The Berkshire Mentoring Programme

A Guide for New Freemasons

Part 2

Published by

The Provincial Grand Lodge of Berkshire

GF/M.Pt2.Iss 2 Sept/14 - - 0 - -

GF/M.Pt2.Iss 2 Sept/14 - - 1 - - Contents

Introduction 3

In The Lodge 4

The Lodge Officers 6

Masonic Clothing 10

The Internet and Masonry - 13 -

A Brief History of Freemasonry - 15 -

The Next Steps 20

GF/M.Pt2.Iss 2 Sept/14 - - 2 - - Introduction

Welcome to this, the second booklet in a series of three. We hope that the first one was helpful in answering some of those initial questions you may have had following your Initiation. You have probably had several more questions since, some of which may be covered in this booklet. Your Mentor should be able to answer any that are not.

Having completed the ceremony of your Passing, you are more than half way through your journey to becoming a Master Mason. We hope you have enjoyed both ceremonies so far and that your understanding of Freemasonry is somewhat deeper than it was initially. However, you can be forgiven if you think there is a long way to go. As was stressed at the end of the last booklet, the subject of Freemasonry is so extensive, and so challenging to the enquiring mind, that you will never stop learning. Rest assured that those around you who can help would be delighted to have the opportunity to do so. So do not hesitate to ask. Those you ask will probably learn something in the process.

Berkshire Masonic Education Committee

GF/M.Pt2.Iss 2 Sept/14 - - 3 - - In The Lodge What is the normal layout of the Lodge room? Although some changes may be necessary to accommodate the peculiarities of a particular Lodge room, the basic layout is as follows. The Worshipful Master (WM) sits in what is referred to as the 'Masonic East', even though a compass may not agree! The door into the Lodge room is usually in the 'Northwest' corner. The Senior Warden sits in the West facing the WM. The Junior Warden sits in the South, midway between the WM and the Senior Warden. The Secretary and Treasurer sit in the North, facing the Junior Warden, with the Secretary invariably on the right of the Treasurer. The Senior Deacon sits at the end nearer to the WM of the row of seats in the North. The Junior Deacon sits to the right of the Senior Warden and the Inner Guard sits to the left of the Senior Warden. The placing of the Immediate Past Master, Chaplain, Grand Officers and Past Masters was discussed in Part 1. My Lodge says it performs ‘Emulation Working’ – what does that mean? Over time, a number of different interpretations of the Ceremonies have been evolved. One of the most common of these is referred to as Emulation working, which is the ceremony performed by the Emulation Lodge of Improvement based at Great Queen Street in London. There are numerous other workings around, of which the most common are Taylor’s, Universal and Bristol.

‘Taylor’s working’ for example takes its origins from the military Lodges, with the most visible aspect of the working

GF/M.Pt2.Iss 2 Sept/14 - - 4 - - being the ‘Squaring’ of the Lodge when moving around the Lodge room, a similar to parade square work. What is Calling Off? If a Lodge needs to take a short break in proceedings, then the Lodge may be ‘Called Off’. The Lodge is then temporarily closed, until ‘Called On’ again. While Called Off, no Masonic work is performed. Why is a Dispensation needed? Grand Lodge must agree the location and dates of the Lodge meetings. If for some reason the Lodge wishes to change those details for a particular meeting (to accommodate an anniversary date, or larger venue for a special event) then the Grand Secretary or Provincial Grand Secretary (on behalf of the respective GM or PGM) can issue a Dispensation authorising the change of venue or date. The dispensation should be read immediately following the opening of the Lodge, and to any work being carried out. Other dispensations may be issued in certain circumstances (such as a brother wishing to be Master in two Lodges simultaneously, or for a Publican of a Tavern where a Lodge meets to hold office in that Lodge)!

GF/M.Pt2.Iss 2 Sept/14 - - 5 - - The Lodge Officers Who are the Officers of a Lodge? The Officers of the Lodge are those Brethren who manage its affairs and conduct its ceremonies. Apart from the Worshipful Master, Treasurer and Tyler, who are elected by the Lodge members, all Officers are appointed by the Worshipful Master at his sole discretion and no Brother has any right or claim to advancement. What is the of precedence?

