Why do some systems of Masonry place the Three Great Lights directly in front of the Master in the East, while others such as ours in New York situate the Three Great Lights on a centrally located Altar?

When Masonry transitioned out of taverns and other temporary accommodations into purpose-built Masonic facilities, each jurisdiction had to decide how it would translate existing practices into the new setting. Previously, the Master was typically seated with a table (or even just a stool) in front of him displaying the Three Great Lights. Some Masons decided that the Three Great Lights should be situated directly in front of the Master because they were placed directly in front of him in the tavern. Other Masons decided that the Three Great Lights should be situated in the center of the Lodge room because they had been placed on a central table in the tavern around which the Brethren were gathered. Same origin but different translations. As it turns out, there is even greater variability when it comes to the location of the candles.

If all three principal officers are absent from a Communication, can a Past Master or some other designated member open the Lodge?

Only the Master, Senior Warden, or Junior Warden can open and preside over the Lodge, with two extraordinary exceptions: First, the Grand Master can open and preside over the Communication of any Lodge in the jurisdiction, regardless of whether a principal officer is present or not, or he may appoint a delegate to do the same on his behalf; and second, if the Lodge no longer has any of the three principal officers due to death, suspension/expulsion or demit, the Grand Master can issue a dispensation to the District Deputy Grand Master to open the Lodge for the purpose of electing new principal officers. Both these exceptions are vanishingly rare. Past Masters have no special rights or abilities under our system of Masonry, including the ability to open and preside over a Lodge in the absence of the principal officers.

What should a Lodge do if one of the Altar lights goes out?

This is one of those instances when we should heed the famous advice of Most Worshipful Cal Bond when he was Grand Lecturer: “Use your common sense.” Certainly this does not represent an occurrence that should stop or interrupt the Work of the Lodge. When possible a Brother may be dispatched to retrieve a fresh lightbulb or candle with which he can discretely replace the extinguished light at an appropriate moment. If this is impracticable, the Work of the evening should continue unabated with only two Altar lights illuminated. The kind of “Ritual book fundamentalism” that would disrupt or suspend the business of the Lodge because an Altar light burned out is not helpful to the aims of Masonry.

Masonic Ritual – In the absence of the Chaplain, should the Master appoint a Chaplain pro tem or should he deliver the Chaplain’s lines himself?

Assuming that there is a sufficient number of Brothers present, the Master should appoint a Chaplain pro tem, which could be one of the officers present such as the Marshal or Secretary. Should no Brother be available to serve as Chaplain, as a last resort the Master may deliver the Chaplain’s lines himself. However, in such as case the Master should give serious consideration as to whether it makes good sense to open a Communication with such a small number present. Moreover, if a lack of critical mass is a frequent or regular occurrence that the Lodge has been unable to solve with outreach to the membership, the Brethren should do the responsible thing for the Craft and consider consolidation with another Lodge.