Masonic Etiquette

THE LODGE SYSTEM OF

MASONIC EDUCATION

Prepared by The Grand Lodge of Florida through

the Masonic Education Committee in cooperation

with the Committee on Work for use by

the Particular Lodges and their members

per Article IX, Section 2 (2) and Regulation 13.19 (4)

Revised

2010

Reprint

2010

GL208

The Lodge System of

Masonic Education

IMPORTANT

This Booklet is complete within itself and may be used by anyone for information

and enlightenment in Masonic Etiquette. Questions on Masonic Etiquette should be

referred to the proper Chairman, questions concerning ritual and ceremony should be

referred to the Committee on Work, all others should be referred to the Masonic

Education Committee.

MASONIC ETIQUETTE

FOREWORD

Freemasonry solicits no man to join it; it permits no man to make innovation in its body of principles

and Landmarks; its Candidates come of their own free will and because they have heard good

reports of its reputation and formed a favorable opinion of its work, and by all means throughout its

entire system, and through all its bodies and Degrees whatever, by tradition, Landmarks, usage,

custom, law, rule, Edict, Regulation, and Constitution, it is in every way secured that a Mason shall

stand to it in an attitude of reverence and respect. Of that reverence and respect, etiquette is one of

the forms.

In principle, Masonic Etiquette belongs to the empire of good manners, that code by which

gentlemen the world over govern their conduct; but this principle with us is found to apply in two

directions: on the one hand it becomes a manifested respect for the Craft as a whole; on the other

hand it is a form of courtesy to the individual.

Long ago Lodges of Freemasons discovered the grave necessity of decorum; among the Old Charges

to which every Candidate was required to acknowledge obedience, they gave the most prominent

place to the sections under the general head of “Behaviour.” Among the oldest of our records, the

“Regius MS., written in 1390 A.D., emphasizes the necessity for paying due respect to the Craft. In

the Constitution of 1723, published by our Grand Lodge in its Book of Constitutions, it is specified,

“A Mason is obliged by his Tenure, to obey the moral law . . . A Mason is a peaceable subject to the

Civil Powers . . . The Persons admitted members of a Lodge must be good and true men . . . You are

not to hold private Committees (in defiance of the Lodge), or separate conversation, without leave

from the Master, nor to talk of anything impertinent or unseemly nor interrupt the Masters or

Wardens, or any Brother speaking to the Master, nor behave yourself ludicrously or jestingly while

the LODGE is engaged in what is serious or solemn; but to pay due respect to your Master,

Wardens, Fellows and put them to worship” – that is, pay them the respect due them.

The materials in this revised booklet are not to be taken as laws, regulations, or edicts adopted by

Grand Lodge. If the reader of these introductory paragraphs shall have been led to exclaim, “But

what, after all, is this etiquette? What does it cover?” we refer him to the pages that follow, where

Masonic etiquette explains itself through the presentation of its practices for various occasions. The

pages are arranged in Sections, the subjects of the Sections being arranged alphabetically like a

dictionary, for convenience in rapid reference.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Addressing the Chair ....................................................................................................................1

Aged and Infirm............................................................................................................................1

Altar ..............................................................................................................................................1

Ante-Room Etiquette....................................................................................................................1

Apron ............................................................................................................................................2

Ballot.............................................................................................................................................2

Bible Presentation.........................................................................................................................2

“Brother” is a Title........................................................................................................................3

Chaplain........................................................................................................................................3

Correspondence (Masonic)...........................................................................................................3

Discussion in Lodge......................................................................................................................4

District Deputy Grand Master.......................................................................................................4

Dress .............................................................................................................................................5

Election to Office..........................................................................................................................6

Emblems and Symbols..................................................................................................................6

Flag ...............................................................................................................................................6

Funerals.........................................................................................................................................7

Grand Honors................................................................................................................................8

Grand Lodge .................................................................................................................................9

Grand Lodge Officers ..................................................................................................................9

Grand Marshal ..............................................................................................................................9

Grand Master’s Visitation.............................................................................................................9

Jewels..........................................................................................................................................10

Marshal .......................................................................................................................................10

Master’s Hat................................................................................................................................10

Office ..........................................................................................................................................11

Order in Lodge Room.................................................................................................................11

Past Grand Master.......................................................................................................................11

Prayer..........................................................................................................................................11

Preparation Room .......................................................................................................................12

Presents to Candidates ................................................................................................................12

Publicity......................................................................................................................................13

Punctuality ..................................................................................................................................13

Ritual...........................................................................................................................................13

Signs............................................................................................................................................14

Speakers......................................................................................................................................14

Speeches......................................................................................................................................15

Titles ...........................................................................................................................................15

Visiting Masters..........................................................................................................................16

Visiting “Teams” ........................................................................................................................16

Visitors........................................................................................................................................16

iii

ADDRESSING THE CHAIR

The rules of order in Freemasonry do not

permit side discussion’s, during a

Communication, among members. The

member who has anything to say to the Lodge,

whether it be to enter discussion or to make or

second a motion, must rise to his feet, wait to

be recognized by and then address the

Worshipful Master.

AGED AND INFIRM

Members of a Lodge who, because of age or

infirmity, find it either difficult or impossible

to attend at the assemblies of their Brethren

stand in need of special consideration at the

hand of their Lodge; and because of their

condition, no others are so peculiarly

appreciative of the kindness or courtesies that

may be shown them. A Lodge will maintain

its contacts with them unbroken; will see that

they are visited; will send them messages on

special occasions, and perhaps encourage its

members to remember them now and again

with appropriate gifts or other reminders.

Some Lodges follow the admirable custom of

setting aside once each year a “Patriarch’s

Night” in honor of its aged members; others

make it a practice at certain intervals to send a

vehicle for such as are physically able to attend

Lodge, but have not the means.

ALTAR

Our customs and traditions prohibit any

Brother from passing between the Altar and

the Worshipful Master while a Lodge is open.

From ancient times the precinct between the

Altar and the East has been deemed sacred

ground, not to be trodden under foot; there

should be no obstruction between the East and

the Three Great Lights; and since the Great

Lights and the Charter of the Lodge are the

particular responsibility of the Worshipful

Master, no Brother should ever obscure his

view of them. The fact that during the

exemplification of the Work Candidates are

sometimes placed there, does not mitigate

against the interpretation, but rather supports

it; for if the ground between the Altar and East

is otherwise held sacred, the fact will make all

the more impressive those initiation

ceremonies which require that a Candidate be

placed there.

