YOUR JOURNEY STARTS HERE

Transcription

1 YOUR JOURNEY STARTS HERE Initiate s Guide

2 Foreword The word Initiation means beginning and I trust now that you have been initiated into your Lodge that this wi prove the beginning of a ong and enjoyabe Masonic journey. It is highy ikey that much of what you have experienced seems sighty mystifying. However, et me reassure you that every other Freemason, even monarchs themseves, underwent an identica ceremony and most of them were probaby just as puzzed at the time. In the next few days your thoughts about the initiation ceremony wi crystaise into specific questions, not just about the ceremony you experienced, but aso perhaps reating to the structure and organisation of our Fraternity. It was with this in mind that this guide was first produced and distributed to every new Mason in London on his Initiation. Since then it has been warmy wecomed by those outside of London and is now made avaiabe to newy initiated Masons from the Provinces. Masonry is not a secret society and I have itte doubt that in the funess of time, when you have experienced the enjoyment that membership brings, you wi want to share this by considering introducing friends and coeagues to membership of your Lodge. I fee certain that the information contained within these pages wi enabe you to afford a more informed description of what Freemasonry is a about. This Guide is intended to hep you form the foundation of your Masonic knowedge. With it et me offer you my warmest congratuations and wecome you into Freemasonry in genera and your own Lodge in particuar. I wish you a ong, happy and heathy Masonic career. RW Bro. Russe J. Race, DL Metropoitan Grand Master RW Bro. Russe J. Race DL Metropoitan Grand Master

3 Contents 1 INTRODUCTION Wecome 2 A hepfu reminder 3 What now? 4 Our meetings 5 Why become a freemason? 6 Famous freemasons 7 2 HISTORY Brotherhood beginings 8 3 USEFUL TO KNOW Our structure 12 Lodge officers 14 Lodge items 20 The Lodge room 22 Our regaia 24 Customs and protoco 28 The Festive Board 30 About our ritua 31 Masonic symboism 32 4 THE NEXT STEPS Visiting other Lodges 34 Lodge of Instruction (LoI) 35 Tips for earning ritua 36 5 USEFUL REFERENCE Our charities 38 Further reading 40 Hymns 42 Toasts 43 Toast ist 44 Beyond the Craft The Hoy Roya Arch 45 Concusion 46 1

4 Wecome Wecome to Freemasonry. The famiy By being initiated into your masonic Lodge you have become a member of one of the word s odest secuar fraterna societies. Our membership incudes: Around 300,000 Masons in Engand and Waes (a of whom experienced the same initiation ceremony). Around six miion Masons wordwide. More than 7,000 Lodges in Engand and Waes. The purpose of this Handbook This booket is intended to give you a very brief introduction to Freemasonry and to answer some of the questions you may have. It is not meant to cover every aspect of Masonry with which you may need hep during your eary years of membership, even if that were possibe! It is hoped, however, that you wi have the support of your proposer and seconder. Your Lodge shoud aso be appointing a knowedgeabe brother as your mentor, who wi be abe to answer any questions you may have, or at east know where to go to find the answer for you. You have become a member of one of the word s odest secuar fraterna societies. 2

5 A hepfu reminder Before you competed your appication to join, you shoud have received eafets to give you an insight into Freemasonry and what we practise and beieve. To recap: 1. Masonry consists of a body of men banded together for the purpose of mutua inteectua, socia and mora improvement and pedged to preserve our mysteries, privieges, customs and ceremonias. Its members endeavour to cutivate and exhibit brothery ove, reief and truth, to one another and the word at arge. 2. The essentia condition of membership is a beief in a Supreme Being. 3. Masonry recognises no distinction of reigion and emphasises the duties of oyaty and citizenship. It does not permit any of its members to discuss reigious or poitica questions in Lodge. 5. We support a wide variety of Masonic and non-masonic charities but Masonry is not in any financia sense a mutua-benefit society. Masonic charities are soey for the ess fortunate. 6. Masonry teaches that a man s first duty is to his famiy. Peope shoud not therefore join if the associated fees and charitabe contributions wi be to the detriment of their oved ones. 7. Therefore everyone shoud be sure: a. he desires the inteectua and mora improvement of himsef and others; b. he is wiing to devote time, means and efforts in the promotion of brothery ove, reief and truth; c. he seeks no commercia, socia or pecuniary advantages; and d. he is abe to afford the necessary expenditure without detriment to himsef or his dependants. 1 INTRODUCTION 4. It offers no pecuniary advantages binding one Mason to dea with another, or to support him in any way in the ordinary business reations of ife. 3

6 What now? 4 You are now a member of The Craft a term used to describe the three degrees of freemasonry. As an Entered Apprentice your first step is to progress through your remaining two degrees, Feow Craft, and Master Mason. Your Lodge Committee wi usuay decide the workings for the year ahead, which incudes when they think the time is right for your progression, athough one meeting a year is reserved for the Instaation of the Master. Why become a Master Mason? When you become a Master Mason, freemasonry reay begins to open up and privieges incude: Attending the whoe workings of every ceremony (except a sma section of the Worshipfu Master s Instaation meeting) Taking fu part as an officer within your mother Lodge or another Lodge you may join Joining other Lodges in the UK or abroad Joining other Orders beyond the Craft, such as the Hoy Roya Arch (Chapter) Visiting other Lodges in the UK more easiy. This is possibe now but you may not see very much! Visiting Lodges abroad. Progression It is norma that once you have attained these three degrees you wi start to move through the seven progressive offices, resuting in your becoming the Worshipfu Master for the year. Each progressive officer has a roe to pay in each ceremony that is performed, athough taking office is your choice. There is more about these offices ater in the Guide. If you decide to hod office, you wi be expected to earn your part in the ritua and pay a roe in the team that carry out the various ceremonies. This is memorised from the Ritua Book you wi be given when you become a Master Mason. The Ritua Book has missing or abbreviated words to keep the ceremony specia, but you wi be given these missing or abbreviated words verbay when required. Don t worry your Lodge wi hep you with the earning, through a Lodge of Instruction, and there are some hepfu tips about earning ritua ater in this Guide. The Book of Constitutions At your Initiation you were presented with the Book of Constitutions. Don t try to earn it; you wi find it usefu reference for further information about our organisation. The part with a thick back ine down the outside page is reevant ony to the Hoy Roya Arch (Chapter) you wi earn more about this ater. The Book of Constitutions When you become a Master Mason, freemasonry reay begins to open up.

7 Freemasonry is simiar to many cubs, in that the more you put in, the more you wi get out. A typica Summons Our meetings The meetings are in two parts the Lodge Meeting and the Festive Board. Most Lodges have a committee that agrees how many reguar (usuay four or five) and emergency meetings there are a year (if any) and start times. So put them in your diary a year in advance, or in your PC or organiser as permanent appointments; this makes it easier to pan persona activities around them. Before each meeting you wi receive a Summons, which incudes an agenda bring this to each meeting. The Lodge Meeting As in any association there is a certain amount of administrative procedure: minutes of the ast meeting, discussion and voting on financia matters, news and correspondence, proposing and baoting for new members. Part of the meeting wi usuay incude coecting Ams, when you wi be expected to donate a sma sum to charity. Then there are the ceremonies, which form the core of the forma Lodge meeting. The Festive Board The Lodge meetings are foowed by a dinner the Festive Board which is the best opportunity to meet feow and visiting members. The Festive Board wi normay be foowed by a standard format of toasts foowed by the Masonic Fire (see page 30). After the Festive Board some members may choose to carry on the evening esewhere, making the evening a very socia affair. Attendance You shoud attend a meetings, but as an Entered Apprentice, Feow Craft or indeed Master Mason (for Worshipfu Master s instaation), you wi have to retire from the Lodge for a short period, when workings above your degree are being performed. You shoud be accompanied by your mentor or another member when this happens, and you may ike to ask beforehand who wi do so. If you are unabe to attend a meeting pease notify the secretary at your eariest convenience. Ceremonies There are four ceremonies: 1 First Degree or Ceremony of Initiation; 2 Second Degree or Ceremony of Passing; 3 Third Degree or Ceremony of Raising; 4 The Ceremony of Instaation. This annua ceremony instas the Worshipfu Master who then appoints his officers for the year ahead. Where to sit A Officers have a designated seat and there are often seating paces for Grand Officers, Lodge members and guests. Pease check with your Lodge where you shoud sit if you are unsure. 1 INTRODUCTION 5

