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 Mafons."
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 I 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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