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In dealing with such a complex subject
it is difficult to lay down any hard and fast rules.
It is perhaps as well, to bear firmly in mind the charge
given to us after the Annual Installation of a new worshipful
Master.
"Humility in each is an essential
qualification."
Bearing that charge firmly in mind,
the subject should be considered more as a case of "what
one ought to do" rather than "what one is
entitled to do."
We in India in general, and in Western
India in particular, have a most unusual situation (
not experienced anywhere else in the Masonic world )
of having four different Constitutions with their own
peculiar regalia, customs, traditions and even signs.
In terms of seniority which is determined
by age, that is one when a Grand Lodge was founded,
the line up is English, Irish, Scottish and our own
Grand Lodge of India which is the youngest of the four
bodies. You would all have noticed on numerous occasions,
and particularly at the last Meeting of the Regional
Grand Lodge of Western India, the processional entries
of these four constitutions. The principle is the same
as in any Lodge - that is, Junior first in and last
out. The host, by virtue of Opening and Closing the
Lodge, first in and last out.
In addition, we have in the Grand Lodge
of India, four Regions whose precedence is regulated
by the dates of the Original Appointments of their Regional
Grand Master, at present it being West, East. South
and North.
At Regional Grand Lodge Meetings, Sister
Constitutions enter first, being the guests, followed
by Sister Regions being Members of the same Grand Lodge
as the Host Region.
REGALIA : "What to wear and when"
seems to be a constant questions occurring all the time.
The answer is simply a matter of good manners. The basic
principle is of course, to wear the regalia of one's
highest rank. That would be fine if we had only one
Constitution as in other countries, but we have four.
Thus, when attending a meeting of a Lodge of which you
are a member, it is good manners to wear the Regalia
of that Lodge. Thus a Past Deputy Grand master, Grand
Lodge of India, should not normally enter his Lodge
in full dress regalia with Chain and Gauntlets, thus
making the Worshipful Master look like an office-boy.
Such Grand Officer is bound to be a Past Master.
Hence a Past Master's Apron and Collar
of that Lodge would be a proper dress, alternatively,
an undress Apron and Collar of a Grand Officer could
be worn. Since, however, economically, very few Grand
Officers can afford both full-dress and undress regalia
a Past Master's Apron and Collar would be best suited
for such an occasion. If, however, such a Grand Officer
is an Active Officer of the Lodge, such as Secretary,
Director of Ceremonies, Chaplain or Treasurer, there
is no problem, as he should be dressed in the Regalia
of such an office.
In visiting other Lodges, again it
depends on "where you go and who are you."
A Grand or Regional Grand Officer, visiting a Lodge
within the Grand Lodge of India, where he is not a member,
does of course, wear the regalia of his highest rank
in G.L.I. The same officer visiting a Lodge of Sister
Constitution where he is or was a member, should naturally
wear either a past Master's Apron and Collar of that
Lodge if he is still a Member or District or Provincial
Regalia (if he holds such a rank) if he is no longer
a member. The same principle applies when visiting a
Lodge of another Constitution, even if he was never
a member of that Lodge, although a present or past member
of another Lodge within that Constitution. In simple
language, do not show off your high ranks of another
Constitution, which you could not or did not gain in
the original Constitution which you are again visiting.
This comes under the heading of "humility in each."
At times, it is better to avoid embarrassment and not
to accept such invitations.
REGALIA at Grand or Regional Grand
Functions : Whilst at tending such functions, obviously
the Regalia of the highest rank is worn. Needless to
say, a Grand of Regional Grand Officer of the G. L.
I. Cannot turn up in the regalia of a District or Provincial
Officer of another Constitution. In our bodies we must
wear our regalia. This is what our Grand Lodge and other
Grand Lodge have prescribed. There may be cases, where
a person may possess the regalia of a District or provincial
Grand Officer but has not yet got round to providing
himself with the regalia of G. L. I. In such cases,
he must wear a simple Past Master's Apron and collar.
