A GUIDE FOR MASTERS AND WARDENS
From the Grand Lodge of Maine
Prepared under the direction
of M.W. Raymond M. Rideout, Sr., Grand Master, M.W.
Ralph J. Polard, P.G.M., Chairman, and R.W. Earle D. Webster, Grand Secretary,
for the Committee on Masonic Education and Lodge Service.
Mimeographed edition published in 1962. Printed edition published in
1965, by authority of M.W. Wallace H. Campbell, Grand Master.
1977 Revision under the Direction
of: R.W. Peter C. Schmidt, Grand Secretary, R.W. Ernest H. Curtis, Grand Lecturer and Chairman of the Committee on
Masonic Education and Lodge Services and V.W. John E. Anagnostis, Assistant Grand Lecturer.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
A Word to Senior and Junior Wardens
To The Worshipful Master
Duties to
Grand Lodge
Duties to Own
Lodge
Community
Contacts
Appendices
A WORD TO
SENIOR AND JUNIOR WARDENS
Brethren:
While this Guide is addressed primarily to
the Worshipful Master, and deals with the duties and responsibilities of that
office, it is equally important that it be studied carefully by all Senior and
Junior Wardens, since it may prove even more helpful to them than to an
incumbent Master whose term will soon be over.
At any moment, some Warden may be called,
as the result of an emergency, to fill the Oriental Chair. It is imperative
that he be prepared to serve with efficiency in that station. Moreover, in the
natural course of events, he can reasonably hope that he will, in the
not-too-distant future, be called upon to serve as Master in his own right.
His period of service as a Warden should be a period of preparation for the
more important duties which lie ahead. This Guide is designed to help him in
this preparation.
A Warden, like the Master, has a dual
responsibility-to the lodge which has elected him as one of its principal
officers and to the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Maine, of which he is now a
responsible member and to which he owes primary Masonic allegiance. He has
taken an official obligation strictly to comply with the Constitution and
Regulations of that Grand Lodge. This obligation he cannot keep unless he is
thoroughly familiar with these sources of Masonic law. It is our hope that
this Guide will assist him in finding and interpreting this law.
While still a Warden, he should perfect
himself in all phases of our ritualistic work. He should also make careful
plans for his own term as Master. He should attend the annual communications
of Grand Lodge, and vote conscientiously upon all matters coming before that
body.
Hard work and faithful study as a Warden
will ensure a successful administration as Master.
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TO THE WORSHIPFUL MASTER
Worshipful Brother:
You have been elected and
installed as Worshipful Master of your lodge. This office is one of great
antiquity, of great honor, and of equally great responsibility. On pages
284-287 of the "Maine Masonic Text Book" you will find a statement
concerning the powers and prerogatives of a Master, which should convince you
of the responsibility, dignity and importance of that office.
By your installation, you are invested with
the title of "Worshipful", a title which you hold for life. While in
office, you are an active member of Grand Lodge. In your own lodge, subject
only to higher Masonic authority, you are an absolute ruler. Like a monarch,
you alone are entitled to be covered. When you have completed your first term
in office, you will receive an official Grand Lodge diploma. You will also be
entitled to wear a distinctive jewel. As a Past Master, you will be eligible
for appointment as District Deputy Grand Master and for election to the
highest offices in Grand Lodge.
As Worshipful Master of a Masonic Lodge, you have multiple
responsibilities and distinct and separate duties-to the lodge over which you
preside, to the Grand Lodge under whose authority it works and to which you
owe allegiance, and to the community in which that lodge is located. In this
Guide, these duties and responsibilities will be discussed separately,
beginning with those which you owe to Grand Lodge. At your installation, you
took an official obligation "strictly to comply with the Constitution and
Regulations of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Maine." You also gave
your solemn assent to those ancient charges and regulations which point out
the duty of a Master of a lodge, and which are to be found on pages 62-64 in
the "Maine Masonic Text Book." Your obligation and duty to Grand
Lodge results from these solemn promises. back to top
TO THE GRAND LODGE
At your installation, you took an official obligation "strictly
to comply with the Constitution and Regulations of the Most Worshipful Grand
Lodge of Maine." You also gave your solemn assent to those ancient
charges and regulations which point out the duty of a Master of a lodge, and
which are to be found on pages 62-64 in the "Maine Masonic Text
Book." Your obligation and duty ot the Grand Lodge results
from these solemn promises.
These promises you cannot keep unless you are familiar with the laws
which you have promised to obey. Accordingly, your first duty to Grand Lodge
is to study the "Constitution, Standing Regulations and Digest of
Decisions" of the Grand Lodge of Maine, a copy of which is on file in
your lodge. You should also familiarize yourself with, the official Grand
Lodge Cipher, with the "Maine Masonic Text Book," and with the
annual Proceedings of our Grand Lodge. It is not expected that you memorize
all of this material. But you should know how to use these books and how to
find the Masonic law on any question which may arise. The Master should have a
copy of his Lodge By-Laws with him at all times and should refer to them
constantly.
Your responsibilities to Grand Lodge fall into two categories, those
which devolve upon you as a member of Grand Lodge and those which devolve upon
you as the presiding officer of a constituent lodge. Let us consider these in
order.
Member of Grand Lodge As a member of Grand Lodge, it is your duty to attend the
communications of that body. This you have promised to do, and you should make
every effort to keep that promise. If, for any reason, you find it absolutely
impossible to be present in person, it is your duty to see that your lodge is
represented, either by your Wardens, who are themselves members of Grand
Lodge, or by a duly commissioned Proxy. The responsibility for representation
rests with you as Master. Sec. 84A of the constitution provides for a $10.00
fine for each lodge not represented at the annual communication of the Grand
Lodge.
As a member of Grand Lodge, it is your privilege and duty to vote
upon all matters coming before that body and in the annual election of Grand
Lodge officers. In casting your vote, the best interests of the Fraternity
should always be your guide. Most of the matters coming before Grand Lodge
will be new to you, and, in forming your own opinion, you must largely depend
upon the committee reports and recommendations made in Grand Lodge. On those
matters which have been laid over from a previous communication, or which have
been referred to the lodges for consideration, it is entirely proper that you
take the sense of your own lodge and be influenced by this expression of
opinion. However, you cannot be entirely bound thereby, since the
recommendations and discussions heard in Grand Lodge may throw a new light
upon the question concerned.
Presiding Officer Lodge
As the presiding officer of a constituent lodge, your duties to
Grand Lodge include the following:
(1) To see that the affairs of your lodge are conducted in strict
conformity with the laws, regulations and edicts of the Grand Lodge.
(2) To see that the ritualistic work of your lodge conforms
absolutely to the official Grand Lodge ritual.
(3) To see that all reports, returns and remittances to Grand Lodge
are promptly made by the proper officers of your lodge, and that all
correspondence is promptly answered.
(4) To see that the charter of your lodge, for which you are
personally responsible, is safely preserved, and that it is, on demand, made
available for inspection by the proper authorities.
