Masonic Ritual – Displaying the Great Light

Mar 28, 2023 | Masonic Ritual

MASONIC Ritual

Displaying the Great Light

MASONIC RITUAL EXPLAINED BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CUSTODIANS OF THE WORK

What is the significance of opening the Bible to a different page for each Degree? What pages should be used for alternative sacred scriptures?

There is no particular symbolic meaning associated with opening the Bible to the scripture lesson of the Degree in which the Lodge is working. Indeed, plenty of Masonic Ritual workings do not include this practice. We do this in New York for entirely practical purposes: The Chaplain stands at the west side of the Altar facing East when he delivers the scripture lessons in the various Degree Rituals, which makes it possible for him to read the scripture lesson directly from the open Bible in front of him. Because this practical advantage cannot be obtained from alternative sacred scriptures, they may be opened to any page the Lodge or candidate chooses.

Response provided by RW Samuel Lloyd Kinsey
Chairman, Custodians of the Work, Grand Lodge of New York

Note: This site is an excellent source of information about Freemasonry. While every effort has been made to provide accurate and up-to-date information about Masonic Ritual, please remember that a website is not a substitute for your jurisdiction’s Standard Work or Approved Ritual.

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Masonic Ritual – Escorting Masonic Dignitaries

Mar 21, 2023 | Masonic Ritual

MASONIC Ritual

ESCORTING MASONIC DIGNITARIES

MASONIC RITUAL EXPLAINED BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CUSTODIANS OF THE WORK

Why are Masonic dignitaries and other Brothers escorted to the East along the north side of the Lodge?

When a Brother ascends the East to be recognized by the Master or to give a presentation, he is normally positioned at the Master’s right hand—which is to say, north of the Master. If a Brother were to ascend the East on the south side and subsequently move to traditional place at the Master’s right hand, this would necessitate “crossing the East” which is deprecated in our Masonic tradition. In addition, those who are escorted to the East are usually dignitaries of one kind or another, and the “near East” along the north sideline represents the second most honored area of seating once the East has filled up. So we may also think of the north as the “side of honor” in this respect.

Sounds a little better than “place of darkness,” right?

Response provided by RW Samuel Lloyd Kinsey
Chairman, Custodians of the Work, Grand Lodge of New York

Note: This site is an excellent source of information about Freemasonry. While every effort has been made to provide accurate and up-to-date information about Masonic Ritual, please remember that a website is not a substitute for your jurisdiction’s Standard Work or Approved Ritual.

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Masonic ritual – Empty Warden Chair

Mar 14, 2023 | Masonic Etiquette, Masonic Ritual

MASONIC RITUAL

Empty Warden’s Chair

MASONIC RITUAL EXPLAINED BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CUSTODIANS OF THE WORK

If a Warden momentarily vacates his chair, should another member be directed to occupy that station in his absence?

There is no requirement under our system of Masonry that the stations of the Lodge be occupied when the officer ordinarily seated there is elsewhere about the Lodge, or indeed should he be without the Lodge for a short period. The time to seat another Brother in a Warden’s empty station is when the office of that station has something to do.

Response provided by RW Samuel Lloyd Kinsey
Chairman, Custodians of the Work, Grand Lodge of New York

Note: This site is an excellent source of information about Freemasonry. While every effort has been made to provide accurate and up-to-date information about Masonic Ritual, please remember that a website is not a substitute for your jurisdiction’s Standard Work or Approved Ritual.

Masonic Ritual – Deacons and Taking the Password

Mar 3, 2023 | Masonic Ritual

MASONIC RITUAL

DEACONS AND TAKING THE PASSWORD

MASONIC RITUAL EXPLAINED BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CUSTODIANS OF THE WORK

Why don’t the Deacons take the word or password from the Wardens, Treasurer, Secretary and any Grand Lodge officers seated in the East when purging the Lodge?

All of these officers outrank the Deacons, who therefore have no authority under which to demand the word or password from them. The reason the Deacons do take the word or password from Grand Lodge officers seated on the sidelines is because they must be in the East to display the authority of their Masonic titles. Otherwise for Ritual purposes they are just regular Brothers. For similar reasons, the Grand Master, Deputy Grand Master and District Deputy Grand Master do not give the Sign of Fidelity to the Lodge officers when seated in the East, but do give this sign when seated elsewhere about the Lodge.

Response provided by RW Samuel Lloyd Kinsey
Chairman, Custodians of the Work, Grand Lodge of New York

Note: This site is an excellent source of information about Freemasonry. While every effort has been made to provide accurate and up-to-date information about Masonic Ritual, please remember that a website is not a substitute for your jurisdiction’s Standard Work or Approved Ritual.

Masonic Ritual – Crossing the East During Labor

Feb 28, 2023 | Masonic Etiquette, Masonic Ritual

MASONIC RITUAL

Crossing the East

MASONIC RITUAL EXPLAINED BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CUSTODIANS OF THE WORK

Why can’t we cross between the Altar and the East when the Lodge is at labor?

From a symbolic perspective, the Three Great Lights transmit their Light to the Master, whose duty it is to disseminate that Light to the Brethren in the Lodge. When someone crosses the East, that transmission of Light is interrupted. There are, of course, times when this restriction is impracticable, which is why we move freely about the Lodge during Degree Rituals and the Master can grant freedom of the Lodge to anyone he chooses, such as a Brother giving a talk or presentation. In all considerations such as these we must use common sense and avoid adopting a fundamentalist attitude towards our Rituals and traditions to such an extent that there is a negative effect on the work and operations of the Lodge.

Response provided by RW Samuel Lloyd Kinsey
Chairman, Custodians of the Work, Grand Lodge of New York

Note: This site is an excellent source of information about Freemasonry. While every effort has been made to provide accurate and up-to-date information about Masonic Ritual, please remember that a website is not a substitute for your jurisdiction’s Standard Work or Approved Ritual.