THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LODGES AND GRAND LODGES
We wish to thank Bro. A. W. Wood for allowing MSA to extract this Short
Talk Bulletin from a much larger paper (of the same title) delivered to United
Master's Lodge #l67 in July 1990. This is a Lodge of Masonic Research in
Auckland New Zealand. Bro. Wood is a past master and now secretary of the Lodge.
The relationship between constituent Lodges and their Grand Lodge is
extremely important. We hope this STB will help to clarify that relationship.
--editor
The first Grand Lodge was formed in London, shortly after the suppression of
the Jacobite rising in 1715. Anderson's New Book of Constitutions of 1738
records that a few lodges at London finding themselves neglected by Sir
Christopher Wren, thought fit to cement together under a Grand Master as the
Center of Union and Harmony, viz. (here follow details of the four lodges at the
Goose and Gridiron, Crown, Apple-Tree, and Rummer and Grapes).
They and some old Brothers met at the said Applerree, and having put into the
Chair the oldest Master Mason (now the Master of a Lodge) they constituted
themselves a GRAND LODGE pro Tempore in Due Form, and forthwith revived the
Quarterly Communication of the Officers of Lodges (call'd the Grand Lodge)
"resolv'd to hold the Annual ASSEMBLY and Feast, and then to chuse a GRAND
MASTER from among themselves, till they should have the Honour of a Noble
Brother at their Head."
The first meeting was held at the Goose and Gridiron Ale-house on 24 June,
1717, and Antony Sayer was elected and installed as Grand Master, before the
brethren proceeded to dinner. The Grand Master commanded that the Masters and
Wardens of lodges meet the Grand Officers every quarter in Communication. In
fact the Grand Lodge only met annually for the feast for several years.
Nevertheless, each meeting was called a Quarterly Communication, at whatever
interval it met, and the Grand Lodge of England still maintains a quarterly
Communication . The brethren who established the Grand Lodge claimed, or perhaps
it would be more accurate to say that Anderson reported that they claimed, to be
reviving the Grand Lodge. In his somewhat imaginative history of the Craft,
Anderson mentions several assemblies of masons, but there is no real evidence
that there had ever before been such a thing as a Grand Lodge. Probably they had
in mind the annual gatherings of the great London Companies, and wanted to
establish something similar for themselves.
These box societies, masonic or otherwise, usually admitted new members with
some form of ceremony, and had secret means of recognition. They met for social
occasions, and carried out at least some form of charitable work for their own
members. Most of them, like the guilds before them, were purely local in
character.
Masons from very early times had been accustomed to travel in search of work,
and to expect assistance from lodges wherever they found one. Dr. Robert Plot in
The Natural History of Stafford-shire written in 1686 mentions the peculiar
customs of the Masons, the fact that they had admission ceremonies and secret
means of recognition, and the right to claim assistance from brethren anywhere
in the country.
Whether the founding lodges revived or formed Grand Lodge, there can be no
doubt that they did not intend to establish an authoritarian body that would
undertake the government of the Craft. Had such a thought occurred to them, most
of them would almost certainly have voted against the proposal .
However the four founding lodges may have viewed the matter, it was
inevitable that when such a body existed, it should come to be regarded as the
head of the Craft. At first its jurisdiction was limited to the cities of London
and Westminster, a comparatively small area, but gradually it began to receive
requests for recognition from further afield. Probably the first sign of this
authority was in the formation of new lodges.
Modern Grand Lodges
What is the purpose of a Grand Lodge today? First and foremost it is an
organization that can guarantee the regularity of the lodges under its control.
Without the authority of the Grand Lodge, no mason traveling in another Grand
Jurisdiction could hope to be received into lodges in the course of his travels.
A primary function is diplomatic recognition. The necessary consequence of this
function is that the Grand Lodge must ensure that all of its lodges are
regularly formed and managed, and that they continue to adhere to the Ancient
Landmarks .
Few Grand Lodges have attempted to define these Landmarks. Masons would
probably differ in any list they might produce, but I doubt if many would have
difficulty in recognizing things which clearly transgress those Landmarks. In
case of doubt, Grand Lodge must decide whether a particular custom does or does
not conform to the Landmarks, and by so doing it prevents any small group from
taking over a lodge, and ensures that its Lodges remain regular, and therefore
acceptable to other Grand Lodges.
Another major function is in organizing and managing the charitable side of
the Craft. Charity has been a feature of Freemasonry from the very beginning of
its organized existence. What is now the Fund of Benevolence in England was
started under the name of the General Charity in 1727, and by 1731 all the
lodges which had accepted the government of the new Grand Lodge were already
paying into a central fund for the relief of poor masons and their families.