As the presiding officer of a constituent lodge, you have an
especial relationship with certain officers of the Grand Lodge, as well as
with certain standing and special Committees. Let us consider these in order.
(1) The Grand Master is your superior and commanding officer in
Masonry. He exercises powers and prerogatives dating from time immemorial. In
the recess between Grand Lodge sessions, he wields the full executive power of
the Grand Lodge. As you are the ruler of your own lodge, so is the Grand
Master the ruler of the entire Craft. You have promised to pay homage to the
Grand Master, and this promise you must keep. In his presence, your own
authority ceases. When he enters the door of your lodge room, you must
immediately uncover. To him you must surrender the gavel of authority, not as
a mere courtesy but as an act of homage and fealty. You do not invite him to
preside. He presides over your lodge by right. Needless to say, his edicts and
directives will receive your unquestioning obedience. To you, as to all Masons
within our Jurisdiction, his word is law.
(2) The District Deputy Grand Master is the personal representative
of the Grand Master in your Masonic District. His authority is derived from
his commission, signed by the Grand Master, attested by the Grand Secretary,
and bearing the seal of the Grand Lodge. With him, you should maintain the
most intimate and cordial relations. He should be advised of all meetings of
your lodge. You should always feel free to consult him on any Masonic problem.
Most questions can readily be answered by reference to the "Constitution,
Standing Regulations and Digest o f Decisions" of the Grand Lodge. Your
contacts with the District Deputy should be frequent and personal. He is a
definite link in the chain of command between you and the Grand Master.
(3) The Grand Secretary's contacts with your lodge are largely
through your lodge Secretary. However, as we have stated before, it is your
duty to oversee this correspondence, and to make sure that all reports,
returns and remittances are promptly and properly made. In all administrative
problems, the Grand Secretary is your best source of information. He knows
more answers than any other person. Do not hesitate to call upon him at any
time.
(4) The Grand Lecturer is the official
Custodian of the Ritual in Maine. It is your duty to attend his Schools of
Instruction, and to see to it that your officers and other participants in the
work do likewise. Only by frequent attendance at these official schools, can
ritualistic perfection be attained. Once you have learned the correct work
from the Grand Lecturer or his assistants, it is your duty to see that it is
followed in your lodge. Between schools, if any question concerning the ritual
should arise in your lodge, you should contact the Grand Lecturer or his
assistants either in person or by mail, and he will answer your question if
such an answer can be given with propriety. Of course, there are a few items
which cannot be discussed on paper. In an emergency, special schools can be
authorized.
(5) The Grand Lodge Committee on Masonic Education and Lodge Service
exists for the purpose of serving the lodges and brethren in this
jurisdiction. This Committee has a resident Representative in your District,
whose acquaintance you should make and of whose assistance you should avail
yourself. This Committee maintains a Speakers Bureau, which is ready and
willing to serve you at any time. If you need assistance in the planning,
preparation and presentation of a program, either for your whole year or for
some particular meeting, please contact this Committee, either through your
local Representative or by direct correspondence with the Committee Chairman.
This Committee also maintains a free Masonic information service. If you have
any question on a Masonic subject, you have only to write to the Committee
Chairman. If he is unable to answer your question himself, he will do the
necessary research to find an answer for you.
(6) Other Grand Lodge Committees with which you, as Master, have a
special relationship are the Committee on Masonic Blood Bank and the Grand
Master's special Advisory Committee on Public Relations. Your relationship
with these Committees will be more fully discussed in the section of this
Guide dealing with your duties and responsibilities to your own lodge.
Visiting Masonic Dignitaries It is also your duty to see that visiting Masonic dignitaries
are received in the proper manner. The ceremonies for the reception of such
visitors, including the Grand Master and the District Deputy Grand Master, are
fully set forth in Chapter VII of the "Maine Masonic Text Book."
However, as our lodge rooms are not uniform in size and arrangement, and as
each Grand Master has his own ideas as to exactly how he would like to be
received, it is always well to check the details in advance with the Grand
Marshal in charge of the ceremony. There are certain things, however, which
must never be forgotten. As the Grand Master is announced, you must call up
your lodge. As he enters the lodge room, you must uncover. The Grand Master
must be presented and received individually, and must individually be accorded
the private grand honors of Masonry. Any Past Grand Masters in his suite are
then presented and received, and are collectively accorded the private grand
honors. All other members of his suite are then collectively presented and
accorded the public grand honors. As Master, you must always surrender the
gavel to the Grand Master, as a token of homage and fealty to him and to the
Grand Lodge over which he presides.
The question of grand honors is really quite
simple. The Grand Master and all Past Grand Masters are entitled to the
private grand honors. These are also accorded to the District Deputy Grand
Master, on the occasion of his official visitation only, and may also be
accorded to the Worshipful Master at the time of his installation, provided
that such installation be in private. All other Grand Lodge officers, and all
Permanent Members of that body, below the rank of Past Grand Master, are
entitled to the public grand honors. Needless to say, the private grand honors
are never rendered at any public ceremony or other open meeting. In such
cases, only the public grand honors are used. Write to the Grand Secretary for
an instruction sheet for giving the grand honors.
As Master, you should always be careful in your use of Masonic titles. The
basic Masonic title is, of course, "Brother". Higher Masonic titles
are acquired by virtue of service in certain Masonic offices. The Grand Master
and all Past Grand Masters have the title of "Most Worshipful". All
other elective Grand Lodge officers, past and present, all District Deputy
Grand Masters, and Grand Lecturers, past and present, have the title of
"Right Worshipful". All Assistant Grand Lecturers who are not
"Right Worshipful" are accorded the title of "Very
Worshipful". Other Grand Lodge officers, except the Grand Tyler, have the
title of "Worshipful", as do all Masters and Past Masters. Once
acquired, a Masonic title is held for life. In using these titles, it is
perfectly proper to say either "Worshipful John Doe" or
"Worshipful Brother John Doe". However, when only the last name is
used, you should always say "Worshipful Brother Doe", never
"Worshipful Doe". back to top
TO YOUR OWN LODGE
Your first duty to your own lodge is to assume custody of its charter,
which was officially transmitted to you at your installation. For the
preservation and safekeeping of this charter, you are now responsible. If your
lodge does not have a modern fireproof safe of its own, the charter should be
kept in a bank vault. While a certificate of charter may properly be used for
the ordinary purposes of the lodge, the life of such a certificate coincides
with the life of the charter itself. If anything should happen to the charter,
the certificate loses its authority. Accordingly, you must make every effort
to see that the charter is preserved and safely transmitted to your successor.
Your next duty is to familiarize yourself with the By-Laws of your
lodge, if you have not already done so, and thereafter to see that these
By-Laws are always obeyed. You should also study that section of the official
Digest ( pages 53-55 ) in which are set forth the powers, prerogatives and
limitations of a Master. This is your blue print for the government of your
lodge.
Your responsibilities to your lodge fall into four categories -
ritualistic, administrative, educational and miscellaneous. We will consider
these in order.
