Quantity will follow from the acquisition of quality, so
Why Not Proficiency Requirements by Sir Knight Carl J. Dunlap Grand Principal Conductor of the Work, Grand Council of Pennsylvania The above is not merely a question but also an answer. In the July issue of the Knight Templar Magazine, there was an article titled "Why Proficiency Requirements?" written by Sir Knight David L. Marshall, a Sir Knight from my home state of Pennsylvania, who has voiced the same thoughts on the subject of proficiency that I have felt since becoming a Mason nearly thirty-two years ago. It was during my tour with the United States Marine Corps that I joined the Masonic order, partly through the encouragement of my father, also because my grandfather and great grandfather were Masons, but mostly because I had seen in the men associated with my father and those in the Order of DeMolay that these were the type of men I wanted to be associated with. My mother Lodge is Port Royal No. 242, which meets in Port Royal, South Carolina. The state of South Carolina requires that one make proficiency in the Entered and Fellowcraft degrees before he advances to the next degree, much the same way as the state of New Jersey. Shortly after being raised to the Sublime Degree of a Master Mason, it was my privilege to assist the
July 1989
instructor who had guided me through the degrees. When he left for another duty station, I was asked to fill his place. From that time until I left to come home permanently, I continued to be an instructor and encouraged each member, after having been raised, to return for about fifteen minutes of instruction to assist him in gaining admission to any Lodge he wished to visit. During that time I worked with many different types of men: officers and enlisted Marines and Navy personnel, as well as civilian workers, both on the base and those from the nearby town of Port Royal. No one felt it was a burden to learn the work or that a proficiency was just a waste of time; all were eager to do as much as they could to further their knowledge of this "Ancient Craft" in which they were becoming members. After leaving the south and returning home, I continued in my Masonic career by joining a Chapter, then Council and Commandery, and moving into Shrine in 1985 and finally this year into Scottish Rite. During this time I have served as High Priest, Thrice Illustrious Master, and I have held minor offices in Commandery. After serving in these offices, I was then asked to be an instructor, and for
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