By W Bro Ian Alexander Pace ADGM KwazuluNatal Lodge Mentor Inanda Lodge 1192EC
In this chapter I have selected a few snippets from a book by the name of Masonic Problems and Queries by W Bro HF Inman, first published in 1933 and a revised edition in 1978. W Bro Inman was the Preceptor of a number of Lodges of Instruction and the book contains short explanations of Masonic etiquette, history, jurisprudence, symbolism and so on ad infinitum.
I have selected a few which were of interest to me, and I trust of interest to you too, on varying subjects. Some of these articles have my comment attached which will be typed in italics. Please feel free to agree or disagree, and correct me where necessary – I am learning too !!
A Lodge of Instruction – what is it ?
It is a Lodge in which education is the objective. The person who does the teaching is known as a Preceptor and in order to become a Preceptor a course needs to be undertaken and examinations have to be passed at Grand Lodge level. Although there is a Master, Wardens, Deacons and so on, it is the Preceptor who actually runs the working (first, second or third degree – or even a Ceremony of Installation I assume). During the working the Preceptor can call a halt to the proceedings to give explanation and take questions.
A Lodge of Instruction is a registered Lodge on the register of the United Grand Lodge of England and has its own number. The members of a Lodge of Instruction would wear formal dress if held in the evening or if, for instance, it met on a Saturday morning (Lodge meetings are not permitted on a Sunday) smart “civvies” could be worn, and all attendees must wear an apron in accordance with their rank.
Abbreviated modes of address
Although one will see many abbreviations in the ritual book, oral use of these abbreviations in open Lodge and at the festive board (being an extension of the Lodge meeting) is considered an incorrect practice.
The most commonly used abbreviation is “DC” when referring to the Director of Ceremonies. We don’t refer to the Worshipful Master is WM, so why would we refer to the Director of Ceremonies as “DC” ? An effort should be made to orally address and refer to the various officers and Brethren of the Lodge by their full rank / office e.g. Brother Director of Ceremonies.
The Goose and Gridiron
This ancient London tavern was where the first formalised Lodges met – in an upstairs room. Where was the Goose and Gridiron ? It was situated in St Paul’s Churchyard and was demolished in about 1894. It was at this venue at which No. 1 of the “Four Old Lodges” met, and it was here that the first meeting of the Grand Lodge of England was held on the 25th June 1717.
The “Four Old Lodges” were as follows: No. 1 was the Lodge of Antiquity and now numbered 2. Lodge No 3 which used to meet at the Apple Tree Tavern , Covent Garden, London (a stone’s throw from where Freemasons’ Hall stands to this day) is now the Fortitude and Old Cumberland Lodge No 12. Lodge number 4 is still number four and is called the Royal Somerset House and Inverness Lodge and it used to meet at a tavern called the Runner and Grapes at Westminster.
Recruitment – be careful
This article contains observations of my own rather than anything taken from the book referred to in W Bro HF Inman’s book referred to earlier.
Whilst it is vital to the sustainability of any Lodge to continue to recruit the right men, the emphasis is on the word “right”. The wrong man can destroy the harmony of a Lodge by his incorrect behaviour, and incorrect reasons for becoming a Freemason. I have seen this in action, and I have no doubt that many other experienced Masons have too.
In a Lodge of which I am a member, a Brother had an incomplete year as Junior Warden as he was required to work far from his home for a protracted period of time. He returned after some eighteen months and insisted on being promoted to Senior Warden. Whilst the Brother that was in line, at that time, to be promoted to Senior Warden was gentleman enough to offer to stand aside, it was generally felt that the returning Brother was not ready to become Senior Warden and I recommended that he spend the rest of the year in the columns as a Master Mason so that at the next Ceremony of Installation there
would possibly be a gap “in the line” which he could fill and continue his progress to the Chair of King Solomon.
This proved unsatisfactory to this Brother. By his insistence on promotion, which I and the other Brethren felt was unwarranted, and his making demands of the Lodge and of me as Master in particular, he had effectively painted himself into a corner. Instead of practising the humility often required of a Mason, and accepting my recommendation, he chose to continue his insistence. Any member of any Lodge, regardless of seniority, must surely realise that he is not indispensable and that “the game is bigger than the man”. If ultimatums are put to the Lodge by any given member, the Master must act in accordance with what is best for the Lodge as a whole and must never create an environment in which any unhealthy precedents are set.
Needless to say, this Brother duly resigned from the Lodge and has not been seen or heard of since. It is, of course, regrettable to lose a member but there are occasions where the overall health of the Lodge must be put first and foremost. The incident was unpleasant but in such cases it is better that the member withdraws from the Lodge than that his presence disturbs the harmony of the gathering. The Lodge remains in good health and continues to flourish from strength to strength.
SMIB.
Ian