Ritualistic Responsibilities Your ritualistic responsibilities
require that you be a complete master of our ritualistic work. As such, you
must be able to open and close your lodge on any degree; to confer all three
degrees in an accurate and impressive manner; to deliver all lectures and
charges; and to conduct the Masonic funeral service with reverence and
impressiveness. You may, of course, call upon any officer, Past Master, or
other qualified brother to take any part in the ritualistic work which you may
assign to him, either as a method of training your subordinate officers for
higher duties or as a means of putting more brethren to work. However, when
this is done, you remain entirely responsible for the quality of the
ritualistic work. Whatever portions of that work you may choose to delegate to
others, you should certainly be able to do yourself.
To attain ritualistic proficiency, you should attend one or more of
the Schools of Instruction conducted by the Grand Lecturer, or one of his
assistants, and should also require the attendance of your officers and of all
others taking part in the work. You should then hold frequent rehearsals to
ensure that the officers of your lodge are ready for any work which may
present itself. If no candidates are available, you should exemplify all three
degrees both for the instruction of your officers and for the benefit of your
members. The ritual is the very heart of Masonry, and we all need to refresh
our memories of its teachings at frequent intervals.
Needless to say, you must enforce the Grand Lodge edict on dignity
and decorum in the ritualistic work. For this, you are always responsible,
whether the work be done by your own officers, by visitors, or by a so-called
degree team. You cannot escape this responsibility. Any brother who introduces
levity or horseplay into any Masonic degree is thereby demonstrating his own
ignorance of Masonry, and any Master who tolerates such conduct in his lodge
is thereby demonstrating his own unfitness for office.
Of course, you have probably attained reasonable proficiency in our
ritualistic work long before you were elevated to the Oriental Chair.
Ritualistic proficiency cannot be attained overnight. Now, however, you should
perfect yourself in all details of the work, and should constantly practice to
improve your rendition and delivery.
Administrative Responsibilities Your administrative
responsibilities are numerous and important. A successful Master must be a
good executive, a good organizer, and a good leader of men. He must be able to
inspire others and to win their loyalty, cooperation and support. Without
this, he cannot achieve success. Accordingly, at the beginning of your term,
you should hold an officers' conference, outline your program, tell your
officers what you expect of them, and solicit their support. Such conferences
may be repeated as necessary.
To help you in the administrative details of your office, the
following suggestions are offered for your consideration:
1. You should always open your lodge promptly at the hour specified
in your By-Laws. Nothing discourages attendance more than a late start, a
dragged-out meeting, and a resultant late closing. If your officers know that
you mean to start on time, they will soon get into the habit of being there
when the gavel falls. If they are uncertain as to just when you plan to open,
they have little incentive to be there on time.
2. Immediately after opening, you should always extend a courteous
welcome to any visitors who may happen to be present.
If any brother is visiting your lodge for the first time, he should be
presented at the altar and formally introduced to the brethren. He will
appreciate this courtesy, and will be encouraged to come again. If the seating
facilities of your hall permit, you should invite your own and visiting Past
Masters to occupy seats in the East. While they may prefer to remain on the
side lines, they will appreciate this recognition. Of course, if any Grand
Lodge officer or Permanent Member is visiting your lodge, he should be
formally presented and accorded the appropriate grand honors. If you have such
a Grand Lodge officer or Permanent Member in your own lodge, you should accord
him the grand honors on the occasion of his first attendance at lodge in your
administration. Thereafter, these need not be repeated except on occasions of
ceremony or when a senior Grand Lodge officer is present.
3. Routine business should always be transacted in an expeditious
manner. A few minutes spent with the secretary before the meeting will ensure
a smoother presentation of such business.
4. As Master, you should be a careful steward of your lodge's money.
Whether or not you have a budget committee, you can tell approximately what
your income will be and what it will cost to run your lodge. Every effort
should be made to keep expenses within income. Deficit spending is a sure road
to insolvency. If your lodge expenditures exceed your income, there are only
two solutions. Either you must increase your lodge dues or you must reduce
your expenditures. This is a problem which plagues many a Master. It can only
be solved by applying the principles of good business.
5. As Master, it is your duty to draw designs on the trestle board.
Well-planned programs are now essential. Our meetings are in competition with
many other attractions, and we must provide interesting and attractive
programs if we are to secure the attendance of our members. We cannot expect
our brethren to attend meetings merely to confirm the records and to pay the
current bills. Good meetings must be carefully planned in advance. They cannot
be left to chance.
A well-rounded program should include good degree work, educational
features, inspiration, entertainment and social fellowship.
(a) We have no control over the flow of candidates. One year, a
lodge may have little work, the next it may be very busy. If you are enjoying
a busy season, you can introduce a little variety into the degree work by
having a degree conferred by your own Past Masters, by a visiting lodge, by
visiting officers from several lodges, by one of the approved degree teams, or
by a special group of present and past Grand Lodge officers. Such events
usually help attendance.
(b) Educational and inspirational
programs will be more thoroughly discussed in that section of this Guide
dealing with your educational responsibilities to your lodge.
(c) There are many excellent programs of entertainment which have
worked well in other lodges. Many fine documentary films are available from
Masonic sources, Government agencies, transportation companies or industrial
corporations. Perhaps one of your own members has recently traveled overseas,
and has slides which he would be glad to show at lodge. Perhaps you have
talent among your own members, brethren who can sing, play some musical
instrument, recite, do tricks, or tell humorous stories. If so, put them to
work. At open meetings, you might also utilize the talents of your members'
wives and children. Either in lodge or at an open meeting, you might have
non-political talks on subjects of current interest, such as public health,
conservation, sports, law enforcement, highway safety, education, youth
problems, civil defense, civic responsibility, patriotism and national
defense. The work of DeMolay or Rainbow always provides a pleasant evening.
(d) Do not overlook the possibilities of such social events as
ladies nights, family picnics, father and son nights, father and daughter
nights, cultural evenings, or special programs open to invited non-Masons.
Either in lodge or at open meetings, you might honor the members of
some particular profession, such as public officials, judges, lawyers,
clergymen, physicians, educators, members of the Armed Forces or members of
the police and fire departments.
Anniversaries are important, 25th, 50th, 75th, 100th, 125th, 150th,
etc. Programs should be arranged well in advance and at the local level.
In planning any program, please remember that the Committee on
Masonic Education and Lodge Service is ready to help you.
6. A good executive knows how to use the abilities of others. As
Master, you should put your officers, Past Masters and members to work. You
should give them a definite job to do, and then see that they do it. Use them
as Committee members, candidate instructors, "Elder Brothers" for
your new members, program chairmen, workers on your special projects and as
contact men with sojourners in your community, and with those of your own
members who are sick, shut-in, elderly, in need of relief, delinquent or
disinterested. The number of committees you appoint will depend upon the
nature of your program and the local needs of your lodge. The more brethren
you can put to work, the greater interest you will generate and the healthier
your lodge will be.
7. Do not hesitate to use your unique powers as a presiding officer.
When necessary, use the gavel with firmness. Insist upon proper Masonic
courtesy in your lodge. Allow no improper and unfraternal language in debate.
