Hints and tips for Newcomers to the Craft.
Masonic Clothes.
1) The wearing of white gloves as part of Masonic dress is almost universal and you should acquire a pair of white gloves as soon as you can. They are available in the Bar in the Liverpool Masonic Hall all proceeds going to the Liverpool Masonic Hall Building Fund.
2) The normal dress code at meetings is dark lounge suits, an all white shirt and black tie, black socks and shoes. Ties should be free from motifs, but you will see brethren wearing the ‘Craft’ tie, (Blue background and covered with gold squares and compasses) which may be purchased from United Grand Lodge.
In addition, the Province of West Lancashire has its own distinctive tie which can be purchased from the Group Charity Steward.
3) At installation meetings, it is normal to wear evening dress (dinner suit) with a black bow tie, a white non frilly shirt, black socks and shoes and white gloves. If you are in any doubt check what the circular says about the dress code.
4) Exceptions to this are the Officers of Grand and Provincial Grand Lodge who may wear morning dress with grey stripped trousers, and sometimes with a tailcoat.
5) Ladies evenings are usually formal affairs and evening dress is the normal dress code.
Admittance to Lodges.
6) When you arrive at a lodge, you must ‘sign in’. In your own lodge, you sign your name in the section with the heading ‘Members’. When visiting, sign under the heading ‘Visitors’. Sometimes there may also be a visitor’s card to fill in. Your ‘rank’ is Entered Apprentice (E.A.), Fellowcraft (F.C), or Master Mason (M.M). You do not write in the office you have in Lodge Unless it is the Worshipful Master (W.M.).
7) Some lodges will ask you to come in after the lodge is already open and everyone appears to have gone in. Check with the Tyler which degree the lodge is opened in, because you will salute the Master with the salute of that degree when you enter. A Director of Ceremonies (D.C.) will usually be waiting for you as you enter the lodge room and after your salute and brief apology if you are late, he will take you to your seat. Before you sit, turn and face the D.C., and give a ‘court bow’ (i.e. drop your chin to your chest) and sit.
8) When visiting a new lodge, you may be checked to see that you are indeed a Freemason. This is called ‘proving’. The officer carrying out this task is usually a Past Master and is likely to ask you to do things as: ‘Advance to me and show me the sign of an Entered Apprentice Freemason’.
He may then go on to ask you for the grip and word of an Entered Apprentice Freemason, take his hand and wait for him, he will say ‘Give me the word’ You reply, ‘At my initiation, I was taught to be cautious’.
In a similar way, any visitor you invite to your own lodge, BUT ONE WHOM YOU HAVE NOT SAT IN LODGE WITH, will probably need to be ‘proved’, you should tell the Director of Ceremonies well in advance of the start time so he can arrange the testing.
9) When the lodge is opened and visitors are admitted, listen for the name of your guest and after the announcement, stand, face and salute the W.M. and say ‘W.M., I can vouch for this Brother’ provide of course you have sat in lodge with him. If not and he has been tested (proved), someone else will stand and make the announcement.
Signs, Prayers and Odes.
10) When visiting, you should always give the salutes you have been taught in your own lodge; for example in the 2nd Degree, the left hand palm may face either forward or inwards. When obligations are in progress, either the sign of the degree or the sign of fidelity is held, do NOT copy others in the room that may be different from you; hold the sign practiced in your own lodge.
11) When prayers are said, for example at the opening of the lodge, hold the salute of the degree (in some lodges) or drop to the sign of fidelity (Hand over the region of the heart). When you give the sign of fidelity, always give the sign with the thumb UP for obligations and DOWN for prayers.
12) Many lodges have opening and closing ode, Copies of the words are usually available on the seats in the temple. If they are not provided, do not feel embarrassed by not joining in the singing.
At the Opening of the Lodge At the Closing of the Lodge.
Opening Ode. Closing Ode.
Hail, Eternal, by who aid Now the evening shadows closing,
All created things are made; Warn from toil to peaceful rest,
Heaven and Earth Thy vast design; Mystic arts and rites reposing,
Hear us, Architect Divine. Sacred in each faithful breast.
May our work, begun in Thee, God of light ! Whose love unceasing
Ever blest with order be; Doth to all thy works extend,
And may we when labours cease Crown our order with thy blessing,
Part in harmony and Peace. Build; sustain us to the end.
By Thy glorious Majesty, Humbly now we bow before Thee
By the Trust we place in Thee, Grateful for Thy aid divine;
By the Badge and Mystic sign, Everlasting power and glory,
Hear us, Architect Divine. Mighty Architect ! Be Thine.