The ballot box should never rest upon the

Bible but by its side or on a little stand at the

Altar.

The Altar must not be covered or decorated by

the national or any other flag. Any

embroidery, sign, or any other indications of

any individual or any organization other than

the Lodge itself or Grand Lodge is strictly

forbidden.

ANTE-ROOM ETIQUETTE

(TYLER TO ENFORCE)

As soon as a Brother enters a Masonic Hall to

attend a Communication; he comes under the

sway of Masonic Etiquette. If he is late he

should not indulge in loud talking that may be

heard in the Lodge and his demeanor toward

other Brethren he may meet there should be

courteous and respectful C there, no more than

elsewhere, does Masonry give any man license

to take personal liberties with another! This is

especially true if any Candidates are present

waiting their call to the Preparation Room; to

give them the impression that vulgar conduct,

levity, practical joking or other forms of

disrespect are countenanced by the Craft is a

misrepresentation of the Lodge and peculiarly

a discourtesy to the Worshipful Master, who

stands to all Candidates, among his many other

functions, as a host in the name of his Lodge.

The Tyler has it especially in charge to see that

the Ante-Room, his own particular quarters,

observes the same decorum as all other

precincts of the Temple; and while the

principal purpose of his sword is to be a

symbol of his duty to keep out Cowan’s and

eavesdroppers, it is scarcely a lesser meaning

of it that he hold authority to maintain order at

the doors, and to see that the portals are not

profaned by disrespect. Moreover, the Tyler, if

he rightly understands his own art, will see that

the Ante-Room is kept clean and in order, the

aprons neatly piled, books, newspapers and

litter not left scattered about, a fitting place, in

short, through which to make entrance into a

Masonic Lodge.

No person is to be admitted into a Masonic

Lodge unless by permission of the Worshipful

Master. When a would-be visitor appears, it is

the duty of the Tyler to notify the Worshipful

Master of the presence of the visitor. The

Worshipful Master may appoint a Committee

to examine the visitor and report to the Master

concerning the visitor’s qualifications. If his

documents are in order and if he has convinced

the examining Committee that he is a Mason,

then in all probability the Worshipful Master

will grant him permission to enter.

If a Brother is late, he does not enter the Lodge

until permission is obtained from the Master

through the Tyler and the Junior Deacon for

him to do so; before entering he should see that

his Apron and other regalia are already

properly in place. He should enter through the

Outer Door only, and in a manner to attract as

little attention, and to avoid as much confusion

as possible.

If necessary, the Inner Door should he kept

locked except when the preparation room is in

use, to prevent Brethren entering and retiring

through it, and this applies to Past Masters and

Grand Lodge Officers as well as any other

Brother. It is for use by Candidates only, and

to permit it to be used otherwise is a

disturbance or dislocation of the entire system

of the ritual. It is the Tyler’s duty to see that

this rule is rigidly enforced.

APRON

Is an emblem of innocence, it should be clean

and white in color. It is also the badge of a

Mason and should be worn with pride and

honor to the Fraternity. Officers should wear

the apron assigned to the office they were

installed into for that year. Past Masters

should wear their Past Masters Apron which

can be any design except Gold accents should

never be used except for Grand Lodge Aprons.

The apron is to be worn under the coat unless

you are wearing a double-breasted coat or an

overcoat.

BALLOT

The ballot is both secret and inviolable. When

it is taken the act is fateful for the Candidate

and momentous for the Lodge. It is Etiquette

for the Lodge Room to be in complete silence,

the Officers should remain at their stations and

places in silence and dignity. The Grand Lodge

Constitutions make discussion of the ballot, on

conviction thereof, a Masonic offense. Except

the Holy Bible, the ballot is the most sacred

thing in the Lodge. Every Mason owes to his

Lodge the duty of protecting it against poor

material and every Mason owes to every

petitioner a fair ballot – the only protection a

petitioner has against unfair discrimination and

unreasonable prejudice. The upright man and

Mason, true to the tradition of the Craft, will

never allow personal spite or prejudice to

influence his behavior at the ballot box.

BIBLE PRESENTATION

Our regulations prescribe that the Bible used in

the Lodge Room should be the unadorned

Holy Bible. It is not believed that this prohibits

the presentation to a new Brother of a Bible

bearing the Square and Compasses on the

front, the remainder of the covering being

plain and of a solid color, nor does it prohibit

the use of a Bible having a page in the

front for recording the presentation.

It goes without saying that no one new member

is to be singled out for such presentation; that

if the Lodge authorizes such presentation, then

a Bible should be presented to each new

member thus received.

When so presented, the officiant presenting the

same should deliver a short and dignified

message as to the place the Holy Bible

occupies in Masonry and its significance and

binding effect upon every Mason.

(See also “Presents to Candidates”)

“BROTHER” IS A TITLE

In the usages of Freemasonry, “Brother” is

neither a sentimental nor familiar form of

address, but is a title – as much so as

Worshipful, Right Honorable, Right

Worshipful, or Most Worshipful, and must

always be used as such. A man does not attend

a Lodge Communication in his capacity as a

private individual. He is not just Joe, or Bill,

or John, but is there in his capacity as a Mason.

For this reason one should never in open

Lodge refer to “Bill B.”, but always to

“Brother B.” in the same literal sense as any

other office in the Lodge or Grand Lodge.

Always address a Grand Lodge Officer at any

Communication by his correct title and he in

turn must show the same courtesy to other

Grand Lodge Officers present as well as to the

Worshipful Master and to the Brethren of the

Lodge. This rule of etiquette should be

punctiliously observed, no matter what ties of

family or friendship may exist.

CHAPLAIN

As an Officer of the Lodge, and while acting in

that capacity, the correct place for the Chaplain

to be seated during a Communication is to the

left and in front of the Worshipful Master.

The prayers at the opening and closing of the

Lodge may be offered by the Chaplain while

kneeling at the Altar or while standing at his

place, at the option of the Worshipful Master.

The Scriptures assigned to the

Circumambulations should be recited by the

Chaplain standing in his place in the Lodge

and should not be read. The Chaplain has

otherwise so little to render that the

memorizations of these portions should not

prove burdensome to him. Only the adopted

ritual prayers as found in the Official Florida

Monitor shall be used in opening, closing, and

during Degree conferrals, except that the

Chaplain may add some words of his own at

the end of the opening and/or closing prayer in

non-sectarian language and in good taste.

