The Intender Program Intender’s Handbook Prepared by The Grand Lodge of Illinois A.F. & A.M. The Intender Program INTENDER’S HANDBOOK Certain insertions and revisions © Copyright 2007 - 2017, Illinois Committee on Masonic Education Primary works (Copyright 2003) Intender’s Handbook, On the Threshold, Entered Apprentice’s Guidebook, Fellowcraft’s Guidebook, and Master Mason’s Guidebook © Copyright 2011 Revised September 2017 The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge Of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of the State of Illinois Developed by the Illinois Committee on Masonic Education All rights reserved. The Intender Program INTENDER’S HANDBOOK FOREWORD This Handbook has been prepared primarily as a working tool for a lodge program for disseminating Masonic information to Intenders who will be working with the candidates. Lodge officers and members will become better informed Masons if they also will read this book. This program was originally designed by the Committee on Masonic Education with the approval of our Grand Master. Each lodge is required to put the program into effect and to make it a necessary and continuing part of lodge activity. The candidate who petitions our Fraternity is entitled to an explanation of the history, purpose, operation, symbolism, philosophy, obligations, and ideals of Freemasonry. He should not be the “forgotten member” of the Fraternity, but the most important member. It is hoped that the proper use of this program will cause the new member to better understand the ritual and the moral lessons of the three degrees. Thus he should become an informed Mason, a better Mason, and a devoted active member. We also expect that the friendships that develop from the degree work and mentoring sessions will help establish a more lasting bond with our new brethren. To accomplish these ends we ask the cooperation of each lodge officer. WHAT IS AN INTENDER? The term “Intender” comes to us direct from the old operative lodges of Scotland. More than 119 years before the first Grand Lodge was formed, the Intender was an important official in the lodges in Scotland, entrusted with the instruction of new candidates. At that time the word “intend” meant: to stretch out, extend, expand, increase, and intensify. Therefore, the Intender was a faithful companion and teacher whose duty it was to stretch out, extend, expand, increase, and intensify the knowledge and understanding of the younger craftsman in the Science of Masonry. The Schaw Statutes, an elaborate code of organization first drawn up in 1598 by William Schaw, Master of Work and General Warden of the Masons of Scotland, are found in the minutes of the Lodge of Edinburgh (Mary’s Chapel) No. l. These Statutes provided that an Intender be chosen for each new Fellowcraft, while the Lodge of Aitchison’s Haven provided Intenders for both new Entered Apprentices and new Fellowcrafts. In time the office of Intender became so important that the youngest Master was chosen for this exacting service. In recent decades the emphasis has been changing from merely producing “bright” Masons, i.e., those proficient in the ritual, to that of producing intelligent Masons - Masons who not only love their ritual and know how to present it effectively, but who also have an ample knowledge of the background, the aims, and the purposes of the Fraternity. It is here that the Intender becomes an important factor in developing an intelligent membership, and a capable leadership, to sustain and advance Freemasonry throughout the coming ages. Intro - 1 The Intender Program PURPOSE OF THE INTENDER PROGRAM The Intender Program has but one major objective: To teach the fundamentals of Freemasonry to every candidate, so he may become a Master Mason in fact as well as in name. It’s as simple as that! Please note particularly the word fundamentals, for this program does not go beyond those elements which are basic to our Craft, i.e., the principles and practices with which every Craftsman should be familiar if he is to bear with honor the proud title of Master Mason. It is not the purpose of the Intender Program to produce Masonic “scholars” or to give the candidate advanced Masonic education. It seeks to have him understand the Masonic way of life, that he may properly conduct himself as a Mason before his Brethren and before the world at large. This program supports the traditional maxim that the Fraternity has the inherent right to insist that each of its votaries shall be well grounded in his Masonic duties and responsibilities, and it also embraces the equally important idea that he should understand clearly the Fraternity’s obligation to him. If, during this process, there is ignited within the candidate that “spark” which urges him to seek for more and more Masonic Light, and thus to become an earnest and diligent student of Freemasonry, then the