Whilst acting as an Officer at Grand Lodge functions,
a Regional functions, a Regional Grand Officer could
be dressed (if he does not possess Grand Lodge regalia
) in Regional regalia, but a Grand Officer actin as
an Officer at a Regional function, should refrain from
being dressed in Grand Lodge regalia. This is particularly
important in Regional deputations. The practice of Grand
Officers presenting themselves in Grand officer'' regalia,
whilst being called upon by the Regional Grand Master
to attend hi in deputation, when they also hold active
offices in the Region or to officiate for active officers,
is not really recommended nor appreciated. As an example,
I now hold the rank of Pas Deputy Regional Grand Master
in the Region. Should I be called upon to attend the
Regional Grand Master in deputation, I will obviously
bring my Grand Lodge regalia, but in the event of being
finally called upon to act as an active officer, such
as Sword bearer, Director of Ceremonies or Warden at
such a deputation, then I would obviously change my
Grand Lodge regalia into Regional regalia, wearing the
Collar of the Office I would be expected to Perform
at such a deputation.
Seniority at Deputations : The rule
is - an active rank takes precedence over a Past Rank,
even though the latter may be higher. Thus a ruling
Senior Regional Grand Warden in a Regional Deputation
takes precedence over a Past Deputy Regional Grand Master.
Again we come under the heading of "humility in
each." It can cause no end of embarrassment if
this rule is forgotten and someone decides to "pull
rank."
Seating in Lodges : A simple rule to
follow is - Members of the Lodge on the left of the
Worshipful Master, always provided such visitors wear
the regalia of such a rank. A ruling Worshipful Master
of another Lodge should be seated on the right of the
Worshipful Master if there are sufficient seats available,
after accommodating Grand and Regional Grand Officers
otherwise on his left, but a seat on the dais should
be found. It is needless to say, that a Grand r Regional
Grand Officer visiting a Lodge, wearing a Master mason's
Apron, or a Past Master's Apron and Collar has no right
to claim precedence - in fact, a Past Master wearing
a Master Mason's Apron in most Lodges will simply not
be asked to sit on the dais, nor can he claim to have
been insulted. The Lodge Director of Ceremonies and
the Worshipful Master are merely following the rule
"accordingly to the cloth you wear".
Ruling Worshipful Master : A ruling
Worshipful Master, visiting another Lodge does not wear
his Worshipful Master's Collar. He merely wears an Apron
with Levels but no Collar. Two Brethren wearing a Collar
with the square would signify there are two Masters
in the Lodge, which cannot be. It is also confusing
to the Visitors. We have recently visited a Lodge where
two Brethren wore the Collars of a Worshipful Master.
Enquiries revealed that one was a visiting Worshipful
Master of another Lodge and the other, whilst acting
as the Worshipful Master, was in fact a Past Master
of that Lodge. The Master's Collar can ONLY BE WORN
BY HIMSELF AND NOBODY ELSE. A Past master occupying
the Chair MUST wear a Past Master's Collar. Thus the
presence of a Brother wearing an Apron with Levels but
no Collar should indicate he is a visiting Worshipful
Master. A past Master should wear a Past Master's Collar.
If they do not have their own Pas Master's Collars,
then a Master Mason's Apron will have to do. You have
the rank - provide yourself with the insignia - or do
not claim the privilege such a rank entails - is a golden
rule.
Jewels : A Grand Officer, dressed in
Grand Regalia does not wear any jewels whatsoever, except
the Most Worshipful the Grand Master's Order of Service
to Masonry, his regalia signifying he has reached the
summit of his profession. A regional Grand Officer must
use his own discretion in this respect though normally
he should desist from wearing jewels attending any Regional
function in Regional Regalia.
In Lodges, the first s the Royal Arch
Jewel worn by all who have reached that Supreme Degree,
indicating they have completed the cycle of their Mason's
duties. This is then followed by a Past Master's Jewel,
followed by a Founder's Jewel and ending with a Decennial
Jewel. All these are entitled to any of these.
Past Z's jewels should not normally
be worn in Craft Lodges, whilst Mark and Mariner Jewels
must never be worn in Craft Lodges or Chapters.
In Royal Arch Chapters, it is again
the Royal Arch Jewel followed by the Past Z. Jewel.
Founders of Chapter (if any) and ending with Decennial
Jewel. A Past Master's Jewel should not normally be
worn in Royal Arch Chapters.
