Memorization Tactics for Freemasons

Learn how to memorize long presentations quickly with these tips and tricks. It's no secret that Freemasons have to memorize large amounts of text for their meetings. Since the text was written hundreds of years ago, it doesn't always sound familiar to our current way of speaking, which makes it even harder to remember. For example, remembering a charge written by Master Mason Paul Revere back in the year 1795 can be a challenge.

Please feel welcome to show this video as an educational piece for your next lodge meeting. This presentation has been given live for several lodges around the Chicago area, and by making it available through YouTube, you can just project the video on a screen so your lodge can learn from it.

Using the tactics discussed in this short video, you learn how to make the memorization process easier. You'll even see specific examples used in memorizing the Paul Revere Charge. Learn to memorize the rituals faster and perform better at your degrees.

This video is brought to you by Wheaton Lodge 269 of Wheaton, IL.

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Hopefully we’ll have lots of people exchanging ideas with us and this will be a great learning experience for everyone who follows this journey. We hope you'll join us. Thanks for watching.

[jasonthomas]

Thank you Masons, l grew up in a Masonic group home for children. Couldn't of asked for a better upbringing.

[msaret]

I find that learning lectures in reverse helps. That means learn the last paragraph, then the next to last, 2nd to last, and so on. This has you always working toward something you know, something familiar. When memorizing in order, we always know the beginning because we constantly repeat it. If we do that in reverse we are constantly repeating the ending more often.

[muskyman]

Ive got no shot. I forgot why I was watching this after the first 3 minutes. Either way thanks for all they work you guys do!

[FrontLineMarine]

Thank you for these tips. I was recently initiated and have a lot to absorb.

[jeremiahjohnson]

Study, study, study....I find that repetitively reading the material over and over again is the best for me.

[MADMACBobbers]

Learning ritual has been made easy for me when I was taught to write the first letter of every word Down, and hight light any letter that you stumble on after looking at them, slowly you learn the high lighted word and soon realises you don’t need to look at the fist letters as there already remembered

[neilgrantmacleod]

Excellent advice for all walks of life. Well done to the brethren of the lodge.

[TimJSwan]

I’m not a Mason, but I was in AWANA clubs as a child and won state finals memorizing the verses. When I taught missionary stories, I practiced enjoying the story to remember it. Having been exposed to mercury and knowing also that I do not need to memorize for my spiritual and technical goals, I do not memorize much anymore. It really is possible to memorize a lot if you find that right vibe/strategy.

[robertsr.]

I memorized the EA lecture in 50 days using 2 uninterrupted hours per evening, knowing how to read it correctly is key, also visiting other lodges and hearing it helps I hope this helps any brother attempting to accomplish this .Robert PM #346. (1999) (2011)

[silvaers]

Thank you for the tips. As somone with learning difficulties I've always found learning and remembering things very difficult, This has put me off joining FM for a long time. I recently had my initiation and am now studying for my second degree and seeing even the most knowlageble, well spoken, experienced masons make some mistakes eased my anxiety about learning the craft. Infact knowing everyone makes mistakes and is not perfect, made the learning more enjoyable and is making me more determined to prove to myself and my brothers i can do it. A few tips I've found over the years help me is to make up acronyms or an acrostic poem to help remember things, get somone to test you constantly, film/ record yourself reading it and watch it back on repeat.

[wanderer]

4:30 for when he starts with the tips; the beginning is just a bunch of fluff.

[seviregis]

When reading the Bible, I developed a photographic memory, able to remember by "seeing in my Spirit's eye" entire chapters, then reciting them at will without any memorization methods or practice. I Just read the passages or whole Books once, photo them in my mind, believe it wholly, then it becomes a permanent part of me. When I think the substance through, even more so. Subsequently this ability has transferred over to other fields of study, such as science, medicine, even news.

[glenphillips]

Turn the radio off....& leave it off. Same with the tv

[aMagic]

Thank you Brother for sharing this video.
I would like to share a trick that I use to help me memorize. I record myself reading out the ritual and then I listen to it like music. It really helps as I commute often and during this period of time I listen to the recording, helps pass the time in a productive way.
Fraternal greetings from London

[OnlyMessenger]

Just gone through initiation a few hrs ago… Will def be utilizing these techniques as I travel on my journey

[JackDanielsGrandIllusionist]

Fantastic video brother. This is exactly what I do when memorising my show scrip or lodge text, without the car ride... sentence or paragraph at a time. I first read it all very very slowly and get a proper understanding of what I’m reading. I also try to understand the lines as a picture where I can. This helps a lot. Great stuff! Till our next happy meeting.

[DrKhalidAlShammari]

Thank you for this video brother, I really use some of your advice to memorize things. I also use a song to memorize things by saying the words in a Rhythm, it helps me alot. Thank you

[ahb]

Thank you for reflecting Free Masonry as it truly is and in my case, I consider it my new sacrament.

[realismtalks]

You are so well spoken. I only wish I can enjoy such eloquence. Cheers to you.

[brchldw]

Thank you brother my proficiency test for MM is on tuesday and this really helped especially that old pesty obligation paragraph