R.W.Bro. Ted Peter's "Walkabout, presented at Doric Lodge No.
289, March 35, 1989

THIS IS TO BE CONDUCTED FOLLOWING THE ENTERED APPRENTICE DEGREE
AND IS AN EXPLANATION OF THE CHAIRS AND THE LODGEROOM GENERALLY.

WITH THE NEWLY INITIATED MASON ON YOUR LEFT ARM, COMMENCE AN
INFORMAL WALK AROUND THE LODGE AS FOLLOWS:--(Commence in the
East)

When I first became a Mason, it was a good number of months
before I understood the function of each officer and the various
furnishings about the lodge. So, tonight, we are going to show
you around, so to speak, in the hope that when you come to the
lodge next month, you will feel comfortable and more at home
amongst your brethren.

This area of the lodge is known as the "East" and it will come as
no surprise that our Master sits in the east, since all learning
emanated from the east. Our Master is elected by the brethren of
the lodge for a period of one year. He is the "boss", and the
well ruling of the lodge is in his hands.  You will notice that
the Master's jewel is the square and, as you have already
learned, the square and the compasses represent the whole craft.

To his rigit is the Immediate Past Master; he was the Master last
year.  He has an important function in that, since he made all
the usual mistakes that a Master can make during his year as
Master, he is now in the position of being able to correct the
Master, give him his opinions and advice and prompt him as
necessary.  The IPM's jewel is the square from which is suspended
a geometrical design of historical significance to the Mason.

To the Master's left is a chair which is reserved for any
dignitary who might visit, or anyone else within the lodge of
Master rank or higher, whom the Master might invite to sit beside
him.

The area to the right of the Master is reserved for Past Masters
or visiting Masters from other lodges, while the area to his left
is reserved for Grand Lodge Officers.

Masonry, like any business, has a Head Office and a President. 
Our Head Office is in Hamilton, and our President is the Grand
Master.................. The brethren who are responsible for
Masonry, in each Jurisdiction across the country, are what we
refer to as Grand Lodge Officers and they are either elected or
appointed to Grand Lodge.  You will notice that they wear very
colorful regalia and they are the wise men of Masonry.  They keep
a close eye on proceedings, and when I get finished this evening
they will not be reticent to point out any errors which I may
have made during this presentation.

Here we have the Secrecary and no business or organization could
get along without a secretary and, it is certainly no different
in Masonry.  The lodge secretary performs a myriad of duties and
is critical to the success and the well-running of the lodge. 
His jewel is the crosses goose quills, which, in early times,
were used to transcribe the proceedings. It is one of his duties
to keep a written record of all meetings.  As a matter of fact,
the first meeting ever held in my lodge in 1868 was duly recorded
by the secretary of that day and is available in the archives. 
In like manner, the events of this eventing are being recorded,
together with your name, and will go down in the minutes as part
of our lodge history.

Next to the Secretary is the Treasurer.  It is his responsibility
to look after the accounts of the lodge and to record all
receipts and expenditures.  For example, he will record the
dollars of which you were relieved this evening.  His jewel is
the crossed keys which have reference to the coffers or strong
box in which the resources of the lodge were kept in years gone
by.

Here we have the Junior Warden. The Junior Warden and the Senior
Warden (point to him), along with the Master, are the principal
officers of the lodge and they will normally progress from one
chair to the next. In this way then, the junior Warden, if he
behaves himself and keeps his nose clean, will probably be
elected Senior Warden nent year and the Senior Warden will
likewise be elected to the Master's chair. The Junior Warden's
jewel is the plum rule which is the emblem of uprightness.

On each side of the Junior Warden sit the Stewards. Their jewel
is the cornucopia or "Horn of Plenty"- It is the emblem assigned
to the Stewards because of their function in administering to the
brethren at the hours of refreshment.  The Junior Stewards chair
is the first chair in the Lodge as one proceeds upwards to the
Master's Chair.

Here we have the Senior Warden, whom I have already referred to. 
He has a similar function to the Junior Warien in assisting the
Master in the well-ruling of the Lodge.  His jewel is the level,
the emblem of equality.