Remember, it is your prerogative to convene your lodge at such times and for
such lawful purposes as you see fit; to appoint all committees; to rule on all
points of order; to initiate and close debate; to determine who shall be
permitted to enter and leave your lodge; and to close that lodge at your will
and pleasure. From your decisions, there can be no appeal to the lodge. And no
motion to adjourn is ever in order.
8. As Master, you should maintain the most intimate and cordial
relations with your Secretary. A good Secretary is one of the most valuable
assets a lodge can have. As secretaries usually hold office for many years,
that officer is very likely to have all details of lodge administration at his
finger-tips, and to know exactly how to find the Masonic law on any question.
While you, as Master, are legally responsible that the Secretary's duties are
properly performed, you are very likely to find him your greatest Source of
assistance in your own administrative responsibilities. You should also work
closely with the other administrative officers of your lodge, such as the
Treasurer, Finance Committee, and Trustees, if such officers are a part of
your lodge set-up. Know their duties, responsibilities and problems. Let them
know that their services are appreciated.
Educational Responsibilities Your educational responsibilities are
vitally important. They are three in number, the first being for the proper
Masonic education of the candidate, the second for the education of your lodge
officers in their respective duties, and the third for the presentation of
educational programs appealing to your entire membership.
1. Nothing in Masonry is more important than the proper Masonic
education of the candidate. On our success in this field depends the whole
future of our Institution, for the candidates we raise today will be the
Masonic leaders of tomorrow. If we succeed, our candidates will become loyal
and devoted Masons. If we fail, they will soon be dropped for non-payment of
dues.
Your responsibility for the education of the candidate begins as
soon as he is elected to receive the degrees. Prior to his initiation, you
must see that he is properly presented with our official Candidate Booklet
Number One. This booklet introduces him to the true nature of our Fraternity,
and prepares his mind for the solemn ceremony of initiation.
Your next duty is to see that the candidate is initiated, passed and
raised in an accurate, dignified and impressive manner, in strict accordance
with the official ritual of the Grand Lodge of Maine. The ritual is the basis
of all Masonic instruction. By it, the candidate learns the fundamental
principles and teachings of our ancient Craft. By it, he learns those signs,
grips and words which enable him to prove himself a Mason. In conferring the
degrees, you must be careful to convince the candidate of your own sincerity,
and to make him feel that you really believe the solemn truths which you are
imparting to him.
Our laws require that each candidate memorize a certain portion of
the ritualistic work in each degree, and pass a satisfactory examination
thereon. As Master, it is your duty to see that each candidate is properly
coached, and is examined in all degrees, including that of Master Mason.
To supplement the ritualistic education of the candidate, our Grand
Lodge has adapted an official non-ritualistic program of candidate
instruction, commonly known as the Pollard Plan. This program is based on
four candidate booklets, one of which is presented to the candidate prior to
his initiation, the others after his reception of each degree. These booklets
should be read and studied under the supervision of a qualified instructor,
who makes sure that they are understood, and who, when necessary, explains
them to the candidate.
As Master, it is your duty to see that full and effective use is
made of this program. You may act as your own instructor, or you may appoint
one or more competent brethren as such, depending on the number of candidates
in your lodge. These instructors may or may not be the same brethren who coach
the candidate in his ritualistic lessons. The program is flexible, to meet the
needs of any lodge. Each Master, however, is personally responsible for its
effective use in his lodge. The booklets are furnished free by the Grand
Lodge, and their use is mandatory. As a suggestion, some of your Past Masters
should make excellent candidate instructors.
The program also calls for the appointment of an "Elder
Brother" for each newly raised member. This Elder Brother may well be one
of those who signed the candidate's application, a blood relative, a close
personal friend, a near neighbor, or a fellow-employee or business associate.
If none of these are available, you can always detail one of your junior
officers for this job. The duties of an Elder Brother are very simple. All he
has to do is to show a personal interest in the new member, to remind him of
all meetings and to urge him to attend, to make him feel wanted and at home in
lodge, to see that he is introduced to the brethren, to help him get
acquainted with the usage's and customs of the lodge, to encourage him to
visit neighboring lodges, furnishing transportation when necessary, and to
take him along when attending Schools of Instruction, Area and District
Meetings, and similar important functions. In this way, the new member will be
aided in forming good Masonic habits during his first vital year of
membership. If faithfully used, this program will benefit your lodge in two
ways, by making better Masons out of your new members and by putting some of
your older members to work. It should certainly help attendance. As Master, it
is your duty to find suitable Elder Brothers, and to convince these brethren
of the value and importance of their job.
2. Your second educational responsibility is to supervise the
training of your officers. You must see that each officer is proficient in his
ritualistic part, that the floor work is done with snap and precision, and
that each officer understands the duties peculiar to his office.
For instance, the junior Deacon and Stewards must be instructed in
their important duty of preparing the candidate; the Senior Deacon in the
arrangement of the lights, the art of conducting the candidate, and the proper
method of introducing visitors; the Senior Warden in the proper instruction
and examination of the candidate; and the Marshal in the formation and conduct
of Masonic processions. You must also see that those who assist in the second
section of the third degree are thoroughly instructed in their important
duties and are proficient in the words of ritual which they are supposed to
speak. If possible, these assistants should be required to attend one of the
Grand Lecturer's Schools of Instruction. You should always encourage your
officers to learn the lectures of the several degrees, and to prepare
themselves for promotion to higher Masonic office.
3. Your third educational responsibility is to include educational
and inspirational features in your over-all program for the year. This can
easily be done by availing yourself of the services offered by our Speakers
Bureau. This Bureau includes all Past Grand Masters, all present Grand
Chaplains, and many other able and well-informed brethren. They are prepared
to address your lodge on a wide variety of subjects, such as Masonic history,
symbolism, and philosophy, the story of Freemasonry in foreign countries, the
biographies of famous Masons, the story of the persecutions which our Craft
has suffered and survived, the administration of Masonic justice, the correct
relationship between Freemasonry and the Church, the administration of Masonic
charity, and the part which Masons have played in the constitutional,
political, military and economic history of our Country. For an evening of
faith and inspiration, why not call upon one of our beloved Grand Chaplains
for an address?
Through the Masonic Service Association, several filmed addresses by
outstanding Masonic leaders are available. Films of the Washington Memorial
may also be obtained. For a quiet evening with your own members, you might
well read, or have read, extracts from our Grand Lodge Proceedings, such as
portions of the Grand Master's address and of the Correspondence Report. Your
lodge regularly receives the monthly "Short Talk Bulletins"
published by the M.S.A. Some of these are very good. They are meant to be read
in lodge, and this practice is to be commended. You might also have one of
your own members review one of the excellent Digests published by the M.S.A.,
or prepare and present a paper of his own.