Salutations and Greetings : Grand and
Regional Grand Officers are only entitled to salutations
whilst leading deputations or acting as representatives
of the Grand Master or the Regional Grand Master. The
number of salutes are according to the number such a
representative is himself entitled to. For example,
a Deputy or Assistant Regional Grand Master is entitled
to FIVE, but if he hold RIGHT WORSHIPFUL Rank, then
he gets SEVEN, but a Brother representing a Regional
Grand Master only gets the number of salutes according
to his Grand Rank.
Greetings on behalf of Grand Lodge
can only given when so authorised by Grand master by
Officers holding RIGHT WORSHIPFUL Rank. Greetings on
behalf of Regional Grand Lodge are given only by the
Regional Grand Master, his Deputy or Assistant or by
his representative, if so directed by the Regional Grand
Master, not otherwise.
When greetings are tendered on behalf
of other Lodges, a member of deputation may respond
or associate by standing up when someone else is giving
on behalf, but does not do so himself. Likewise, whilst
attending meetings of a Lodge of which you are a member,
you do not give greetings on behalf of another Lodge
you may belong to, you can only associate yourself when
someone else does so.
Greetings on behalf of other Lodges
are given in the third enquiry, after the Secretary
has finished and after Lodge members have made their
proposals, if any.
of Examination of Visitors : Unless
you have "sat in Lodge" with such a visitor,
or someone else present can vouch he has done so, do
of embarrassment. Visitors cannot and will not mind
such a examination.
Variations of Ritual : After the formation
of the Grand Lodge of India, a directive was issued
permitting the Foundation Lodges to follow the rituals
they have followed upto then. Subsequently, Grand Lodge,
after a lot of deliberations, have issued a separate
rituals incorporating therein, what they consider the
best features of the E. C., S. C. and I. C. rituals.
These new rituals were to be followed by all Lodges
which came into existence after the formation of Grand
Lodge. What is today's result ? In my opinion, a complete
disregard of the directives or simply chaos. The Foundation
Lodges in most cases use a combination of their old
rituals with the Grand Lodge of India rituals. New Lodges
invariably come out with their own interpretations,
which they cover up under the heading of "tradition".
The Foundation Lodges as well as new Lodges must scrupulously
and efficiently follow the prescribed G. L. I. Rituals
to the letter. Tradition cannot overrule a rituals prescribed
by Grand Lodge. How often do we see the so called "short
closing" in the Third and Second Degree ? There
is nothing in the Grand Lodge of India Ritual describing
such "short closing". True, it has been tacitly
permitted, but it is not right and to say the least
is a slovenly method. It adds to the dignity of the
ceremony if the closing is done in full, according to
the ritual. In practice we find that Lodges who take
pride in their working would not dream of "short
closing". Is this, therefore, merely an excuse
for not having bothered to practice such closing ?
We have a Grand Lodge of our own with
our own peculiar Ritual - why not follow it to the letter
? You do not see Scottish or Irish Lodges using someone
else's ritual. Why should we do so ? A free evening
when there are no candidates could with profit be utilised
by practicing opening and closing ceremonies.
Rehearsal Ceremonies : Not every Lodge
has a working at every meeting. In many instances the
officers do a lot of study to prepare themselves for
a particular ceremony only to find the candidate did
not turn up. In such instances, the Worshipful Master
would be well advised to direct a "rehearsal"
of the ceremony which was to have been worked. It is
a good practice for himself as well as all his officers
and will keep alive the enthusiasm of the Junior Officers.
Deputations at Installation Meetings
: - In may Lodges, there is a practice of opening the
Lodge at about lunch time, disposing of Lodge Minutes
and other routine matters, opening in the Second and
Third Degree, resuming in the first and "calling
off". In the evening at the slated time the Lodge
is received. Thus within a maximum of two hours the
whole Installation Meeting is over. After all, Minutes
of a Lodge is not of interest to any visitor, especially
if it contains some "embarrassing" items.
Nobody is interested in watching lengthy "openings".
The purpose is to install the Worshipful Master - so
let us see that ceremony rather than sit through fortyfive
minutes of purely routine business. I strongly recommend
this practice - coupled with punctuality. Deputations
are called for at 6.30 p.m. - and there are times when
the Lodge is not ready to receive the Regional Grand
Master for another hour. Thus tempers at times are somewhat
strained.
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