You are already well acquainted with the Junior Deacon, as he was
the Mason who guided you around the lodgeroom tonight during your
degree.  Wa have both a Junior Deacon and a Senior Deacon (point
to him), and they both have similar functions in the various 
degrees as they assist the Wardens and the Master in the actual
duties of the lodge. Their jewels depict a dove and allude to the
dove which was released by Noah and returned to the ark with an
olive branch.

You also know something about the Outer Guard and the Inner
Guard, size they were the first people you met when you were
about to enter the lodge.  The Outer Guard is responsible to see
that none but Masons get into the lodge room and the Inner Guard 
has a similar function.  The Inner Guard's jewel is the crossed
swords and the Outer Guard's jewel sports a single sword. They
recall the "flaming sword" placed, after Adam's fall, at the
entrance, to the Garden of Eden to keep all intruders away from
the "tree of life".

The Director of Ceremonies is responsible to see that the
ceremonies and degrees are well rehearsed and that the brethren
know their work to the credit of the lodge. You will often see
him with a furrowed brow and a sweaty palm as he watches the
degree work and probably sees things which you wouldn't notice,
but which, in his desire to achieve perfection, keeps his
worry-level high. His emblem or jewel is the crossed rods,
depicting the marshall's baton, originally the officer in charge
of the king's horses, but which has come to have certain
ceremonial duties in respect to the marshalling of processions.
The Director of Ceremonies also attends to any ceremony in which
the lodge might be involved.

The Organist is responsible for the music of the lodge and his 
jewel is the lyre.

The Chaplain looks after the spiritual side of our meetings and
his jewel is the Volume of the Sacred Law mounted on a triangle,

This is the altar which you will find in every Masonic lodge. It 
is the center of the building. On the alter lies the V.O.S.L.
This book can be different depending upon where the lodge is
situated in the world, and will always allude to the beliefs of
the brethren in that particular area. It is not uncommon for more
than one book to be on the alter, depending in where you are. For
example, if you were to go to lodge in Jerusalem you would find
four books upon the alter, alluding to the various beliefs in
that city. It is important to know that everything which we do in
Masonry eminates from the V.O.S.L. lying there on the alter, and
it is the focal point of Masonry.

Here we have what we refer to as the rough and perfect ashlars.
(point to them) Now, as you begin your Masonic journey, you have
been likened to the rough ashlar, which, you will notice, has
some form, but is still very rough. This alludes to the fact that
you have been investigated and your brethren have determined that
you are a fit and proper person to become a Mason. Now begins the
work  -- using our Masonic tools, of chipping away all that you
do not need to be a Mason among men. Eventually, this rough
ashlar will become more like the one we see across the lodge
room, and which we refer to as the perfect ashlar. Masonry does
not add anything to you as a man, but rather takes away anything
that you do not need. Masonry then, is a journey whuch you have
begun tonight. A journey, if you like, that takes you from the
"rough ashlar" to the "perfect ashlar." Masonry is not something
that you arrive at, but rather, Masonry is something that is
ongoing and in which you will spend the rest of your life
aspiring tp perfection. However, if you look closely at the
"perfect ashlar," you will see that it is not "perfect," because
nothing in this mortal world is perfect. We spend our lifetime as
Masons, as I have said, aspiring to perfection until, eventually
we leave this world and go to the Grand Lodge above.

You will get out of your Masonic journey in relationship to what 
you are prepared to give of yourself and your talent. It is my 
hope;  and the hope of the brethren here assembled tonight, that
you will continue your Masonic journey, that you will take
your obligations seriously and that you, with the help of your
brethren, will make a placc for yourself in Masonic circles.

Congratulations and best wishes to you, brother.

NOTE:

When referring to the Officer's jewels, have the appropriate
jewel held up in order that the new brother may see what is being
explained 

Keep the entire procedure in a "light" vein and introduce some
humor where possible


R.W.ro. Edward Peters, D.D..M. London West District 1988/89 


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