CORRESPONDENCE (MASONIC)

When addressing mail to a Brother Mason, do

not put his title as such on the envelope. It

should be addressed as:

Hon. John Doe

In the salutation of the letter the title should

appear as:

R∴ W∴ John Doe

71 West 23rd Street

New York City, NY

Dear Brother Doe,

DISCUSSION IN LODGE

All sectarian discussion, all argument or

statement pro or con as to the merits of civil

politics, or any given religion or theological

creed, of racial questions, or private business,

or of any other non-Masonic subject by which

Masons might be divided into classes, feuds,

schisms, or opposed schools, is at all times

forbidden. It is strictly forbidden to discuss a

petitioner or for a Mason to reveal how he has

voted or in any way to seek to persuade

members to vote one way or another on a

petitioner.

All uses of personalities, all expressions of

bitterness or ill will, acrimoniousness, and all

or any slurs upon the Lodge or its Officers,

Grand Lodge or its Officers, and the Fraternity

itself, and all flippant, unseemly, or

discourteous remarks addressed to the Lodge

or to its Officers are condemned alike by the

principles of common courtesy and etiquette

and by the disciplinary laws of the Craft.

This is not to say that a Master Mason,

particularly one who has acted as a

Representative in Grand Lodge, should not

inform the Craft fully and completely as to

what has taken place in Grand Lodge. Such a

report can be rendered truthfully and with

dignity and without the use of personalities,

and this rule, of course, should always he

observed.

A Brother wishing to participate in a

discussion in open Lodge should always rise

and address the Worshipful Master. He should

speak on the subject at issue in the fewest

possible words, not using his privilege of the

floor as an opportunity to deliver a speech

merely for its own sake.

(See also “Speeches”)

DISTRICT DEPUTY

GRAND MASTER

The District Deputy Grand Master is the

personal representative of the Grand Master

and when visiting a Lodge, whether it be

formally or informally, he should be accorded

all respect. He should never he addressed by

his first name during any part of Lodge

ceremonies. Such conduct demeans his office.

The District Deputy Grand Master should be

received in accordance with provisions

adopted at the 180th Grand Lodge in 2010

(Revised-Reception of District Deputy Grand

Master).

(See Grand Lodge Officers in this booklet)

A District Deputy Grand Master is required by

our Constitutional Law to officially visit every

Lodge in his District at least once during his

term. He comes there to perform certain

specific duties required by Grand Lodge and to

give the Brethren the message of the Grand

Master. This message contains matters of

importance concerning which the Grand

Master, in his wisdom, deems it necessary to

inform the Craft. The remarks of the Deputy

then are of supreme importance. It is his

evening. No programs or speeches other than

his should he allowed. What he has to say

should stand out C nothing must detract from

it.

The Constitution also requires that the District

Deputy inspect the records and accounts of the

Lodges and see that the same are in proper

order (Article VI, Section 11). There have

been instances where Lodges have gotten into

difficulties because of irregularities which such

an inspection would have disclosed, but were

not discovered until too late, because this

Constitutional requirement had not been

complied with. This being a duty imposed

upon the District Deputy, by our Constitution,

the Master should formally tender the Lodge

records to the District Deputy, before such an

official visitation, and preferably at a time

convenient to the District Deputy to examine

the same, so that a conscientious District

Deputy will not be put to the embarrassment of

asking for the records.

When making an official visit to a Lodge in his

District, the District Deputy shall be formally

received with Grand Honors. (See “Grand

Honors” for those entitled to receive the same.)

On such occasions, all guests who are not

entitled to Grand Honors, but whom it is

desired to honor by a special introduction at

the Altar, should be received first. Thereafter,

the District Deputy may prefer to be received

alone, ahead of the others entitled to Grand

Honors, in order that he may himself preside at

the reception and the rendering of Grand

Honors to such other guests, or he may desire

to enter with such other distinguished guests,

in which case, it being his official visitation,

where in the absence of the Grand Master, he

is directly exercising his function as the

personal representative of the Grand Master,

he will head the procession and be introduced

first.

Following the introduction, welcoming and

rendition of Grand Honors at the Altar, the

District Deputy is first escorted to the East,

then the other distinguished guests are escorted

to seats in the East. If there be more of them

than can be seated in the East, then seats

should be reserved for them as close to the

East as possible. The District Deputy may, if

he desires, retain the gavel and preside over

such meeting, in which case he will be covered

and the Worshipful Master will uncover, but

the District Deputy will not wear his hat when

entering the Lodge Room, as our law provides

that a Worshipful Master is required to

uncover only for the Grand Master in person.

The District Deputy will be covered when

presiding, for the same reason that anyone

presiding in the East, whether by right or at the

request, or with the consent of the Worshipful

Master is covered, the Worshipful Master

remaining uncovered while such a person

presides. It is the usual practice for the District

Deputy to return the gavel to the Worshipful

Master of the Lodge, when his status is that of

principal guest of honor, but, as before stated,

he may preside if he so desires.

At such official visitations of a District

Deputy, the Worshipful Master should consult

with the District Deputy in advance, as to

arrangements, and his wishes should be

scrupulously followed. If there are other

speakers, the District Deputy will, as the most

honored guest, speak last, unless the Grand

Master should be present.

When a Grand Master makes his official

visitation to a District, the District Deputy is in

full charge of and is responsible for the proper

handling of all the details incident to such a

meeting.

(See “Grand Masters Visitation”)

(See also “Speeches”)

DRESS

Shall a Lodge require of its Officers that they

wear formal dress? The wisdom of so doing

depends entirely upon circumstances and is a

point which it is the prerogative of each

constituent Lodge to decide, though much may

be said in favor of formal dress C “cutaway

coat,” tuxedo, or full evening dress, since it is

a mark of respect to the Fraternity.

In any event, one thing is certain: if any of the

Officers are required to wear formal attire all

the Officers should wear it without exception;

and if he and his colleagues wear it, the

Worshipful Master should use a hat to

correspond not a soft hat, straw hat, or a cap.

The members will dress according to private

taste and it is proper that they enter the Lodge

Room with apron properly arranged

beforehand, and any other regalia, jewels, etc.,

in due order.

The custom prevails in some Lodges of having

the Worshipful Master wear one type of dress

(clothing) while the other Officers wear

different styles of dress. The harmony of good

taste will be better served if all dress alike.

There is a philosophy in dress as in so many

other things, and the dress proper to Masonic

occasion is no exception. Its principle is good

taste; its practice is to wear such attire as

shows respect to the Brotherhood and

expresses the dignity of Masonry.

