Masonic Lodge
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A Masonic Lodge, often termed a Private Lodge or Constituent Lodge in Books of Constitutions, is the basic organisation of Freemasonry. Every new Lodge must be warranted by a Grand Lodge, but is subject to its direction only in enforcing the published Constitution of the jurisdiction. A Master Freemason is generally entitled to visit any Lodge in any jurisdiction in amity with his own. He is first usually required to check, and certify, the regularity of the relationship of the Lodge - and be able to satisfy that Lodge of his regularity of membership. Freemasons gather together as a Lodge to work the three basic Degrees of Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft and Master Mason.
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[edit] Types of lodge
Freemasons meet as a Lodge not in a Lodge, although Masonic premises may be called Lodges, as well as Temples ("of Philosophy and the Arts"). In many countries Masonic Centre or Hall has now replaced these terms to avoid arousing prejudice and suspicion. Several different Lodges, or other Masonic organisations, often use the same premises at different times.
Blue Lodges, Craft Lodges or Ancient Craft Lodges refer to the lodges that work the first three Masonic degrees, rather than the appendant Masonic orders such as York Rite and Scottish Rite. The term "Craft Lodge" is used in Great Britain. The Blue Lodge is said to refer to the traditional colour of regalia in Lodges derived from English or Irish Freemasonry. Although the term was originally frowned upon, it has gained widespread and mainstream usage in America in recent times.
Research Lodges have the purpose of furthering Masonic scholarship. Quatuor Coronati Lodge is the preeminenet example of a Research Lodge; it has a strictly limited membership and receives visitors and papers from all over the world. There are other well-known Research Lodges in other jurisdictions. Research Lodges usually meet less frequently than Blue Lodges and do not confer degrees.
A Lodge of Instruction may be associated with a Lodge, but is not constituted separately. The Lodge of Instruction provides the Officers and those who wish to become Officers an opportunity to rehearse ritual under the guidance of an experienced brother; there may also be lectures around the ritual and the symbolism in the lodge within a Lodge of Instruction, in order to develop the knowledge and understanding of the membership.
In Great Britain, the term Mother Lodge is used to identify the particular Lodge where the individual was first "made a Mason" (i.e. received his Entered Apprentice degree). 'Mother Lodge' may also refer to a Lodge which sponsors the creation of a new Lodge, the Daughter Lodge, to be warranted under the jurisdiction of the same Grand Lodge; specific procedures pertaining to this vary throughout history and in different jurisdictions. Lodge Mother Kilwinning No 0 in the Grand Lodge of Scotland is known as the Mother Lodge of Scotland, having been referred to in the Schaw Statutes of 1598 and 1599, and having itself warranted other Lodges at a time when it did not subscribe to a Grand Lodge.
[edit] Organization
Lodges are governed by national, state or provincial authorities, usually called Grand Lodges or Grand Orients, whose published constitutions define the structure of freemasonry under their authority, and which appoint Grand Officers from their senior masons. Provincial Grand Lodges (which in England generally correspond to historic counties) exercise an intermediate authority, and also appoint Provincial Grand Officers.
Different Grand Lodges and their regions show subtleties of tradition and variation in the degrees and practice; for example under the Grand Lodge of Scotland, the Mark Degree (which is unrecognised by the United Grand Lodge of England, but has a separate Mark Grand Lodge) is integrated into "The Craft" as a completion of the second degree. In any case, Grand Lodges have limited jurisdiction over their member Lodges, and where there is no prescribed ritual Lodges may thus have considerable freedom of practice in terms of ritual. Depite these minor differences, fraternal relations exist between masons of corresponding degrees under different Grand Lodges.
[edit] Membership
After a Lodge elects or approves a candidate in accordance with the requirements of its Grand Lodge, the candidate may petition for each degree in order. Generally speaking those who have only received the Entered Apprentice or Fellowcraft degrees but not the Master Mason degree are considered Freemasons, but hold limited privileges within the Lodge; under UGLE only a Master Mason will receive a Grand Lodge certificate, which may be demanded by any other Lodge he wishes to visit.
