BERKSHIRE MASONIC EDUCATION COMMITTEE THE OFFICE AND ROLE OF THE DIRECTOR OF CEREMONIES AND PRECEPTOR DUTIES WITHIN THE LODGE

Transcription

1 THE OFFICE AND ROLE OF THE DIRECTOR OF CEREMONIES AND PRECEPTOR DUTIES WITHIN THE LODGE

2 DUTIES WITHIN THE LODGE Brethren, my aim in addressing this ambitious topic is not to attempt to produce a comprehensive and definitive DC's rule or guide book but rather to share with you some thoughts and ideas on the subject. Some distilled from personal experience, others assimilated over the years, all hopefully conformant with good Masonic practice and intended to assist a DC to fulfill, in practical terms, those general objectives laid out in another paper. Above all, I hope it will activate some thought and discussion amongst "new" and "old" DCs alike as each of us aspiring to that honourable task should be clear and confident in our own minds as to what may be expected of us. I refer to the honour of being appointed DC of a lodge for what appear to me to be two principal reasons. Firstly, the lodge will regard him as the custodian of its traditions and conventions as far as adherence to the prescribed form of ritual is concerned. In corporate terminology the DC may be likened to the Quality Control or Quality Assurance Manager, responsible for ensuring that the quality of the finished product is of the consistently high standard required by the Board. Secondly, the DC, distinct from any other officer, has to be able to influence and coach the team of Lodge Officers appointed for the year and needs therefore to possess those management and communication skills which earn him the respect of those entrusted to his care. Being charged with such responsibilities is an honour, which no lodge confers lightly on the recipient. Before proceeding to outline some of the key areas of policy I would like to touch on the subject of style. How the DC performs his duties is itself an important obligation in that success eludes those who alienate themselves from the rest of the team. There is no identikit picture of the perfect DC. Consider in this province the many varying personalities and different characters who successfully acquit themselves in that capacity. I would however suggest that they may all have one thing in common, namely a thorough knowledge of the ritual which provides each of them with the confidence of being master of his brief Communicate that knowledge in the style and manner, which most naturally suit one's own personality, by, for example, humour, self-deprecation, modesty or natural sincerity. Avoid being over-bearing, effusive, over-visible or over-vocal, but try to demonstrate a calm and deliberate control over proceedings. The DC is auxiliary to the Master, not his substitute, in matters of control in the lodge, he can be authoritative without being authoritarian, he can officiate without being officious, and should be committed to the job rather than obsessed by it. Deprecate all negative utterances and murmurings, which so often are a feature of our meetings and a constant source of discouragement to those enacting the ritual. It is also important not to lose sight of the fact that the Brethren are doing it for fun by which I do not mean to minimise the significance of striving for ritual perfection - far from it - but we can all sometimes be guilty of taking ourselves too seriously. The introduction of a little levity, as appropriate, is often a good tension-lifter. How then should a DC perform his ultimate duty in serving the Master and the lodge to the utmost of his ability. I have identified 4 key areas: - 1. PREPARATION This surely must be the DC's watchword. Any successful lodge meeting will be the result of meticulous planning and preparation on the DC's part. There is simply no substitute and no short cut. His preparation will start at the beginning of the Masonic year by his organisation of, in co-operation with the Master and other main officers, the year s programme of regular Duties Within The Lodge V2 Page 1 of 7