ELECTION TO OFFICE

The subject of election to Lodge Office falls

naturally in the field of jurisprudence, but in

some of its aspects is so closely related to

decorum and to all else that seeks to preserve

harmony, that it may be considered briefly

here.

The point at issue has to do with the

“advancement” of an Officer at the time of the

annual election or with his appointment if he

be an Appointed Officer. In the majority of

cases this custom may work to the advantage

of the Lodge if fitness is manifest; however,

there is neither law nor tradition which gives

any Officer of the Lodge a “right” to be

advanced.

While there is no advancement by right, an

Officer should not be dropped from the line for

light or frivolous reasons; however, if the

Officer should not be advanced, neither he nor

his friends should take offense. A Brother may

be unqualified to hold any Masonic office for

any number of reasons, all of them creditable

to himself; such a thing could be said of many

excellent Masons. They are not cast for office-

holding, and will themselves be happier and

their Lodge be the gainer it they use other

opportunities for service. If a Lodge cannot

“drop from the line” any incumbent of proved

unfitness without engendering ill feelings

thereby, it needs to instill in its members a

clearer conception of the Masonic System and

a feeling of greater loyalty to its welfare.

EMBLEMS AND SYMBOLS

While the design and disposition of the

emblems, symbols, and other Lodge Room

Appurtenances necessary to the adequate

exemplification of the Degrees does not, in any

strict sense, belong to Masonic Etiquette, the

underlying principle is nevertheless the same.

The symbolical system of the Craft is what that

term indicates. A system, which means that

each part or detail belongs to a whole, and if

any one is omitted or misused it affects the

whole. And the symbolical system itself is

absolutely essential to Freemasonry; it is the

Craft’s one method of teaching its principles to

its members; without that method it is dumb;

and if that method is mutilated, its teaching

suffers. For these reasons it is of the utmost

importance that a Lodge takes great pains to

see that the emblems and symbols are of a

correct design, are well cared for, and are

placed at the correct positions.

The Altar should be in the center of the room,

its sides square with the sides of the room. The

Three Great Lights should be place at the

center of the Altar and should never rest on top

of the Holy Bible when it is closed. The

Square and Compasses should be silver and in

good working order. The Great Pillars should

be of adequate height and correct design and

placed one on each side of the Inner Door if

the Lodge building allows, the Pillar bearing

the Celestial Globe to stand at the Candidate’s

right as he enters. The Ashlars, if used, should

be on the Master’s platform, or on one of its

steps, one at either side, the Perfect Ashlar

near the Southeast corner, the Rough Ashlar

toward the Northeast.

The Letter “G” should be prominently

displayed in the East, and be of tasteful design.

The appurtenances used in the Middle

Chamber Lecture of the Second Degree should

be adequate in size, dignified in appearance,

correct in design, and replaced when become

worn from use. The Holy Bible should be

handled with care and reverence and should

any of its pages become soiled or torn they

should be cleaned or replaced. Jewels, regalia,

rods, and aprons should be kept in good order,

never suffered to grow shabby or be handled

carelessly or in a manner showing neglect.

No individual who has private theories

concerning the emblems and symbols should

be permitted to violate the requirements and

usages of the Craft. Freemasonry is no man’s

private property. It lies with no man to impose

his private notions upon anything appertaining

to the Ritual. And by the same token it is the

height of impropriety for a Lodge to permit

any member’s name to be engraved upon the

Ashlars, embroidered or painted on the

dressings of the Altar, stamped or embossed

upon the Holy Bible, or otherwise displayed in,

or on, anything belonging to the Ritual and its

exemplification.

FLAG

The National Flag should be on a standard

placed in the East, in the corner to the Master’s

right. It is improper to use the Flag as a

drapery for the Altar, as bunting, or for

decoration purposes, or in lieu of upholstery or

as drapery on, or in, any of the chairs, seats, or

stations of the Lodge Room. The Flag should

be given precedence over a Lodge Banner, or

any other banner, emblem, or device used for a

similar purpose in the Lodge Room, in public

processions, or when displayed on a Masonic

building. If a Lodge Banner is used it should

never be placed in the East-on or next to the

Master’s dais C but behind either the

Treasurer’s or the Secretary’s desk, preferably

the latter.

FUNERALS

At a Masonic Funeral, including the procession

to the cemetery and the rites of interment, the

requirements of Masonic Etiquette are

unusually strict. In the procession the same

decorum should be observed as in the Lodge

Room; no smoking, no laughter, no loud

talking, and Brethren should neither join nor

leave the lines without permission from the

Worshipful Master. The general directions for

the proper observance of these ceremonies are

found in the Florida Monitor; they are the code

of etiquette proper to the occasion and should

be strictly observed. The proper clothing for a

Masonic funeral is black hat, black or dark

suit, black neck tie, white gloves, and plain

white Apron, a band of black crepe around the

left arm, above the elbow, and a sprig of

evergreen on the coat pocket breast.

At the death of a Brother, the Worshipful

Master may order the Lodge to be in mourning

for a period of thirty days. The Worshipful

Master may have the Altar draped before

opening the Lodge or using the procedure

contained in the Adopted Floorwork. The

Charter may be draped; the Worshipful

Master’s gavel, the Warden’s columns, the

Deacon’s and Steward’s rods, the Tyler’s

sword and the Marshal’s baton should be

trimmed in black crepe, neatly tied with white

ribbon, the Bible maybe covered with black

crepe. The Grand Master, at his discretion,

may also order drapings at the death of any

distinguished Brother.

The Worshipful Master, and other Brethren

having parts assigned by him, should make

sure in advance that they have the ceremonies

well learned; for them to halt and stumble, or

mumble their words, is painful to the bereaved

and sets the Craft in an unfavorable light

before the public. Therefore, the service should

not be read by the Chaplain, but recited by the

Worshipful Master or acting Worshipful

Master.

Not all Masters are gifted in the art of public

speech. It is an art not easily acquired. To

read or recite well requires time, patience,

thought, and practice; therefore, the Master not

so gifted would do well to choose from among

his Brethren an officiant capable of rendering

the Masonic Funeral Service in a manner

which will be a source of comfort to those

bereaved. If rendered in such a manner, the

Masonic Funeral Services are impressive to all

who hear them.