8 Why become a freemason? The reasons why peope join and what they ike about Freemasonry vary from person to person. You wi have your own reasons, but the foowing are taken from a sampe of new members: Quest for knowedge because they are intrigued about the history and mysteries hed within Freemasonry Charity because they fee it is a conduit to put back into society, through Masonic charity giving Sef improvement to become a better person Learning networking, earning from peers and mentors and earning from practising ritua (if you hod office) and after dinner speech-making (watching others and on occasion making a simpe speech) Unusua because there is nothing quite ike it in ife Achievement progressing through office to Worshipfu Master Brotherhood because it is a eveer, meaning you meet (and indeed become friends with) a broad spectrum of peope from Chairmen of arge PLCs to dustmen, peope that ive on your estate to foreign nationas, peope from 21 to 90+yrs of age essentiay, a very extensive mae demographic. Simpy by mixing with peope from different waks of ife heps to broaden the mind...to become a better person. 6

9 Famous freemasons Over three centuries freemasonry has attracted Kings, Presidents, Prime Ministers and many key historic figures, incuding: Kings George VI Edward VII Edward VIII Presidents & Prime Ministers George Washington Sir Winston Churchi Actors and entertainers Cark Gabe John Wayne Wiiam Cody ( Buffao Bi ) Harry Houdini Peter Seers Sportsmen Cive Loyd Arnod Pamer Jack Dempsey Sugar Ray Robinson 1 INTRODUCTION Key historic figures Arthur Weesey (1st Duke of Weington) Henri Dunant (Red Cross Founder) Dr Barnardo Writers Rudyard Kiping Robert Burns Sir Arthur Conan Doye Musicians Wofgang Amadeus Mozart Gibert & Suivan Nat King Coe Edward Duke Eington Scientists Sir Aexander Feming Joseph Lister Edward Jenner (who deveoped the smapox vaccination) Exporers Sir Ernest Shacketon Captain Robert Scott (Scott of the Antarctic) Edwin Buzz Adrin (Astronaut) Businessmen Andre Citroen Henry Ford The ist coud go on and on. 7

10 Brotherhood beginnings The origins of Freemasonry are subject to schoary debate. Organised Freemasonry as we know it today began with the founding of the first Grand Lodge on 24 June 1717 at the Goose and Gridiron Ae House in St Pau s Churchyard. It was formed by the agreement of four London Lodges, the odest of which was thought to have existed in Evidence of the movement s existence prior to 1691 is sparse, so the true origins remain a mystery. Freemasonry neither originated nor existed in King Soomon s time. Many historians have tried to prove freemasonry descended from the mysteries of cassica Greece or Rome or was derived from the reigion of the Egyptian pyramid buiders. Other theories incude: Freemasonry sprang from bands of traveing stonemasons acting by Papa authority; it evoved from a band of Knights Tempar who escaped to Scotand after the order was persecuted in Europe; Freemasonry derived from the shadowy and mysterious Rosicrucian Brotherhood which may or may not have existed in Europe in the eary 1600s. The honest answers to the questions when, where and why did freemasonry originate, are that we simpy do not know. The stonemason theory That said, there is genera agreement amongst historians and researchers that freemasonry deveoped, either directy or indirecty, from the medieva stonemasons (otherwise known as operative masons) who buit the great cathedras and castes. Those who favour the theory say there were three stages to the evoution of freemasonry. The stonemasons gathered in huts or Lodges to rest and eat. These huts or Lodges graduay became a grouping together of stonemasons to reguate their craft. Eventuay, and in common with other trades, they deveoped primitive initiation ceremonies for new apprentices. As stonemasons were accustomed to traveing a over the country and as there were no trade union cards or certificates of apprenticeship, they began to adopt a private word that they coud use when arriving at a new site to prove they were propery skied and had been a member of a hut or Lodge. It was, after a, easier to communicate a secret word to prove who you were and that you were entited to your wages, than it was to spend hours carving a bock of stone to demonstrate your skis. 8

11 2 We know that in the eary 1600s these operative Lodges began to admit nonstonemasons. They were accepted or gentemen masons. Why and what form the ceremony took is unknown. As the 1600s drew to a cose more gentemen joined the Lodges, graduay taking them over and turning them into Lodges of free and accepted or specuative masons, no onger having any connection with the stonemasons craft. This theory is based on evidence from Scotand where there is ampe evidence of Scottish operative Lodges, geographicay defined units with the backing of statute aw to contro what was termed the mason trade". There is aso penty of evidence that these Lodges began to admit gentemen as accepted masons, but no evidence so far that these accepted members were other than honorary masons, or that they in any way atered the nature of the operative Lodges. Furthermore no evidence has come to ight, after a hundred years, for a simiar deveopment in Engand. Medieva buiding records have references to stonemason s Lodges but after 1400, apart from masons guids in some towns, there is no evidence for operative Lodges. Buiding a better society theory Yet it is in Engand that the first evidence of a Lodge competey made up of non-operative masons is found. Eias Ashmoe, the Antiquary and Founder of the Ashmoean Museum in Oxford, records in his diary for 1646 that he was made a Free Mason in a Lodge hed for that purpose at his father-in-aw s house in Warrington. He records who was present, a of whom have been researched and have been found to have no connection with operative masonry. Engish evidence through the 1600s points to freemasonry existing separatey from any actua or supposed organisation of operative stonemasons. This ack of evidence for the existence of operative Lodges but evidence for Lodges of accepted masons has ed to the theory of an indirect ink between operative stonemasonry and Freemasonry. Those who support the indirect ink theorise that freemasonry was brought into existence by a group of men in the ate 1500s or eary 1600s. This was a period of great reigious and poitica turmoi and intoerance. Men were unabe to meet together without differences of poitica and reigious opinion eading to arguments. Famiies were spit by opposing HISTORY 9

12 views and the Engish Civi War of 1642 to 1646 was the utimate outcome. Those who support the indirect ink beieve the originators of Freemasonry were men who wished to promote toerance and buid a better word in which men of differing opinions coud peacefuy co-exist and work together for the betterment of mankind. In the custom of their times they used aegory and symboism to pass on their ideas. As their centra idea was the buiding of a better society they borrowed their forms and symbos from the operative buiders craft and took their centra aegory from the Bibe, the common source book known to a, in which the ony buiding described in any detai is King Soomon s Tempe. Stonemasons toos provided them with the mutipicity of embems to iustrate the principes they were putting forward. A charitabe framework theory A more recent theory about our origins paces freemasonry within a charitabe framework. In the 1600s there was no wefare state, so anyone faing i or becoming disabed had to rey on friends and the Poor Law for support. In those days many trades had what have become known as box cubs. These grew out of the convivia gatherings of members of a particuar trade during meetings of which a present woud put money into a communa box, knowing that if they fe on hard times they coud appy for reief from the box. From surviving evidence these box cubs are known to have begun to admit members not beonging to their trade and to have had many characteristics of eary masonic Lodges. They met in taverns, had simpe initiation ceremonies and passwords and practiced charity on a oca scae. It is possibe that freemasonry had its origins in just such a box cub for operative masons. Whatever our origins, after 1717 and the estabishment of the Premier Grand Lodge, as it is known, Freemasonry grew in popuarity, spreading across much of the word, attracting many famous and notabe personaities. 10