program will have an added value for him and for the Fraternity, for among such Masons will be found the future leaders of our Craft. In this fast-moving age, with its many demands on every man’s time and the numerous opportunities afforded him for spare-time diversions, we find Freemasonry in the position of competing for his attention. Failure to realize this can only result in dues-paying members who never come to lodge, receive no positive benefit from their membership, and whose help to the Craft is limited. It is necessary to capture the interest of the candidate from the start, and there is no better time to do so than when he is receiving the degrees, and immediately thereafter. This is when he is most receptive. This Program for Masonic Light will do much to arouse the candidate’s interest and increase his desire to take an active part in the work of the lodge. The use of this program will make the candidate a better Mason and a permanent asset to Freemasonry and to the community. OVERVIEW OF THE INTENDER PROGRAM Following the receipt of a petition, the Worshipful Master appoints an Investigating Committee who meets the candidate and his spouse. If not already provided, they should leave a copy of On the Threshold for the candidate to read and share with his spouse. After passing a favorable ballot in lodge, the Worshipful Master sets a degree date and appoints an Intender who then contacts the candidate, introduces himself and his duties, and may invite the candidate and his spouse to the temple for the orientation session. Here, the Intender will have an opportunity to become better acquainted with the candidate and his spouse. At this time, the Intender should explain that there is a traditional catechism as well as a limited catechism, describing the process and benefits of both approaches. The candidate should have a say in his choice between the traditional or limited catechism. If a candidate chooses to learn the full catechism, but then finds he would prefer the limited catechism instead, he is permitted to shift to the limited catechism. After he becomes a Master Mason, the new brother should be encouraged to learn the traditional full catechisms and pass the Third Degree proficiency examination. All candidates must be assigned an Intender, receive a copy of each Guidebook at the appropriate time, and be encouraged to participate in the full Intender Program (IP). The District Deputy Grand Masters have been trained to assist in this educational experience. Intro - 2 The Intender Program MENTORING SESSIONS Mentoring sessions should be conducted in an atmosphere of warmth and informality, with candidates being encouraged to ask questions or offer comments at any time. Each meeting addresses one or more of the following topics: Masonic History Masonic Organization Masonic Philosophy and the Meaning of the Degree “Secret” Work The mentoring sessions are divided into two parts: first, a discussion to review the material in the educational guidebook, ensuring that the candidate understands the content and is able to answer, in his own words, the questions at the end of the booklet. These questions are not to be considered a test, but rather a way of determining the candidate’s comprehension of the important points. The second portion of the mentoring session is the instruction in the catechism. Note that the full (traditional) and limited (short) catechisms are presented in each appropriate section of this Handbook. The candidate must not be given a copy of the Intender’s Handbook, since it contains the catechism for the subsequent degree(s). Catechism instruction should be done verbally and, of course, the spouse must not be present. It is the responsibility of the Intender to report to the Worshipful Master, on a regular basis, about a candidate’s progress. When the new Mason has demonstrated a working knowledge of the catechism and the contents of the educational Guidebook, the proficiency (catechism) examination and next degree should be scheduled by the Worshipful Master. The same procedure is followed for all three degrees. Serious efforts by the Intender to conduct a high-quality learning experience for the candidate should create an enthusiastic, knowledgeable and committed new Mason for the lodge and the community. REMEMBER You might encourage the officers and members of your lodge to sit in on the mentoring sessions. Keep the sessions informal and relaxed, to make the new Mason feel at ease and to facilitate discussion. Refreshments are suggested. An informal program or activity might be planned for the ladies during the non-public portion of each mentoring session. Encourage the candidate and his spouse to develop a plan for completing the list of readings provided by the Intender. As with most aspects of life, the more effort that one invests in a process, the greater will be the resulting rewards.