Every Worshipful Master should read and

carefully study the printed directions just

before the Funeral Services in the latest edition

of the Official Florida Monitor. These

ceremonies are of great importance and there is

no need to elaborate on them here, other than

to emphasize their significance. You will

observe that both the Monitor and the Digest

indicate that white gloves and white aprons

should be worn at Masonic Funerals. This

requirement should include, present and past;

Grand Lodge Officers; District Deputy Grand

Masters; District Instructors; Worshipful

Masters; Lodge Officers; etc.

When the funeral is under the jurisdiction of a

Particular Lodge, all Masons uniting in the

procession or standing with the Lodge

members, shall wear WHITE APRONS and

GLOVES, regardless of present or former rank

or position. If the funeral is being conducted

by other Masonic Bodies, at the request of the

deceased Brother and his family, they, of

course, will prescribe the uniform or dress. In

this case, aprons will not be worn except as

appropriate for the individual members of that

organization.

We are engaged in the simple and dignified

ceremony of burying our dead, and the white

apron and gloves are simply symbols of the

equality within the Craft and that death is the

leveler of all men.

In the event the deceased was in the Military

Service, the following rule is to be observed:

the apron is to be placed on top of the coffin

and the Flag placed over both the coffin and

the Apron.

The white apron is to be laid upon the casket,

as near the center as possible, not tied upon the

body. The apron is the badge of a Mason at

labor, and the deceased Brother has finished

his labor and entered into Eternal Refreshment.

The Funeral Service should be given with

dignity and expression to bring out the

meaning. In this Service are many words

difficult of pronunciation and many phrases

not easy of rendition. This requires thought

and care and study on the part of the person

who is to render the Service, in order to bring

out the warmth and comfort of those bereaved.

GRAND HONORS

Grand Honors are a mark of respect, in a form

inherited from the past, accorded to Grand

Lodge Officers and, UNDER CERTAIN

CONDITIONS, TO WORSHIPFUL

MASTERS AND 50 YEAR (or greater)

MEMBERS. In a Grand Communication they

are given to the Grand Master and to visiting

Grand Masters and Past Grand Masters. In a

Lodge Communication they are given to Grand

Lodge Elective Line Officers, Past Grand

Masters of our own or another Grand

Jurisdiction, and to District Deputies in their

own Districts. Grand Honors shall be given to

Worshipful Masters in recognition of their

installation into office, but only in a tyled

Lodge. No Grand Honors, either Public or

Private are to be given in an open installation

ceremony. A Brother receiving a 50 Year

Membership Certificate or greater at a tyled

Lodge Communication shall be accorded

Grand Honors in accordance with Reg. 26.12

(a). It is contrary to law to pay Grand Honors

to any other persons.

A Grand Master’s visitation is always official,

unless he indicates otherwise and declines a

formal reception with Grand Honors. When a

Grand Lodge Elected Officer, or a Past Grand

Master of this or another Grand Jurisdiction

visits a Lodge on other than official occasions,

the Worshipful Master should inquire if they

desire to be formally received with Grand

Honors and be governed by their wishes.

Grand Honors must always be led by the

Master in Lodge Meetings. No Brother is to be

formally received and given Grand Honors

after the reception of the Grand Master.

Grand Honors are to be given by all Present

and Past Grand Lodge Officers present except

when they themselves, are being thus received,

either alone or in company with the Grand

Master or others.

Worshipful Masters who are uncertain as to the

correct manner in which Grand Honors should

be given, may call upon the Committee on

Work or District Instructor for an explanation

and an exemplification. If a Worshipful Master

is installed in an open installation, he may be

given Grand Honors when the Lodge is again

tyled after the installation, or at the next Stated

Communication to conform with the Monitor

on open Installations. After Grand Honors are

given there should never be any applause as

this demeans the honor of the Grand Honors.

GRAND LODGE

Grand Lodge is the great source of power in

the Craft. It has legislative, administrative, and

executive jurisdiction over all matters

pertaining to the Fraternity. Our Masonic

traditions are in its keeping. It is only right that

our respect for its Officers be shown by

adhering to certain rules of etiquette necessary

to maintain that respect and this etiquette must

be punctiliously observed. Grand Honors are

symbols of that honor and respect.

Talking, promiscuous moving about the room,

failure to address the Grand Master, or to use

his proper title when speaking, are all

violations of common courtesy and

gentlemanly conduct. In an assemblage

numbering hundreds, it is essential that these

rules be strictly adhered to in order that

business coming before Grand Lodge be

dispatched with promptness and in a dignified

manner. Not only are all these rules relating to

decorum applicable to Grand Lodge, but they

might well be taken seriously by our Lodges,

in which decorum is sometimes conspicuous

by its absence.

GRAND LODGE

OFFICERS

Rules for receiving all Grand Officers are

determined by the Grand Master each year and

are provided to his District Deputy Grand

Masters and must be followed.

GRAND MARSHAL

The Grand Marshal is the major domo of

Grand Lodge. He conducts the Grand Lodge

in all Grand Lodge processions and

ceremonies. He has similar duties at special

Ceremonials, such as Cornerstone Layings,

Dedications, etc.

When the Grand Master consents to conduct a

Cornerstone Laying, Dedication, etc., for a

Lodge or otherwise, the ceremony, from the

moment of the arrival of the Grand Lodge

party, becomes a Grand Lodge Ceremony, and

is under the control of Grand Lodge; therefore,

all matters appertaining to the functions of a

Marshal, arrangements of processions,

ordering and arrangement according to

precedence, and all similar details and

arrangements are exclusively in the Grand

Marshal’s care, and should be left to him or

arranged according to his instructions.

GRAND MASTER’S VISITATION

It is our practice, in Florida, for the Grand

Master to make an official visit to each

Masonic District at least once during his term

of office. The Grand Master also makes

numerous other visits to special meetings. The

District Deputy is in full charge of and is

responsible for the proper handling of all

details incident to the Grand Master’s official

visit to his District.

The District Deputy, after consultation with the

Worshipful Master, will designate the Host

Lodge when notifying the Lodges of the date

of meeting. He will issue, or cause to be

issued, invitations to Grand Lodge Officers

and any others whom he may elect to invite.

(Ordinarily invitations are extended to all

Grand Lodge Officers, Elective and

Appointive, all Past Grand Masters,

Committeemen in the local and adjacent areas,

and at least the District Deputies of nearby

Districts. The Grand Master, at his discretion,

may specify others to also be invited.) Other

arrangements are determined by the Grand

Master and must be followed.

JEWELS

According to the custom of this Grand

Jurisdiction, the “jewels of the Officers of

Lodges shall be of silver or white metal.” Gold

is reserved for Grand Lodge jewels and should

never be used by the constituent Lodges. Cases

have been observed of Lodges accepting and

using solid gold jewels as a present from some

outside organization; this is improper.