Several of our national holidays are particularly suitable for the
presentation of Masonic programs, such as Washington's Birthday in February,
Patriot's Day in April, Law Day, Armed Forces Day and Memorial Day in May,
Flag Day in June, Independence Day in July, Constitution Week in September,
and Veterans' Day in November. All of these holidays have an especial Masonic
significance. Of course, our own Masonic festivals, St. John the Baptist's Day
in June and St. John the Evangelist's Day in December, are always good
occasions for inspirational addresses.
Of course, no Master could ever use all of these suggestions in a
single term. After all, there are only twelve months in the year. We again
remind you that the Committee on Masonic Education and Lodge Service stands
ready to help you at any time.
Miscellaneous Responsibilities
Your miscellaneous responsibilities are numerous, and include
some of the most important duties of your office. In view of their importance,
these will be discussed under separate headings.
(1) The Investigation of Applicants
As Master, it is your duty to appoint the committee charged with
this important task. You should be careful to pick the right men for this job,
and should impress them with the serious nature of their responsibility. They
are the guardians of our portals, whose duty it is to see that no unworthy
person is ever admitted to our ranks. Under present-day conditions, when
people are continually moving from one locality to another, their duties are
particularly difficult and important.
First of all, they must make sure that the applicant is actually
within the jurisdiction of your lodge. Then they should conduct a searching
investigation as to his character and fitness to become a Mason. They should
look into his background, his past life, his professional or business
standing, his reputation for honesty and reliability, his religious
affiliations, if any, his marital status, his associates, his interests, his
habits and his tastes. They should determine whether or not he is
intellectually and spiritually capable of understanding and appreciating the
teachings of our Fraternity. If possible, they should visit his home and
ascertain his wife's attitude in regard to his becoming a Mason. So far as is
humanly possible, they should attempt to discover his motive for wishing to
join our ranks. They should determine whether or not he is financially able to
meet his Masonic obligations.
Once their investigation is completed, they should make an honest
and fearless report to the lodge. Only if they are convinced that the
applicant is worthy and well qualified, and that, if accepted, he will prove
to be an asset rather than a liability to your lodge, should their report be
favorable. It is not enough that an applicant has managed to keep out of jail.
He should have positive qualities to recommend him. Masonry is a select
society, and Masonic membership is a distinct honor, which should not lightly
be conferred. As Master, it is your duty to see that this committee, like all
committees, functions in a proper manner.
(a) Masonic charity includes far more than financial relief for the
indigent. Every act of fraternal kindness, every giving of one's self to the
assistance of a brother, his widow or orphans, every manifestation of
brotherly love and thoughtfulness, is, in truth, an act of Masonic Charity.
Whenever a Mason assists some sick or disabled brother in getting in his wood,
harvesting his crops or repairing his property; whenever he shovels the walk,
mows the lawn, or puts on the double windows for some Mason's widow; whenever
he visits a sick, shut-in or elderly brother, and takes time to listen to his
reminiscences and complaints; whenever he furnishes transportation for some
brother or widow without a car of their own; whenever he gives professional or
business advice to a bewildered widow; whenever he writes a cheerful letter to
some brother in the Armed Forces or otherwise away from home; whenever he
sends a birthday or Christmas card to some aged or lonely person; whenever he
runs an errand for a sick brother or his family; or whenever he shows a
fraternal interest in anther's welfare, such a Mason is fulfilling his
charitable obligations. The recipient of such charity need not be indigent. He
may be rich in this world's goods and still need the helping hand and
thoughtful attention of a brother.
(b) As Master, you should be assiduous in visiting the sick. Whether
you do this in person or through a committee, it is your responsibility to see
that it is done. As soon as you learn that one of your members is sick, either
at home or in the hospital, you should call to inquire as to his condition, to
cheer him up if possible, and to find out if there is any way in which the
lodge can be of help. This visit should be repeated as often as necessary.
Even if the brother himself is too sick to appreciate your visit, your
interest will certainly be appreciated by his family. If no such interest is
shown, it is equally certain to be noticed and to result in unfavorable
comment. We cannot afford to have it said: "He was a Mason for more than
forty years, but when he was sick the Masons never came near him."
If your brother is a patient at the U.S. Veterans Hospital at Togus,
you should immediately notify the M.S.A. Hospital Visitor at that station. He
is there to serve your and our hospitalized brethren.
On your rounds, do not overlook the chronically ill, shut-in or aged
members of your lodge. Although not actually sick, they may well be lonely and
discouraged, and might appreciate a visit from the Master of their lodge. This
is particularly true when they are confined to a nursing home or similar
institution. A visit to such brethren is a real act of Masonic Charity. It
would also be a courteous gesture if you should visit any ailing or aged
sojourners in your community, and notify their home lodges of your visit and
of their condition. If there is serious illness in a brother's family, a visit
from the Master might also be in order. While sitting up with the sick is not
as common as it used to be, an occasion might arise in which such a service by
members of your lodge would be most helpful and appreciated.
(c) The Maine Masonic Blood Bank program is an
excellent example of practical Masonic Charity at work. One cannot give a more
intimate or personal gift than his own blood. The success of our program
depends on the active participation of our Brethren, their families, and
friends. As Master, it is your responsibility to appoint a dynamic and
dedicated Lodge Blood Bank Chairman, and support him in his efforts. Our
experience has been that a permanent Chairman works better than leaving the
job to a particular office which changes periodically. The Maine Masonic Blood
Bank program is working closely with the Northeast Regional Red Cross Blood
Program, Maine's blood supplier. It is equally as important that your Chairman
work closely with the District Chairman and the Grand, Lodge Committee on
Masonic Blood Bank. Through the facilities of this Committee, blood can be
readily transferred to another jurisdiction for someone needing transfusion
(s) . Your Lodge Chairman should maintain records of participation so that
members may receive appropriate donor awards from our Grand Lodge. Detailed
program instructions are available in the Maine Masonic Blood Bank Handbook.
(d) When any member of your lodge is having a hard time because of
sickness, accident, fire or unemployment, it is a thoughtful and fraternal
gesture to remit his dues before he becomes delinquent. As Master, you should
keep your eyes and ears open to learn of cases where such an act of charity
might be in order. Your lodge would undoubtedly follow your recommendations on
such a case. It is only a little thing, but it may mean a great deal to the
brother concerned.
(e) Inevitably, of course, some worthy brother in your lodge, or the
widow or orphan of such a brother, will require financial relief at the hands
of his Masonic brethren. In the olden days, relief was often an individual
affair, one brother helping another. Today, appeals for relief are usually
directed to the lodge. As Master, you should see that such appeals are
promptly investigated. If your lodge has a Charity Fund of its own, with money
available for distribution, you have only to vote such a sum as may be needed.
If you have no charity fund, it may be necessary to pass the hat, to get up a
paper among your members, or to make a grant from your general fund. In any
event, your lodge should do something itself, as an evidence of good faith,
before appealing to the Grand Lodge for assistance.
When your own lodge has done all that it can to meet the need, you
are then free to call upon the Grand Lodge Charity Fund. As Master, you are
responsible that the prescribed application form is properly filled out and
executed. All questions contained therein should be answered in full. The
Grand Lodge Committee on Distribution needs this information in order to make
an intelligent decision as to the amount needed in each case. Applications may
be made at any time, but a new application must be made for each Masonic year.
