The GFN Treasure Chest Archives www.masonic-network.com "Where Master Masons Communicate"

A brief explanation of the workings, history and attitudes of our Brethren
Bro. Steve Grant

Modern Freemasonry incorporates ancient traditions and modern life to work for the betterment of society. Our membership is united by only one thread: each member must profess a belief in God. We do not stipulate how he is to worship or what he is to believe, but no atheist can be made a Mason. Our fraternity accepts as equals Christians and Jews, Hindu and Moslem, Catholic and Protestant.

Brother Dr. James Anderson, the principal author of our original constitutions wrote in 1723; "The persons made Masons or admitted members of a Lodge must be good and true men, freeborn and of mature and discreet age and sound judgment." He also admonished that our members should be of "good report".

According to the Southern California Research Lodge, There are about six million Masons in the world today, and their membership is spread over thirty thousand lodges. These all come under the control of over 100 Grand Lodges. There is no single authority controlling these Grand Lodges, but there is a system of mutual fraternal recognition among them. With proper introduction and identification a Mason can visit his brethren in lodges in many countries.

We find evidence of Masons as early as the 13th century. At York Minster in 1370, an elaborate code of ordinance was drawn regulating times of labor and refreshment and new men were sworn to observe and obey the regulations as a condition of their employment. The structure where they met for instruction or meals or stored their tools was called a Lodge - a practice we continue to this day. This practice was documented in the Priors account of activity at Canterbury in 1429 when he elaborates the lists of workers and refers to it as the "Masons of the Lodge."

Our lodges are structured with old English titles and honors. Our lodge is lead by the Worshipful Master. Worshipful is a term of respect having nothing to do with religion - in the manner of addressing a judge as "Your Honor" or "Your Worship." A Mason, who has attained the office of Master, retains the title "Worshipful" after he leaves office just like politicians are known by their highest office long after they leave office. Thus I am addressed as Worshipful Brother by my fellows in recognition of my service as Master of the Lodge in 1993.

The Master of the lodge is assisted in the administration of our activities by a corps of officers with similar traditional titles: the Senior Warden is in the west; the Junior Warden is in the South; they are assisted by the Senior Deacon at the right of the Worshipful Master in the east and the Junior Deacon who is on the right of the Senior Warden in the west. While their titles are odd to the un-initiated, they equate to the customary corporate or club officers where you find a President, perhaps a Senior Vice President or Executive Vice President, a vice President of lesser status, and all of these assisted by an Assistant Vice President. To these we add stewards who keep the festive tables well stocked and the Tyler who is our chief of security and guards the door when we are in lodge assembled.

We have several ways that are different as well. Non-members need not follow our methods, but to explain: when called to prayer, Masons assume what we call an attitude of prayer like this (Demonstrate). This is a practice similar to what many of us were taught as youngsters when saying our nightly prayers or a table blessing. When Masons move about the lodge, we walk "on the square," making square corners - generally moving north to south or east to west, but never upon the diagonal. We also avoid passing between the Worshipful Master in the East and the altar which contains the Holy Bible - to permit the Master to always have the Holy Writings in view. These are some of our ways. They are based upon centuries old ritual and all Masons will recognize them, wherever they travel in the world. Any of you who wish to know more about Masonry need only ask any Mason. He may not feel comfortable in discussing some things, but will find a more knowledgeable brother to assist.

And now: without further adieu, our installing officers for this afternoon are: Worshipful Brother __________, Installing Master. Assisted by: Worshipful Brother ___________, Installing Marshal

"We should generally find that the triangular person has got into the square hole, the oblong into the triangular, and the square person has squeezed himself into the round hole. The officer and the office, the doer and the thing done, seldom fit so exactly that we can say they were almost made for each other." Reverend Sydney Smith 1771-1845

Omne tulit punctum qui miscuit = [Latin] = He has won universal approval who has combined the useful with the agreeable.

From the Great Light of Masonry: "If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the Lord's holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words, then you will find your joy in the Lord, and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob.' The mouth of the Lord has spoken." Isaiah 58:13-14

So mote it be.