The jewels of Grand Lodge Officers are gold

or the color of gold (yellow, not white) and

should always be worn at Grand Lodge

functions.

Officers’ jewels are a part of the official and

necessary insignia of office, and are bestowed

as such at the time of installation and should

always be worn and respected as such, never as

personal or private adornment.

MARSHAL

The duties of the Marshal are set forth in his

installation ceremony in the Official Florida

Monitor: “The good order of the Lodge in its

general assemblies and processions depends

upon your skill, care and assiduity (diligence).

You should always be near to execute the

orders of the Worshipful Master.”

A Marshal who understands the conducting of

processions will greatly enhance the dignity,

orderliness, and beauty of processions of the

Lodge. If processions are conducted slovenly,

or degenerate into a straggle, the effectiveness

of the ceremony as a whole is lessened.

MASTER’S HAT

The wearing of a hat while presiding in the

East is not optional, including during open

installation of Lodge Officers. Our Regulations

state that the Worshipful Master is required to

remove his hat only for the Grand Master in

person, during prayer and at certain times

during ceremonies.

The hat is a distinguishing mark by which the

importance of the Master’s Office is

signalized, a visible and conspicuous sign of

his position as presiding Officer and titular

head of the Lodge. In Grand Lodge

Communications, of course, only the Grand

Master remains covered.

The hat should always be removed during

prayer as a sign of respect to the Great

Architect of the Universe. It should be

removed when giving the obligations, as a

token to their authority. If a funeral is held in

church, or in a chapel, it should be removed as

a sign of reverence. The proper hat for

funerals is a black hat according to the Florida

Monitor. At graveside funerals it should be

removed when prayer is first offered and not

worn during the remainder of the service. The

Worshipful Master and Brethren may wear

headpieces at the funeral of a deceased Brother

whose religion requires such.

The kind of hat a Master should wear is

determined wholly by good taste. A cap or stiff

straw hat is always inappropriate. The only

governing principle is good taste, and in

deference to that, a Master will never wish to

wear any style of hat that will attract attention

out of oddity or will derogate from the dignity

of his office.

OFFICE

An Office in Lodge or Grand Lodge exists

quite independently of the Brother who may at

any given moment chance to occupy it. Its

duties and functions are permanently

established, defined and regulated by law. No

office is the private property of the man who

holds it; it belongs, not to him, but to the Craft.

The office is not to conform to him; he is to

conform to the office. Nor are the dignity and

decorum which accompany any Masonic

Office to be neglected.

ORDER IN LODGE ROOM

By order in Lodge is meant that all members

present behave in a seemly manner, the

discussion and conduct of business is carried

on in accordance with the laws of Grand

Lodge, the Lodge By-Laws, and the will of the

Worshipful Master. Ceremonies are conducted

in due form. All the gestures of courtesy and

respect are given, no loud talking, jesting, or

unnecessary moving about are permitted, and

harmony and dignity prevail. The

responsibility for maintaining order rests with

the Worshipful Master.

PAST GRAND MASTER

A Past Grand Master should be received in

accordance with “Grand Visitations” as found

in the Official Florida Monitor. Past Grand

Masters may close a Lodge in “Ample Form.”

PRAYER

Every Mason has been in attendance at

Communications where prayer has been called

for or offered in an off-hand or grudging

manner as if religion were an alien and

intrusive thing and the art of worship a

formality done for the sake of appearance and,

therefore, to be hurriedly finished as though

there could be more important matters. Such

behavior betrays a lack of understanding of the

most elementary character of the Craft.

Religion is an essence, not an accident, of

Masonry. It stands at the heart of the

Fraternity, as the Altar stands at the center of

the Lodge Room, as a symbol of the religious

character of Freemasonry. The Master should

call upon the Chaplain to perform his duty and

the Chaplain himself should perform it with

deliberateness; not with haste, but with

earnestness and sincerity, and in a dignified

manner expressive of the genuinely religious

character of the Craft.

The Worshipful Master and Lodge members

should not consult any memorandum during

prayer; the Secretary should discontinue his

work; all should rise and keep absolute silence

while it is being offered. The prayer itself, if

not in words prescribed by the Ritual, should

be consonant with the faith of Masonry, never

an expression of peculiar sectarian views or

dogmatic creeds; on the other hand if a

Chaplain, especially if he be a Clergyman or

Rabbi, should chance to give expression to

sectarian beliefs out of habit or through

inadvertence, it is unfitting, and in spirit

un-Masonic, for offense to be taken or for any

Brother to dwell upon the fact, either during or

after the close of the Communication.

PREPARATION ROOM

If there is any one place in all the precincts of

the Temple where a wise Worshipful Master

will use every possible precaution to see that

good taste, courtesy, and thoughtful kindness

are displayed to the utmost, it is in the

Preparation Room where all Degrees begin.

Here a Candidate receives his earliest first

hand impressions of the Craft; he comes a total

stranger to all the practices and requirements

of the Lodge; and often is nervous,

apprehensive, ill at ease, not knowing what to

expect, and fearful lest he cut for himself a

sorry figure in whatever may follow.

If he finds a Preparation Room littered, full of

smoke, with joking (especially off-color

joking) going on, he must form an erroneous

impression of Freemasonry that may remain

with him for years. The best way to teach him

in this time of beginning, that the Lodge is

worthy of respect, is for the Lodge to show

respect to him.

Clothing him in ritualistic garb should be done

with tact, by Brethren of considerate spirit who

realize that entrance into Masonry is no mere

formality, but a serious and fateful experience.

When he is led through the Inner Door he

should not be stifled by tobacco smoke nor be

surprised by a hum of conversation, and each

Officer should be already at his place, ready

and alert to perform his part lest the impression

be conveyed that Initiation is a hastily

improvised ceremony.

The Inner Door C the one leading from the

Preparation Room into the Lodge Room C

should never be opened except for the purpose

of admitting or returning Candidates. Any

other door, or doors, leading from the

Preparation Room to some place other than the

Lodge Room, should be kept locked during the

preparation of Candidates. Candidates are

prepared by the Stewards, and no one else

should ever be present with them except when

the Senior Deacon or the Master, or someone

delegated by him, appears.

The Preparation Room should be kept clean at

all times, and the decorum should be

maintained by the senior Officer present. The

Stewards are told during their installation that

they “are to assist the Deacons and other

Officers in performing their respective duties.”

