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One of the most satisfying and enjoyable
experiences for the active and enthusiastic
Freemason is to have taken part, as Master of
his Lodge, in the ritual to a standard that
brings “satisfaction to yourself and advantage
to your Lodge.”
This would have only been possible as a
result of hours of intensive learning, and
committing to memory the lines of our
beautiful ritual, combined with careful
preparation in rehearsal and delivery.
What is quite incomprehensible is the
performance of a Master later at the Festive
Board, who stumbles along with absolutely
no idea how to rule and direct his Lodge.
He then proceeds to deliver what is often
a boring, incoherent, irrelevant and
unimaginative response to his toast.
Why does this happen? The reason is
simple. The Brother involved does not
understand that there is absolutely no
difference between the control of the
procedure at the Festive Board and Masonic
speech-making, as there is in the technique
for the governing of the proceedings, and
the enactment of the ritual in Lodge.
This can be summarised in three
simple words: Preparation, Practice and
Performance. To become a great ritualist
requires training and dedication.
This applies equally to becoming an
accomplished Master of a Lodge.
It is a sad reflection on the preparation
of the Master-Elect, who in many Lodges
is installed into the chair and immediately
becomes under the control of the
‘permanent’ Lodge Secretary, Director of
Ceremonies, or a host of the Lodge elders
who seem to forget that their status in the
Lodge is one of Past Master!
It is the duty and responsibility of the
Master to rule and direct his Lodge. If he
is so weak that he needs the constant
supervision and instruction from senior
members of the Lodge, this is a reflection
upon them, that they have not trained
him properly in preparation for his
high office.
"He's overdoing the ritual a bit, isn't he?"
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Copyright 2002-2007
MQ Magazine
Web site created by Mark Griffin
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