13 Rues and reguations When Grand Lodge was formed in 1717, Anthony Sayer was eected as the first Grand Master. Initiay the Grand Lodge was simpy an annua feast at which the Grand Master and Wardens were eected. But in 1721 other meetings began to be hed and Grand Lodge began to be a reguatory body. In 1723, as the membership grew, Grand Lodge produced a Book of Constitutions which outined the rues and reguations governing freemasonry. Expansion By 1730 it had more than 100 Lodges under its jurisdiction, incuding one in Spain and another in India. It had begun to operate a centra charity fund and had attracted a wide spectrum of society into its Lodges. The Ancients and the Moderns Some London Lodges disagreed with these Constitutions and in 1751, a riva Grand Lodge was formed by disaffected masons. Its founders caimed that the origina Grand Lodge had departed from the estabished customs of the Craft and they intended practising freemasonry according to the Od Institutions". Confusingy they caed themseves the Grand Lodge of the Ancients and dubbed their senior riva the Moderns". It incuded many London Lodges and was known as the Ancients or Atho Grand Lodge", after the 3rd Duke of Atho who became its first Grand Master. United freemasonry The two rivas existed side by side, neither regarding the other as reguar or each other s members as reguary made freemasons. Attempts at a union of the two rivas began in the ate 1790s but it was not unti the Duke of Sussex became the Grand Master of the Moderns and his brother the Duke of Kent became Grand Master of the Ancients that rea progress was made. Eventuay the Union of the two riva Grand Lodges took pace on 27 December 1813, under the Grand Mastership of HRH Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex, the sixth son of King George III. The Book of Constitutions The Book of Constitutions has been reprinted and gone through many editions since its initia pubication, but the fundamenta rues aid down in 1723 sti appy today. 2 HISTORY 11

14 Our structure The United Grand Lodge of Engand (UGLE) UGLE is the ruing and governing body of freemasonry in this country. It is based at Freemasons Ha, Great Queen Street, London. For administrative purposes Lodges around the country are grouped under either the Metropoitan Grand Lodge or Provincia Grand Lodges, depending upon their geographica ocation. UGLE is governed by The Grand Master, who is The Most Worshipfu His Roya Highness The Duke of Kent. A number of senior executive officers and seected senior brethren assist him. Because the Grand Master is a member of the Roya Famiy. there is aso a Pro Grand Master appointed to act on his behaf when the Grand Master needs to attend Roya duties. The current Pro Grand Master is Peter Geoffrey Lowndes. The Grand Master is aso assisted by a Deputy Grand Master and an Assistant Grand Master. These peope are often referred to as the Ruers and in turn are assisted by many other ranked officers. Grand Lodge meets four times a year at what are known as Quartery Communications". Those eigibe to attend incude Grand Officers, and the Masters, Past Masters and Wardens of private Lodges, incuding your own. Lodges Abroad Many countries throughout the word have Freemasons Lodges which are governed by a defined Grand Lodge (e.g. the Grand Lodge of Sweden, the Grand Lodge of Hungary, etc). Some of these foreign Grand Lodges have descended directy from UGLE. The Constitutions, Rues and Reguations of such Grand Lodges are recognised as reguar and Engish freemasons are permitted to join in the meetings, even though the signs may be sighty different to those used in your own Lodge. Some Grand Lodges, on the other hand, have Constitutions, Rues and Reguations that are not acceptabe to the UGLE (i.e. they are irreguar ) and you are not permitted to participate in the affairs of their associated private Lodges. You shoud consut the secretary of your Lodge shoud you wish to visit a Lodge abroad. Masonic Authority in London The Grand Master Head of UGLE The Metropoitan Grand Master Head of MetGL The Deputy Metropoitan Grand Master Assistant Metropoitan Grand Masters Metropoitan Grand Inspectors Heads of London Lodges in genera Worshipfu Masters Heads of individua London Lodges 12

15 3 Masonic Authority in a Province The Grand Master The Provincia Grand Master Deputy Provincia Grand Master The Metropoitan Grand Lodge of London (MetGL) The Metropoitan Grand Lodge is presided over by the Right Worshipfu Metropoitan Grand Master. He is assisted by the Deputy Metropoitan Grand Master, severa Assistant Metropoitan Grand Masters, a number of Metropoitan Grand Inspectors and various executive officers. Provincia Grand Lodges There are 47 Provincia Grand Lodges, the geography of which is roughy based on the od county boundaries. Each Province is presided over by a Right Worshipfu Provincia Grand Master, assisted by various Provincia officers, the number of which is reguated by the size of the Province. These Grand Lodges meet at east once per year, sometimes more, at which time they wi conduct the routine administration necessary, such as approving annua accounts, appointing auditors and aso investing officers for the coming year. They wi aso use the opportunity to appoint and invest those particuary meritorious brethren who have received honours for their service to freemasonry. USEFUL TO KNOW Assistant Provincia Grand Masters Worshipfu Masters Administration The Metropoitan and Provincia Grand Lodges administer the Lodges that fa within their jurisdiction. This is argey geographic but occasionay Lodges cross boundaries, especiay in and around the Greater London area and other arge metropoises. 13

16 14 Lodge officers When you joined your Lodge you probaby noticed there were ots of Masons with separate jobs to do, either guiding you, asking you questions, or teaching you about the Craft. You may have seen there were others who ooked after the administration, ceremonia and finances of the Lodge. In fact, to conduct a meeting and ceremony a Lodge ideay requires 11 non-progressive officers and 7 progressive officers. They are isted in the Summons that convenes the meeting. Progressive officers Usuay each year a Brother woud progress through these offices on a path from Steward to the highest honour within a Lodge the Worshipfu Master, athough each office is subject to the choice of the Master for the year. 1 Stewards 2 Inner Guard 3 Junior Deacon 4 Senior Deacon 5 Junior Warden 6 Senior Warden 7 Worshipfu Master (WM) Non-progressive officers The non-progressive officers are: Immediate Past Master (IPM) Chapain Treasurer Secretary Director of Ceremonies (DC) Amoner Charity Steward Mentor Assistant Secretary Assistant Director of Ceremonies (ADC) Organist Assistant Secretary Tyer These offices are usuay occupied by members who are past Masters of the Lodge and tend to be occupied by the same person for a number of years, to provide continuity and experience. They are aso appointed by the Master annuay, except the Treasurer and Tyer, who are eected. The IPM is the preceding year s WM. Some Lodges formay appoint a Mentor to ook after their newer members. Lodge officers are recognisabe by the jewes suspended from their Lodge coars. Where they sit in Lodge aso heps indicate their roe. There is a usefu pan of a Lodge room ater in this Guide.

17 Progressive officers Stewards This is ikey to be the first office you wi hod in the Lodge. The Stewards main function is an integra part of a successfu Festive Board, as in many Lodges the Stewards wi be responsibe for setting out the pace-cards prior to the dinner, and serving the drinks during the Festive Board. It is a very good way to meet the members. They are aso ooked on as stand-ins for any absent Officer, to prepare for future office. Junior and Senior Deacons The Deacons ook after and guide the Candidates during ceremonies. Their duties need to be carried out with care and dignity. The enjoyment and understanding of a candidate can be greaty enhanced by the sympathetic attitude of the Deacons, and by the efficiency of their working. They have one of the most interesting and deightfu roes, which invoves both earning ritua and foor-work. They aso carry a wand as a badge of office. 3 USEFUL TO KNOW Inner Guard The Inner Guard sits just inside the door of the Lodge. He admits accredited Brethren into the Lodge, advises when there is a Candidate wishing to enter the Lodge, and checks that everything is in order before entrance is aowed. 15

18 Junior and Senior Wardens The Wardens have different but compementary roes in the Lodge and assist the Master to open and cose the Lodge, and conduct the rituas. In the norma course of events this year s Junior Warden wi be next year s Senior Warden, and the Senior Warden wi be next year s Worshipfu Master. The Senior Warden sits opposite the Master in the West of the Lodge. The Junior Warden is entrusted with ensuring that no unquaified person enters the Lodge, which is why you wi see the Inner Guard address the Junior Warden when a Brother wishes to enter the Lodge after it is opened. The Junior Warden sits in the South. Worshipfu Master The Worshipfu Master is eected each year by the Brethren of the Lodge, and is then instaed into the Chair by his predecessor. He usuay occupies the office for one year, athough in an emergency this can be extended to two. He is in charge of the Lodge for his year, acts as its Chairman and normay conducts most of the ceremonies. The Master sits in the East of the Lodge, and must have served as either Senior or Junior Warden for a year, before he can be appointed. On becoming Master for the first time a Mason is then referred to as a Worshipfu Brother. 16