3 meetings. Which ceremonies need to be enacted? What should their sequence be in order to meet the objectives and aspirations of the membership? Who will perform to the work and how best to make use of a broad range of talent within the lodge? It is important to determine in advance the policy and dates for the class of instruction and rehearsals, and to work to it. It may be desirable to have a varied programme in order to maintain as broad an interest possible for the members, perhaps once a year introducing a non-ceremonial meeting. Involve and consult the Past Masters in ones planning as otherwise they may think they have served their time and done their bit. Similarly, the younger masons need to be kept on side. A good working relationship with the Lodge Secretary is vital. Consult with him on the best start times for each meeting, bearing in mind the work to be done. If the luxury exists it s always helpful to have capable reserves in place if any officer's attendance is felt to be in doubt. It's generally never a good idea to wait until the evening of the meeting in the hope that a suitable replacement will either volunteer his services or may be bullied into temporary office. I have known the latter course of action to cause resentment and ill-feeling and is normally wholly avoidable if a little thought can be given ahead of the eventuality. Dealing effectively with the Candidate is a must for the DC. Make time to speak with him well in advance of the Initiation itself and tell him what he should wear. He may also require some reassurance. At the same time his Proposer and Seconder should be made aware of their responsibilities. It is also important that the DC spends some time with the Candidate after the Third Degree, perhaps going through some of the symbolism and outlining the way forward. The new initiate should also be made to feel welcome at the Class of Instruction. The DC should have a thorough knowledge of the ritual to be enacted and be familiar with the Book of Constitution, General Laws and Regulations, particularly Grand Lodge ranking (paragraph 5) and the protocol for salutes (paragraph 6). He should also know the By Laws of his Lodge, especially as regards what may constitute an exclusion at the ballot for a Joining Member or candidate for Initiation (Rule 167 refers to the ballot for an Honorary Member-3 or more black balls to exclude). Produce a checklist for each meeting. Tick off each item as it is checked and retain it until every item has been crossed off. It is dangerous to rely on the promises of others for an item to be put into place. One should check with Provincial Grand Lodge if any point of protocol or etiquette is unclear. If it is an obscure point, PGL may need to check with Grand Lodge. For example, there may be a visitor from overseas attending and you may not recognise his rank. It is the DC s responsibility to make sure that the distinguished visitor Is properly welcomed and receives the correct salute in lodge. The Secretary will provide the names and rank of any Grand Officers or Provincial Grand Officers visiting, enabling the diligent DC to plan the seating arrangements in advance and practice the appropriate salute. The visiting Grand Officers should also be met arrival and taken to the DC in order that he can introduce them to the Master, Secretary and other senior Brethren. The DC should arrive as early as possible before each meeting, at least half an hour, preferably 45 minutes ahead, to go through the check-list with the Tyler. It is the DC s duty to see that all the lodge furniture and accessories are in place. He should not rely on the Tyler. Will there be unknown Brethren to prove? Have all the Brethren signed the attendance register? Its correct completion will be important for final dining numbers. Visiting Brethren should be escorted to their seats. At this time the DC will have much on his mind but nevertheless he should still try to be courteous and affable. If his preparation has been Duties Within The Lodge V2 Page 2 of 7

4 thorough he can, to a certain extent and with a degree of confidence, let events unfold in the knowledge that he has done his best and hopefully the other officers will have been equally assiduous in their preparation. In the final analysis the Lodge operates as a team and it is very important that the DC tries always to engender the right team spirit within the lodge. 2. EDUCATION AND MOTIVATION The DC is responsible for arranging and supervising the rehearsals for specific meetings and works closely with the Preceptor. His main aim should be to assist the Officers and Brethren to perform their tasks in lodge to as high a standard as can be achieved by means of working the ritual at rehearsal. He should not hesitate himself to demonstrate how he wishes things to be done, how improvements may be achieved and how faults may be corrected. For example, the ritual book does not inform the Deacon on how best to hold the candidate (left arm under the candidate's right arm), how to hold the wand or effect a correct "wheel" or to change the Tracing Boards. These are technical points in which the DC should himself be well practised so that he can give the correct instruction. Correction is best achieved by positive encouragement: (for example, I was always taught to do this in this way and I would like you to do the same") rather than negative admonishment or, worse still, humiliation which is never justifiable. The DC will also need to guide the Master Elect in matters not immediately connected with the ritual, such as how to propose toasts at the Festive Board, conduct ballots, chair the Ladies Night or behave as a new visiting Master. The considerate DC should also be mindful that sometimes one or more officers may not be able to attend rehearsals even though the dates will have been well flagged in advance. In such circumstances he should prepare guidance notes and send them in advance to such absentees for it unfair and unreasonable to expect an unrehearsed officer to perform his duty in lodge, perhaps for the first time, without some advice additional to the ritual guidance notes. Furthermore, the rehearsal is not the time or place for the ritual to be learned as some Brethren seem to think. It is the occasion for the floor-work to be assimilated, normally within the setting of the temple itself, although at Sindlesham this is not always possible. A well-attended rehearsal will inevitably provide an opportunity for Past Masters to contribute to proceedings by imparting the benefit of their experience and advice. A cooperative atmosphere will be conducive to overall happiness and goodwill within the lodge and I have always tried to foster such a broader involvement, particularly as sometimes the DC may himself need to be put right-he is not infallible! However it is important to remember that the DC is there to supervise and it is ultimately his duty and responsibility to determine how the ritual is to be interpreted and enacted consistent with the lodge's traditions and conventions. In this respect it will sometimes be necessary for him to call the Brethren to order, draw varying strands of opinion together but in the last analysis it is he and he alone who is the final arbiter on how the work is to be done. He should therefore never be afraid to make a decision (hopefully always the right one), be consistent and try to get the officers to work consistently and with simultaneity of action. The DC should also be clear on what is genuine tradition and what may just have loosely evolved in recent years and gone unchecked. One should not be hidebound in defending as "traditional" what may otherwise simply amount to bad practice and be forthright in tackling such issues head on. As a final point on education and motivation the DC is ideally placed to detect the early warning signs of a recent Initiate's waning interest. For a lodge to lose a new member though Duties Within The Lodge V2 Page 3 of 7