Worshipful Master Senior Warden Junior Warden Chaplain Treasurer Secretary Director of Ceremonies Almoner Charity Steward Mentor Senior Deacon Junior Deacon Assistant Director of Ceremonies Organist Assistant Secretary Inner Guard Steward Tyler

GF/M.Pt2.Iss 2 Sept/14 - - 6 - - Do all Lodges have these Officers? In general, the answer is yes, but a number of Lodges will not be able to appoint someone to each office. For example there may be no one in the Lodge who plays the organ, so this position may be left unfilled.

Some of these Officers are called 'Regular Officers' and some are called 'Additional Officers'. To find out which fall in each category, consult the Book of Constitutions you were given after your Initiation. If you look up Rule 104(a) you will find the answer. Note that a Brother may only hold one ‘Regular Office’, but may hold a ‘Regular Office and an ‘Additional Office’. Note also that of the ‘Additional Officers’ the WM shall appoint an Almoner and a Charity Steward and may appoint the others. How can I tell who the Officers are? All the Officers wear plain blue collars with the jewel of their office attached to the . If you look at Plates 31 to 46 in the Book of Constitutions you will discover which jewel belongs to which office. Collars and aprons are covered in more detail in the next section.

When are the Officers appointed and invested? At the annual Installation Meeting. The election of all the non-appointed Officers will have taken place at the preceding meeting.

The Officers are invested in order of their precedence. The progressive offices are usually filled with new appointments.

GF/M.Pt2.Iss 2 Sept/14 - - 7 - - What are the Progressive Offices? The Chaplain, Secretary, Director of Ceremonies and Organist, together with their Assistants where appropriate, are often appointed for more than one year, but the Wardens, Deacons and Inner Guard are called the 'progressive offices' and are usually new appointments each year. Each of the progressive Officers usually move one rung up the ladder on Installation night and ultimately this leads to occupying the Chair of the Lodge as Worshipful Master. Is it hard work being an Officer? It can be, but it can also be extremely rewarding and most people will tell you that the effort was well worthwhile. The whole task becomes a lot easier if you regularly attend the Class (or Lodge) of Instruction and if you are not afraid to ask for help with the learning process. Remember, other members of the Lodge are there to help you. Will I become an Officer one day? If you want to, almost certainly. You could normally expect to become a Steward within three years and progress to become Worshipful Master within seven to ten years. That may sound a long time, but you will soon come to realise that there is quite a lot of work to be done before you can be an effective Master. There are procedures and ritual to learn and responsibilities to be appreciated. But that is all some time in the future and there is a lot to enjoy in the meantime. What happens if an Officer doesn’t turn up to a meeting? If an Officer is unable to attend a meeting, another Brother may be asked to fill the office, or if suitable, one of the Stewards of the Lodge may be asked. For this reason, attendance at Class (or Lodge) of Instruction is highly recommended, even before appointment to office.

GF/M.Pt2.Iss 2 Sept/14 - - 8 - - What happens if the WM doesn’t turn up to a meeting? If the WM is unable to attend a meeting of the Lodge, then the Immediate Past Master (IPM) or another Past Master will normally occupy the Master’s Chair for the meeting. Is the Immediate Past Master a Lodge Officer? The Immediate Past Master is not an Officer of the Lodge, but holds his position by virtue of the fact that he was the previous Worshipful Master. He takes precedence immediately after the Junior Warden and would reoccupy the Chair of the Lodge should the Worshipful Master die or cease to be a member of the Lodge.

GF/M.Pt2.Iss 2 Sept/14 - - 9 - - Masonic Clothing______

Why are there so many different aprons? There are seven designs of apron that you may normally see in a Lodge, and these are as follows:-

Aprons worn by Entered Apprentices A plain white lamb skin apron with a white flap.

Aprons worn by Fellowcraft’s As above but with two light blue rosettes.

Aprons worn by Master Masons As above but bordered in light blue with silver tassels on blue and a third light blue on the flap.

Aprons worn by Masters and Past Masters of Lodges Similar in design to the Master Mason's apron, with the rosettes being replaced with perpendicular lines upon horizontal lines, sometimes referred to as 'levels'. The correct name for them is ‘Taus’.

