more light #278
Intender
by Ed Halpaus
Grand Lodge Education Officer
Grand Lodge of A. F. & A. M. of Minnesota
The term “Intender” comes to us direct from the old operative Lodge of
Scotland. More than 119 years before the first Grand Lodge was formed the
Intender was an important official in the Lodges in Scotland, entrusted with the
instruction of new candidates. At that time the word “intend” meant: to stretch
out, extend, expand, increase , intensify. Therefore, the intender was a
faithful companion and teacher whose duty it was to stretch out, extend,
increase, and intensify the knowledge and understanding of the younger craftsman
in the Science of Freemasonry.
The Schaw Statutes, an elaborate code of organization first drawn up in 1598
by William Schaw, Master of Work and General Warden of the Masons of Scotland,
are found in the minutes of the Lodge of Edinburgh (Mary’s Chapel) No. 1. These
Statutes provided that an Intender be chosen by each new Fellowcraft, while the
Lodge of Aitchison’s Haven provided Intenders for both new Entered Apprentices
and new Fellowcrafts. In time the office of Intender became so important that
the youngest Master was chosen for this exacting service.
In recent decades the emphasis has been changing from merely producing Masons
proficient in the rituals to that of producing educated Masons—Masons who not
only love their ritual and know how to present it effectively, but who also have
an ample knowledge of the background, the aims, and the purposes of the
Fraternity. It is here that the Intender becomes an important factor in
developing an intelligent membership and a capable leadership to sustain and
advance Freemasonry throughout the coming ages.
The Intender Program has but one major objective; to teach the fundamentals
of Freemasonry to every candidate, so he may become a Master Mason in fact as
well as in name. It’s as simple as that!
Please note particularly the word fundamentals, for this Program does not go
beyond those elements which are basic to our Craft, i.e., the principles and
practices with which every Craftsman should be familiar if he is to bear with
honor the proud title of Master Mason. It is not the purpose of the Intender
Program to produce Masonic “scholars” or to give the candidate advanced Masonic
education. It seeks to have him understand the Masonic way of life, that he may
properly conduct himself as a Mason before his Brethren and before the world at
large
This Program supports the traditional maxim that the Fraternity has the
inherent right to insist that each of its votaries shall be well grounded in his
Masonic duties and responsibilities; and it also embraces the equally important
idea that he should understand clearly the Fraternity’s obligation to him.
If, during this process, there is ignited within the candidate that “spark”
which urges him to seek for more and more Masonic Light, and thus to become an
earnest and diligent student of Freemasonry, then the Program will have a plus
value for him and for the Fraternity, for among such Masons will be found the
future leaders of our Craft.
In this fast-moving age with its many demands on every man’s time and the
numerous opportunities afforded him for spare-time diversions, we find
Freemasonry in the position of competing for his attention. Failure to realize
this can only result in dues-paying members who never come to Lodge, receive no
positive benefit from their membership, and whose help to the Craft is limited.
It is necessary to capture the interest of the Candidate from the start, and
there is no better time to do so than when he is receiving the Degrees, and
immediately thereafter. This Program for Masonic Light will do much to arouse
the Candidate’s interest and increase his desire to take an active part in the
work of the Lodge. The use of this Program will make the Candidate a better
Mason and a permanent asset to Freemasonry and to the Community.
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