Master Masons are considered full lifetime members of the Lodge where they received their degrees, unless they are "dropped from the rolls" due to violations such as non-payment of dues, or if they resign, usually for personal reasons or to join another Lodge in those jurisdictions where multiple membership is not permitted. A Mason may be expelled from his Lodge and Freemasonry in general if convicted of particularly serious violations of Civil or Masonic law.
A Master Mason "in good standing" (i.e. whose dues are current and who is not subject to Masonic investigation or discipline) who joins another regular Lodge does not have to earn the degrees again, but may well be expected by the new Lodge to work his way through the progressive offices of the Lodge.
If a Master Mason is dropped from the rolls for non-payment of dues, under most circumstances he may be immediately reinstated in good standing simply by paying his current dues as well as any back dues owed, although in many jurisdictions there is a requirement to ballot for re-admission.
Many Grand Lodges permit Master Masons to be "plural affiliates," or members of more than one Lodge simultaneously. In some jurisdictions plural affiliates are prohibited from serving as an elected officer of more than one Lodge at any given time.
These rules are different for Freemasons of the Entered Apprentice and Fellowcraft Degrees. In some Grand Lodges an Entered Apprentice or Fellowcraft may not receive a demit, but may join another Lodge with the intent of earning the Master Mason Degree with the consent of his original Lodge.
[edit] Officers
The names, roles and numbers of Lodge officers vary widely from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. The following is a discussion of the basic structure common to most Masonic jurisdictions.
The presiding officer of a Lodge, the Master, formally referred to as 'Worshipful Master'(WM), is elected by his brethren. Other Officers are appointed by the WM or elected by the members, subject to the regulations of the Grand Lodge. In most Lodges certain offices are seen as progressive, so by custom a particular officer is the presumptive choice for the next higher office in the following term. This practice is sometimes known as going "up the chairs." It allows the brother to develop his knowledge and understanding of the ritual, the Lodge and its members, as well as to offer opportunties for him to take progressively more prominent roles until he ultimately earns the office of Worshipful Master.
In contrast some offices are better suited for a Past Master, meaning a member who has already been Worshipful Master. The roles normally filled by Past Masters benefit from continuity or the wider experience and competence that a Past Master will have accumulated.
In most jurisdictions, the progressive offices which lead to Worshipful Master are in order of importance:
- Senior Warden (SW)
- Junior Warden (JW)
- Senior Deacon (SD)
- Junior Deacon (JD)
- Inner Guard (IG) - In some jurisdictions this function is assumed by the Junior Deacon.
- Stewards
Some jurisdictions allow only two Stewards, the Senior Steward and Junior Steward, regardless of Lodge size. Meanwhile, large Lodges in other jurisdictions may have several Stewards in the progressive line. Furthermore, in some jurisdictions, the Inner Guard is ranked below the Stewards in the line progression.
Depending on the jurisdiction the Tyler or Outer Guard may or may not be a progressive line officer, and may be an employee rather than a member of the Lodge.
Offices outside the line commonly (but not necessarily) filled by Past Masters include:
- Secretary - For continuity purposes a Lodge Secretary may remain in office for years at a time.
- Treasurer- may be elected by the members, rather than appointed
- Chaplain
A number of other offices do not exist in all jurisdictions (often they are committees), but if the office exists, the incumbent is normally a Past Master for reasons of continuity or particular competence:
- Almoner - Responsible for monitoring the wellbeing of the members and their families and facilitating discreet support, such as charitable disbursement, if required.
- Director of Ceremonies (DC) or Ritualist - An experienced Past Master and expert ritualist who ensures the ritual is conducted in an appropriate manner.
- Charity Steward - Responsible for managing and co-ordinating the collection of charity monies from within the membership of the lodge.
- Marshal - Responsible for the national flag within the Lodge.
- Organist or Director of Music