19 Non-progressive officers Immediate Past Master (IPM) After his year as Master of the Lodge a Mason becomes the Immediate Past Master (IPM). Stricty the IPM is not an Officer of the Lodge, but his position is an important one, as it is his responsibiity to sit beside the Master, both in the Tempe and the Festive Board, and give him support and guidance when needed. with any dining charges to the Treasurer prompty. The Treasurer settes any debts incurred by the Lodge, such as the Lodge rent for the buiding where meetings are hed, the various evies imposed by Grand Lodge and Metropoitan Grand Lodge, and dining expenditure. A Treasurer requires sound judgment, for utimatey, it is on his recommendation that the eve of subscriptions for members is set. 3 USEFUL TO KNOW Chapain Whist the discussion of reigion (and poitics) is not permitted within our meetings, each one opens and coses with prayer. Many Lodges that have no members of the cergy amongst their number, appoint one of their senior Masons to the office. Treasurer As you woud imagine the Treasurer is responsibe for the finances of the Lodge. Annuay he produces a financia summary report, which is submitted to the auditors, who are eected from within the Lodge membership. It is the responsibiity of each member to pay his subscriptions, together Secretary The Secretary has hands-on daiy administration of a matters connected with the smooth running of the Lodge. He is effectivey the conduit between Grand Lodge, Metropoitan Grand Lodge and your Lodge. He receives the mai addressed to the Lodge, and submits the returns detaiing the membership, ceremonies conducted, and matters associated with the day-to-day affairs of the Lodge. Normay a Secretary hods the post for a number of years, providing continuity and experience for successive Masters. It is the Secretary s duty to organise the summons, and distribute them. Shoud you have any probems or queries with regard to Freemasonry an experienced Secretary 17

20 18 shoud be abe to advise. Annuay the Secretary receives a copy of the Masonic Year Book from UGLE, and the Year Book of MetGL. He hods these pubications on behaf of the Lodge. Director of Ceremonies (DC) The DC shoud have a ove of ritua; as his tite impies, his function is to direct the ceremonia aspects of our meetings. As in pubic ife when ceremonia is required, such as a State Funera or Roya Wedding, the important events ca for meticuous panning, rehearsa and organising for the requirements of the occasion. The DC s roe is to make certain that ceremonies are efficienty conducted with dignity and decorum and that a concerned are aware in advance of what they have to do. Amoner The Amoner is effectivey the Lodge Wefare Officer, as it is he who shoud maintain contact with the Brethren who, through age or infirmity, are unabe to attend meetings; with Lodge widows; and with members suffering from iness. He shoud have knowedge of the variety of resources that exist in time of need. The Amoner woud organise petitions for assistance in cases of extreme need, and generay be on the ookout for signs of distress or oneiness among the members of the Lodge or their dependants. Charity Steward The Charity Steward is responsibe for coordinating the Lodge s charitabe affairs in the most efficient way. He shoud have knowedge of the various methods of making donations and wi be happy to give hep and advice to the members on these matters. A part of the Charity Steward s roe is to encourage members to donate charitaby, obviousy within their means. Mentor The Lodge Mentor is a coordinating roe. He nominates an experienced member of the Lodge to ook after each new initiate and be avaiabe to answer any questions that he may have. He wi ensure he fuy understands a that is happening and guide him through the process of progression through the various offices.

21 3 Assistant Director of Ceremonies The Assistant Director of Ceremonies roe is to hep the Director of Ceremonies and to act as his understudy. Organist Many Lodges are not fortunate enough to have within their membership a Brother who is adequatey skied to pay the Organ at meetings, and so rey on professiona organists. Some Lodges have no musica accompaniment. Generay, having an Organist can add to the overa decorum of the meeting. Assistant Secretary The Assistant Secretary s roe is to hep the Secretary. The duties vary from Lodge to Lodge. Occasionay the Office is given to a Past Master who has been identified as a possibe future repacement as Secretary. In some Lodges the Assistant Secretary deas with the Festive Board, booking dinners and generay supervising and supporting the Stewards in their roe. Tyer The Tyer guards the outside of the door to the Lodge. This is an eected office. It is often carried out by a senior and experienced member of the fraternity, as he is the officer who prepares the candidate for the ceremonies, and shoud make sure that he can correcty give the specific sautes in which he has been instructed. The Tyer is not necessariy a member of the Lodge. Visiting Officer (VO) Once a year your Lodge has an officia visit from a Visiting Grand Officer ( VO ), athough it is ikey he wi attend unofficiay at other times as we. He is the officia representative of the Metropoitan or Provincia Grand Master. The roe of the VO is to provide advice and assistance to a members of the Lodge. He reports on the webeing of your Lodge and aso has a responsibiity for heping with recommendations about the suitabiity for masonic honours of members of the Lodge. Normay a VO wi be assigned to your Lodge for a period of years in order to maintain continuity and to enhance the service provided to the Lodge. USEFUL TO KNOW 19

22 Lodge items 20 You wi notice that your Lodge room contained particuar items, or furniture. They have a variety of uses some are symboic, and some practica. You wi see these in virtuay every Lodge you attend. Carpet or Masonic Pavement In most Lodge Rooms you wi find a back and white squared carpet or chequered foor. This denotes our chequered existence, darkness and ight, joy and sorrow. Chairs and Pedestas There are chairs or benches for a those attending our meetings around the squared carpet but three of these chairs wi be behind pedestas or sma tabes. In many cases the chair and the pedesta wi be marked with the jewe of the occupant. The chair and pedesta in the East is for the Worshipfu Master. Opposite him in the West is the Senior Warden and in the South the Junior Warden. On the Master s pedesta wi be paced the Bibe, and any other reevent Hoy Book, denoted as the Voume of the Sacred Law. The Warrant The Warrant of the Lodge is granted to the Lodge by the Most Worshipfu Grand Master at its Consecration. This Warrant must be in the Lodge Room when a Lodge is opened. It wi aways be dispayed at the initiation of a new member and when a new Master is instaed. In some Lodges, it may be on dispay throughout the ceremony. Voume of the Sacred Law (VSL) In the Engish Constitution, the VSL is the Hoy Bibe. The VSL is aways open when a Lodge is conducting business or one of its ceremonies. The Square and Compasses wi be paced upon the VSL. If a Sacred Voume is required for Brethren of a faith other than Christian, then the Voume wi be paced in front of or beside the Bibe, but never on top. The Moveabe Jewes These are the Square, the Leve and the Pumb-Rue, which are the Jewes of the Master, Senior Warden and Junior Warden respectivey. The Jewes and the other toos used in Masonic ceremonies are referred to in documents from the eary 1700s. Rough and Smooth Ashars The Senior Warden s pedesta wi have a smooth ashar, or bock of stone, resting on it and the Junior Warden s a rough ashar. These are the Immovabe Jewes. They represent two different stages in Freemasonry and understanding. The rough ashar is thought of as the stone on which an apprentice can earn the art of stonemasonry. The smooth ashar is used by the more experienced stonemason to hone and perfect his skis. The Gave Rough Ashar

23 3 Smooth Ashar Tracing Board the First Degree The Coumns of the JW and SW Each Warden has a coumn on his pedesta. These wi usuay show the designs of the Doric order for the Senior Warden, denoting strength, and the Corinthian order for the Junior Warden, denoting beauty. Usuay the Coumns are surmounted by a ceestia or terrestria gobe which point out Masonry universa. The Wardens wi aso position their Coumns to show if the Lodge is opened or cosed. The Working Toos The Working Toos of each degree are fuy expained in the ritua. The appropriate set of toos are dispayed in the Lodge for each degree. Tracing Boards The Tracing Boards have aways been a feature of Freemasonry. These three boards iustrate the story of each degree, the detais being expained during the ceremony. Lodge Banners Many Lodges have a Banner, though it is not a requirement. Some Banners date back to the consecration of the Lodge, some are more recent. They often depict the origin, or some particuar characteristics of the Lodge. The Baot Box The Baot Box is used for voting for new members, and can be of a variety of designs. Some have a yes and no drawer; (members pace a baot ba in the reevant drawer) and others one drawer. The correct procedure for baoting in your Lodge wi be expained to you. A certain number of back bas or bas in the no drawer, as per Lodge By-Laws, wi excude a potentia member, hence the term back-baed. Deacons hand out the appropriate number of bas needed. Wands of Office The Director of Ceremonies and his Assistant, and the Senior and Junior Deacons each have a Wand of Office. The DC and his Assistant wi aways carry their wands when moving about the Lodge. The Deacons, depending on the ritua, may carry theirs. The Gaves The Worshipfu Master, and the Senior and Junior Wardens each have a Gave. A Gave is used by the Master to gain the members attention when he is about to speak. The Master wi sound his Gave, foowed by the Senior Warden and the Junior Warden. The same procedure is foowed at the Festive Board when the Master is about to propose a toast or take wine. USEFUL TO KNOW 21