Aprons worn by Provincial Grand Officers Like the Past Master’s apron (unless he has not gone through the Chair, in which case the rosettes are not replaced with Levels), but dark blue in colour with gold tassels and the emblem of their office and Province name in the centre. The ‘undress’ version is ornamented with gold cord and is usually worn for normal meetings, while the ‘full dress’ version is ornamented with gold lace and is often worn for Installation meetings.

GF/M.Pt2.Iss 2 Sept/14 - - 10 - - Aprons worn by Grand Officers Developing from the Provincial Grand Officers apron, the roundel in the middle with the name of the Province is replaced with the emblem of office of the holder surrounded by a sprig of acacia and an ear of corn. Again, there is a 'full dress' and an 'undress' version.

Provincial / Grand Stewards These follow a similar design to that of the Provincial or Grand Officers' aprons, but are scarlet in colour.

Look up Rule 265 in the Book of Constitutions for a more detailed explanation of the various aprons. The designs of aprons for visitors from other Constitutions will differ from those listed.

Why do some people wear collars? As previously mentioned, Officers of the Lodge wear light blue collars, with the jewel of their office attached. Past Masters wear light blue collars with a narrow silver band in the centre with a square and the 47th proposition of Euclid attached. Provincial and Grand Officers wear dark blue collars, with the jewel of their rank. Grand Officers and Provincial Grand Officers have 'full dress' and 'undress' collars, the full dress collars being more ornate in design, especially for Grand Officers.

In Berkshire you may see someone wearing a chain instead of a collar. Chains are worn by the Provincial , the Deputy and the Assistant Provincial Grand Masters. For this reason they are sometimes jocularly known as the 'Chain Gang'.

GF/M.Pt2.Iss 2 Sept/14 - - 11 - - Again, for further information, refer to the plates in the Book of Constitutions.

Why do some people wear ? The correct term is 'jewel' rather than ‘’ and four types are frequently worn. These are:

Past Masters' Jewels It is customary for a Lodge to present the WM with a Past Master's jewel at the end of his year in office to thank him for his work during the year. The design of jewel often incorporates the emblem of the Lodge.

Charity Festival Jewels Individuals who subscribe certain amounts to a charity's festival qualify as a Steward for that festival. To mark this, they may wear the special festival jewel. Some of these may only be worn for the period of the festival, while others may be worn permanently.

Centenary Jewels The Grand Master may grant the Lodge a Centenary Jewel when it reaches its 100th anniversary. This can be worn by Master Masons and above in that Lodge. For a Lodge which has reached its Bi-Centenary (200 Years) a bar is added to the of the Centenary Jewel.

Royal Arch Jewels Freemasons who have joined the Royal Arch (which you will learn about in the next booklet) are expected to wear their Royal Arch jewel when attending ‘Craft Masonry’ meetings. The design of the jewel stays the same, but the colour of the ribbon changes depending on the

GF/M.Pt2.Iss 2 Sept/14 - - 12 - - progress of the person through the order. It should be worn to the right of, and takes precedence over, all other jewels.

The Internet and Masonry Despite the age and historical nature of many parts of Freemasonry, numerous brethren, as well as Lodges, Provinces and even Grand Lodge have begun to embrace the Internet. Do all Lodges have Web Sites? In the same way that not all companies / shops have web sites, not all Lodges have their own Web sites. Any Lodge wishing to have their own website will need the approval of the Provincial Grand Master. The United Grand Lodge of England has a very good site, which contains a large amount of information on masonry, as well as links to the web sites of the Provincial Grand Lodges, and many overseas Grand Lodges. The address of the site is: http://www.UGLE.org.uk

Other sites of interest are the Library of Grand Lodge and the Grand Charity:

http://www.freemasonry.london.museum http://www.grandcharity.co.uk

The Berkshire Provincial Web Sites are:

http://www.berkspgl.org.uk - general access

GF/M.Pt2.Iss 2 Sept/14 - - 13 - - Where can I find more information? There are hundreds of web sites throughout the world containing information on Craft Masonry and the other Orders. However, due to the nature of the internet, you should not necessarily assume that all information published on the web is applicable to the Lodges under the UGLE constitution, or any other Grand Lodge. In some extreme cases, the information has been deliberately distorted or created to propagate anti-Masonic causes. No serious web site should contain any of the secrets or signs of recognition, nor should you be asked to provide them over the net to prove that you are a Mason.

