The news is out: some lodges with an insufficient number of proficient members are now showing movies of the degrees to would-be initiates with only some of the important parts given live. At my initiation in an old line L, I was part of a team of 18 men, most of whom watched the ceremonies from the sidelines. We were examined outside of L to prove ourselves worthy for advancement by a very lenient tyler.
The first question to ask is, is it valid? All the grand lodges in America and the UGLE are seeing their memberships dwindling and LL amalgamating in efforts to forestall LL going dark.. In some cases district drill teams visit LL to process their applicants. The Grand Lodge permits it, so it is legal?
Scottish Rite is equally pressed to build up membership and have devised degree weekends where candidates are taken from the 4° to 32° in a weekend. In most cases they are not even part of the drama which is usually presented on stage with candidates as on-lookers.
I wonder if the main purpose of the degree is lost in this supermarket environment.