I. P. M. adjusts S. and C.

G. or R. S. all simultaneously.
All sit when W. M. sits—-not before. %* ** * **
(In some Country Lodges the Worshipful Master alone first gives the G. or R.S., next the Worshipful Master and Senior Warden, and thirdly the Worshipful Master, the War- dens, and the whole of the Brethren. The words accompany the s.... in each case—that as, they are spoken first by the Worshipful Master alone, then by the Worshipful Master and the Sentov Warden together, and thirdly by all together.)
This is mentioned as the survival of a curious custom; not as an paaele to be followed.
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Etiquette within the Lodge
RAISING.
The Ceremony of Raising may now be taken (see p. 338).
The Sheet must be fully spread, and never folded either at the commencement or sub- sequently.
The Master’s Light must never be extin- guished while the Lodge is open; neither “may it by any means be shaded or obscured; nor may any Lantern or other device, with or without a Star, be permitted.
An official communication on this impor- tant point will be found in the Appendix (pp. 450 to 452).
_ In this connection reference may be made to an ingenious ‘ deviation ’ which has crept into some Lodges in which the electric switch plays a disconcerting part at the Master’s solemn allusion to the Morning Star.
The slightest reflection will show the modernity of this undignified innovation.
The proper point at which to restore Ls. = and remove the sheet is after the retirement | of the Candidate ‘to restore,’ etc.
, OBN. | It should be remembered that the Sn. {| during the M. M. Obn. is the P. S. of a M. M. * * * % 18s
Freemasonry and its Etiquette
ORDER OF BUSINESS.
As a general rule, it will be found con- venient to commence by opening the Lodge in all the Degrees in which there is work to be done, and for the Worshipful Master to ‘resume’ up and down as occasion requires. This enables the programme to be varied and
carried out in any order without confusion. (See p. 364.)
A good rule is observed in many—per- haps the majority of—Lodges, in the order in which the ceremonies are performed. If Initiations, Passings, and Raisings have to be performed at any one meeting, the Rais- ings are taken first, the Passings next, and the Initiations last. Good reasons can be assigned for this regulation: inter alia, the number of Brethren, present is, as a rule, greater towards the end of the meeting than at the beginning, and consequently the Lodge is at its best in point of appearance; therefore it is calculated to make a better impression upon the mind of the Candidates.
Xf * * *
When from any cause either of the Principal Officers leaves his chair for any appreciable period of time, another Brother should take his place. In such cases a good
186
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custom prevails in probably the majority of Lodges—namely, the Officer who is leaving his chair takes the right hand of the Brother who is to take his place, and as it were in- ducts him into the chair which he himself has vacated. If and when the proper Officer returns, his locum tenens ofters his right hand, and assists the officer back into his chair in the same manner. This is true politeness, and therefore true etiquette. It has init a grace and dignity worthy of our Ancient and Illustrious Order.
The reason why the Principal Officers should always enter and leave their several chairs in the manner thus described is the same as that which prescribes that the Can- didates in each Degree should be led ‘ up the North, past the Worshipful Master in the East, down the South, and be conducted to the Senior Warden in the West ’—namely, that we follow ‘ the due course of the Sun,
which rises in the East, gains its meridian
lustre in the South, and sets in the West.’ (Vide Lecture in the First Degree.) * * * *
‘ SQUARING’ THE LODGE.
This should only be done ceremonially
and when prescribed in the Ritual. 187
Freemasonry and its Etiquette
In the ordinary peregrinations of the members or officers in the execution of their non-ceremonial duties. the attempt to ‘square’ the Lodge is distinctly a super- fluous knob or excrescence which should be knocked off by the gavel.
* * * *
CALLING OFF AND ON.
If the programme of business be a long one, it is desirable to make a break at about ‘half time.’ A definite short period for refreshment is better than the constant dis- turbance and interruption caused by Brethren retiring and returning in twos and threes.
* * * %
At the conclusion of all ceremonial work the Lodge should be resumed in the Third Degree (if not then working in that degree), and then closed in the Third Degree.
CLOSING THIRD DEGREE.
In the closings the L. is proved close tyled. The com. of the S. Ss. demands consider- able care. The Ws. leave their places by the left side, and stand to order, r.f. in h. of 1. The J. W. takes Sp., gives P. G. leading 188
Etiquette within the Lodge
from 2 to 3, elevates hs., and under them whs. P. W.; recovers, takes Sp., gives S. of Sj 0f S.5- BUS woPsiiGieks; andi whs. W. of M. M.; recovers, salutes, and returns to his place by the right side.