When a Grand Lodge grant is made, it is disbursed through the local
lodge, either the Master or Secretary usually acting as almoner. Each case, of
course, has its own problems, which must be decided by the responsible lodge
officers.
(f) Attention is invited to Section 62 of the Grand Lodge
Constitution, which prescribes who may receive relief from the Charitable
Foundation of the Grand Lodge. You are also reminded that lodge charity funds
can be used only for the purposes of Masonic charity and for the DeMolay and
Pine Tree Youth Foundation.
It is the duty of your lodge to conduct a Masonic funeral service,
when such a service has been requested by a deceased brother or by his family.
As Master, you are responsible that this service is conducted in a reverent,
dignified and impressive manner, so as to merit the commendation of all who
witness it. This is one of the few occasions when the Masonic Fraternity
appears in public, and the importance of making a good impression at such a
time cannot be over emphasized.
Our Maine regulations in regard to Masonic funerals, together with
our two optional services and our provision for military honors, are fully and
clearly set forth in Chapter IX of the "Maine Masonic Text Book". As
you never know when your lodge may be called upon to conduct a funeral, you
should immediately familiarize yourself with this chapter, and should prepare
yourself and your officers to conduct either of our services in a creditable
manner.
You should also establish a good working relationship with the
funeral directors in your community. These gentlemen can be of great
assistance to you, particularly if they are members of our Fraternity. They
can advise you on many important details, can assist you in your contacts with
the family, and can help you in your arrangements with the officiating
clergyman.
If the hours and nature of your own employment make it uncertain as
to whether or not you will be able to conduct all Masonic funerals in person,
you should make sure that a substitute group of officers is always ready to
perform this duty, and that the services are frequently rehearsed. Every lodge
has some retired or independent Past Masters who would be willing and honored
to take the speaking parts in this service. Of course, if you can conduct the
services yourself, so much the better.
Upon being notified of the death of a brother, you should
immediately call upon the family, in your official capacity as Master of the
lodge, express your sorrow and sympathy, and offer the help of the lodge in
any way that may be desired. The undertaker will suggest the best time for
making this call, and may even accompany you when you make it. This would be a
real help to you, as details could be arranged on the spot. Unless the brother
himself has requested a Masonic funeral, do not attempt to influence the
family in making their decision as to whether or not such a service is
desired.
If a Masonic service is requested, you can explain the three
possible forms in which such a service may be conducted, and ascertain which
form is preferred. These are:
(a) A memorial service conducted on the evening preceding the
funeral.
(b) A Masonic funeral service following the religious service at the
Church, home or funeral parlor, with a brief committal service at the grave.
(c) A Masonic funeral service conducted at the
graveside.
The time of year, the location of the service, and local custom may
influence the decision on this matter. Here, again, the undertaker's advice
will be most helpful. Bear in mind that it is optional whether the old service
or the new Memorial Service be used.
You must next, again in company with the undertaker, if possible,
meet with the minister who is to conduct the funeral, and go over the service
with him. If the minister is himself a Mason, or if he is one who works
harmoniously with the Craft, you will have no difficulty. On the other hand,
if the clergyman is one who resents any other service than that conducted by
himself, you must be extremely tactful and diplomatic in your dealings with
him. You must explain to him that the Masonic service has been requested by
the deceased or his family, and that it has not been urged upon them by the
lodge. You must also explain that the Masonic service is in no way intended as
a substitute for or duplication of the religious service, but merely as a
time-honored token of respect to a departed brother, and as a public testimony
to Freemasonry's belief in the immortality of the soul. You may invite him to
give the final committal prayer at the grave. Such an invitation is entirely
within your authority as Master, and such an invitation will usually satisfy
the professional ego of any clergyman. The last word at the grave is what such
clergymen regard as most important.
If military honors are to be accorded, the undertaker will make the
necessary arrangements with the military unit or veterans organization
concerned effort should be made to straighten out the misunderstanding and to
win the brother back to his lodge. If the brother has merely lost interest and
has become indifferent to Masonry, an attempt should be made to sell him anew
on the value of his Masonic membership, and to convince him that he should not
lightly throw away the investment of time and money which he has already made.
We cannot solicit new members, but we can certainly do everything in our power
to keep the members we already have.
Of course, if the brother insists upon taking a dimit, there is
nothing we can do but grant it. And if one who is able to pay his dues refuses
to meet this obligation, we will be forced to suspend him. But an honest
attempt should be made, through personal contact with the brother concerned,
to prevent either of these things from happening.
Prior to the service, you and your Marshal should go over the ground
to be covered by any procession, and you should also inspect the physical
lay-out at the Church, home or funeral parlor, as well as at the cemetery,
making sure that there is room for the proper officers to take their places
about the casket. You and your Chaplain, or whoever is to take these speaking
parts, should rehearse the service to be used over and over again. Of course,
every effort should be made to ensure a good attendance.
On the day of the funeral, the lodge should arrive about ten minutes
before the service is to begin. Seating arrangements and the coaching of pall
bearers are the responsibility of the undertaker. When the time comes for the
Masonic service to begin, the proper officers should take their places in a
solemn, dignified and unhurried manner. The service itself should be conducted
with the utmost solemnity. Speak slowly, clearly, distinctly and with feeling.
This is particularly important when the service is held out-of-doors, in a
large Church or in a cut-up apartment, with mourners in several different
rooms. Do not mumble, do not lose your place, and do not hurry. The Master
deposits the evergreen during the service, the brethren as they leave, each
pointing to Heaven.
About ten days after the funeral, you should again call upon the
family, and find out if the lodge can be of any further assistance.
Of course, if the deceased was a Grand Lodge officer or Permanent
Member, you should immediately notify the Grand Secretary as soon as you learn
of his death.
( 4 ) Dimits and Suspensions
No dimit should be granted, except for the purpose of affiliating
with another lodge, and no brother should be suspended for non-payment of
dues, until a careful investigation has been made into the reasons which
prompt one brother to withdraw voluntarily from his lodge and which lead
another to allow himself to be subject to suspension. This investigation you
may make yourself, or you may delegate the delicate duty to some close friend,
associate or near neighbor of the brother concerned. But an investigation
should be made.
If the trouble is purely financial, and if the brother still has a
love of Masonry in his heart, the answer is remission of dues rather than
either dismissal or suspension. If the brother has been hurt in any way and is
angry at the lodge, every effort should be made to straighten out the
misunderstanding and to win the brother back to his lodge. If the brother has
merely lost interest and has become indifferent to Masonry, an attempt should
be made to sell him anew on the value of his Masonic membership, and to
convince him that he should not lightly throw away the investment of time and
money which he has already made. We cannot solicit new members, but we can
certainly do everything in our power to keep the members we already have.
