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Post by Blackadder on Jan 6, 2009 21:03:51 GMT
I attended the Installation of Lodge Officers last week. I'm very interested to hear about the ceremony and how it differs around the world. Personally I thought our ceremony was very undignified. Is the Installation open or closed? etc. I'm looking forward to hearing from the learned Brothers who frequent this forum.
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Post by lauderdale on Jan 6, 2009 22:36:11 GMT
In LDH and indeed in UGLE, the Installation of the Master Elect and of the Officers of their year takes place in a Tyled Lodge and non-Masons are not present. The Lodge opens in the First Degree and after the usual business such as Minutes and Correspondence, Apologies for Absence etc, PMs are asked to Occupy the Wardens' Chairs and to act as IG. The Officers of the outgoing Master's Year are asked to line up in the North bringing their Collars, the RWM will then address a few words to them and they pass round the Lodge, salute the RWM , hand their collars usually to the IPM or DC who puts them on a stand and take a seat in the Columns. The Lodge is then Opened in the Second Degree, and the Master Elect is presented and Obligated. The Lodge is then Opened in the Third Degree and all below the rank of an Installed Master are asked to Cover the Temple (leave).
A Board of Installed Masters is then Opened and the Master Elect is then admitted and the Inner Workings take place and they are installed in The Chair. The Working Tools of an Installed Master are presented, they are Saluted by the Installed Masters present and they then Invest the IPM. The Board of Installed Masters is closed, and the Master Masons are admitted, pass round the Lodge, the RWM is proclaimed in the East and is then saluted. The WTs of a Master Mason are presented. The Lodge is Closed in the Third Degree, the FCs admitted and a similar procedure is followed the RWM this time being proclaimed in the West, etc and the Lodge Closed in the Second Degree. The EAs are admitted and a similar process occurs with the RWM being proclaimed for the Third time in the South.
There then follows the Investiture of the Officers commencing with the WSW and ending with the Tyler. Then follow the Addresses to the RWM, the Wardens and the Brethren of that Lodge below the rank of Warden. The Lodge is then in the control of the newly Installed RWM and the Meeting will continue as usual with the Risings, Greetings and Closing of the Lodge
Afterwards UGLE Lodges will have their banquet style Festive Board and this is as is usually the case in UGLE this is for Masons only. In LDH we would normally have a buffet style Festive Board and with the permission of the R. W. Master it is posible for non-Masons to attend.
I hope this is of assistance Bro Blackadder.
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Post by keith on Jan 7, 2009 2:25:51 GMT
Pretty much the same as down here Steve, together with having the ladies in refectory (but this is not automatic, frequently a separate function is arranged for them and they join the Brethren in Refectory at the end of their 'do'.
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Harmony
Member
The Craft ; 1241 & 1386 & 1706 (Hon) (SC). OSM - Polnoon Castle Conclave. HRA - Rockmount & Camphi
Posts: 337
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Post by Harmony on Jan 7, 2009 8:43:07 GMT
Almost exactly the same here in Scotland, although the Office Bearers are often installed while the installing board go to another room (or vice versa). This is not universally done, although it does save some time.
The other difference that I can see is that the Depute Master and Substitute Master are invested with their Jewels prior to the Wardens.
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Post by lauderdale on Jan 7, 2009 8:58:03 GMT
Alas we do not have a Depute Master and Substitute Master in either UGLE style Masonry or in LDH here in England although I can see much to recommend these Offices.
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Post by corab on Jan 7, 2009 13:01:26 GMT
Alas we do not have a Depute Master and Substitute Master in either UGLE style Masonry or in LDH here in England ... Those of us who work the Scottish Working do!
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Post by keith on Jan 8, 2009 6:56:49 GMT
Under GLNZ we have a Deputy Master who is the Master's personal appointment. The only restriction is that the appointee must be an Installed Master. The IPM sits on the Master's left, the Deputy Master on his right
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Harmony
Member
The Craft ; 1241 & 1386 & 1706 (Hon) (SC). OSM - Polnoon Castle Conclave. HRA - Rockmount & Camphi
Posts: 337
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Post by Harmony on Jan 8, 2009 9:27:50 GMT
Depute is an interesting office. In a lot of Scottish lodges it is part of the progression - WJW, WSW, DM, RWM.
In others (all of mine), it is effectively an honorary position. The DM is expected to take the chair in the absence of the RWM, the IPM and any other PM (so effectively never).
In some lodges Substitute Master is elected, in others it is also at the gift of the Master. These are therefore the only two non-elected positions in the Lodge (I suppose IPM is not elected either).
One difference with NZ is that I don't believe that either DM or SM require to be installed masters.
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Post by xiii on Jan 8, 2009 10:10:36 GMT
Swedish Rite lodges usually have 3 Deputy Masters. As the Master of the Chair (WM) potentially holds office for two terms of 4 years, with at least 20 meetings per year, these are absolutely necessary; they usually sit in the chair as often as the WM. We also tend to have larger lodges (mine has about 260 members), so they also handle a lot of the day-to-day responsibilities.
Our Master installs himself in the Chair, and since he answers directly to the Sovereign Grand Master of the Order, the First Deputy Master is actually considered the highest office in the lodge.
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ruffashlar
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Lodge Milncroft No. 1515 (GLoS), Govanhill Royal Arch Chapter 523 (S.G.R.A.C.S.)
Posts: 2,184
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Post by ruffashlar on Jan 27, 2009 14:33:25 GMT
Another difference between Scotland and everywhere else (and perhaps it's only found in the Province of Glasgow, the Jurisdiction I happen to have experience of; I haven't enquired what they do elsewhere) is that, though you can't ordinarily "fill in" for someone else in an Office you haven't been Installed in, the Officebearers here all begin the Installation Ceremony in the Office they are yet to be Installed in.
They also tend to be wearing the Office-appropriate apron, and are then invested with the Jewel and Sash of their Office as they are called by one of the Installing Masters, this investiture usually occurring while the other Master is in the Adjacent.
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