The Master Mason Lodge

The Master Mason Lodge is built on an oblong checkered floor. The Lodge is longer than it is wide. The floor is checkered tile alternating between white and black tiles. The square tiles are of uniform size and color- one black and those next to it white. The size of these tiles can range from six to eighteen inches wide. Constructed in this fashion, the floor looks like a checkerboard.

The main door to the Master Mason Lodge is in the south end of the west wall. There is usually an emergency exit in the eastern part of the Lodge but this is not well known nor is it widely advertised. The Candidate's Door is in the north end of the west wall. Like the main entrance it exits to the west.

Along the whole east end of the Lodge is a dais raised about eighteen inches above the floor. Three steps lead up to the dais. This dais is from six to twelve feet wide depending upon the size of the Lodge. In the middle of the dais is a throne or fancy chair facing forward to the west. In front of this throne is a flat-topped pedestal on which rests a gavel. The top of the pedestal is about one-foot square but in some Lodges it is circular. From here the Master of the Lodge presides. In the Master Mason Lodge for "regular" masons, the Master of the Lodge is titled "Worshipful Master" and the Worshipful Master shares the dais with the Secretary on his far left and a Treasurer on his far right. 

The term "regular Mason" denotes a Mason belonging to a Lodge descended from the Grand Lodge of England which accepts only certain men into their organization. They constitute the largest group of Freemasons in north America. The Ancient, Accepted and Esoteric Freemasons are related to these "regular" Masons but not accepted by them because A:. A:. & E:. F:. members include women, gays, lesbians, Pagans, Muslims, Buddhists, Yogis, and people of color. One or more of these reasons is sufficient for the "regular" Masons to consider our organization as a "clandestine" operation. That means we operate without their permission. By the way, our membership also includes Jews, Christians, Whites and straight people.

The dais in the east separates and raises the east from and above the rest of the Lodge. If we consider the Master Mason Lodge to be representative of the Human Temple, the east represents the head of the person and the head is raised above and separated from the rest of the body. Esoteric Freemasons do consider the Master Mason Lodge to represent the Human Temple. 

A smaller dais runs along the south and north walls starting at the east dais and running all the way to the west wall. Each dais is one step, about six inches, tall. Each is about six to eight feet wide depending upon the size of the Lodge. This dais contains a row of chairs to provide seating for the members. In some Master Mason Lodges a second but small dais is placed against the wall to raise the second row up higher so those in the second row behind the first have a better view of the Lodge.

In the middle of the north and south dais there is a station for an officer. There are two steps leading up to this station. There is a throne or chair on each dais with a flat-topped pedestal on it. Both are similar to the throne and pedestal in the east. The throne in the south is used by the Junior Warden.

In the middle between the two doors in the west wall is a small two-step dais with a throne or chair and a flat-topped pedestal similar to the throne or chair in the south. This station is used by the Senior Warden. Between the Senior Warden and the southern door which serves as the main entrance to the Lodge is a chair used by the Junior Deacon. Between the Senior Warden and the northern door to the Candidate's preparation room is placed a chair for the Marshal.

In front and to the right of the Senior Warden's station stands the Pillar of Beauty. Opposite it on the left of the Senior Warden is the Pillar of Strength. In the middle of the Lodge room is an oblong or square altar. On the altar is an open Bible or other Holy Book. Resting on the Holy Book is a square and a compass. Either standing on or beside the altar are three candles placed in the southeast corner, southwest corner and the north. Between the altar and the east and slightly north of the altar are two chairs. The one closest to the Master of the Lodge is used by the Senior Deacon and the other is for the Chaplain. Between the altar and the east and slightly south of the altar are two chairs for the Senior and Junior Steward. The Senior Steward is closest to the east. 

There is no officer assigned to the north but in some Lodges the Marshal is allowed to sit in that throne or chair. In other Lodges, the most senior Past Master is allowed to sit there. In the Grand Lodge of Ancient, Accepted and Esoteric Freemasons, both the Scribe and the Almoner are allowed to sit in the north. Past Masters are expected to sit in the chairs assigned to the membership and are not given a special place to sit in the Lodge. The Master of the Lodge can invite any person to sit in the east at his or her option. 

The elected officers of the Esoteric Master Mason Lodge and their rank are:
Master of the Lodge
Senior Warden
Junior Warden

The "required" appointed officers and their rank are:
Senior Deacon
Junior Deacon

The "optional" appointed officers and their rank are
Chaplain
Senior Steward
Junior Steward
Scribe [Scribe]
Almoner [Treasurer]
Tyler
Marshall

The Master of the Lodge is the chief executive officer of the Lodge. The Master presides at all business meetings and makes all the executive decisions after listening to the Wardens and junior officers. The Master of the Lodge appoints all committees, junior officers and ritual teams.