5 neglect is unforgivable. If such a member's attendance appears to fall off, the DC should make every effort to find out the reason. If it is because the new member perceives himself excluded or as having no worthwhile contribution to make to proceedings, ask him to perform a piece of work in lodge and get him feeling needed which will quickly integrate him into the mainstream and give him the confidence to mix with his fellow Brethren and go onto greater things in the future. 3. CONDUCT AT THE LODGE MEETING Having arrived early, gone though his checking procedures and inspected the layout of the Temple for the particular ceremony to be enacted, the DC will look down the other items on the agenda and similarly prepare himself accordingly. For example, a Grand Lodge Certificate may need to be presented. Who has it and who will be responsible for looking after it will you, as DC, have to collect it from the Secretary's table and bring it to the presenter? Are there matches for re-lighting the candles in the Third Degree? Does the Tyler have a copy of the summons? If an Initiation is taking place has the Secretary prepared the Declaration Book for the Candidate to sign? The division of duty between the DC and ADC should be clearly defined. For example, who picks up the late-arriving Brethren and will it depend on their rank? It is important that you start the meeting on time, for which reason request that the officers aim to arrive at least 15 minutes preferably 30 minutes before the scheduled start. Salutes should be given at a time determined by each lodge but generally after the minutes when the lodge is open in the First Degree. Normally any visiting Grand Officer or acting Provincial Officer attending will be known of in advance and thereby an opportunity provided for the DC to rehearse the correct pre-amble and salutation in private well in advance of the meeting. It is the DC's job to keep proceedings moving along according to the agenda and ceremony. For example, he should remind the Master, if necessary, to invite Entered Apprentices to withdraw or be re-admitted. Of course the DC should posses an excellent knowledge of the ritual. He does not want to be necessarily tied to the Master word for word in readiness for a prompt, as by so doing he may lose a grip on the sequence of events and take his eye off others who may also require his close attention. It is always preferable therefore if the IPM or another designated Past Master is the first source of a prompt. The hesitant and nervous Master will need to be steered carefully along and given every encouragement. He will look to his DC first for help and guidance on what to do next. We should expect that and not let him down and always try to be one step ahead. A caring DC will provide him with re-assurance by friendly gestures and positive body language, offering quiet congratulation on a piece of ritual well delivered. He will respect the Master's superiority and never appear to be telling him what to do. The DC should be ready to guide the Master on procedural points such as propositions, which need to be voted on, and balloting. (For ballots the Master needs to initially declare the box empty. For votes on Candidates for Initiation and Joining Members the Deacon should place one ball into the hand of each subscribing member unless the black and white ball system is being used. The ballot box should not be tilted when presented to the voting Brother. The black and white ball system is always preferable as it largely eliminates the risk of "mistakes" which will always be embarrassing. For the Master and Treasurer, voting is by a written ballot, the slips of paper being collected and handed to the Master for verification. The Duties Within The Lodge V2 Page 4 of 7