Of course, if the brother insists upon taking a dimit, there is
nothing we can do but grant it. And if one who is able to pay his dues refuses
to meet this obligation, we will be forced to suspend him. But an honest
attempt should be made, through personal contact with the brother concerned,
to prevent either of these things from happening.
(5) Masonic Justice
Experience teaches us that Masons do not always live up to their
Masonic obligations or obey the law of the land. In such cases, disciplinary
action becomes necessary. Our Maine Masonic law in regard to Masonic offenses
and their punishment is fully and clearly explained in Chapter XVIII of the
"Maine Masonic Text Book". As Master, you should be familiar with
this chapter, so that, if the need should arise, proceedings in your lodge may
be conducted in strict accordance with our law on this subject.
(6) Other Organizations
As Master, you have certain responsibilities towards other
recognized Masonic bodies in your community, as well as towards those
affiliated groups which are permitted to meet in our Masonic Temples, such as
the Order of the Eastern Star, the Order of DeMolay, and the Order of Rainbow
for Girls. As Master, you should maintain a cordial fraternal relationship
with the heads of these several bodies. You should always be ready to
cooperate with them, should attempt to understand their problems, and should
be considerate in arranging your own schedule of events so as not to conflict
with events which they have already planned. Courtesy and consideration
towards the O.E.S. usually pays off in the loyal and devoted service rendered
to your lodge by the ladies.
Maine lodges are now permitted to sponsor chapters of the Order of
DeMolay. This is a most worth-while and rewarding activity, at once a
community service and a help to our own sons, grandsons and nephews at a most
critical time in their lives. If any members of your lodge are really
interested in boys, and are able and willing to devote the necessary time and
energy to this project, your lodge should certainly consider the sponsorship
of such a group. The success of DeMolay, like the success of any other youth
organization, depends almost entirely upon the quality of the adult leadership
furnished. Poor leadership is worse than no leadership at all. If good
leadership is available in your lodge, you, as Master, should certainly
encourage this project.
Your attention is directed to the provisions of Standing Regulation
No. 2. As Master, you are responsible that a Lodge Historian is appointed,
that the lodge history is properly written up each year, and that, when due,
it is submitted to Grand Lodge as required by this regulation.
(8) Anniversaries
As Master, it is your duty to see that significant anniversaries in
the history of your lodge and in the lives of its members are fittingly
observed. No lodge would fail to celebrate its centennial, but there are many
other anniversaries worthy of commemoration, around which an interesting
program can be built. Read your lodge history. In it you will find many
interesting events, probably unknown to your present members, which are worthy
of being called to their attention.
Honor your members of the past. Today, as our Country celebrates the
Centennial of the American Civil War, you might well honor those of your own
members who took part in that mighty conflict. Perhaps some of your members
have held high political, judicial or military offices. Perhaps some of them
have achieved distinction in their chosen professions. Perhaps some have
attained high rank in the Masonic Fraternity. You can always honor these
brethren by the anniversary of some event connected with their lives.
Do not overlook important anniversaries in the lives of your present
members. Whenever a brother receives a twenty-five year button, a forty-year
button, a fifty-year Veterans' Medal, or an additional service star, this
event should be made one which the recipient will never forget. Honor the
silver jubilees of your Past Masters. And remember that your older members
will greatly appreciate having their birthdays and wedding anniversaries
noticed by their lodge.
Incidentally, such events are all newsworthy, which brings us to the
final item in this list of your miscellaneous responsibilities, which is
Freemasonry has never sought publicity in the past, and it does not
seek it today. The Fraternity does not need to advertise its wares, and does
not desire to publicize its benevolence and good works. However, whether we
like it or not, many of our lodge activities, as well as the doings of our
individual members, are newsworthy, and are certain to be mentioned in the
public press. This was true in the eighteenth century, and it is true today.
This being so, it is only common sense for us to see that our activities are
accurately reported, and presented in such a manner as to be a credit to the
Fraternity. As Master, it is your responsibility to see that this is done. If
you have a trained newspaper man among your members, put him to work. If no
such brother is available, give the job to someone who can, at least, make
proper use of the English language. Whoever has this assignment must remember
that news is only news just before the event occurs or immediately after it
has taken place.
Whenever your lodge celebrates a significant anniversary in its
history, dedicates a new hall, installs a new slate of officers, receives a
visit from the Grand Master, acts as host to an Area or District Meeting,
hears a distinguished speaker, holds a ladies night or family picnic, receives
a Grand Lodge citation, honors its Past Masters, attends Church in a body,
awards twenty-five year buttons, forty-year buttons or Veterans' Medals, is
host to a School of Instruction, entertains a visiting lodge or degree team,
awards blood donor pins, makes improvements in its property, conducts a
Masonic funeral, visits another lodge, is inspected by the District Deputy
Grand Master, enjoys a particularly fine banquet, holds an open meeting,
presents an educational or cultural program, or sponsors a new DeMolay
Chapter, such events have a definite news value, and should be promptly and
correctly reported to your state and local newspapers. If you have any event
which merits particular notice and in the reporting of which you feel the need
of professional assistance, you should consult the Grand Master's Special
Advisory Committee on Public Relations, which will be glad to advise and to
assist you.
While on this subject, it is also your duty as Master to see that
items of interest concerning your lodge are made available to the editor of
the "Maine Mason," the official publication of the Grand Lodge of
Maine. Unless you report the activities of your lodge, you cannot expect to
have them mentioned.
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As Master of a Masonic lodge, you have certain responsibilities to
the community in which that lodge is located. Your first responsibility is
personal, to live in such a way as to bring no discredit upon the Fraternity
you represent. The profane world, in general, has a high opinion of
Freemasonry, and expects a little higher standard of conduct from Freemasons
than from the general run of mankind. As Master, you should do nothing to
disappoint this expectation, and should seta good example for your brethren.
A Masonic lodge, as such, takes little or no part in the public
affairs of the community. Yet, through the activities of its individual
members, it may well be the most influential organization in town. It takes no
part in politics, yet its membership may include the political leaders of the
community. It is completely non-sectarian, yet its membership may include the
spiritual leaders and leading laymen in the local churches. It sponsors no
community projects, as do the service clubs, yet its members may be the
driving force behind all such projects. As its funds are restricted to Masonic
purposes, it contributes to no fund-raising campaigns, yet its members may
include the largest contributors to such campaigns. Masonry has always made
its impact upon history through the individual accomplishments of its members.
As Master, you should work hard for those community activities in which you
believe, and should encourage all of your members to do likewise.
You should always maintain contact with your municipal authorities,
and let them know that the members of your organization are interested in the
betterment of the community. Despite all restrictions, there may be instances
in which the lodge can make a direct contribution to civic welfare. Perhaps
you have a good parking lot. This can be opened to the general public when not
required for Masonic use. Perhaps you have a large and attractive dining room,
which might be made available for community functions not inconsistent with
Masonic principles. It might, for instance, be used for a flower show,
conducted by the garden club, for a P.T.A. exhibit, as the temporary meeting
place of a Boy Scout Troop or of a religious congregation whose church was
undergoing repairs, for a food sale to aid the library, as an emergency or
overflow classroom, or for a public supper to assist some local family
stricken by disaster. It could not, however, be used for a political rally or
for a beano game, no matter how worthy the cause. If your building has
facilities for feeding or housing the victims of a community disaster, you
might place it at the disposal of the local Civil Defense officials. The lodge
room itself should never be used for such purposes.