24 The Lodge room The Lodge room (or tempe) pan shows a typica ayout. This is where a Lodge hods its reguar meetings. If you start visiting other Lodges you wi find they vary as some premises are purpose-buit, whist others are converted or even shared with other functions. The point of entry is in the West and facing East The WM sits in the East, the SW in the West and the JW in the South The Secretary and Treasurer are normay ocated on the North side The other junior officers vary somewhat in ocation from Lodge to Lodge, but generay are in the positions shown The Lodge Banner and Warrant are dispayed in the room Designated positions in the Lodge KEY WM Worshipfu Master IPM Immediate Past Master Grand Officers Provincia Grand Officers SW Senior Warden JW Junior Warden CHAP Chapain TREAS Treasurer SEC Secretary DC Director of Ceremonies ALM Amoner CStwd Charity Steward ME Mentor ASS SEC Assistant Secretary SD Senior Deacon JD Junior Deacon ADC Assistant Director of Ceremonies IG Inner Guard ORG Organist Stewards Tyer TYLER ENTRANCE IG SW JD. ORG ORGAN L L 22

25 3 ODGE MEMBERS AND GUESTS ASS SEC SEC TABLE TREAS LODGE MEMBERS AND GUESTS CH STD ALM ME SD GRAND OFFICERS USEFUL TO KNOW N Lodge Room W E WM S TRACING BOARDS IPM CHAP ADC DC ODGE MEMBERS AND GUESTS JW LODGE MEMBERS AND GUESTS BANNER 23

26 Our regaia Dress Code The dress code in most Lodges is simiar: a dark ounge suit or Morning Dress (a back jacket and waistcoat with striped trousers), appropriate tie, white shirt, white goves, back shoes and socks. An appropriate tie is either pain back, the Grand Lodge Craft tie or a Metropoitan/Provincia Grand Lodge tie. Wearing your apron The apron shoud be worn with the top above the midriff. Your apron is fu of symboism. It is possibe that the string that tied your apron when you were initiated was aowed to hang down at the front. These ends of string are the ancestors of the ornamenta fringe seen on 18th Century Masons aprons, and of the tasses on the aprons worn by a brethren once they have become Master Masons. On the two tasses (representing the two piars) are seven individua strands that hang at the bottom, these too have a significance. There are a number of Masonic papers on the symboism of regaia shoud you be interested in finding out more. Initiay aprons wi be provided by the Tyer. However when you become a Master Mason you are expected to purchase your own. They are avaiabe from a variety of Masonic regaia suppiers. In some Lodges a dinner suit with back bow tie is worn at the Instaation Meeting. If you have any queries regarding the dress code, incuding ties and aprons, pease speak to your proposer, Lodge secretary or mentor. Aprons and Coars You wi see some of the Brethren wearing dark bue aprons and coars and occasionay someone wearing a red one. They wi be happy to expain the significance to you so pease do not be afraid to ask. The ony regaia, badges and other ornaments permitted in the Lodge are those attributabe to the Craft itsef and when you become a member of a Chapter, your appropriate Roya Arch jewe. A itte earier, in the section on Masonic Structure, the various ranks were briefy outined. Members of the Craft who have been honoured by The Grand Master with Grand Rank, or honoured by the Metropoitan/Provincia Grand Master with Metropoitan tie, Craft tie and Provincia tie 24

27 3 honours are entited to wear two types of apron dependent on the occasion or persona choice, that of Dress or Undress Regaia. Those honoured by the Metropoitan Grand Master wi be accorded Senior London Grand Rank (SLGR), London Grand Rank (LGR) or London Rank (LR). Those honoured by the Provincia Grand Master wi be awarded rank in accordance with those aid down in the Book of Constitutions, as refected in the coar and apron badges they wear. Rather than expain each one here, if you are interested then speak to one of the dark bues in the Lodge who wi be happy to show you the differences, or ook at the pates in the Book of Constitutions. Occasionay you wi see brethren wearing red aprons. These are either Grand Stewards, Metropoitan Grand Stewards or Provincia Grand Stewards. Again anyone who is wearing such an apron wi be used to expaining its significance, so don t hesitate to ask. Jewes You wi doubtess have noticed that many of the brethren in the Tempe were wearing medas, or breast jewes as we ca them. These jewes fa into various categories, incuding Roya Arch Jewes Past Masters jewes Centenary Jewes Founders Jewes Charity Jewes There are a number of designs, but The Grand Master must approve a jewes before they can be worn. The Book of Constitutions outines the various rues regarding jewes and contains some iustrations. Jewes are aso discussed on pages in the Information for the Guidance of Members of the Craft booket you have received. Jewes aso refer to the pendants on the coars which the Lodge Officers and others wear, and these can be caed coar jewes to avoid confusion. USEFUL TO KNOW 25

28 Entered Apprentice (EA) first degree apron Feow Craft (FC) second degree apron Master Mason (MM) third degree apron Worshipfu Master (WM) apron 26

29 3 USEFUL TO KNOW London Grand Rank Apron (Undress) Provincia Grand Rank Apron (Undress) Grand Rank Apron (Undress) London Grand Rank Apron (Dress) Provincia Grand Rank Apron (Dress) Grand Rank Apron (Dress) Metropoitan / Provincia Dress / Undress Coar Grand Officer s Dress / Undress Coar LGR PPJGW Active Metropoitan / Provincia Office Coar Jewes 27

30 Customs and protoco Customs vary enormousy from ritua to ritua and Lodge to Lodge, but these are in genera use throughout Craft Masonry. Sautes and signs Sautes and signs are used throughout Lodge meetings and change depending on what degree is being worked. Each degree has a different sign or signs. You have aready seen and given the First Degree Sign. You wi be taught the others when you go through the subsequent degrees. You wi have seen that whenever a Brother speaks to the Worshipfu Master or to the Wardens in the Lodge Room (nowhere ese), a saute is given. The saute is the sign of the degree in which the Lodge is working at the time. So mote it be This phrase is used now in Masonry instead of the Hebrew word Amen. If an organist is present the words are sung at the end of hymns and prayers. Sometimes, for exampe, after a spoken Grace at the Festive Board, it is simper just to say Amen. The itera meaning of the phrase is May it be so!, or So be it! The Court Bow Brethren do not saute one another, but by way of acknowedgement, perhaps as thanks for a courtesy, the Court Bow is given. This consists of standing upright, and simpy bowing the head sighty no more. Squaring the Lodge The custom in a Lodge for moving about the Lodge Room in open Lodge depends entirey on which ritua the Lodge uses. Some rituas demand punctiious cockwise squaring at a times; others aow more freedom of movement. Stepping-off with the eft foot is standard practice. Worshipfu Brethren At a Lodge meeting, when addressing or referring to a Brother by name, the format is Brother (name) or Worshipfu Brother. Whether first names or surnames are used wi depend on how forma the proceedings are at the time. If you are making a speech, you may have to incude an individua in the initia acknowedgments, perhaps even Right Worshipfu Provincia Grand Master or Very Worshipfu Assistant Metropoitan Grand...detais vary enormousy from ritua to ritua and Lodge to Lodge. 28

31 3 Master. In such a case, of course, you wi check with your eders as to the correct protoco. When addressing or referring to Brethren by their Office, the correct form is Worshipfu Master, Brother Secretary, Brother Treasurer, Brother Immediate Past Master, etc., even if the Officer happens to be a Worshipfu Brother by rank. As in any forma meeting, a remarks are addressed to the Chairman who in our case is the Worshipfu Master. Incidentay, if you write a etter to a Mason, never incude a Masonic rank or other Masonic references such as Lodge detais etc., in the address on the enveope. Inside, it may be appropriate and poite to incude the fu Masonic rank and tite. Standing for the Nationa Anthem The correct posture when singing the Nationa Anthem is to be standing upright, feet together with a straight back and hands at the sides. Apoogies If you have to miss a Lodge meeting, do send apoogies to the Secretary in advance. He wi need to have accurate numbers of those attending, particuary for the dining arrangements. He wi record apoogies in the Minutes. If you happen to be in Office, then the DC and the Preceptor wi need to know we in advance to organise a repacement. About Famiy Participation At your interview it is ikey that you were asked if your wife or partner supported your appication. That is an important question, as it is hoped that your wife or partner wi support, approve and encourage your participation and the time and costs invoved in beonging to our fraternity. Many Lodges hod a number of socia functions at which your wife, partner and famiy are encouraged to attend. Exampes are Ladies evenings, Festiva weekends and even garden parties. USEFUL TO KNOW 29

