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.

Masonic Ritual – Where should the Deacons meet when approaching the West to communicate the word/password to the Senior Warden as part of purging the Lodge?

The Standard Work and Lectures does not detail this with any specificity, but rather allows each Lodge to decide how and where the Deacons meet. This is for a good reason: There is wide variability in size and configuration of Lodge rooms around the State of New York, and what works in one Lodge room may be not work very well in another Lodge room. That said, the primary purpose of the Ritual of Opening is to transition the Brethren from the quotidian concerns of the profane world into the serene, sacred space of Masonry, and the Deacons’ floorwork can make a meaningful contribution in this regard when it is done with rigor and organization. In this connection, our Lodges have adopted a variety of traditions in practices with respect to the Deacons’ approach to the West. The Junior Deacon may remain standing until the Senior Deacon reaches the west end of the Lodge room before both turn to come before the Senior Warden simultaneously. Or the Deacons may meet at the west side of the Altar before approaching the West together. These are the most common approaches, but there are a multitude of possible solutions. However it is done, the best visual presentation is obtained when the Deacons make their inward turns at the same time and arrive simultaneously at the steps of the West where both come to the Sign of Fidelity.