The Lodge Room

Freemasonry is called a Craft, partly because of its roots in medieval stonemasons’ practices and because it requires training given in the form of initiation ceremonies of those wanting to join. Within each Lodge, the members elect officers to run the activities of the Lodge. Office holders within a Lodge are entitled to wear symbols know as ‘jewels’ that are based on the tools used by medieval stonemasons.

The Lodge room, sometimes referred to as ‘the temple’ and has a typical layout. This is where a lodge holds its regular meetings. If you start visiting other lodges you will find they vary as some premises are purpose-built, whilst others are converted or even shared with other functions.

The point of entry always is in the west and facing east.

The WM sits in the east, the SW in the west and the JW in the south. The secretary and treasurer are normally located on the north side

The other junior officers vary somewhat in location from lodge to lodge, but generally are in the positions shown on the picture above.

The lodge banner and warrant are displayed in the room at the south east although this often varies from Lodge to Lodge.

Types of Lodge Officers

Worshipful Master

The qualification required to be eligible for election to master is that the brother should have served for a full year as a senior warden or junior warden in a regular lodge.

The master is effectively the chief executive of the company. Nothing much can happen at a lodge meeting until the master starts the proceedings and the members would be in for a marathon session if the master didn’t close them!

In between the opening and closing of the lodge, depending on the business to be transacted, the master will call upon various officers to carry out particular duties, although many will be carried out by the master himself.

In many lodges there is what may be described as ‘a ladder system’ with each officer progressing one step up the ladder at the annual installation meeting. Even in lodges employing the ‘ladder system’ it is not always strictly observed and would not normally apply to such offices as lodge secretary, DC, almoner and charity steward as these are offices that benefit from a period of continuity and are not therefore regarded as progressive.

Although the appointment of all officers, other than those elected, is as previously stated in the gift of the WM, a wise master will adhere to established sensible practice in order to maintain harmony within his lodge.

It is not compulsory for members to advance through the offices, but under normal circumstances, a member should not accept the office of warden unless he is prepared to advance to the master’s chair.

The jewel appended to the master’s collar is the square; a master’s collar may on occasion be adorned with a commemorative jewel indicating that the members of his lodge have played their part in establishing a fund, which was placed at the disposal of the Royal College of Surgeons. No other jewel or badge is permitted to be attached to any collar.

After his year as master of the lodge a Mason becomes the immediate past master (IPM).

Strictly the IPM is not an officer of the lodge, but his position is an important one, as it is his responsibility to sit beside the master, both in the lodge and the festive board (meal after the meeting), and give him support and guidance when needed.