MASONIC TITLES
The words "worship" and "worshipful" as used in Freemasonry have no
connection with their modern meaning of glorification, idolization, deification.
In church the congregation worships God; in a lodge a brother is "Worshipful"
when he is Master; in Grand Lodge a brother is "Most", "Right", or "Very
Worshipful", the words being used in the old English sense.
The word "ship" as a suffix (hardship, horsemanship, lordship) is from scip
and/or skap-Old Teutonic words indicating a rank or qualities that go with it.
Anglo-Saxons used weorth to describe value. Hence "Your Worship", and also the
Masonic "Worshipful".
"Honor thy father and thy mother" in the King James Bible, was "Worship thi
fadir and thi modir," in the Wycliffe Bible (Fourteenth Century).
Masonic usage of the word may be freely given as respected, or honored. The
Most Worshipful Brother is he who is most greatly honored or respected. This is
doubtless as much a descendant from ecclesiastical practice as from old English
phraseology; an Episcopal marriage service used "with my body I thee worship"
meaning honor or reverence.
It apparently was first used Masonically at the formation of the Mother Grand
Lodge; Anderson's Constitutions has a "Postscript" titled "Here follows the
Manner of constituting a New Lodge, as practis'd by his Grace the Duke of
Wharton, the prefent Right Worfhipful Grand Master, according to the ancient
Usages of Masons."
The word was used in other than ecclesiastical circles at a very early date;
Samuel Pepys' "Diary" notes, a clergyman having addressed his congregation as
"Right Worshipful and dearly beloved" in 1661. In the seventeenth century, gilds
in London called themselves Worshipful, as "The Worshipful Company of
Grocers".
The use of "Most", "Right" and "Very" in Masonic titles seems a direct
descent from the Church of England. The heads of the Church are the Primates of
Canterbury and of York. Their official title is The Most Reverend. Under them in
the Hierarchy come the Right Reverend the Bishops. The next title of honor in
the Church is that of Very Reverend applied to Deans or heads of Cathedral
Chapters. In the English Parish is The Reverend Parish Priest who is assisted by
two Wardens. There is a strong resemblance between the ceremony of the induction
of the priest into the benefice of a Parish and that of the installation of a
Master of a lodge. In the more formal appointment of a Canon the resemblance is
more marked by the ecclesiastical use of the word "installation". The Bishop
installs the new Canon with a ritual that comes with no novelty to one who has
previously been installed as the Master of a Lodge. In the United States "Most
Worshipful" is used in the official titles of some Grand Lodges, as well as for
Grand Masters.
These titles differ in the several States; many variations are interesting,
as A.F. & A.M.-A.Y.M.-A.F.M.-F. & A.M. and F.A.A.M.
The titles of the forty-nine Grand Lodges of the United States copied from
their Proceedings, are as follows:
- Grand Lodge, A.F. & A.M. of Alabama.
- Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of Arizona.
- The M.W. Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of
Arkansas.
- The M.W. Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of
California.
- The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of
Colorado.
- The Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of the State of
Connecticut.
- The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons of
Delaware.
- The Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the District of Columbia.
(This Grand Lodge abbreviates Free and Accepted Masons, F.A.A.M.)
- The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge F. & A. M. of the State of
Florida.
- The Grand Lodge of Georgia, Free and Accepted Masons.
- The M.W. Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Idaho.
- The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of the
State of Illinois.
- The M.W. Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of
Indiana.
- The Grand Lodge of Iowa, A.F. & A.M.
- The MW. Grand Lodge of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons of Kansas.
- The Grand Lodge of Kentucky, F. & A.M.
- The Grand Lodge of the State of Louisiana, Free and Accepted Masons.
- The Most Worshipful Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of the State
of Maine.
- The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of A.F. & A.M. of Maryland.
- The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
- The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the State
of Michigan.
- The Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Minnesota.
- The Grand Lodge of Mississippi, Free and Accepted Masons.
- The Grand Lodge, Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons of the State of
Missouri.
- The Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Montana.
- The Grand Lodge of the Most Ancient and Honorable Fraternity of Free and
Accepted Masons of Nebraska.
- The Grand Lodge of Free Accepted Masons of the State of Nevada.
- The M.W. Grand Lodge of the Ancient and Honorable Fraternity, Free and
Accepted Masons of the State of New Hampshire.
- The Grand Lodge of the Most Ancient and Honorable Society of Free and
Accepted Masons for the State of New Jersey.