The S. W. takes up position facing W. M., - and asks the W. M. to receive the S. Ss.
The W. M. descends from Ped. by the S. E. side, and takes up position immediately in front of it, rf. in h. of 1.
The S. W. then repeats what J. W. has already done; with the exception that the Ws. are audible.
They both return to places. They should, on resuming their several positions, re-enter their respective places on the side opposite. to that by which they left them.
The W. M. confirms S. Ss., and eventually: directs the S. W. to close the L.
The W. M. —g with L. H., still standing to order with P. S. of M. M.
The S. W. closes the L.; all dis. Sn. and. recover in unison; gives —.
The J. W. repeats =.
The I. G. ks; T.replies.
The J. D. attends toT. B. Thel. P. M. attends to S. and Cs.
All sit if, and when, W. M. sits, not before.
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CLOSING SECOND DEGREE.
Usually without pause, the L. is proved close tyled.
The discovery of the S. S. in the C. of the Bdg. is announced, and after prayer by the W. M. the S. W. is directed-to close the L.; the W. M. — with L. H. still standing to order as a F. C.
The S. W. closes L. and gives —g.
The J. W. gives =.
The I. G. gives ks.; T. replies.
All sit when W. M. sits, not before.
MoTiIons PURSUANT TO NOTICE.
The Lodge being now in the First Degree, if there is any motion of which notice has been given, it may now be discussed.
The discussion must follow strictly the ordered lines of regulated debate (p. 356).
The Worshipful Master is the supreme ruler, and when he has decided points of order or other matters of graver importance, he must on no account permit any appeal to the Lodge from his decision.
The only possible appeal from the decision of the Master is to Provincial Grand Lodge or to Grand Lodge, as the case may be.
Igo
Etiquette within the Lodge
First RISING.
After the conclusion of all ceremonial work and masonic business (if any), and while the Lodge is still open in the First Degree, the Worshipful Master gives one =, which is followed by the Wardens; he then rises and says: ‘Brethren! I rise for the first time to ask if any Brother has aught to propose for the good of Freemasonry in general, or of this (naming it) Lodge in particular.’
On this occasion or ‘ first rising’ initiates and joining members are proposed, and _ Notices of Motion (other than financial) are given.
It is generally understood that notice of any motion of more than minor importance should be given at a regular meeting of the Lodge, and that the motion itself should be set forth in the Summons convoking the meeting at which it is to be brought forward. It is obvious that Brethren who were not | present when the notice was given have a clear right to be duly notified by circular of the terms and scope of the motion, and of the meeting at which it is to be discussed.
x * * *
When speaking to the Worshipful Master - on occasions other than those prescribed ‘.n XgI
Freemasonry and its Etiquette
the Ceremonies, the correct method on commencing to speak is to salute and dis. the Sn. of the degree xm which the Lodge is then working; and on finishing to do similarly. It looks awkward, besides being inconvenient, to keep the Sn. up during a speech.
Initial letters, representing the names of the Officers, as, for example, W.M., S. W., J. W., and so on to I. G.,- are only used in order to save space in printing. No ab- breviations of any kind should be used in the Lodge at any time, upon any occasion. The Worshipful Master should never be ad- dressed as ‘W. M..’ either during the Cere- monies or at any other period during the meeting. One sometimes hears the Master addressed as ‘Worshipful.’ This is altogether inexcusable, being totally devoid of the respect due to the high position ~which the Master holds. |
Past Masters may sometimes be beard to — address the Worshipful Master as ‘ Worship-. ful Sir,’ thus implying (we presume) the per- fect equality of themselves with the Master. . This is a mistaken idea altogether. The Worshipful Master, during the period of his
ure of that Office, is paramount over all, 192
Etiquette within the Lodge
over every member of the Lodge, be he Past Master or Entered Apprentice; there is no exception to this rule.
Unfortunately, habits of this kind are con- tagious, and we hear occasionally a Junior Warden (not being a Past Master) reply, ‘I
am, Worshipful Sir’; and others below the * rank even of Junior Warden are apt to follow
the bad example. All such deviations from established rule and order, and from the etiquette of the Lodge, should be strictly guarded against and repressed, whoever may be the offender in this respect, and whatever may be his status in the Lodge. |
In the case of one Past Master addressing another, ‘ Worshipful Brother’ would be a better term. ‘Sir’ belongs to the outer world; it has no flavour of Freemasonry about it; it is better to leave it behind when we enter the Lodge. In the not improbable case of one Past Master acting as Master pro tempore, and another Past Master acting as an officer, in any capacity, if from any cause the officer should have to address the Acting Master, he should address him as ‘Worshipful Master.’ Although not the reigning W. M., he is, for the time being, the Master of the Lodge, and thereby invested
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with plenary powers, and fully entitled to the honours due to the actual Worshiptul Master. 2 * * SECOND RISING.
