Duties and Responsibilities Lodge Officers Committee Chairmen
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Duties and Responsibilities of Lodge Officers and Committee Chairmen The Grand Lodge of Massachusetts A.F. & A.M. December, 2006 (V ER . 4.20) Second printing, April, 2008 (V ER . 4.21) Third printing, September, 2010 (V ER . 5.00) Published by The Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, A.F. & A.M. 186 Tremont Street Boston, Massachusetts, 02111 Cover design by Bro. William A. Barrell, III ii Dedicated in memory of M.W. Fred Kirby Bauer, P.G.M. 1936-2006 Grand Master of Massachusetts 1999, 2000, 2001 A faithful overseer of the Craft. A man who valued good leadership, saw a quality in every man, and challenged everyone to seek their potential. iii THE MOST WORSHIPFUL GRAND LODGE OF ANCIENT FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS EDUCATION COMMITTEE September, 2010 Dear Brother: Congratulations on being appointed an officer or committee chairman of your lodge. We hope you will find your experience as a Masonic Lodge officer to be a very fulfilling, exciting and rewarding one. As you can probably imagine, there are many different responsibilities and duties associated with each office and committee. Each position, especially as a line officer, is important to the smooth operation and success of the lodge. Each officer should develop a “passion” to succeed and make that passion contagious within his lodge. The impression we as Masons make on our candidates is also very important as this in many instances determines the future level of participation of the candidate in the lodge. Part of that impression comes from the amount of knowledge the officers have about Masonry in general, and part from how well an officer performs the duties of his office. Information in this guide has been compiled from many lodges and sources and adapted for our use where necessary. Your own lodge’s individual procedures and policies may differ and should be reviewed and updated if necessary to conform with your customs and traditions. This guide has been developed as a tool to assist you and help you better understand what will be expected of you as a committee chairman or as an officer as you progress through the various line positions to eventually become the Master of your lodge. Many of the lessons and experiences of being Master or a leader of a Masonic Lodge will be directly applicable to other bodies and organizations and will make you a better leader, a better manager, and a better person overall. Thank you for your service to your lodge and again, we wish you much success and enjoyment in your tenure as an officer of your lodge. R.W. Stephen C. Cohn Editor Grand Lodge Education Committee, 2010 M.W. Roger W. Pageau, Grand Master R.W. George Bibilos, Chairman Bro. Alfredo Canhoto Wor. Elliot Chikofsky R.W. Stephen C. Cohn R.W. Paul F. Gleason Originally compiled and edited in 1994 R.W. Russell Lowe By Garden City Lodge, A.F. & A.M. R.W. James K. Ray Newtonville, Massachusetts R.W. Mason W. Russell iv DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF LODGE OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN Table of Contents I. Introduction .................................................................. iv 1. Lodge Officers and Committee Chairmen Preface ..................................................................................... 1 2. Overview .................................................................................. 2 Introduction ............................................................................ 2 Objective ................................................................................. 2 Continuation in line................................................................ 2 Relationship of Officers .......................................................... 3 3. General Considerations for all officers .................................... 4 Required .................................................................................. 4 Requested ................................................................................ 4 Lodge of Instruction ............................................................... 4 Rehearsals ............................................................................... 4 Exemplification ....................................................................... 5 Step-up .................................................................................... 5 Double Step-up ....................................................................... 5 By-laws .................................................................................... 5 Grand Constitutions and Regulations ..................................... 5 Conduct .................................................................................. 5 Dress ....................................................................................... 6 Application meetings .............................................................. 7 Masonic Trestle-Board ............................................................ 7 Masonic Titles ......................................................................... 8 Addressing the Lodge .............................................................. 8 Traveling with the District Deputy Grand Master .................. 8 Grand Master’s Award ............................................................. 9 4. Worshipful Master ................................................................. 10 Overview ............................................................................... 10 Specific Duties....................................................................... 10 5. Senior Warden ....................................................................... 13 Overview ............................................................................... 13 Specific Duties....................................................................... 13 6. Junior Warden ....................................................................... 15 Overview ............................................................................... 15 Specific Duties....................................................................... 15 7. Senior Deacon ........................................................................ 18 Overview ............................................................................... 18 v Specific Duties....................................................................... 19 8. Junior Deacon ........................................................................ 21 Overview ............................................................................... 21 Specific Duties....................................................................... 22 9. Senior Steward ....................................................................... 24 Overview ............................................................................... 24 Specific Duties....................................................................... 25 10. Junior Steward ..................................................................... 28 Overview ............................................................................... 28 Specific Duties....................................................................... 29 11. Inside Sentinel...................................................................... 30 Overview ............................................................................... 30 Specific Duties....................................................................... 31 12. Treasurer .............................................................................. 32 13. Secretary ............................................................................... 33 14. Electrician ............................................................................ 34 Overview ............................................................................... 34 Specific Duties....................................................................... 34 15. Tyler ..................................................................................... 35 Overview ............................................................................... 35 Specific Duties....................................................................... 35 16. Marshal ................................................................................ 35 Overview ............................................................................... 35 Specific Duties....................................................................... 35 17. Associate Steward(s) ............................................................ 36 18. Chaplain(s) .......................................................................... 36 19. Proxy .................................................................................... 37 20. Duties of Committee Chairman ........................................... 38 Ambassador ........................................................................... 38 Blood/CPR ............................................................................. 38 D.A.R.E. ................................................................................ 38 DeMolay ................................................................................ 38 Education .............................................................................. 38 Entertainment ....................................................................... 38 Finance ................................................................................. 38 Funeral .................................................................................