- The Grand Lodge of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons of New Mexico.
- The Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of New
York.
- The Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of North
Carolina.
- The Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. of North Dakota
- The M.W. Grand Lodge of the Most Ancient and Honorable Fraternity of Free
and Accepted Masons of the State of Ohio.
- The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge, Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons of the
State of Oklahoma.
- The Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Oregon.
- The Right Worshipful Grand Lodge of the Most Ancient and Honorable
Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons of Pennsylvania and Masonic
jurisdictions thereunto belonging.
- The Grand Lodge of The Most Ancient and Honorable Society of Free and
Accepted Masons for the State of Rhode Island and Providence
Plantations.
- The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Ancient Free Masons of South
Carolina.
- Grand Lodge Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons of South Dakota.
- The M.W. Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Tennessee.
- The M.W. Grand Lodge of Texas.
- The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Utah.
- The M.W. Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of
Vermont.
- The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons of
the Commonwealth of Virginia.
- The M.W. Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Washington.
- The M.W. Grand Lodge of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons of the State of
West Virginia.
- The Grand Lodge Free and Accepted Masons of Wisconsin.
- The Grand Lodge of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons of Wyoming.
- The United Grand Lodge of England is "The United Grand Lodge of Ancient
Free and Accepted Masons."
- Ireland has its "The Grand Masonic Lodge".
- In Scotland, the governing body is "The Grand Lodge of the Ancient and
Honorable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons."
- In France are "The Grand Lodge of France", "The National Independent and
Regular Grand Lodge of France and the French Colonies", and "The Grand
Orient."
The same titles are used by the Grand Lodges or Supreme Masonic authorities
of Portugal, Belgium, Italy, Spain, and Greece, and also by the Grand Lodges of
the South American States.
The correct Masonic method of addressing Grand Officers in the United States
is as follows:
- Grand Master is Most Worshipful in 48 jurisdictions. In Pennsylvania he is
Right Worshipful.
- Grand Wardens are Right Worshipful in all jurisdictions.
- Senior Grand Deacon is Right Worshipful in 8 jurisdictions and Worshipful
in 39 jurisdictions.
- Junior Grand Deacon is Right Worshipful in 8 jurisdictions and Worshipful
in 38 jurisdictions.
- Grand Stewards are Right Worshipful in 6 jurisdictions and Worshipful in
36 jurisdictions including Virginia, unless, in that State, the Grand Junior
Steward is a Past Grand Master and then he is Most Worshipful.
- Grand Secretary is Right Worshipful in 46 jurisdictions and Very
Worshipful in 3 jurisdictions.
- Grand Treasurer is Right Worshipful in 44 jurisdictions and Very
Worshipful in 3 jurisdictions. (Nebraska and Washington States have no Grand
Treasurer.) In Maine the Grand Secretary and Grand Treasurer are Right
Worshipful only if permanent members of Grand Lodge. In Mississippi, North
Dakota and Oklahoma the Grand Secretary, if a Past Grand Master, is Most
Worshipful.
- Grand Chaplains are Right Worshipful in 9 jurisdictions, Right Worshipful
and Reverend in 1 jurisdiction, Right Reverend in 1 jurisdiction, Very
Reverend in 1 jurisdiction, Reverend and Worshipful in 2 jurisdictions and
Worshipful in 16 jurisdictions.
- Grand Orator is Right Worshipful in 5 jurisdictions and Worshipful in 11
jurisdictions.
- Grand Sword Bearer is Right Worshipful in 3 jurisdictions and Worshipful
in 25 jurisdictions.
- Grand Standard Bearer is Right Worshipful in 1 jurisdiction and Worshipful
in 9 jurisdictions.
- Grand Pursuivant is Right Worshipful in 3 jurisdictions and Worshipful in
27 jurisdictions.
- Grand Bible Bearer is Worshipful in 4 jurisdictions.
- Grand Lecturer is Right Worshipful in 8 jurisdictions and Worshipful in 10
jurisdictions.
- Grand Organist is Worshipful in 3 jurisdictions.
- Grand Tiler is Right Worshipful in 3 jurisdictions and Worshipful in 34
jurisdictions including Minnesota, where he has this title only if he is a
Past Master.
- Grand Marshal is Right Worshipful in 11 jurisdictions and Worshipful in 31
jurisdictions.
