Progress to a Provincial Grand Officer.

When you become a Mason, in lodge you are known as Brother Jones / Brown etc. when you have been Master of a lodge, you will be known as Worshipful Brother Jones.

After your year as Master, it is normal (after about 7 – 8 years) to become appointed to Provincial Grand Rank. The level to which you are appointed is dependent on your record as a Mason together with any further work you have completed since you left the chair.

You may be appointed to one of the very small number of ‘Acting’ ranks. One of the features of an acting rank is taking part in the ceremony at Provincial Grand lodge usually held in May and October.

More usual is the achievement of a ‘Past’ rank. The titles used are, for example, Pr.J.G.D. (Provincial Junior Grand Deacon) etc. for ‘Acting’ officers, who are appointed for one year only and then change to the Past rank title (PPrJGD). However some officers can be appointed to an acting rank for longer than one year, one who springs to mind being the Provincial Grand Tyler.

Later, and after distinguished service to the Craft, it is possible to be appointed to Grand Rank. Titles are P.A.G.D.C (Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies) or P.J.G.D. (Past Junior Grand Deacon) etc. an ‘Acting’ rank is very rare outside London, but the Treasurer for example would be G. Treas (then P.G.Treas), Junior Deacon, J.G.D. (then P.J.G.D.).

Officers of Grand rank are senior to those of Provincial Grand Lodge and this is reflected in their position in a procession (at the rear) into a lodge e.g. at Installation meetings. 

Other Masonic Orders.   

There are a number of branches of Masonry, sometimes called ‘Side Degrees’ which you may be asked to join. However, there is one Order of Masonry that you should join before thinking about any other, it is called The Holy Royal Arch and it is closely linked to Craft Masonry. It is often said that your Masonry is not complete until you have been exalted into the Royal Arch.

Your lodge may have its own Chapter for you to join or if you prefer (and take the opportunity) you may join a Chapter attached to another lodge and thereby extend the circle of your Masonic friends.

You will be aware of the brethren in your lodge who are Royal Arch masons and the Royal Arch Lodge contact, and they will be pleased to give you any help and answer any questions you may have about this very special Order of Masonry.

Chapters meet less frequently than Craft Lodges and the fees are also less. Regalia is often available second hand and very reasonable priced.

Ritual and learning.

There is no doubt that there are many ways of learning the pieces of ritual needed for ceremonies. The most common method is to read a few words then repeat them over and over until they are embedded into your mind before adding a few more words. Once you have the second set of words, go back to the beginning and repeat all that you have learned and so on, until you have the complete piece. Learning does not come easy for anyone, it takes time and no small amount of dedication, but there is nothing quite like the feeling of having delivered a piece, without a prompt, in a lodge and before a large audience, its very satisfying !

The Role of your Proposer and Seconder.

Your Proposer and Seconder are there to answer your questions, to provide the Candidate with support before, during and after the Initiation meeting. Prepare the Candidate for the Ceremony and make the key introductions before and after the meeting, some Candidates are lucky enough to have a Proposer or Seconder who has not only a sufficient level of knowledge, but also the time and ability to pass that knowledge on to their charge.  Unfortunately, all too often this is not the case, and through no fault of his sponsors, care of the Candidate is neglected.  Why? Perhaps the Proposer or Seconder, have an active office in the Lodge that prevents them from spending quality time with their Candidate or perhaps they are at an early stage of their own Masonic career, without the required level of knowledge to be able to answer the Candidate’s questions or even perhaps, unable to attend Lodge meetings on a regular basis, for reasons of family or business commitments.

Do not be afraid or timid to ask questions from your sponsors, if they cannot answer your question(s) ask the Worshipful Master or another Senior Past Master in your Lodge, failing that contact your Group Officials we are there to help you, should we be unable to provide you with the answer immediately we will find the answer and get back to you, that’s a promise.

Group Mentoring Responsibilities

Mentor n. Experienced and Trusted advisor (Definition from the Concise Oxford Dictionary)

Surely there can be little doubt in anyone’s mind that having welcomed our Initiate into Freemasonry, there has to be some on-going care and concern for his welfare, well-being and comfort within this new Institution of ours. We need immediately to allay any fears, worries and concerns that he might have. None of us can have any doubt that there will be so many unanswered questions after the Ceremony – we have all been there. We need to explain so much. We need to assure him that once we felt the same concerns – he is no different. We need to guide, advise, re-assure, teach and give confidence.

The Mentor should not only be, as the dictionary defines the, ‘experienced and trusted advisor’ but also a tutor, confidant, and friend. He will be somebody who can patiently explain the sometimes difficult aspects of ritual and its symbolic representations, but will also with a sense of humour convey the fun and camaraderie that is so important in our Masonic life. He should never leave his charge without arranging or making himself available for another meeting, and very importantly, be at as many of the Lodge meetings as possible so that he can monitor our new Brother’s confidence, embarrassments or obvious errors.

Our Mentor will be concerned when his charge is not at a meeting. He will make discreet enquiries. Why is he not there? Is there a problem? Can I help? Questions to be answered. 9 times out of 10 there will be good reasons. This is the role of an unobtrusive friend and companion just being there from Initiation through to, and beyond, the Master’s chair.

What about the Mentor himself? He will be, somewhat obviously, an experienced Mason, far more importantly he will be someone who is dedicated and knowledgeable, and wishes to give some of his time and experience in helping our new Brother.