So mote it be. So mote it be.
Charity Plate
13) Many lodges ‘honour the Charities’ in lodge. It is well to carry a small amount of change for this purpose. Minimum normal donation is £1 or £2.
Festive Board (Dining)
14) If you are asked to reply to a speech, never tell a risqué joke, never swear and keep your speech short. You should always begin :- ‘Worshipful Master, Officers of Grand Lodge (if there are any present), Officers of Provincial Grand Lodge and Brethren.’ As you close your speech, you should thank the Brother who proposed it and the Brethren for their attention to your response.
At the conclusion of your reply, the DC will call for ‘honours according to that toast’ which will be 1 knock for all Master Masons, 3 knocks for Masters, Past Masters, Provincial Officers and Grand Officers. Other senior officials have a greater number than 3.
15) It is quite normal for new brethren to perform the everyday (and very important) tasks at the Festive Board, especially when they have been appointed Stewards. Tasks such as serving wine, selling raffle tickets or collecting dining fees for the Treasurer.
We have all done it!
You will often hear the ‘Phrase’ ‘Once a Steward always a Steward’ regard these tasks as an excellent way of getting to know visiting Brethren in particular.
Festive Board - Entered Apprentice
At the Festive Board it is usual for the Brethren to welcome the newly initiated Brother into the lodge and Masonry in particular, as well as the proposing of a toast to the Health and Happiness of the Brother, the Brethren usually sing ‘The entered Apprentice Song’ the words of which speak for its self.
Entered Apprentice Song.
Come let us prepare, we Brothers that are,
Assembled on Merry Occasion,
Let’s Drink laugh and sing,
Our wine has a Spring,
Here’s Health to an Accepted Mason.
The World is in Pain our Secrets to Gain,
But let them still Wonder and Gaze on
They Ne’er can Define, the Word or the Sign.
Of a Free and Accepted Mason.
‘Tis this and Tis that,
they cannot tell what,
Who so many great Men of the Nation,
Should Aprons put on and make themselves one,
With a Free and Accepted Mason.
Then Join Hand in Hand, by each Brother firm stand,
Let’s be Merry and put a Bright Face on,
What Mortal can Boast so Noble a Toast,
As a Free and Accepted Mason.
Almoner’s Toast.
Towards the close of the festive board, usually at 9.00pm or as close as possible to 9.00 pm, (when the hands of the clock are square just as you stood tonight in the North East of the Lodge) the brethren drink to the health of absent Brethren, their absence may be due to illness, business, family commitments or holiday. The toast is usually proposed by the Almoner of the Lodge or a Senior Brother, it is a time to reflect and think about those Brethren who for whatever reason are unable to attend, and it is the hope of the Brethren present, that absent Brethren are thinking of them and raising a glass to their health and that they will soon be amongst the brethren at lodge.
As Liverpool is a seafaring port, and although there are not many seafaring Brethren today the Toast is usually accompanied by the singing of the following two verses of that very well know hymn Eternal Father especially adapted for this purpose.
Eternal Father.
Eternal Father Strong to Save,
Who’s Arm doth bind the Restless Wave,
Who bidd’st the Mighty Ocean Deep
Its Own Appointed Limits Keep;
O hear us when we cry to Thee
for those in peril on the Sea.
O Architect of Love and Power,
Our Brethrens Shield in Dangers Hour,
From Rock and Tempest, Fire and Foe
Protect us were so were we go,
Thus ever More, we cry to Thee
For Those in Peril on the Sea.
So mote it be.
Tyler’s Toast
At the festive board the final toast of the evening is the Tyler’s toast, this is a very apt way of re-capping everything that has happened during the evening, how happy we are when we first meet each other, how generous we are to each other, and those not as fortunate as ourselves, the work that is conducted and presented during our ceremonies, the sadness of parting and how happy we will be when we meet again, that we are all equal, rich or poor, dark or fair, the rank is but the guinea stamp the man himself the gold, that the Worshipful Master is the head of our particular lodge, our thoughts for those unable to attend, if through ill health or the sickness of a relative or friend, we wish them a speedy relief and a quick return to full health, though business, we wish them a happy conclusion to that business, and finally to all poor and distressed freemasons thought-out the universe we wish them a speedy relief and a safe return to their native land should they so desire.
Listen to the words it, sums up a Freemason, and what masonry is all about.