After an interval of time the —# are given as before, and the question is repeated, substituting the words ‘ for the second time.’ On the ‘second rising’ financial matters are disposed of, and notices of motion re- lating to finance are given.
* * * &
THIRD RISING.
Again, after an interval, the =—% and | the question are repeated ‘for the third | time.’
It is specially to be noted that the Master asks these questions only when the Lodge is opened in the First Degree, and for a very sufficient reason. In the discussion of any motion, or of any subject that may come up during the meeting: of the Lodge, an Entered Apprentice, wko is a subscribing member, has as clear a right to vote upon the matter under discussion as any other member of the Lodge. For this reason the questions mentioned in the preceding para-
194
Etiquette within the Lodge
graph are generally reserved until after the ceremonial business of the Lodge kas been disposed of.
Another advantage is gained by delaying discussions, and the proposition of Candi- dates, or of joining members, until the latter portion of thesitting—namely, that Brethren, whose ‘ public or private avocations’ have precluded the possibility of an early attend- ance at the Lodge, will probably have arrived, and they may then be enabled to make any proposition, or to take a part in any deliberation or discussion having for its object ‘ the good of Freemasonry in general, or of their own Lodge in particular.’
On the ‘third rising,’-‘hearty good wishes’ are given to the W. M.
Some correspondence appeared in 18go in | the Freemason upon the question of the right of visitors to tender to the Lodge in which | they are guests ‘hearty good wishes’ from | the Lodges of which they are severallv } members. Most of the letters were of an i inquiring character; the respective writers } wanted to know if they had or had not been i rightly informed as to Grand Lodge having 1 expressed an opinion ‘unfavourable to the } continuance of the custom.’ Grand Lodge | 195
Freemasonry and its Etiquette
has expressed no opinion favourable or, otherwise upon the subject.
The opinion of the late Grand Registrar of the Order was taken upon the question, and he gave it to the effect ‘ that no Brother has the right to convey the good wishes, hearty or otherwise, of his own Lodge to any other Lodge without the permission of his own Worshipful Master.’ Nevertheless, it is an ancient custom, kindly, genial, fraternal, harmless in itself if used in moderation, and genuinely Masonic; it existed before we were born, it will endure long after we are buried.
In the meantime we may safely go on in, the old way, giving and receiving ‘ hearty good wishes,’ as the custom has been ‘ from a time of which the memory of man runneth not to the contrary.’
CLOSING THE LODGE.
The Lodge is proved close tyled. The S. W. is interrogated as to his constant place in the Lodge, and after solemn prayer by the W. M., the S. W. is directed to close: the L.; the W. M. eo with L. H. stilh. standing to order as E. A.
The S. W. closes the L. and gives —§
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Etiquette within. the Lodge
The J. W. announces the next meeting, and gives=-g. J.D. adjusts T. B.
The I. G. gives ks., and the T. replies.
The Lodge must be ‘ closed.’ There is no power to ‘adjourn’ it.
The I. P. M. calls on the Brethren to lock up the Ss. in a safe repository, uniting in the ect. fr. ,
Sometimes the Bretisren join in a pious ejaculation: “May God preserve the Craft,’
but it is unorthodox and quite redundant, seeing that the W. M. in the final prayer has already besought the G. A. O. T. U. to pre- serve the Order by cementing and adorning it with every moral and social virtue.
The Lodge being closed, the customary closing Masonic Ode (see p. 271) may be sung.
.PROCESSION.
At the conclusion of the Ode the Director of Ceremonies calls on the Brethren to re- main standing while the W. M., Wardens, ‘Grand Officers, Members of London Rank, and distinguished Visitors leave the Lodge.
. The procession is formed in the following “manner; the Organist, meanwhile, furnishing suitable instrumental accompaniment:
The D. C. signals the J. D. to proceed.
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Freemasonry and its Etiquette
The J.D. ‘squares’ the L. and picks up the S.D. They proceed in company to the left of the J. W.’s Pedestal. He descends and follows them to the left of the S. W.’s Pedestal. The S. W. descends, and the quartet ad- vance to the left of the W. M.’s Pedestal. The W. M. descends and follows the Wardens. The P. Ms. fall in behind, and the Grand Officers, Members of London Rank, and Visitors of high degree join in their order of precedence (juniors first inter se), and so all march out; ordinary Visitors and the Brethren of the Lodge following at the end.
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