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conducting a meeting
CHAPTER XIII
THE WORSHIPFUL MASTER'S
HANDBOOK
Grand Lodge, F.A.A.M. of the
District of Columbia
Opening
Pledge of Allegiance
WM: (one rap) "Brother _________, you will
lead the brethren in the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of our
country."
Minutes, Communication and Petitions
WM: (one rap) "Brother Secretary, may we have
read the minutes of our last stated communication?"
(after the minutes are read)
WM: "Brethren, you have heard read the minutes of our
last stated communication. Note you any errors or omissions. Hearing none,
the minutes will stand approved as read." (one rap)
(If the minutes are corrected)
WM: "Note you any other errors or omissions? Hearing
none, the minutes will stand approved as corrected." (one
rap)
WM: (one rap) "Brother Secretary, may we have
read any communications received since our last stated
communication?
WM: (one rap) "Brother Secretary, may we have
read any petitions received since our last stated communication?
Treasurer's Report
WM: (one rap) "Brother Treasurer, may we have
your report." (Lodge approval of this report is not required. Just hand
the report to the Secretary when it is received from the
Treasurer.)
Order of Greeting
It is Masonic protocol that you should introduce brethren
in ascending order by rank, alternating from visitors of equal rank to
brethren of equal rank within our jurisdiction, from lower ranking
officers to higher ranking officers. Thus, for example, you would
introduce a visiting Master before you would introduce a Master of a
District of Columbia Lodge. The last person to be introduced is the Grand
Master of Masons of the District of Columbia. As Master you preside over
your Lodge and decide who you will introduce. However, it is your
responsibility to maintain harmony in the Lodge and you should take care
to use common sense so that no brother feels slighted by not being
acknowledged. If you anticipate a long meeting, it may be well to tell a
brother that you will be introducing him from the sidelines rather than
bringing him to the altar or that you will forego the introduction. You
should always bring the Grand Master to the altar or the Deputy Grand
Master if he is acting on behalf of the Grand Master. You should have very
good reason not to present a Past Grand Master at the altar. In some
Lodges, the "Marshal" is referred to as the "Master of Ceremonies." Either
title is correct. References to signs between the officers have not been
included in this manual.
Order of Greeting Brethren
A. Visiting Brethren
Note: If you introduce your own Lodge brethren, they
would be intro- duced after visiting brethren.
B. Visiting Lodge Officers
Note: If you introduce your own Lodge officers, they
would be intro- duced after visiting officers.
C. Visiting Past Masters
D. Past Masters of your Lodge
E. Visiting Masters
F. Grand Lodge Officers of other jurisdictions
G. Grand Lodge Officers of the District of Columbia
H. Past Grand Masters of other jurisdictions
I. Past Grand Masters of the District of Columbia
J. Grand Masters of other jurisdictions
K. Grand Master of Masons of the District of Columbia
(Note: Look around the room. Use common sense. If, for
example, there are no visiting brethren, then don't ask for the visiting
brethren to rise. The same applies to the other categories of
introduction.
Method of Introduction
A. Visiting Brethren (Generally a sideline
introduction)
WM: (one rap) "Will all visiting brethren
other than officers, Past Masters, or Grand Lodge Officers please
rise." (Your own words of introduction)
B. Visiting Lodge Officers (Generally a sideline
introduction)
WM: (one rap) "Will all visiting Lodge
Officers other than Past Masters, or Grand Lodge Officers please
rise." (Your own words of introduction)
C. Visiting Past Masters (Generally a sideline
introduction)
WM: (one rap) "Will all visiting Past Masters
please rise." (Your own words of introduction)
D. Past Masters of your Lodge (Generally a
sideline introduction)
WM: (one rap) "Will the Past Masters of
__________ Lodge please rise." (Your own words of introduction)
"You are cordially invited to a seat in the East."
E. Visiting Masters (Generally brought to the
East)
WM: (one rap) "Will all visiting Masters
please rise." (3 raps - If you intend to bring the Master to
the East.) Note that anytime that you want to bring anyone to the East
you are to raise the Lodge. Thus, when you present anyone at the altar
with the intention of having him continue on to the East, raise the
Lodge at the time you instruct the Marshal (Master of
Ceremonies) to present the brother at the altar.)
WM: "Brother Marshal, present Worshipful Brother
________ at the altar." Alternatively, you may say, "Brother Marshal,
present the Visiting Master(s) at the altar."
(When he has arrived at the altar, exchange
signs)
WM: "Worshipful Brother ________, Master of ________
Lodge No. _____ ." (Your own words of greeting here)
WM: "Brother Marshal, escort Worshipful Brother
_______ to the East." (Note: Do not surrender the gavel to the
brother unless he is the Grand Master. Seat the lodge with one rap and
invite the brother to speak if you wish.)
F. Grand Lodge Officers of other jurisdictions
(Generally brought to the East.)
WM: (one rap) "Will all visiting Grand Lodge
Officers please rise. Brother Marshal, present the visiting Grand
Lodge Officers at the altar." (three raps)
(at the altar in ascending order by
rank)
1. Visiting Grand Stewards, Grand Deacons, and Appointed
Grand Officers
WM: "Worshipful Brother ___name_______,
_____office_____, of the Grand Lodge of
_____jurisdiction_____, Worshipful Sir."
2. Visiting Grand Treasurers, Grand Secretaries,
Grand Wardens and Deputy Grand Masters
WM: "Right Worshipful Brother _______, ______, of the
Grand Lodge of ______, Right Worshipful Sir."