32 The Festive Board One of the deights of Masonry is the Festive Board and the camaraderie and reaxed atmosphere in which it is conducted. You have aready been asked to respond to the toast made to you at your Initiation so you wi know that a itte preparation and advice wi make things more comfortabe for you. During dinner it is customary in many Lodges for the Master to take wine with specific brethren. Wine taking is of a persona and mutua nature, a concerned stand and drink. There is a difference between the wine taking during the dinner and the forma toasting after dinner. Toasts Generay experienced members of the Lodge propose most toasts but occasionay you wi be caed upon for a Toast to give you some experience. You wi normay have good notice of any such occasion with time to prepare. As a guideine Toasts can be introduced as foows:- Worshipfu Master, Brother Wardens, Distinguished Brethren, Brethren A. The precise format wi depend on the occasion and if in any doubt pease consut the DC, your mentor or any other senior member of your Lodge. No-one expects a Candidate or even a more experienced Mason to be the best afterdinner speaker simpy do your best. Never say anything that is ikey to cause offence and short speeches are often appreciated. When the Master sounds his gave during the Festive Board it is expected that the Brethren shoud be immediatey sient, out of respect to the Master. Masonic Fire After the toasts there is, in norma circumstances, what is known as Fire, a custom pecuiar to Masonic dinners. No doubt you wi have found it intriguing and probaby a itte confusing at your first Festive Board. However it is usuay quicky and easiy earned. There are a number of theories about the origins of Masonic fire. One of the more experienced members of your Lodge shoud be abe to expain these to you. Some Lodges sti empoy the use of firing gasses, which are a shaped gass with a heavy base suitabe for knocking on the tabe. No-one expects a Candidate or even a more experienced Mason to be the best after-dinner speaker simpy do your best. 30

33 About our ritua Ritua is important. It is something that has been passed down through the centuries from Mason to Mason, and makes our fraternity unique. What s the purpose of ritua? The purpose of ritua is to remind the candidate of certain ethica and mora precepts, awakening in him respect and toerance for another s ideas and beiefs. It is for this reason that Brethren are required to avoid discussion of reigious and poitica issues when inside the Lodge, as these are topics which easiy divide men. Ritua has been empoyed by neary a cutures known to mankind as a process to assist in sef-reaisation and as such is a rite of passage, which if fuy understood and experienced wi ead to an improved state. The ritua of Freemasonry promotes sefknowedge, toerance and phianthropy, as echoed in its three great principes of Brothery Love, Reief and Truth. It aso extos the cardina virtues as defined by Cicero, namey: Prudence, Temperance, Fortitude and Justice and interestingy Cicero cassed the art of memory as one of the virtues that made up Prudence. Sef discovery It is suggested that you shoud regard your initiation not ony as the beginning of your Masonic journey or way of ife, but aso as a porchway to discovering about yoursef and your reationship with your feow man. When you start to earn the ritua it is equay as important to focus upon the meaning of the words as it is to commit them to memory. Learning ritua Towards the end of this pack you wi find more comment on ritua incuding a variety of methods to hep you to earn the ritua in preparation for office. 3 USEFUL TO KNOW 31

34 Masonic symboism You wi soon earn the phrase that Masonry is a pecuiar system of moraity, veied in aegory and iustrated by symbos, and indeed Freemasonry does rey heaviy on symboism. A universa anguage Symbos are sometimes described as a universa anguage because they present the message in a way that is understood by a and does not depend on words that are different in various anguages. The word symbo is defined as a thing that represents something ese by association. In Freemasonry it might be defined as a materia object that represents a basic mora truth or esson. Symboism is part of everyday ife. The printed word is basicay a symbo: road signs; mathematica symbos; the striped barber s shop poe etc. Learn through symboism The rituaistic ceremonies of the three Degrees are the foundation our fraternity. In the ceremonies are contained a the phiosophy and essons of Freemasonry. Many of the symbos are caed to your attention as you progress through the ceremonies, but there is so much more to the ceremony that does not meet the eye at the time, and one of the many interests to Freemasonry is the discovery of different meanings and a greater understanding of the symboism contained within the ceremony. Hence there wi be many members of your Lodge who have seen the same ceremony iteray hundreds of times (athough of course the officers each time wi probaby be different, and certainy the candidate wi be different) but the fact that you may have seen the same thing many times doesn t detract from the enjoyment as there is so much to Freemasonry, and one can sti be earning new aspects of it having been a member for many years. Symboism in to words To spe out each of the symbos woud be impossibe, as different meanings can be considered by different peope. However, pease read the short passage on the opposite page, which iustrates some symboism. You may hear this deivered in a Lodge one day, immediatey before the Charge to the Initiate, which gives one expanation of the preparation of the Candidate: A typica Ritua book The rituaistic ceremonies of the three Degrees are the foundation our fraternity. 32

35 3 "Your preparation for Initiation must have seemed strange to you, and I am now permitted to expain it. You were hoodwinked for three reasons; to permit your mind to conceive, before your eyes were enabed to discover, the beauties of Freemasonry; to remind you that as you were received in a state of darkness so you must keep the outside word with respect to our Masonic secrets; and so that had you refused to go through with the usua ceremony you coud have been ed from the Lodge without observing its form. The reason a cabe tow with a r.n. being put about your neck has aready been expained to you. In ancient times the Entered Apprentice wore the cabe tow about his neck to impress on his mind his duty to remain within hai so as to come on in due time whenever summonsed to his Lodge, uness prevented by iness. Your.b. was made bare to discover your sex, since none but freeborn men of mature age can be made Freemasons. Your right arm was made bare that the Brethren might see that you had no weapon about you and aso that you were wiing to abour. Your.k. was made bare because it was on that that you took your great and soemn obigation. (And aso to show that you were a Freeman, as in earier times any shacke marks woud have been visibe.) The eft side of man has aways been considered the weaker, athough the obigation you took was sacred and binding, it is deemed imperfect without others which are to foow. You therefore took it on your eft knee though your inherent weakness was supported by you pacing your r.h. on the Voume of the Sacred Law. You were sipshod because that was the custom observed by our ancient brethren in the E., where the sipping off of a shoe was considered a pedge of fideity. Aso you were sipshod because the ground on which our Lodges stand is considered hoy. You were divested of m. for the reasons aready expained to you, and to ensure that you shoud not bring anything offensive or defensive into the Lodge to disturb its harmony. The three distinct ks by which you were admitted audes to an ancient and venerabe exhortation seek and ye sha find, ask and you wi receive, knock and it sha be opened to you". You my Brother have sought in your mind and asked of a friend. He knocked and the doors of Freemasonry have been opened to admit you. That my Brother, is the best expanation I can give of the mode of your preparation." USEFUL TO KNOW 33

36 Visiting other Lodges One of the joys of Freemasonry is visiting other Lodges. Ordinariy you wi be invited by a Brother who knows you are a Member of the Craft. If you anticipate visiting a Lodge where you are not known, pease take your Grand Lodge Certificate with you. You wi receive your Certificate, in due time. Make sure of UGLE recognition If you intend to visit a Lodge when you are abroad, it is essentia that the Lodge is recognised by our governing body. Your Lodge secretary wi hep you find out. There are organised bodies who stye themseves Freemasons but do not foow the Book of Constitutions and are therefore not recognised by the UGLE. Visiting is encouraged You are advised to visit a Lodge and see someone ese being Initiated as soon as possibe; so you may gain a greater understanding of what happened to you and why. Much of the enjoyment that freemasonry offers comes from visiting. It is by getting out and about, that you wi appreciate the true fraternity of our Craft. Differing ritua or workings As a visitor it is usua that you sit and watch. You shoud use the signs you have been taught, and not those of other Lodges. There are a number of forms of ritua or workings as it is caed, such as Emuation, Universa, Bristo, West End, Tayors and so on, with sight differences to each. Find out which working your Lodge uses. The visitors speech There is a possibiity, that as a Visitor, you may be caed upon to respond to the toast to the visitors. As in the differences in ritua so there are differences at the Festive Board. It is not appropriate to criticise another Lodge s working or the manner in which they conduct the Festive Board but rather enjoy the differences as part of your Masonic earning. The introductions can be found on Page 34 and it is often sufficient to thank your hosts for their kind and gracious hospitaity and express a wish that you might be invited again. Avoid smutty jokes and indeed do not regae your audience with engthy humorous anecdotes uness you are especiay adept and confident that they wi go down we with the audience. One of the joys of Freemasonry is visiting other Lodges. 34 Finay, pease remember to sign the signature book.

