When did you learn the Master's parts of the ritual? That is to say, did you start memorizing the work years ahead of time, or did you wait to cram for each degree until you were installed in the Oriental chair? As I page through my cipher to work on my few parts as Junior Deacon, I get a bit woozy when I look at the Master's lectures which go on for pages at a time.
I suspect that the delegation of the Middle Chamber lecture to the Senior Deacon was a very strategic choice when the ritual was being developed; I imagine that if the SD is able to find a technique that enables him to memorize that work, then the rest will follow more easily... but at the same time, he still has a couple more years to understudy the Master before taking it all on. (Or, he can graciously step out of the line if he decided he's getting in over his head.)
As a confirmed high school nerd who once upon a time took it upon himself to memorize the name of a certain forgotten German composer, I am reasonably confident in my ability to memorize things... and if I get a head start maybe I can do so in a way that's not like trying to drink from a fire hose.
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It's really not as bad as you think it is.
There's a trick, of course.
The trick is that you have to work at it a little bit every day. You can't save it up for an hour on the weekend, or for cramming a week before the degree.
I used to tape record myself doing the various passages, and I would play them back on a microcassette in my car for the 20 minute commute.
Every day. Just a few sentences each day, maybe a paragraph.
You'll be surprised at how easy it is once you get going.
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