GF/M.Pt2.Iss 2 Sept/14 - - 14 - - A Brief History of Freemasonry How did Freemasonry start? No one really knows the answer to this question, in spite of the fact that an immense amount of time and ingenuity has been expended on the possible origins of Freemasonry. 'Scholars' have attributed the origins to such diverse organisations as the Templar’s from Malta, the Steinmetzen from Germany the Comacine Masters from Lake Como, the Rosicrucians, and many others. The Rev Dr James Anderson wrote the first officially sanctioned history of the Craft in 1723 and traced the origins to Adam in the Garden of Eden! The most widely held view attributes the origin of speculative Freemasonry to medieval operative Masonry. Neither this, nor any other theory has been proven. When did Freemasonry start? Again, no one really knows. Freemasons' Lodges are believed to have existed in the late sixteenth century and are known in the seventeenth. The earliest documented English Initiation occurred when Elias Ashmole, the antiquary and founder of Oxford's Ashmolean Museum wrote in his diary for 16th October 1646, "I was made a Freemason at Warrington in Lancashire". Clearly, there must have been Initiations before this date because his diary entry gives the names of the other Freemasons who were present.

How was it organised? Little is known of the organisation in the early days because it is thought most Lodges were 'occasional' Lodges which only met for an Initiation and then disbanded. By the end of the seventeenth century a number of permanent Lodges had

GF/M.Pt2.Iss 2 Sept/14 - - 15 - - been established - Anderson recording that there were at least eight Lodges in London in 1693. It is likely that four of these Lodges formed the first Grand Lodge. When was the first Grand Lodge formed? On St John The Baptist's day, 24th June 1717 by the Lodges which met at The Goose and Gridiron in St Paul's Churchyard, The Crown in Parker's Lane, The Apple Tree in Charles Street and The Rummer and Grapes in Channel Row. They met at the Goose and Gridiron Alehouse and elected Anthony Sayer as Grand Master. This was the first Grand Lodge in the world and is therefore known as the Premier Grand Lodge. Do these old Lodges still survive? Three of them do. The Goose and Gridiron Lodge is now the Lodge of Antiquity No. 2, the Apple Tree Lodge is now the Lodge of Fortitude and Old Cumberland No. 12 and the Rummer and Grapes Lodge is now the Royal Somerset House and Inverness Lodge No. 4. Early details of these Lodges are obtained from a 1729 Engraved List, which shows that the Goose and Gridiron Lodge is the oldest, having been constituted in 1691. Notice how the Lodges of those days were known by their meeting place. Did everything go smoothly after 1717? There were many problems after the formation of the Premier Grand Lodge. Early meetings were spasmodic, there were no agreed regulations, Minutes were not kept and one Grand Master got elected unconstitutionally. But the greatest disruption was caused by the emergence of other Grand Lodges.

GF/M.Pt2.Iss 2 Sept/14 - - 16 - - What other Grand Lodges were there? A Lodge in York declared itself the Grand Lodge of All England in 1725 and warranted a further Grand Lodge (the Grand Lodge South of the River Trent) in 1779. Both these Grand Lodges had disappeared by 1792. However another Grand Lodge was formed in 1751 and this one did survive. It was called the Ancients Grand Lodge. What was the Ancients Grand Lodge? The Ancients Grand Lodge was formed in 1751 by some Irish Masons who experienced difficulty in joining Lodges in England. They maintained that the Premier Grand Lodge had departed from the landmarks of the Order by making changes to the ritual some twenty years earlier. For this reason they became known as the Ancients, while the Premier Grand Lodge became known as the Moderns - a travesty of the real position. These two Grand Lodges operated along similar lines but there was intense rivalry between them, with each accusing the other of being irregular. However, early in the nineteenth century the desire for unity became apparent When did unity come about? Discussions between the two Grand Lodges started in earnest in about 1810 and the United Grand Lodge came into existence in 1813. There were many problems to be overcome, such as the numbering of Lodges, conflicts within the ritual, differences in the constitutions and recognition by other Grand Lodges, mainly those in America. Various Boards and a Lodge of Reconciliation, consisting of eighteen of the most able Masons, were set up under the Articles of Union. The Lodge of Reconciliation continued until 1816,

GF/M.Pt2.Iss 2 Sept/14 - - 17 - - working to resolve the ritual differences and was largely responsible for the success of the union.

