Non-Progressive Offices:
The administration of a Lodge is in the hands of the Secretary and the Treasurer.
The Secretary has many tasks laid down in the Book of Constitutions, the
Provincial Bylaws and the Lodge Bylaws, such as submitting Returns to Grand
Lodge and Provincial Grand Lodge. He is responsible for distributing the
Summonses or Agenda for meetings and for ensuring that the business of every
meeting of the Lodge is correctly performed. He will record the Minutes of each
meeting. He will communicate to the members of the Lodge the relevant
proceedings of Grand Lodge and Provincial Grand Lodge.
The Treasurer is responsible to the Lodge for all the Lodge accounts whether
held directly by him or by others in the Lodge, such as the Almoner. It is the
Treasurer’s responsibility to ensure that all Lodge accounts are audited and
presented to the Lodge annually, as specified in the Book of Constitutions and
the Lodge Bylaws. He is also responsible for budgeting so that necessary
adjustments in Lodge subscriptions, dining fees, etc., are adequate to keep the
Lodge financially sound. As an elected Officer of the Lodge he is answerable to
the Lodge as a whole. He cannot delegate any of his duties.
The Chaplain leads the Lodge in prayers at the beginning and end of every
Lodge meeting and when required to during ceremonies. He will say Grace at the
meal afterwards.
The Director of Ceremonies has a pivotal role in the Lodge Room and at the
meal afterwards. He will, like a good referee, be active in the background. His
work will start with rehearsals for the Lodge meeting. Prior to the meeting itself,
he and the Tyler will ensure that the Lodge Room is laid out correctly and that all
the Officers are present, or substitutes in place where necessary. His role in the
Lodge meeting will differ from Lodge to Lodge, as it will at the dinner afterwards.
He will usually conduct important visitors to their seats, and organise any
processions in and out of the Lodge Room, except when a Provincial Director of
Ceremonies is attending for an official visit. He will introduce the Master to the
Lodge when and where necessary. In directing the proceedings in the Lodge he
will have to liaise with the Master and the Secretary.
The Almoner could be described as the Lodge Welfare Officer. He is
responsible for looking after the needs of the Brethren, past members, widows
and dependants. He is responsible for considering the health and wellbeing of all
those associated with the Lodge. He will raise petitions for assistance where
necessary. He will certainly have a high profile at Christmas when he arranges
gifts for the widows, but his work quietly behind the scenes at other times will be
considerable.
The Charity Steward is responsible for coordinating the support that the Lodge
is giving at any time to various Charities. He will know and understand the
complexities of the system of Masonic Charities. He will be able to advise the
Lodge and its individual members of the most appropriate and effective ways of
contributing to Charity.
The Tyler. The Tyler is responsible for looking after the Lodge outside the
Lodge Room. He will help the Director of Ceremonies to prepare the Lodge
Room, ensure that those entering the Lodge are properly dressed, and prepare
Candidates prior to entering the Lodge. The Tyler is himself involved in the
ceremonies when the Candidates are first introduced to the Lodge Room. At the
meal afterwards he will be summoned by the Master to propose the toast to ‘All
Poor & Distressed Freemasons’, which is the last toast of the evening.
The Immediate Past Master. The IPM, following his year in the Chair, sits on
the left of the Master and assists him in his work in the Lodge. At the Festive
Board he or the Senior Warden may propose the toast to the Master.
The following offices may be progressive:
The Assistant Secretary. Often, the volume of administrative work justifies the
appointment of an Assistant Secretary. His work will vary widely from Lodge to
Lodge. For example, in some Lodges he will take responsibility for organising the
dining arrangements.
The Assistant Director of Ceremonies. At times in a Lodge meeting, two DC’s
can expedite the proceedings. Then an Assistant Director of Ceremonies is called
upon.
The Organist. He will provide music during the meeting in the Lodge Room
and on occasions at the meal afterwards. Ceremonies are greatly enhanced by
appropriate music.
Progressive Offices:
The offices of Steward, Inner Guard, Junior Deacon, Senior Deacon, Junior
Warden and Senior Warden are all to be seen as leading towards the highest
honour a Lodge may confer on any of its members, that of Worshipful Master.
Worshipful Master is the highest ranking of all Lodge Officers which a Lodge may elect. The Worshipful Master sits in the East of the Lodge room and directs all of the business of the Lodge. He also presides over ritual and ceremonies. His position is similar to a President of any other organization. As Master, his word is final over any and all actions pertaining to his Lodge. It is his duty to “Set the Craft to work and give them wholesome instruction for their labour”. While the Worshipful Master’s rank is highest of all members, his Lodge Officer Duties are the easiest to remember. The Worshipful Master is responsible for every single thing within his lodge during his year as Master. He is ultimately responsible for every other lodge officer and their duties, every lodge committee, ritual and degree work, Masonic education, social functions, fundraisers, All eyes are upon the Master. If lodge functions go smoothly, it is the Master who takes the credit. If lodge functions go awry, it is the Master who bears the blame. Therefore, the Master wears many hats. It is his duty to preside over business meetings, the conferral of degrees, and delegation of duties to all other Lodge Officers.
The Senior Warden is the second in command within the Lodge. In the absence of the Worshipful Master, the Senior Warden assumes the Worshipful Master’s duties. The Senior Warden of a Masonic Lodge sits in the West and assists the Worshipful Master in opening and closing the Lodge. The Senior Warden is in charge of the Lodge when it is at labour. His position is similar to a Vice-President of any organization. It is his duty to support the Master and to prepare himself for that office during the following year.
The Junior Warden is the third in command of the Lodge. The Junior Warden sits in the South. His position is similar to a Second Vice-President.
Senior and Junior Deacons. These Brethren have central roles in the
ceremonies in the Lodge Room, leading the candidates and participating in the
two part plays through which Freemasonry explains to Candidates and members
its teaching and purpose.
Stewards. The Stewards have two prime functions in the Lodge. Within the
Lodge Room they are, in most Lodges, expected to be able to stand in for any
absent Junior Officer. At the meal afterwards, their responsibilities vary from
Lodge to Lodge and Province to Province. In some Lodges the Stewards will
have very little to do. In others the Stewards will serve drinks. Occasionally, they
will serve the whole meal.