Reflecting the Light of The Rite

by Michael Moran, 32°, Ph.D., Valley of Harrisburg

Beginning in 2019, the Valley of Harrisburg developed and implemented a reflection discussion process following the conferral of one or more Scottish Rite, AASR, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction degrees. The impetus for the post-degree reflection discussions was the Hauts Grades Academy paper that I wrote entitled Core Values, Reflection and Scottish Rite Dramas. Our Active, Ill. Brother Tom Labagh, 33°, recruited reflection group members and scheduled initial meetings for me to explain the group’s activities. Initially, the team consisted of facilitators William Britton, 32°; Donald W. Cramer, 32°; Arthur Dinger, 33°; Charles Goetz, 32°; Mark Mattern, 32°; Rev. Matthew D. Randolph, 32°; and Richard L. Wenner, 32°. I served as the evaluator.

I developed documents and resources to help group members understand the processes of reflection. Those processes focused on developing guiding questions for discussions following degrees. The documents included a list of Scottish Rite NMJ Core Values, a “primer” on developing guiding questions and facilitating discussion, a list of Bloom’s Taxonomy Action Verbs, and a tool for discussion analysis called the Fink Taxonomy of Significant Learning. Initially, one degree per in-person Reunion was chosen for an added 20-to30-minute reflection period to determine if the members wanted to participate in these programs. The response was very positive. But holding a reflection after every degree would have significantly lengthened the Reunion schedule, so the intent was to continue with just one per Reunion.

Michael Moran, 32°

When the pandemic disrupted our plans, we determined that this would be a good program to follow each Thursday Night at the Rite presentation—beginning 10 minutes after the closing video credits. Brother Labagh managed the scheduling and advertising of the postdegree reflection discussions with the assistance of the Valley Secretary, Ill. Brother John Cook, 33°. Attendance varied, with anywhere from 10-35 participants in a Zoom session, but the discussions were always meaningful and well-received.

Prior to each post-degree reflection discussion, I worked with a designated facilitator to develop and refine a list of guiding questions specific to a degree. That refinement emphasized the spectrum of thinking skills as described in the revised Bloom’s Taxonomy. Following an in-person or online degree, Brethren participated in a facilitator-led discussion emphasizing the relevant Core Values. The primary purpose was to give Brethren the opportunity to actively discuss the degree as well as provide stimuli for personal reflection on the degree lessons. Survey data was collected and we analyzed the discussion content and process using the Fink Taxonomy.

Arthur Dinger, 33°

The survey data was strongly positive, indicating that Brethren attending the inperson or online discussions felt they were valuable. They affirmed that the reflection sessions helped them better understand the degrees and apply information from the degrees to their life. Data from the Fink Taxonomy was also positive.

Plans are to continue the reflection discussions when in-person or online degrees resume—hopefully, in the fall. The reflection discussions build on the thought that the Scottish Rite is the “University of Freemasonry.”

Charles Goetz, 32° and Mark Mattern, 32°