text: As a professional, you’re selective about the products you use for your business. We are too – we only stock items we feel meet the high standards of our seasoned coin wizards.
  You can feel confident that the coin counters and sorters and other necessary supplies such as coin storage boxes, coin envelopes or safety mailers you might need as a dealer or serious hobbyist are going to meet your own requirements for quality coin collection products and tools.
  
  A beginning Mason should appreciate that there is no mandate for him to become a competitor to those ritualists who appear to have a photographic memory, combined with the skills of an acting career. Whether helping out with a small part in a Degree or going for Grand Lodge office – start small! Success begets success. Memorize in the spirit of ‘sport’ or ‘challenge’ - for FUN! No one has been sent home for failing a memorization task.
  Thus, the extended memory requirements most often leave the individual to their own resourcefulness. While the major memory work should be formally taught, that’s just not what reality delivers. Typically, those motivated to do the memory work are left on their own; and – sadly - that often shows in the format of poor performances. While deemed to be a desperate and "adequate" substitute; there is simply no replacement for a good ritualist.
  The nature of basic Degree “proficiency” serves as an early memory skill and confidence builder. Depending upon the Jurisdiction, the memory requirements may border on unreasonable. This is particularly true, when one’s work life seems to be a 24/7 vocation. Assistance is desperately needed for memory requirements.
  A good starting point is the presentation of the working tools to a Candidate. Such requires verbal and tactile skills – including timing. The “G” Lecture of the Second Degree is a good first “big step;” if such becomes tempting.
  One of the best resources for Masonic memory work is participation in Degree presentations. To start; ask for an ‘easy’ part. The overall exposure will allow your subconscious to memorize material which can be selectively ‘excited,’ later on. As a minimum, attend Degree presentations as a visitor. Much will automatically ‘sink in.’
  Of special importance is the matter of doing memory work in the fashion of team spirit. A Mason should make friends with one he deems to be a good candidate for being a personal mentor; forming a ‘buddy system.’ Having at least one ‘team member’ observe and/or coach (drill) your memory work is an excellent advantage. Multiple ‘mentors’ are possible and workable.
  Many memory parts are not considered to be “secret;” the wife or girlfriend can play the role of the “coach.” Try to impress her.
  Each person is different; we think differently and we MEMORIZE differently. Some people are memory “naturals,” most are not. However there is a reasonable range of memory methods and strategies to effectively identify, and develop a memory “system” – in the particular individual. Motivation and methodology can go the distance.
  Few escaped grade school and high school without some remarkable memory performances. In many cases, memory work was a function of competition – sometimes with associated prizes. Adulthood doesn’t kill memory skills; we just seem to get out of the “school habit” and lose confidence in ourselves.
  Keep in mind, that most have perfect memories; some have better “recall” than others. However, that statement is more about useful mechanics, than a simple play on semantics. We need to both memorize – and recall. Most importantly, we need to recite.
  “Memory material” is like music being recorded by a needle onto a blank record. Some material inherently leaves a deep impression; other material barely touches the grooves. If ‘weak’ material is a ‘must’ performance, the impression has to be somehow effected (amplified), sometimes by extreme measures (memory tactics.)
  The major part of memory work is “attitude.” If a person sees the memory work as important, they will probably succeed – regardless of how much effort that takes. The person who has the “…I can’t be bothered” attitude is unlikely to be remembered as a ritualist.
  It is frequently said that memory work is better characterized as “recall” work. It is a performance; with a variable sized audience. A youthful lad may try to impress his lady by delivering a romantic poem; a politician may speak to a global audience.
  Whether the memorization process, or the delivery, ‘concentration’ is required. Concentration can be described as focused attention, the ability to pay attention to one single thought or subject to the exclusion of everything else. Imagine a magnifying glass burning a piece of paper when the sun’s rays are focused through it.
  As an indicator of the power of “concentration;” hypnosis is a function of concentration, not ‘sleep.’
  Delivery is about active vocal chords and body language, not mental processing and internal ‘hearing.’ A memorized piece is in trouble, if the vocal chords can’t meet the delivery demand. Call that “Mind-Voice Coordination.”
  All living things are emotional in some fashion. Thus, “memory” is often about dynamically exciting emotions – before, during and after! Is it exciting to anticipate? Is it exciting to perform? Is it rewarding to receive a response afterward? [hopefully!]
  However, there is an often seen a characteristic, usually termed “performance anxiety.” Otherwise observed as a pathological fear of embarrassment in a group. Polls on ‘fear’ have shown that public speaking rates second to burning to death. That anxiety is to be understood – and respected. By all that is right, we should admire the person who sweats the proverbial ‘bullets,’ giving everything he has, in an attempt to break through that fear. Such are due encouragement and support, not judgment.
  Most people are sensorily biased. One person lives in a “visual” world, another in an “auditory” world, another in a “kinesthetic” world of ‘touch.’ Often their memory will function in that very same bias. Most people are a mix, in this regard, with one ‘sense’ being particularly favored.
  The ‘visual’ person may be able to ‘see’ a sequence of printed words – emulating accordingly. The ‘auditory’ person may require a tape recording of the ‘work’ or be verbally coached by a skilled lecturer, or have the ‘work’ read to him by an assistant. He may be able to accurately “hear” the voice of a role model, from his memory. The ‘kinesthetic’ person may need a squeeze on the shoulder, as he reads/memorizes ‘key’ words. The science of “Neurolinguistic Programming” integrates the physical with the mental.
  A great actor may succeed, because they “see” themselves on stage – or on screen. Possibly, they “see” themselves receiving a performance award (with associated emotions of gratification.) A person with a weight problem may rely on their performance being exclusively verbal.
  The key is in the emotional “payback” of their performance – however it is motivated or expressed. What does that image of success “feel” like?
  People are also ‘personal image’ biased. They live for a self-image, a “projected” image, or the real-world of how others generally see them and report back to them. Ideally, those three images are reasonably identical.
  Lodge performance is largely a “personal image” agenda. A casually attending member might see an Officer give a great performance, witness the applause and say to themselves, “I want to look like THAT!” An Officer is born. Success is thereby spawned; the result to be tested by time.
  The Lodge Room and the lore is highly visual. “Symbols,” remember? The verbal parts incite “visual” imagery. That includes success, whether a jewel worn, or a dozen members waiting to shake the hand of the successful officer.
  Character and personality also play a major role in memory performance. Those with low self esteem will either try harder than anyone else, or deliver a mediocre performance – or refuse to make an attempt.