6 Master is only required to announce who received a majority of the votes. (For the Tyler, voting is by a show of hands). The DC should make sure that the Master Mason's or the Master's apron is adjusted beforehand to the correct girth measurement. It is also perfectly permissible for the candidate in the Second and Third Degree ceremonies to be temporarily divested of his former apron while the new one is being fitted. 4. DEALING WITH THE UNEXPECTED A thorough preparation will doubtless go a long way to eliminate, if not the unexpected, then at least the avoidable. What however should you do if, for example, one of the Brethren stands during the third rising and, without prior warning, raises a contentious issue and the Master's gaze fixes on his DC for inspiration? The answer is do not panic, stay calm and think through the options. One might, in such an instance, quietly recommend to the Master that he takes note of the point but in order to give the Brethren time to reflect on it, if a decision needs to be made, could the matter be formally raised at the next meeting. This "holding" tactic could be worth keeping in the back of your mind for such eventualities but hopefully, keeping an ear always to the ground, the DC will be able to pick up most rumblings in advance and hopefully head off any potential public embarrassment to the Lodge in general and the Master in particular. Likewise the deliberate "black-balling" of a Candidate in open lodge is not only very unfortunate but is also normally wholly avoidable if opinion has been broadly and thoroughly canvassed in advance. If a mistake in balloting does occur, the Master can be quietly advised to re-run the ballot, but once only. If a Brother is taken ill during a meeting it is the DC's first responsibility to see to his well being. Be aware of any Brother who will be able to offer first aid. Similarly, if a Brother has to attend to an urgent call of nature, he should request the Master s permission to be excused and not be allowed to suffer undue discomfort. Almost certainly it will be medically related rather than self-induced. As final recommendations under this heading I would advocate the following: Try at all times to avoid confrontation, remain calm and always respectful. If an item such as an officer's collar is missing, ask for the Master's permission to retrieve it, rather than trying to cover up the omission. Common sense is invariably a good guide. Monitor proceedings carefully, never "tune out", no matter how tired you may be - you will certainly get caught out. Never be afraid to ask the advice of a senior Past Master. At the same time try to maintain the confidence of the Lodge and keep it good-humoured. Never give up when things do not go well. That is the true test of a DC's mettle. Learn from the mistakes and remember there is always the next meeting to demonstrate improvement. In summary Brethren, what are the key messages I would like you to take away this evening. Remember, how you perform your duties is as important an obligation as the duties themselves; be diligent in your preparation throughout; display empathy (put yourself in their shoes) with the officers rehearsing the ritual; be inclusive and fair in your man management, continue to add to your asset bank of Masonic knowledge; lead proceedings (or be one step ahead), like the orchestral conductor, not follow them; be prepared for the unrehearsed/unexpected. Duties Within The Lodge V2 Page 5 of 7

7 Finally, Brethren, I would like to pose this question: "What is it all for and is it all worth it?" After all, to be alert to so many hazards and pitfalls will never be easy and possessing all the right qualifications and characteristics probably eliminate all except Super-Mason. When things do go well you may not expect many plaudits to come your way but when things go badly you probably will attract flack. Worst of all is when no comment is forthcoming, causing you to think it must all have been dreadful. When acting as a DC becomes a chore and you feel you cannot cope with a new year, new Master, Warden and Deacon, that definitely that is the time to consider putting your wand away and identifying your successor. In any case, it is incumbent on the DC not to stay in office for an inordinate length of time and to ensure that a suitable replacement is ready come the time to take over. This may be the Assistant who will have been "groomed" for the task and, in order to ensure a smooth transition, the retiring DC may act as his Assistant for a year. However, if you continue to relish the challenges, retain the confidence of the Lodge and have not exceeded your use-by date then the reward of striving for excellence in your ceremonies will bring tremendous satisfaction. To think that you may have played a part in helping the unconfident new Master overcome his inhibitions and achieve mastery of his task and thereby an increase in his level of self-esteem is no mean achievement. You can, and should, take pride from it, not only on behalf of your lodge, but for your own reputation too as a dedicated DC. Ritual excellence and its relentless pursuit is a most laudable Masonic endeavour. In this regard I would like to leave you with a quotation from Bro. Julian Rees' recent article: "So what do we seek: the damnable din of the Tower of Babel, or cathedral spires of sound which sing to us as they-and we-soar heavenward". Version 1 Originated by Tony Barstow September 1997 Version 2 Checked for consistency BMEC January 2008 Duties Within The Lodge V2 Page 6 of 7