals held more often than the week before (or less) a planned conferral? Have you considered how to break parts down as necessary to make it easier for memorization, such as one Prelate to handle the work from escort to vow and another to do the Sepulchre to Ascension parts? Have you divided up the post-knighting lecture and have different Knights perform each portion, rather than one Knight doing a “marathon” lecture? Do your rehearsals include discussing/teaching how to deliver the work as well as making sure the work is correctly recited? Where you cannot cover every part of every Order, do you have at your fingertips a list of Knights from other Commanderies in your jurisdiction or nearby if you are on a border of another whom you can call upon with a reasonable notice to assist you and your Commandery? If you have met the requirements of Section 176 through courtesy work in another Commandery or a festival, have you worked with your officers to create a plan to do the work “in house” within the next 12 months?
Past Commanders, have you read what was suggested for Past Grand Commanders and applied it to your local Commandery? Have you shared your experience with the current Commander and your officers so that your knowledge can be passed on and assimilated into the greater body of knowledge of your Commandery?
Dais Officers, Junior Officers, and Sideliners, have you mastered the work in all three Orders for the station you currently hold, or one which you would like to do in the future or find enjoyable? There is no rule or edict that says you must be the Prelate to learn and perform the Prelate part in the Order of the Temple. You might have no desire to sit in a chair or advance through the line, but you are most certainly welcome to learn one of the Banner lectures in the Order of Malta or the Companion Conductor role in the Red Cross. Even the spur lecture is important, and to have it well-delivered by a Knight would be a blessing to any Commander and candidate. A properly prepared Persian Guard can make a most effective impression on a candidate very early in his Templar journey. The size of the part is not what matters. It is the size of the desire to to the absolute best job at whatever part undertaken so that the candidate has the best possible experience.
My Fratres, this has been a tough message to write, because I know I am as guilty–if not more guilty–at being rusty and unprepared at some of the Ritual work I should have at the tip of my tongue. We also have the desire to be “liked” by everyone, and when we take steps to hold people accountable, it’s really easy to feel like one is being singled out. When we assume leadership roles, we are no longer “just” volunteers. We take on certain responsibilities and commitments when we take the oath of office and and are installed in our station, whatever station it might be. It’s long past the time when we accept our responsibility and set the proper example for those whom we have been called upon, for the present time, to lead.
This is the first part in a multi-week sequence on the Ritual and ritual proficiency. In addition to these brief messages, I will be posting some longer writings on my website that will take a deeper look at this and related topics. Watch the first posts in the next few days, then check back often for new additions!