As Master, you should make the acquaintance of all ministers in your
community, as you never know when you will have to work with them at the
funeral of a departed brother. Needless to say, you should attend the church
of your choice with regularity, and should encourage church attendance by all
members of your lodge. Freemasonry and the Church are natural allies, working
together, each in its own proper sphere, toward a common objective-the
development of human character, the improvement of human morals, and the
betterment of human society. In your conversation with non-Masonic clergymen,
you should stress the fact that, while Freemasonry is deeply religious, it is
neither a church nor a substitute for the Church, and that its members are
often numbered among the most active workers in their respective
denominations. On suitable occasions, your lodge should attend church in a
body, thus demonstrating to the profane world that Freemasonry, as an
institution, respects and supports the Church.
A Masonic lodge can appear in public, without a dispensation from
the Grand Master, only for the purpose of conducting a Masonic funeral or for
the purpose of attending Divine Worship. If your lodge desires to make any
other public appearance or to participate in any civic celebration, you must
obtain permission from the Grand Master. The nature and extent of any
participation authorized will depend upon the character of the observance and
the judgment of the Grand Master.
Masonic funds can be used only for Masonic purposes. Every year,
your lodge will receive a number of letters soliciting financial support for
various worthy causes. Even though your lodge cannot make the requested
contribution, such letters should always receive a courteous answer. The
writer should be advised of the restriction on the use of Masonic funds but
should be reminded that individual Masons have probably contributed and that
the matter has again been brought to their attention. If either you or your
Secretary believe in the value of the charity concerned, you might enclose
your personal contributions. And, if you so desire, a free-will contribution
may be taken up among your members. But lodge funds cannot be diverted.
As Master, you should make the acquaintance of your local newspaper
editor, and should supply him regularly with items of interest concerning your
lodge. Let your fellow citizens know that your lodge is alive, and that it is
making a worthwhile contribution to the life of your community.
Finally, it is your responsibility to see that your lodge premises
are kept in such a condition as to be a credit both to the lodge and to the
community in which it is located.
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AppendiCES
Appendix A: How to Find the Law
The Grand Lodge of Maine has made it very easy for any Mason to find
the Masonic law on any given subject. An exhaustive Digest, covering every
conceivable subject and all sources of Masonic law, appears in both the
official Book of Constitutions and in the "Maine Masonic Text Book".
Subjects in this Digest are arranged alphabetically, beginning with
"Accusation" and ending with "Work". Under each subject,
reference is made to the section of the Grand Lodge Constitution, the number
of the Standing Regulation, or the page and year of the Grand Lodge
Proceedings where the law on that subject may be found. For instance, suppose
that you wished to know the Grand Lodge requirements regarding the preparation
of lodge histories. You would look under "History" in the Digest,
where you would be referred to Standing Regulation No. 2, in which you would
find the information you desired. A like procedure will give you the answer to
a great majority of questions.
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Appendix B : A List of Reports,
Returns and Remittances Required by Grand Lodge
Returns
Annual Returns consist of two copies of forms titled
"Return", one copy of the form titled "Abstract for the Grand
Treasurer" together with a check or money order made payable to
"Grand Lodge of Maine, A.F. & A.M." for the amount of dues,
assessments and insurance premiums as calculated in the return and abstract
forms.
The forms are forwarded to the Lodge Secretary on December 1st, each
year. If they are not received, contact the Grand Secretary so that additional
forms may be sent.
Returns are made out on the calendar year basis, January 1 to
December 31. (See Sections 84 and 85 Constitution). Penalties, by necessity,
are imposed after February 1st.
In reporting work performed on candidates, full names, addresses,
dates of birth and degrees are very important. Accurate and complete mailing
addresses for Officers are required. Dates and places of deaths are needed so
that Grand Lodge records may be accurately kept.
Be extremely careful in figuring the Grand Lodge Dues.
Cards for Reporting Lodge Officers
So that the Grand Lodge Office may have up-to date lists of Lodge
Officers, cards for such listings are sent to Lodge Secretaries just prior to
the Annual Communications. Care should be taken in listing the names of the
officers. Middle initials are important and "nicknames" should not
be used. Any change in officers, for any reason, should be reported to the
Grand Secretary promptly so as to keep his list current.
Treasurers' Reports
Lodge Treasurers' Reports must be sent to the Grand Secretary (not
to the Grand Treasurer) within ten (10) days following the Annual Meeting.
These reports should be recorded in the records of the Lodge. Forms are
furnished. See Grand Lodge Proceedings 1937, Page 303.
Diplomas
Grand Lodge furnishes diplomas without cost. Standard forms for
ordering are supplied. Care should be taken that each diploma be delivered to
the Brother for whom it was ordered, for no duplicate can be issued.
Diplomas should be ordered far enough in advance to enable the
Secretary to have them inscribed for delivery to the Brother when he receives
the Master Masons degree and signs the By-Laws.
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Appendix C: A List of Forms and Supplies
Available from the Grand Secretary's Office
Applications for Degrees Applications for Grand Lodge Charity Fund
Applications for Re-instatement after Suspension for N.P.D. Diplomas (Master
Mason) Diploma Certificates (Master Mason) Evening Memorial Service ( Booklet
) Examination of Visitors ( Sheet ) Fifty-year Veteran's Medals Fifty-year
Buttons (Lapel) Five-year stars for Veteran's Medals Form for By-law Revision
Approval Guide for Masters and Wardens Mailing List Change Order Pollard Plan
Booklets Pollard Plan Instructor's Booklet Proxy Forms Return Forms
For Sale
Applications for affiliation, waiver of jurisdiction Candidate
lesson sheets EA: FC: MM: Ciphers Constitution & Standing Regulations
Demit Blanks Dues Receipts books, Dues Notices Forty-year Buttons Grand Lodge
Certificates (traveling) Master's Book Maine Masonic Text Book
Official Forms-No. 2-5-6-7'
Orders on Treasurer Seals Twenty-five Year Buttons List of Masonic
Lodges (Tyler's book)
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Appendix D: A List of Books Helpful to Masters and
Wardens
The Maine Masonic Text Book
Grand Lodge Constitution, Standing Regulations & Decisions
The Master's Book The Builders, Newton
History of the Grand Lodge of Maine, Pollard
Introduction to Free Masonry, Claudy Masonic Harvest, Claudy Lodge
Methods, Blakemore
Freemasonry in the Thirteen Colonies, Tatsch
Facts for Freemasons, Voorhis George Washington, Freemason, Brown
The Beginnings of Freemasonry in North America, Johnson
Mackey's Encyclopedia of Freemasonry ( 2 volumes)
The Craft and Its Symbols, Roberts
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