A new book of Constitutions was issued in 1815 and in 1819 a new Grand Lodge Certificate was introduced. Its basic design is still used today and was therefore similar in many respects to the Grand Lodge Certificate you will receive after you have completed your Third Degree.

Who was Grand Master at the Union? The Grand Master of the Moderns at the time of the Union was HRH the Duke of Sussex and the Grand Master of the Antients was HRH the Duke of Kent, both sons of George III. The Duke of Kent gave way by proposing his brother as the Grand Master of the new United Grand Lodge. This was fortuitous because the Duke of Sussex proved most capable in driving the new enterprise forward. Many royal Grand Masters have followed in the Duke of Sussex's footsteps. Where did the new Grand Lodge meet? In 1769 the Premier Grand Lodge had purchased two large houses and a garden in Great Queen Street for £3,180. The first Freemasons' Hall was built on this site at a cost of over £20,000 and ceremoniously opened in1776. This hall became the home of the United Grand Lodge and has remained so ever since. The current hall is the third on the site. The second was built in 1866 and had to be reconstructed after a disastrous fire in 1883. The third and current hall had its foundation stone laid in 1927 by the Grand Master, the Duke of Connaught, using remote control facilities from a ceremony being held in the Royal Albert Hall. This hall is known as the Masonic Peace Memorial in honour

GF/M.Pt2.Iss 2 Sept/14 - - 18 - - of those Freemasons who had given their lives in the First World War. It was completed in 1933.

Has the United Grand Lodge changed since 1813? Freemasonry exists in a changing world and it will not thrive unless it adapts to some of these changes. The Antient Landmarks must be protected and adhered to, but the Board of General Purposes, members of Grand Lodge and the Rulers of the Craft have embraced change where such change is in the best interests of Freemasonry. We have seen changes in recent years with the ritual, with the list of Lodge Officers, with the honours system and with the structure and governance of Freemasonry, especially in London. These changes have been made with one aim in view - to ensure that the history of Freemasonry is as interesting in the future as it has been in the past.

GF/M.Pt2.Iss 2 Sept/14 - - 19 - - The Next Steps You have now completed two out of your three steps in Freemasonry and you will soon be learning the answers to the questions for your Third Degree ceremony.

It is to be hoped that the Mentoring Programme has made a positive contribution to your understanding of the degrees you have gone through and the organisation you have joined. The Section in this booklet on the History of Freemasonry is, of necessity, brief and forms only an introduction to a topic that could take as much of your time as you want to allocate to it. Over the years, Freemasons have devoted untold hours to researching the history of Freemasonry, yet there remain significant opportunities for further research. You may wish to spend more of your time looking into this fascinating topic.

By now you should be feeling 'at home' in your Lodge. Try and use the time before your next ceremony to raise any questions which may be prompted by what you see or hear. Remember that there are plenty of people to help you progress your enjoyment from Freemasonry. Do make sure you fully utilise the skills and knowledge of your Mentor and the other members of your Lodge, as this will be of benefit to you and also to your Lodge by ensuring it has a member whose interest has been stimulated.

GF/M.Pt2.Iss 2 Sept/14 - - 20 - - Notes______

GF/M.Pt2.Iss 2 Sept/14 - - 21 - - Notes______

GF/M.Pt2.Iss 2 Sept/14 - - 22 - -

Copies of this publication are available from the:

The Provincial Grand Secretary's office at Sindlesham Masonic Centre, Mole Road, Sindlesham, Wokingham, Berkshire, RG41 5DB. Tel: 0118 9787625

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