37 Lodge of Instruction (LoI) At LoI, brethren meet to practice and perfect the various ceremonies in an informa atmosphere. This is where the ritua becomes famiiar, the meaning of obscure passages expained, and where questions can be answered. Most Lodges operate a LoI or share LoI with other Lodges. Above a, LoI provides an opportunity to meet feow Brethen in a reaxed environment becoming more acquainted with each other, deveoping teamwork and camaraderie. Many Masonic friendships deveop through the LoI. LoI makes a the difference Whist the words of the ritua shoud be earned at home, reguar attendance at LoI with the opportunity to practice and rehearse buids knowedge, confidence and ski and enabes us to give candidates the most meaningfu experience during the ceremonies. Join in with LoI now We are a continuay earning within our masonic ives, and athough you may not need to practice for an office at the moment, it is recommended that you attend LoI as soon as possibe. You wi have to eave the room during rehearsa of Degrees you have yet to experience, nevertheess you wi find reguar attendance at LoI very worthwhie and fufiing and they wi enabe you to better become a vauabe member of your Lodge. Who wi be there? At the LoI there wi be a mix of officers of the Lodge, Past Masters, and other brethren. The person in charge of the LoI is known as The Preceptor. Apoogies There may we be a time when you are unabe to attend LoI due to persona and work commitments. But, if you have agreed to take a roe at a forthcoming LoI and then find that you are unabe to attend pease advise the Preceptor in advance so that aternative arrangements can be made. There is no dress code and you do not need your regaia for LoI. 4 THE NEXT STEPS 35

38 Tips for earning ritua For some new Masons earning the ritua may be the first memorising they have done since eaving schoo. We a find different ways that work for us, but these are some ideas which can hep. Understand what you have to say. Have a dictionary to hand whist earning. Put the book away as soon as you can. The trick is to practise remembering the words not reading them. Aso when attending LoI try not to refer to your book, there shoud be ony one prompt. Transcribe the first etter of each word onto a sheet of paper and use that as an aide-memoire, rather than the ritua book, or questions card. Practise whist washing up, or performing some other househod chore. Remember that in the Lodge you wi not be sitting comfortaby in a chair, there are things to do and penty of distractions; get used to that. In fact practise wherever possibe, waking to work, taking the dog for a wak, even in the bathroom after a it s the best tied room in the house! Recite out oud and use different voices (even funny ones): this wi hep put expression and meaning into your deivery. Remember that if the deivery is right, and it is said with meaning, others wi be far more ikey to isten to what you are saying rather than istening for the odd wrong word, or missed ine. Attend the LoI whenever you can. There is no substitute. Apart from benefiting from the guidance of the Preceptors, LoI is essentia for practising foor work, timing, and saying the ritua out oud in front of your peers in a reaxed forum. Speak up ceary when saying the ritua; not ony does it keep the Brethrens attention, but aso prevents you speaking too quicky. Where diaogue is invoved have a working knowedge of that entire section of ritua, not just your part. When you know how the ritua goes, it s much easier to understand where your part fits in, and remember when it s your turn to speak. 36

39 4 In your ora practise it heps to incude words or sound effects as appropriate prompts/cues for the actions that are performed as part of the ritua, e.g. bangbang-bang or cut-turn-go-to-door". When earning a Degree, earn the Obigation first. It s too confusing to try to earn the whoe ceremony straight through. Once you know the Obigation you have broken the back of the task, and the rest shoud come reativey easiy. Even before you accept office, it is good practice to earn ritua, you wi get much more out of watching it and it wi put you in good stead for when you do take office. You wi no doubt deveop your own methods. THE NEXT STEPS When earning an Obigation, speak each phrase out oud, and then repeat it. That way you know how it sounds, and you be far ess ikey to stumbe when giving the Obigation. When earning a paragraph add to it the first two or three words of the next paragraph so you aways know the ink to the next bit. Above a, take pride in your work. It is we worth the effort. 37

40 38 Our charities As you earned at your Initiation, charity has been a significant part of Freemasonry since its eariest days, athough unike other fundraising organisations such as Round Tabe and Lions, most of the money we raise comes out of our own pockets. So whist every brother is expected to contribute, it s important that no one shoud over-commit himsef to charitabe giving. You are now part of a much arger Nationa and Internationa famiy. As with a good famiies, wefare is important, and we shoud strive to hep our Brethren and their famiies who are i, or in distressed circumstances. When Freemasons or their dependants fa upon hard times, financia assistance may be avaiabe from their Lodge, Metropoitan / Provincia Grand Lodge or one of the four main nationa Masonic Charities. Coecting of Ams The Deacons usuay circuate a broken coumn, or ams bag at each meeting. Put an amount of your choosing in the bag. You may aso be asked to put it in an enveope so that tax can be recaimed, which can add a significant amount to the Lodge s giving. How the proceeds of the Ams coection are appied is a matter for individua Lodges. You may aso be asked by your Lodge s Charity Steward to compete a standing order to pay a reguar sma amount for charity on a monthy or other basis. This can be an effective and painess way to support charity and it aows the Lodge to caim back the tax too. Lodge commitments Annuay your Lodge has to pay an amount of money to our governing body, The United Grand Lodge of Engand, in respect of each of its members. Additionay a payment is made on behaf of each member to The Grand Charity. The Lodge coects this money by way of your annua subscription, in addition to the amount coected through the ams bag, and other charity giving methods. Making a difference Together we can make a difference a big difference: Freemasonry is the argest contributor to charitabe causes after the Nationa Lottery. In the past five years it is estimated the Freemasons under UGLE have donated approximatey 75m to charity. London Lodges give around 3.5m to charity each year. The focus of Masonic charitabe giving is to the main Masonic charities (see overeaf), however, a sizeabe amount aso

41 5 Freemasonry is the argest contributor to charitabe causes after the Nationa Lottery. goes to non-masonic charities across the ength and breadth of the nation, often for whom our donations can make a rea difference. The four main Masonic charities are: The Grand Charity of the United Grand Lodge of Engand Provides annuities and makes grants to deserving individua masons and their dependants and donations to Masonic and non-masonic charities. The Roya Masonic Benevoent Institution Cares for the wefare of retired Freemasons and their dependants, incuding providing residentia care. The RMBI is an organisation offering degrees of care, support and assistance appropriate to individua needs and committed to ensuring the individuas right to dignity, respect, choice and contro over their own ives. The RMBI runs residentia and nursing homes for Masons and their dependants. There are 18 RMBI homes throughout the country. The Masonic Samaritan Fund Provides financia support for medica treatment for needy, sick and infirm Freemasons, their wives, chidren and dependants. The Fund assists appicants in financia need if the treatment they require is not avaiabe on the NHS without undue deay or hardship. Once an appication has been accepted the interests of the patient are paramount and the required treatment is obtained at whatever hospita, private or otherwise, most appropriate and near to where the patient ives. The MSF is the newest of the Masonic charities. In 1998, London Lodges sponsored a festiva to hep set up the fund raising neary 11 miion. The Roya Masonic Trust for Girs and Boys Exists to reieve poverty and to advance education. Those eigibe for assistance are the chidren (incuding adopted chidren and stepchidren of the famiy) of Freemasons who are members of Lodges governed by the United Grand Lodge of Engand. Further information about the Masonic charities is contained in the eafet Information about Masonic Charities. USEFUL REFERENCE 39