- Officers are both "Senior Grand", "Junior Grand" and "Grand Senior" and
"Grand Junior". Senior and Junior Grand Wardens, Deacons, Stewards are in 41
Grand Lodges; Grand Senior and Junior Wardens, Deacons, Stewards are in 8
Grand Lodges. In Missouri, Wardens are Senior and Junior Grand and Deacons and
Stewards Grand Senior and junior.
In all Grand Lodges, Grand Masters retain their titles when leaving office,
except the Grand Master in Texas who is "Most Worshipful" as Grand Master and
"Right Worshipful" as Past Grand Master. In 39 Grand Lodges all elective
officers retain their titles when they become "Past". A few Grand Lodges have no
law on the subject; in others titles are not retained.
In other bodies of Masonry, Officers and Grand Officers are addressed as
follows:
In the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, Southern Jurisdiction,
- the Grand Commander is addressed "Sovereign Grand Commander",
- the Lieutenant Grand Commander as "Venerable Lieutenant Grand
Commander",
- the Grand Pryor as "Venerable Grand Pryor".
- The Grand Chancellor, Grand Minister of State, Grand Secretary General,
Grand Treasurer General, Grand Almoner, Grand Chaplain, Grand Orator, Grand
Master of Ceremonies, Grand Chamberlain, First Grand Equerry, Second Grand
Equerry, Grand Standard Bearer, Grand Sword Bearer and Grand Herald are
addressed "Brother" followed by the title.
- Active Members and Deputies of the Supreme Council are also addressed as
"Illustrious Brother (name) . . ." followed by title.
- Active Members and Deputies not holding office may properly be addressed
as "Illustrious Brother (name), Sovereign Grand Inspector General (or Deputy
of the Supreme Council) in (State or Territory)."
The Supreme Council has not legislated concerning titles or modes of address
in subordinate bodies of the Scottish Rite. These titles are taken from the
ritual. The address is usually by title only-such as "Wise Master" (Chapter of
Rose Croix), "Venerable Master" (Lodge of Perfection and Council of Kadosh).
Custom in some valleys is to address 33' Honorary brethren as "Illustrious
Brother. . ." The present Statutes provide specifically for the mode of address
to the first three Officers of the Supreme Council. Earlier Statutes provided
that all other Officers of the Supreme Council be addressed as "Brother",
followed by title. While this provision is not now mentioned in the present
Statutes, it has not been superseded by new instructions and is still
observed.
In the, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Northern Jurisdiction
- the Grand Commander is addressed "Most Puissant Sovereign Grand Commander"
at least officially, but in Supreme Council meetings this is customarily
shortened to "Sovereign Grand Commander."
- The Lieutenant Grand Commander is addressed officially as "Puissant Grand
Commander", but unofficially is addressed Grand Lieutenant Commander."
- All other officers are addressed as "Illustrious Brother (name)". Titles
other than those named above are not used unless the Grand Commander issues a
directive to any of them, when he may use the full title.
The Grand Master of the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar is addressed
"Most Eminent". All other officers are addressed "Right Eminent." All Past Grand
Masters of the Grand Encampment are addressed as "Most Eminent." In Grand
Commanderies of the States, the Grand Commander is addressed as Right Eminent.
Addresses vary for lesser officers, but in general "Very Eminent" and "Eminent"
for the higher and lesser officers prevail.
In Grand Chapters of Royal Arch Chapters, "Most Excellent Grand High Priest"
and "Right Excellent Deputy Grand High Priest" is proper; in the General Grand
Chapter the addresses are similar; "Most Excellent General Grand High Priest"
and "Right Excellent General Deputy Grand High Priest." As these official titles
are so long, they are by common consent usually shortened to "Most Excellent"
and "Right Excellent Companion (name)".
In the Grand Councils of Royal and Select Masters the modes of address are
"Most Illustrious Grand Master", "Right Illustrious Deputy Grand Master", with
the other officers merely "Illustrious" with a few exceptions. In the General
Grand Council, however, the word "puissant" is added, the titles being "Most
Puissant General Grand Master", "Right Puissant General Deputy Grand Master".
All others are "Right Illustrious" except the General Grand Sentinel who is
"Puissant."
The Imperial Council of the Ancient Arabic Order, Nobles of the Mystic
Shrine, addresses all Imperial officers as "Imperial Sir"; Temples of the Shrine
address the Potentate as "Illustrious Potentate" and all other officers as
"Noble" (name of office.)
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