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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 one of the ceremonies, and
participating in the ritual to a standard that
can only be described as “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 the
ritual, combined with careful preparation
in rehearsal and delivery.
What is quite incomprehensible is the
performance of the 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 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 the Temple.
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 Masonic Lodge.
It is a sad reflection on the preparation
of the Master-Elect, who in many Lodges
is installed into the chair and immediately
comes under the control of the secretary,
the 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.
To be in control requires certain
management skills that need to be acquired
well in advance of a brother’s installation
into the chair of his Lodge.
“I’ve been up and down so many times I feel like Tower Bridge.”
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Copyright 2002-2007
MQ Magazine
Web site created by Mark Griffin
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