During conferral of our Degrees, the Stewards

are responsible for preparing the candidates for

reception by the Senior Deacon. The

Candidates are, therefore, then in their charge

in the Preparation Room and its cleanliness

and decorum are their particular

responsibilities.

By a proper attitude toward the Candidate in

the Preparation Room, his respect for the

Institution may be tremendously increased or it

may be shattered for all time by an improper

attitude and lack of respect for his feelings.

In the Preparation Room, care should be taken

to prepare the mind of the Candidate for that

which is to follow. The ritualistic garb of the

work is a symbol; therefore, it is important that

the atmosphere of the room be such as to

inspire in the mind of the Candidate a respect

for that which is to come.

PRESENTS TO CANDIDATES

The custom of giving presents to Candidates at

the end of a Degree should be discouraged,

except when they are given to all Candidates

by the Lodge itself. There seems to be a

growing custom of presenting Candidates

(often only one Candidate), and usually at the

end of the Master Mason Degree, with gifts

from those outside the Lodge and/or from

members of the Candidate’s family. This is

not a recommended custom.

In deference to Candidate(s) who would not

receive a gift, and the solemnity of our

Degrees, that is not the best time, or

necessarily the right place, for the presentation

of gifts from those outside the Lodge, or from

within the Lodge, unless the same or similar

gift is presented to each Candidate. If there be

only one Candidate, however, gifts could he

presented without serious breech of etiquette.

Special gifts to an individual Candidate can be

presented at a later Communication. When a

gift has personal and emotional ties or family

connections for a Candidate, it might be more

appropriate to present it with privacy, rather

than in open Lodge.

PUBLICITY

The Communications of a Lodge, with all the

transactions conducted therein, and such other

Lodge business as Petitions, Committee work,

the names of Candidates, or any other

information about the confidential affairs of a

Lodge should never be given to the public. All

announcements from the Secretary’s desk

concerning Initiations or other Lodge business

should be sent out over the Lodge Seal.

PUNCTUALITY

Punctuality is, as a lawyer would phrase it, of

the essence of the contract wherein a Mason

stands to his Lodge. For a Lodge, its Officers,

or its members not to be punctual is a

discourtesy and it is difficult to charge one

group with a greater discourtesy than the

others. If the Officers are absent, there is

nobody present with authority to open Lodge,

and the members, whose time presumably is

valuable, must wait; and where both members

and Officers fall into the habit of

unpunctuality, a vicious circle is set up C the

members delay because the Officers are

expected to be late, the Officers tend to be late

because they expect the members to be, one

group blames the other, and opportunity for

friction is offered.

The Worshipful Master is charged with the

responsibility to break this circle by insisting

that his Officers be on time, a thing that falls

within his authority; and he should insist that

his Officers notify him in advance if they

expect to be tardy or absent in order that he

may make provisions to have their stations or

places filled.

If he will Open his Lodge at the time

prescribed by the By-Laws and when the

constitutionally required number of Officers

and members are present, and make a practice

of doing so, he will find that his members will

reciprocate in kind by also developing the

habit of being on time.

RITUAL

Mirth has no place whatever in the

exemplification of any one of the Three

Degrees of Masonry, more particularly in the

Third. The Letter “G” in the East, the Altar,

the Holy Bible C where such as these play so

prominent a part, surely there is no place for

laughter!

Nor for applause! To break into applause

because a Ritualist has performed some part

well destroys the illusion and reduces the

Ritual to the level of a play; nor should

applause be given when a Candidate has been

Raised. A Brother does not take a part in his

own name or perform it in his own proper

person; his individuality should be sunk out of

sight, both to himself and to his Lodge, lest he

intrude himself between the Candidate and the

Ritual.

The Brother Raised has done nothing to merit

applause. Offering himself as a Candidate to

Masonry is done of his own free will and

accord. Why applaud? If we wish to express

our pleasure at seeing him one of us,

congratulate him quietly by a hand-clasp when

the Lodge is called to refreshment.

The Ritual is designed to be effective in the

inner life of the Candidate, a genuine moral

and spiritual experience by which he enters a

new kind of life wherein he will stand

obligated to perform duties and make self

sacrifices; the obligations he will take will be

morally and Masonically binding on him and

his vows must be genuine or he will be led into

harmful hypocrisy. On any other interpretation

of it, the Ritual degenerates into play, into an

empty ceremony, self-falsified and without

meaning, and the whole structure of

Freemasonry is shattered. A Lodge that holds

fast to this truth will no more permit levity to

ruin the effect of its work than it would permit

its Treasurer to falsify a check.

The Third Degree, especially, is of the highest

possible seriousness, not a drama, not a play,

but a genuine spiritual experience. It is for this

reason that Grand Lodge forbids any

substitution of its parts by a costumed play.

Theatricality strikes a false note. And if

Degree Teams insist on wearing costumes they

should he in good taste, correct and accurately

historical and not obviously for stage effect.

It is improper to discuss the Ritual in public, or

to advertise it, or to publish pictures of it, in

any way by which the secrets of Masonry may

be unlawfully revealed to the profane world, a

principle expressed in the Book of

Constitutions. Only the written FORMS and

CEREMONIES authorized by Article XV of

the Constitution may be referred to, used or

taught by the Committee on Work, District

Instructors, or Lodges of this Grand

Jurisdiction.

SIGNS

Signs belong to the inner essence and esoteric

life of the Craft; accordingly, they should

always be given with careful accuracy and

with full decorum. Under no circumstances

should the Master, Wardens, or any Brother

remain seated while giving a Sign. No Brother

should ever leave the Lodge Room without

properly saluting. If the Worshipful Master so

instructs, it is proper to salute the West upon

entering or retiring from the Lodge while at

labor.

SPEAKERS

An invited speaker is a guest of the Lodge. He

should be received in accordance with the

provisions of “Grand Visitations” as found in

the Official Florida Monitor if he is a Grand

Lodge Officer, D.D.G.M. in his District, or

Past Grand Master, if not he should be

conducted to the East and there introduced,

and in introducing him the Master should give

his name clearly, address him by title, name his

home Lodge, give such other information

about him as will enable the audience to

identify him, and his subject should be

announced plainly so that all can hear; also the

occasion that called for him should be clearly

explained for the sake of giving his address its

necessary background. At the time of the

introduction the Lodge will be quiet, without

talk or moving about, and the Secretary will

not continue writing or rattling papers during

the address. A proper introduction is half the

speaker’s battle and, especially if he has come

from a distance and without a fee, is a courtesy

to which he is entitled.

