No notes allowed. It was the lecture of one of our first degrees in Masonry. Years ago the ritual was changes to allow for a short version which takes about 15 minutes. This was done as society changed in decades past where we don't have as much time in modern times to apply to all the memory work needed to perform such a lecture from memory.

Seeing I spend a lot of time in my X driving around for my job I've opted to do the long form as men were required to perform a century ago. It was very tough. I was rewarded with people coming up to me telling me that they have never heard the long form in the 25-30 years they have been Masons.

Pretty cool...I'm going to continue this if I'm able with the next two degrees. The Third Degree long form is almost an hour long.

Oh one more thing. Most of it is in turn-of-the-century English.

Ouch.