The Senior Warden is the chief personnel and morale officer of the Lodge. This responsibility includes seeing that all Masons have an opportunity to participate in all Masonic affairs and are suitably entertained during refreshment and dinners. 

The Junior Warden is the chief operations officer of the Lodge in charge of the Master Mason Lodge and all property of the Lodge. The Junior Warden is an ex-officio member of all Masonic committees and serves on those committees as the eyes and ears of the Master of the Lodge.

These three elected officers serve as the executive committee for the Master Mason Lodge. It is required that these three officers be present when any Lodge of Apprentice, Fellowcraft or Master Masons is called to order. In the event one or more of them is absent, the Master of the Lodge shall appoint a person to stand-in for the absent officer or officers. The parts for any junior officer may be divided as appropriate between these three officers and any other Master Masons present at the ritual or ceremony.

The Senior and Junior Stewards are responsible for preparing candidates for initiation. The Chaplain arranges the altar and speaks the prayers for all rituals. The Scribe keeps notes of all business meetings as directed by the Master of the Lodge. The Marshall leads processions at the installation of officers and proclaims the results of all elections. The Almoner serves as Treasurer for the Lodge. The Tyler guards the door against all intrusions. In some jurisdictions the Tyler is styled as the Swordbearer. All appointed and elected officers perform such other duties as the Master of the Lodge may from time to time determine.

In "regular" Masonic Lodges the office of Secretary and Treasurer are elected officers who rank just below the Junior Warden. The Secretary outranks the Treasurer. The Senior Deacon is the officer in charge of arranging the altar instead of the Chaplain. The Almoner is an assistant Treasurer who collects donations from the brothers. The Secretary is the Scribe.

The progression of elected officers is usually from Junior Warden to Senior Warden to Master of the Lodge. But at any Lodge election the members are free to vote for any person for any position. Usually both the Treasurer and Secretary are Past Masters of the Lodge who are elected year after year as long as they are willing to serve.

When the Marshal leads a procession, the officers enter and leave the Lodge in reverse order according to their rank. The Master of the Lodge is the last to enter and the last to leave the lodge. The members on the sidelines enter the Lodge prior to the procession and exit the Lodge after the procession. At all other times the officers and members enter the Lodge as they arrive and take their stations and places at the sound of the Master's gavel.

During the opening of the Lodge, the Master of the Lodge presides and the other officers assist. For open Lodges when the public or non-Masons are present the square is placed on and toward the bottom of the Holy Book. The Compass is placed on and toward the top of the Holy Book so that the tips of the compass rest on top of the square.

In "regular" Lodges a plaque is placed on the east wall behind and above the station of the Master of the Lodge. The emblem on this plaque is the square and compass with the letter "G" in the middle of the design. This letter is said to stand for "Spiritual Geometry" and the usual name of Deity. In some Jewish traditions the letter Yod is used instead. Lodges in other countries use different symbols according to the dictates of the Grand Lodge governing that Master Mason Lodge. In the Esoteric Lodges each Master of the Lodge is free to use the plaque of his or her choice or no plaque at all.

The officers each wear a Masonic Collar with the jewel of their office. The Master of the Lodge, Senior and Junior Warden each carry a gavel. The Junior and Senior Deacon and the Junior and Senior Steward each carry a staff with an emblem of their office at the top of the staff. The Marshall carries a baton and the Tyler a sword as an emblem of their respective offices. In all Esoteric Master Mason Lodges these requirements are optional. Collars are used in the Grand Lodge as are the sword and gavels. No staffs or baton are used in the Grand Lodge. Each Esoteric Master Mason Lodge is free to do as they will regarding these things.

Any three Master Masons of Acacia Grand Lodge #1 A:. A:. & E:. F:. may petition the Grand Lodge for a Charter to form a Lodge of Esoteric Master Masons. The name of any such Lodges shall be the name of the State, Province or Country in which the Lodge shall be situated followed by a number representing the number of the Lodge in that jurisdiction.  More information on this process will be communicated to the Master Masons at the appropriate time and place.

This completes the lecture concerning the Master Mason Lodge. Prospective candidates for Masonic degrees are encouraged to gain a modicum of understanding of the Lodge before continuing their studies.

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