Normally the leader of an association is called as a President, or as a Chairman, or as a Secretary. In Masonry the leader is called as a Master. History tells us that Masonry is many centuries old and the English rituals have originated from Europe where leaders were called as Kings, Lords, Knights etc. Only in Masonry the leader is called as a Master. In Masonry everY word has been rightly and aptly chosen and therefore there must be a reason for calling our leader as a 'Master'.

Master is one who teaches an art. Dancing is an art and that is why the Dance teacher is called as a dance master. "Drawing is an art and that is why in schools we call the "person who teaches drawing as a drawing master and not as drawing teacher. Similarly in Masonary the leader is supposed to teach the Masons the Masonic art and that is the reason we call him as a Master. Because the Master teaches, we bend to the Master in gratitude (third degree closing).

When a student is sent to a school for the first time, we normally say that he is been admitted into the school. We dont say that he has joined the school. Similarly in Freemasonry the ritual says that the candidate is 'admitted' into mysteries and privileges of Freemasonry and not as the candidate has joined the mysteries aIid privileges of Freemasonry. This word admitted indicates that a person has joined Masonry to learn and the Lodge is a teaching institution.

In all regular Masonic temples, the Master and the Wardens are seated on a pedestal. Normally in any teaching institution, the teacher is always seated on an elevated platform and the students below him. This is the arrangement that has been universally followed from the very beginning. Even as of as the Vedic days, the same system of seating was practiced. The Vedic text is Galled asUpanisad meaning the dialogue between the Master seated above and the student below.

In a teaching institution there are Wardens who assist the Head Master. The Wardens take the responsibility of looking after a section of the students. Similarly in Masonry, the Master is assisted by the Senior Warden who is incharge of the Brethren in the North and the Junior Warden in-charge of the Brethren in the south.

All these factors only indicate that Masonry is a place of study, where the Master is the teacher, where the Masons are the students and the Masonic Art is the subject.

By W.Bro.V.Prithiviraman
Lodge Jyothi No. 253