master mason's certificate presentation
by MW Wayne Hitchcock
PGM,
Grand Lodge of New Brunswick
At some point during his term of office, the Master will be
called upon to make a presentation to a member, or members, of his Lodge. The
object of the presentation may be a new Mason's Grand Lodge certificate, his
apron, a bible, long service awards, etc. Although he can simply hand the object
over with a few mumbled words of congratulations, the Master can not only make
the presentation more meaningful, but provide a minute of education as well.
The big moment for the Candidate has arrived. He has completed his three
Degrees, proved his proficiency in all of them, and is escorted to the East to
receive his Certificate of Membership. The following presentation was obtained
by W.B. Luke Morrison, Hiram Lodge No 6, Fredericton while on a trip to the
British Isles. It has been adapted to fit the New Brunswick certificate.
It goes as follow:
The Grand Lodge Certificate
Bro: ……………. Having been regularly initiated, passed and raised in the
established degrees of the Order, you are now entitled to receive the Master
Mason's Certificate issued by the Grand Lodge of New Brunswick. The systematic
granting of these diplomas, in Great Britain, dates from the reign of King
George II, when by order of the quarterly communications of the Grand Lodge of
England, dated July 24, 1755, a copper plate was engraved for printing the
certificate to be presented to a Brother on his being made a Mason. A die was
cut and an engine made wherewith to seal the same at a cost not to exceed 12
guineas.
From that time onward certificates, though varying in size and form, have been
regularly issued until we come to the one in use today. It was designed in
England in 1819 and is known as the Pillars Certificate.
This diploma, (by command of the Worshipful Master, if done by someone other
than the Master) I now have the pleasure to present to you. (Hands over the
certificate)
Whilst you examine it, I will explain its significance.
The document is surmounted by the arms of our Most Worshipful (Past) Grand
Master (Name him)
The outstanding feature of the design is, as you will notice, 3 pillars, each
with its corresponding base and entablature. The one in the center, like the
Worshipful Master's pillar in the Lodge, is of the Ionic Order adopted by Masons
as an emblem of Wisdom and has reference to Solomon, King of Israel, and his
wisdom in building, completing and dedicating the Temple at Jerusalem to God's
service.
The Pillar on the left, like that of the Senior Warden's, is of the Doric Order,
emblematical of strength, such as the strength of Hiram, King of Tyre in
supporting King Solomon with men and material.
The right hand pillar, like the pillar of the Junior Warden, is of the
Corinthian Order, the emblem of beauty and has reference to Hiram Abif and his
curious and masterly workmanship in beautifying and adorning the Temple.
The base of the three pillars rests on the black and white Mosaic Pavement of
the Lodge which signifies light and shadow, or the joys and sorrows of man's
chequered existence.
On the pavement are depicted the 3 emblematical lights of Freemasonry, the
Volume of the Sacred Law, the Square and Compasses. The square may also be taken
to represent the first of the three unmoveable jewels of the Lodge of which the
other two are the Level and the Plumb.
You will find likewise the three moveable jewels of the Lodge, the Trestle
Board, and the rough and perfect Ashlars, the uses and significance of which
were fully explained in the lectures.
Certain of the working tools are represented, along with the Celestial and
Terrestrial Globes which point out the universality of Freemasonry.
As regards to the wording, the left portion is a declaration in English, and the
right portion is a Latin translation, pointed out to whom it may concern that
the Brother named herein has been regularly received into Freemasonry and in due
course admitted to the 2nd and 3rd Degrees and the appropriate dates of the
same.
You will note the dates are recorded A.L. (Anti Luces-After Light), that is in
the first year of the Era of Masonic Light which precedes the Christian Era by 4
millenaries.
In testimony that your name will be recorded in the books of Grand Lodge, the
Grand Secretary has subscribed his name and affixed the seal of Grand Lodge. If
you examine this seal, you will see the words, Audi, Vedi, Tace-Listen,
Observed, Be silent. A final clause states that this document will not entitle a
Brother to admission to any Lodge except by due examination, and, I may add,
examination alone will not entitle a Brother to admission unless accompanied by
this document should it be demanded. To the Brother to whom it is issued
therefore, this certificate is of extreme importance. It serves as testimony
that the Corner Stone placed in the North East part of the Lodge some time past
has been well and truly laid.
This certificate is a means of Masonic identification, a proof of membership in
case of accident or misfortune, and a passport when visiting a foreign Lodge
where signs may differ somewhat from our own. And as no Lodge is regular without
the production of the Warrant or Charter entrusted to the Worshipful Master, so
not Master Mason should be without his certificate on occasions of Masonic
importance.
Brother ………….. the certificate as handed to you is incomplete. To render it
valid, Grand Lodge requires you to add your signature in the marginal space
provided for that purpose and it is our customs that this be done in the
presence of your brethren in open Lodge. The signature should be your usual
autograph from which there should be Ne Veritas-no variation . My Brother, I
congratulate you on receiving the recognition of your standing as a Master Mason
and hope that you may long be spared to be stalwart supporter and a diligent
worker in the Craft.
The Director of Ceremonies will conduct you to the Secretary's desk where you
will sign the document.
While the presentation need not necessarily be "memorized", the Master should be
so familiar with it that he can do it without reading from a paper. We have
heard this given several times by Most Worshipful Brother Wayne Hitchcock, Past
Grand Master, and it has never failed to impress the older Masons as well as the
new one.
Should the Master deign to delegate the task to another, he should do so only to
a higher rank to further strengthen the importance of the Certificate.
back to top |