(to bring them to the East you will say)
WM: "Brother Marshal, escort the Grand Lodge
Officer(s) to the East", or alternatively, "Brother Marshal
escort the (identify the officer by title) to the East."
G. GRAND LODGE OFFICERS OF THE DISTRICT OF
COLUMBIA
(Generally brought to the East)
WM: (One rap) "Will all Grand Lodge Officers
other than the Grand Master of Masons of the District of Columbia
(if he is in the room) please rise. Brother Marshal, present
the Grand Lodge Officers at the altar."
(At the altar in ascending order by rank)
Grand Secretary, Grand Lecturer, Grand Lecturer
Emeritus, Grand Treasurers, Grand Wardens, and Deputy Grand
Masters.
WM: All officers listed above, except the Deputy
Grand Master are addressed, "Right Worshipful Brother ______,
(Office) of the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia,
Right Worshipful Sir." The Deputy Grand Master is addressed "Right
Worshipful Brother _______, Deputy Grand Master of Masons of the
District of Columbia, Right Worshipful Sir."
(Bringing the Grand Lodge Officers to the
East)
WM: "Brother Marshal, escort the Grand Lodge
Officer(s) or (use the specific title), "escort the
_____ Worshipful Grand _____ to the East."
H. PAST GRAND MASTERS OF OTHER JURISDICTIONS
WM: (Rap once) "Will all visiting Past Grand
Masters please rise." (Rap up the Lodge) "Brother Marshal,
present the Past Grand Master(s) at the altar."
(When the brother has reached the altar)
WM: "The brethren will attend on the Grand Honors.
Most Worshipful Brother _________, Past Grand Master of the Grand
Lodge of __________, Most Worshipful Sir." (Your own words
here.)
(to bring him to the East)
WM: "Brother Marshal, escort the Past Grand
Master(s) to the East." or alternatively, "Brother Marshal,
escort Most Worshipful Brother __________ to the East."
When he arrives at the East, shake his hand and seat
the Lodge (one rap). Do not surrender your gavel! Invite him to
say a few words. (Note: In some jurisdictions Grand Masters go by
the title of Right Worshipful Brother __________.)
I. PAST GRAND MASTERS OF THE DISTRICT OF
COLUMBIA
(Generally brought to the East)
WM: (rap once) "Will the Past Grand Masters of
the District of Columbia please rise. Brother Marshal, present the
Past Grand Master(s) of the Grand Lodge of the District of
Columbia at the altar." (Rap up the Lodge)
(Grand Honors at the altar.)
WM: "The Brethren will attend on the Grand Honors.
Most Worshipful Brother __________, Past Grand Master of the Grand
Lodge of the District of Columbia, Most Worshipful Sir." (Your own
words of greeting here.)
(To bring him to the East)
WM: "Brother Marshal, escort the Past Grand
Master(s) to the East."
J. GRAND MASTERS AND ACTING GRAND MASTERS OF OTHER
JURISDICTIONS
(Always brought to the East)
WM: (rap once) "Brother Marshal, present the
visiting Grand Master(s) at the altar." (Rap up the
Lodge).
(Grand honors at the altar)
WM: "The brethren will attend on the Grand Honors.
Most Worshipful __________, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of
__________, Most Worshipful Sir."
(or if he is a Deputy Grand Master acting as Grand
Master)
WM: "Right Worshipful Brother _________, Deputy Grand
Master of __________, Acting Grand Master, Most Worshipful
Sir."
(to bring him to the East)
WM: "Brother Marshal, escort the Most Worshipful
Grand Master(s) to the East." (When he arrives in the East)
WM: "Brother Marshal, escort the Most Worshipful
Grand Master(s) to the East." When he arrives at the East, shake his
hand and seat the Lodge (one rap) Do not surrender your gavel!
Invite him to say a few words.
NOTE: There is a specific ritual for greeting the
Grand Master or Acting Grand Master at the Tiler’s door. It is not
proper that it be printed here. If, on the other hand, the Grand
Master is in the Lodge room, the following protocol is appropriate to
receive the Grand Master.
K. GRAND MASTER OF MASONS OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
AND ACTING GRAND MASTER
WM: (rap once) "Brother Marshal, present the
Grand Master of Masons of the District of Columbia at the altar."
(Rap up the Lodge.)
(Grand Honors at the altar.)
WM: "The brethren will attend on the Grand Honors.
Most Worshipful Brother __________, Grand Master of Masons of the
District of Columbia, Most Worshipful Sir."
(Deputy Grand Master at the altar)
WM: "The brethren will attend on the Grand Honors.
Right Worshipful Brother __________, Deputy Grand Master of Masons of
the District of Columbia, Acting Grand Master, Most Worshipful
Sir."
(to bring the Grand Master or Acting Grand Master to the
East)
WM: "Brother Marshal, escort the Most Worshipful
Grand Master to the East." (When he arrives at the East, hand him
your gavel, shake his hand, remove your hat and sit down in the chair
next to him in the East.)
Note: If the Deputy Grand Master is visiting your
Lodge as the Acting Grand Master, he will likely announce that fact at
the tiler's door or he may tell you before the meeting. If you know
that he is acting Grand Master, then you must present him at the
altar, accord him Grand Honors, and introduce him as above. When he is
invited to the East you would hand him your gavel, take off your hat
and step aside. You would not hand him your gavel if he is not acting
as Grand Master.)
Closing of the Lodge
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