42 Further reading Freemasonry Today FT is a quartery magazine pubished on behaf of UGLE. The magazine is posted direct to a Freemasons, free of charge. The content of the magazine is intended to cascade information from the Quartery Communications of Grand Lodge and the Masonic Charities. It aso incudes a number of artices of a genera nature which are not necessariy Masonic. FT is aso avaiabe on audio tape for visuay impaired masons your Lodge secretary can appy on your behaf. The Square Is a commercia magazine about Freemasonry avaiabe on subscription, avaiabe quartery and pubish in March, June, September and December. Subscription costs around 12 per year with discount for mutipe years. The magazine spans a wide array of main as we as side orders and contains stimuating artices, items of interest, adverts and points of view. Subscriptions for The Square can be obtained at or by phone at Year Books Metropoitan Grand Lodge and a 47 Provincia Grand Lodges pubish a Year Book annuay, a respective copy of which shoud be hed by your Lodge Secretary. The Year Book ists detais of Metropoitan/Provincia Grand Lodge hierarchy, officers and reevant detais together with a isting of Lodges under their authority. Magazine/Web Sites Most Metropoitan/Provincia Grand Lodges produce a magazine (usuay quartery) to refect items of interest and activity in your area. They wi aso operate their own independent web site as we as Facebook and Twitter accounts to hep assist in keeping you informed of what is going on. Ask your Lodge Secretary for detais if they are not incuded with this booket. Other usefu websites London: Website for PGL Warwickshire 40

43 5 Insight and Arena magazines Library and Museum of Freemasonry There is a fantastic and highy recommended ibrary and museum avaiabe to visit at Freemasons Ha, Great Queen Street. Genera reading Even for non-masons and especiay for a Candidate before Initiation, it is reasonabe and proper to want to know more about Freemasonry. Much has been written and is avaiabe through pubic ibraries and Masonic retaiers. Severa videos are aso avaiabe, incuding:- The Freemasons Freemasonry, Today, Tomorrow Ritua books The books of the many rituas dozens of them are readiy avaiabe at Masonic retaiers. Such study wi obviousy be of more reevance to a Master Mason after his raising and perhaps after having done some visiting. Exampes are: A Freemason s Guide and Compendium, by B.E. Jones Masonic Ritua, by Dr. E.H. Cartwright Freemason at Work, by Harry Carr Word of Freemasonry, by Harry Carr The Craft, by John Hami The rue book The utimate rue book is The Book of Constitutions, which wi be your constant companion. It is avaiabe on the UGLE website. Masonic research The foremost Masonic research body is the Quatuor Coronati Lodge, No. 2076, whose proceedings are pubished in Ars Quatuor Coronatorum. Membership of their Correspondence Circe is avaiabe to Masons by teephoning Reevant at this stage, are the books by J.S.M. Ward: The EA s Handbook The FC s Handbook The MM s Handbook Freemasons Ha tour The Library and Museum organises free tours of the Grand Tempe and ceremonia areas. For further detais, pease visit the Library and Museum s website at USEFUL REFERENCE 41

44 Hymns Opening Ode or Hymn Hai, eterna! By whose aid A created things were made; Heav n and earth, Thy vast design; Hear us, architect divine May our work, begun in thee, Ever best with order be: And may we, when abours cease, Part in harmony and peace By Thy gorious Majesty By the trust we pace in Thee- By the badge and mystic sign- Hear us, Architect Divine So mote it be. Nationa Anthem God save our gracious Queen. Long ive our nobe Queen. God save the Queen. Send her victorious, Happy and gorious, Long to reign over us. God save the Queen Sung at the end of a Lodge meeting or ater at the Festive Board Cosing Ode or Hymn Now the evening shadows cosing, Warn from toi to peacefu rest, Mystic arts and rites reposing, Sacred in each faithfu breast. God of ight! Whose ove unceasing Doth to a thy works extend, Crown our order with thy bessing, Buid; sustain us to the end. Humby now we bow before thee, Gratefu for Thy aid divine; Everasting power and gory, Mighty Architect! be Thine. So mote it be. Hymn sung at Grace For these and a thy mercies given, We bess and praise Thy Name, O Lord May we receive them with thanksgiving Ever trusting in Thy Word To Thee aone be honour, gory Now and henceforth for evermore. Amen. 42

45 5 On page 30 we ooked at some of the traditions of the Festive Board. Overeaf you wi find the outine of the Toast List used in a Craft Lodges. The Toast to Absent Brethren" Traditionay, this is regarded as the Nine O cock Toast, when The hands are on the square. It is good to fee that at a particuar moment, Brethren pause to think of one another, especiay those who cannot be present for one reason or another. In practice, it is not aways possibe to arrange for the toast to be taken precisey at 9.00 p.m. It must not, for exampe, precede the toasts to the Queen and to the Grand Master. In many Lodges, this toast can be a moving and memorabe moment, particuary for exampe, when we oved Brethren may be absent through serious iness. The Tyer s Toast Traditionay, this is the ast toast of the evening and is announced by a customary doube tap of the gave by the Master aone. It can be given by any Brother but is usuay given by the Tyer. To a poor and distressed masons where ere dispersed over the face of earth and water (and in the air), wishing them a speedy reief from their suffering and safe return to their native and shoud they so desire it. To a poor and distressed masons.. USEFUL REFERENCE 43

46 The toast ist The Queen and the Craft The Most Worshipfu The Grand Master HRH The Duke of Kent The Most Worshipfu Pro Grand Master The Right Worshipfu Deputy Grand Master The Right Worshipfu Assistant Grand Master And the rest of the Grand Officers Present and Past The Right Worshipfu Metropoitan/Provincia Grand Master A toast to Metropoitan/Provincia Grand Officers The Worshipfu Master The Immediate Past Master/Instaing Master* The Initiate** The Visitors Past Masters and Officers of the Lodge*** Absent Brethren The Tyer s Toast 44 * ony at Instaation ** ony when there is an Initiate *** optiona

47 Beyond the craft The Hoy Roya Arch You wi hear the term Chapter used. This refers to the Hoy Roya Arch. Athough there are numerous other Masonic Orders which you wi get to hear about in time, none of them form part of Pure Ancient Masonry. The Craft teaches you about man s reationship with man, whereas the Hoy Roya Arch teaches about man s reationship with his God. It is ony by combining the two that you can ever become a compete mason. For this reason it is ikey to be more beneficia to join the Hoy Roya Arch before considering other Masonic Orders. You are eigibe to join (caed exatation) a Roya Arch Chapter four weeks after the date of becoming a Master Mason. To find out more pease ask your proposer, Lodge secretary, mentor or any brother you see wearing a Roya Arch jewe, which is a jewe suspended from a tri-coour, red, or white ribbon. Other Masonic Orders You wi earn about other Masonic Orders in due time and be abe to join them when you have progressed to a Master Mason. That said, it is common practice to join The Hoy Roya Arch as your first priority. Many Masons prefer to understand the Craft further before committing themseves to other memberships. Utimatey the choice is yours and fee free to discuss other Masonic Orders with your feow Brethren. 5 USEFUL REFERENCE The Metropoitan Grand Master and most provincia Grand Masters are aso the head of the Hoy Roya Arch in their respective jurisdictions. As such they are known as the Most Exceent Metropoitan/Provincia Grand Superintendent. Most Chapters are inked to one or more Lodges and meet ess frequenty than Craft Lodges, whie the admission fees and the annua subscriptions are aso ower. Further reading on Masonic Orders Tite: Beyond The Craft Author: Keith B Jackson Pubisher: Lewis Masonic Books 45

48 Concusion We hope you have found this Guide usefu. As stated at the outset, it is not intended to provide answers to every question you may have. One of the interests of freemasonry is that we are earning new aspects regarding the Craft throughout our Masonic careers. Pease fee free to provide any feedback, or comments with regards to this pack. Perhaps there may be subjects you fee woud be appropriate to be incuded or some that may not have been sufficienty covered. Your comments reay woud be appreciated. To give feedback, pease drop a ine to: The Metropoitan Grand Secretary (Initiates Handbook) Metropoitan Grand Lodge PO Box London WC2B 5UN Usefu addresses United Grand Lodge of Engand Freemasons Ha, Great Queen Street London WC2B 5AZ 46