Masonic Homes, scholarship funds, hospitals, drug and alcohol abuse programs,
childhood illness clinics are all examples of charities handled at the Grand
Lodge level through Grand Lodge. In short, Grand Lodge administers the various
charities which masons subscribe to, which are not controlled by independent
boards.
Regular organized meetings of Grand Lodge are a feature of Masonry under all
jurisdictions, and have been from earliest times. Many masons are critical of
the Annual Communication as a waste of time and money. I believe that such
meetings, not only for the transaction of masonic business, but also for the
exchange of views and for social purposes are valuable, and help to strengthen
the fraternal bond.
The power to constitute a new lodge belongs to Grand Lodge, the function of
consecrating it is vested in the Grand Master.
Grand Lodge's legislative function is to pass laws for the good government of
the Craft, and in its executive capacity, to administer them. It also has power
to determine in its judicial capacity disputes over masonic matters, and to
discipline members who transgress the rules. This is no different from the
powers of any other club or society. In carrying out those functions, Grand
Lodge appoints Executive Boards, appoints and employs officers, maintains
records, and of necessity levies fees to pay for its work.
In the interests of reasonable uniformity, it lays down rules as to regalia,
and ritual, the way in which its lodges are governed, the term of office of the
Master, and the records the lodge must keep. All Grand Lodges have rules
covering most of those points. Some rules are matters of masonic tradition, some
are inserted, for example, because they provide a simple rule book for the
guidance of secretaries and treasurers, most of whom are not professional record
keepers.
Purpose of Craft Lodges:
The original purposes of lodges of non operative masons were to offer support
and encouragement in time of difficulty, to provide a vehicle for charity, and
to dispense financial help where needed, to encourage good principles, and to
meet the need of all men for congenial society. I do not think the purposes are
any different today.
There are many reasons why different men join, or remain in lodge, but I
think that there are several which all of us will recognize.
For most, the ritual is a continual source of joy. It is generally good, and
sometimes superb prose, something that today we are starved for. The Church no
longer supplies it, radio sometimes, and television and modern literature almost
never. Yet the appeal of good writing is revealed at any meeting in the
breathless hush when one of the great charges is well delivered, or the
injunction to charity, or the address to the Master at the Installation. (as
examples)
Where, today, does the average man receive any instruction in ethics and good
conduct? From the Church, if he attends, probably, from radio sometimes, but
from television and modern literature, with their emphasis on evil, degradation,
lust and violence, almost never. Contrary to what we are led to believe in the
press, television, and literature, the majority of people prefer good to evil,
seek to do the best they can, enjoy the beauty of the world, weep when they
must, and laugh when they can. Yet virtue does not spring full armed in the soul
of man. It is learned, as the prophet tells us, precept upon precept, line upon
line, here a little and there a little, and in that way Masonry leaves its
imprint on the souls of the men who listen to, and try to observe its precepts.
Another need for most is the opportunity to do something for others. I
believe that lodges should be putting more emphasis than they do on the
charitable work of the Craft.
We have not kept pace with the times, and much of the apathy that exists in
lodges is quite simply because we have drifted, and have not presented
worthwhile challenges to our brethren.
Like the societies from which we sprang, we should be careful to offer
comfort and support to our brethren and their families in time of trouble and
affliction. This is not the duty of the Almoner, in exoneration of the rest of
us, but a duty imposed by our membership in the Craft. Each of us should make
sure that we are aware of the troubles of our fellows, and ever ready to pour
the healing balm of consolation into the bosom of the afflicted, and to drop a
tear of sympathy over the failings of a brother.
At a different level, masonry is a means of self improvement. Most of us are
not orators, and all will remember the trepidation when first we raised our
voices at instruction. To learn to speak so that we are heard, to think on our
feet, and not be paralyzed by nerves when called upon to say a few words is
surely a worthwhile use of time.
Finally, all men need relaxation and social life. Why did masonry prosper in
the fifties and sixties? Surely because men enjoyed their masonry, and spoke
enthusiastically about it so that others wanted to join. Let us bring the fun
back into masonry. Let us enjoy the present time, without looking over our
shoulders at a vanished past, or dreading a future which may never come. If we
learn to make our gatherings pleasant and enjoyable social occasions, which we
remember and talk about with pleasure, it is just possible that the world will
once more seek to join us, because it is good and pleasant for brethren to dwell
together in unity.
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