Salute during ceremony
During a mentoring session with @Alex Maroske yesterday, @David Pilgrim observed that during a recent passing, the candidate did not salute the WM upon his return into the lodge. At the time, I thought, 'Oh, that's true, I never noticed', and we chalked it up to ritual sloppiness.
However, after some thinking, I don't think it is sloppy ritual. The deacons are usually careful in guiding the candidate in and out of the lodge, and it seems unusual they would miss this.
Instead, I now think the reason is: they can't salute. Between the time of their exit and return, the lodge has been raised to the 2nd degree, and since the candidate hasn't yet learned the sign of that degree, there's no way he can salute.
Of course he could have saluted as an EA, but that would go against what the deacons said, 'Upon entering or leaving a lodge ... you will salute the WM in the degree of the lodge ... as we are now open in the first degree ...'
It seems like between returning with the pass word and grip, which is different than that the lodge is open in, the candidate is in a sort of 'no man's land', not in an EA lodge, but not able to be in an FC either.
Any thoughts?
Hi Steve,
I believe the example I witnessed was after the candidate retired in order to restore himself to his former comforts.
At this stage he has been taught the salute.
From earlier in ritual the candidate enters the lodge before being passed but the lodge has been raised to the Second Degree I believe brethren use the s__n of r___e as the candidate can see everyone and has not as yet learnt the new salute.
However being new tgis is based on my limited experience, I don't know if different lodges approach this differently.