In inviting a speaker, the Master should take

great care to give him all necessary

instructions; under what circumstances he is to

speak, on what subject, for how long, and for

what purpose. Arrangements should be made

for his entertainment, he should be given

complete information about commercial carrier

service to your area, and the Master or his

representatives should meet him at the airport,

terminal, or the hotel. If a fee is not to be paid,

strict care should be taken promptly to

reimburse him for his expenses. After he has

come and gone the Lodge, or the Master in its

name, should write him a letter of appreciation.

Speakers usually are busy men; if they give of

their own time and energy, particularly when

visiting a strange Lodge or a Lodge at a

distance, it is the most elementary of courtesies

to extend them every hospitality and to see that

they are put to no expense.

One of the essentials of hospitality to a visiting

speaker is to see that he can begin strictly on

time, a courtesy he will wish to repay by

making it an equal point to stop on time.

(See also “Speeches”)

SPEECHES

All speeches of a controversial, sectarian, or

political nature should be prohibited, since

such speeches are certain to destroy harmony

and introduce discord within the Lodge. A

speaker who disregards this admonition is

guilty of a serious breach of etiquette and is

subject to severe criticism and condemnation.

There is another point on which it is

embarrassing to say anything since it involves

morals as much as etiquette, but there have

been occasions to suggest the propriety of

mentioning it here. This has to do with the

stories told by speakers. Anything of a

questionable character, anything of an

“off-color” nature is, under such

circumstances, a triple affront C an affront to

the gentlemen present; an affront to the Grand

Lodge itself, if there represented; and an

affront to the Grand Master, in person and to

his Office, if he be present.

Also the Deity is thereby insulted. If we are

Masons, we believe in God. If we believe in

God, then of course, we believe that He keeps

His promises. He has promised that: “Where

two or three are gathered together in thy Name,

Thou wilt be in their midst and bless them.” In

our opening ceremonies, our Chaplain invokes

the presence of Deity in his opening prayer.

Then with Deity present in our midst, by our

invitation, and with His Holy Bible open upon

our Altar, some thoughtless or uninformed

Mason will tell “off-color” and even vulgar

stories, thinking that thus they make

themselves popular with the Craft when, in

fact, all thinking Masons who hear them,

thereafter correctly regard them as buffoons

who do not understand what Masonry really

means or stands for.

In the course of Masonic speeches, clean,

humorous stories are not only appropriate, but

usually are desirable, since they make the

occasion more enjoyable. It is not necessary,

nor is it good taste, to resort to “off-color”

vulgar stories that affront the Craft and insult

Deity Himself, who is always present as our

invited Guest.

This rule of etiquette applies not only to the

tyled Lodge, but to all occasions where the

Craft assemble in their capacity as Masons,

such as banquets or other public meetings, and

especially if there be profanes or ladies

present, when it is more necessary and

required that dignity and perfect courtesy be

observed.

TITLES

The titles belonging to all Grand Lodge

Officers are described in the Book of

Constitutions, as follows:

The title of the Grand Master and of Past

Grand Masters is “Most Worshipful” and of

the remaining Elected Grand Officers and

District Deputies, is “Right Worshipful,” the

title of District Instructor is “Right Honorable”

unless the Brother qualifies for the titles,

“Right Worshipful” or “Most Worshipful”

except the Grand Chaplain, whose title is

“Right Reverend.” The title of other Appointed

Grand Lodge Officers and of Worshipful

Masters and Past Masters is “Worshipful.” A

Lodge or Grand Lodge Officer, on any

Masonic occasion, should be addressed or

referred to by his proper title. Never address a

Worshipful Master as “Worshipful Sir,” but as

“Worshipful Master,” nor should the Grand

Master be addressed in any manner other than

as “Most Worshipful Grand Master” even

when presiding over or closing a Particular

Lodge.

VISITING MASTERS

Visiting Masters and Past Masters are usually

paid the honor of a welcome by name, with

their proper title of “Worshipful” (unless they

hold the title of “Right Worshipful”) and the

Master may invite them to a seat in the East if

he wishes. The fact that they come as

representing a Lodge, rather than in any

private capacity, entitles them to all the

courtesies and respect one regular Lodge owes

another.

VISITING “TEAMS”

If a Degree “Team” visits another Lodge to

confer a Degree, it stands to the Lodge it visits

in the relationship of guest to host and should,

therefore, be more careful to avoid any kind of

unseemly conduct on the part of any of its

members. And, what is of equal importance,

make sure in advance that it will not introduce

into its work any feature not acceptable to the

host Lodge or to its Worshipful Master. This is

one reason why there should be used only the

Ritual as Grand Lodge prescribes it.

Lodges which have Lodge notices would do

well to state therein that a Degree is to be

conferred by a Lodge rather than by a team.

VISITORS

A Lodge’s sense for that which is fitting, its

instinct for hospitality, its taste in the

amenities, are never more clearly revealed than

in its manner of receiving visitors. If, during

the purging of a Lodge, a visitor’s name is

announced and a Brother vouches for him with

some facetious remark, or if members indulge

in levity because there is none to vouch for

him, courtesy is violated and a Brother may be

humiliated. If the circumstances are such that a

Master desires no visitor present, or if it is

believed that the visitor in question might

disturb the peace and harmony of the Lodge,

all the more pains should be taken to deal with

him tactfully and in delicate taste, preferably

before he enters the Lodge Room.

If an Examining Committee is appointed to

meet him, it should deal with him in a kindly

and considerate manner, remembering that it is

speaking and acting for the Worshipful Master.

Catch-questions, attempts to trip him up by

trickery, or any attempt of the Committee to

“show-off” its own knowledge in order to

humiliate the visitor, are un-Masonic in spirit,

violations not only of the etiquette of Masonry,

but of all good manners whatsoever. The one

and only duty of a Committee is to assure itself

that the stranger is a Master Mason in good

standing in some regular Lodge; for it to go

beyond this is to exceed its authority.

If permitted to enter, the visitor should be

introduced at the Altar to the Worshipful

Master and Brethren. The Committee should

assist the Senior Deacon to find him a seat and

otherwise make him feel at home.

Delegations of Brethren sometimes visit

neighboring Lodges. It is a fine custom on

these occasions, practiced in many of our

Lodges, for the Master to call up the Lodge as

the delegation enters, necessarily so if Masters,

Past Masters, or Grand Lodge Officers are in

the delegation.