Freemason's Companion (2008).pdf

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Foreword
by the
Provincial Grand Master,
Right Worshipful Brother Michael T. Penny
It is with considerable pleasure that I write to commend this book to my
brethren of Devonshire.
Work on it commenced by the wish and under the guidance of my
predecessor Rt.W.Bro Robin Osborn. W.Bro. The Reverend Louis
Baycock, as Asst P.G.M. with responsibility for Education, researched
the work of other Provinces and was given much co-operation by them,
for which we as a Province are very grateful. The Province of Essex
seemed to have produced the book that most suited our needs and they
readily gave permission for us to use as we deemed fit; we thank them
most sincerely for their help and kindness.
The manuscript has been edited and corrected with care to give
guidance and instruction, and to reflect the many ways in which
Freemasonry works in the Province, and I am sure that it will provide a
guide for all who may enquire about the nature of Freemasonry. It is a
book that non- Masons may be given by way of enlightenment as to our
great standards and principles.
It is my hope that every brother shall possess a copy and that it will
prove to be an invaluable aid in building up membership and love of
the Craft amongst all who shall read it.
Sincerely and fraternally,
Michael T. Penny,
Provincial Grand Master.
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Acknowledgement
With grateful thanks to the Province of Essex for permission
to reproduce this work, much of which was taken from
‘A Master Mason’s Companion’
by W. Bro. Paul H. King, P.P.G. Reg. A.P.G.P .
= = = = = = = =
Provincial Grand Lodge of Devonshire
23 Richmond Road,
EXETER
Devon EX4 4JF
Telephone: 01392 272429
E-Mail: provincialsecretary@pgldevonshire.org.uk
Website: www. pgldevonshire.org.uk
First Edition 2008
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Contents
Section 1
Your Questions Answered
Section 2
Your Lodge: The Lodge Officers
Section 3
Your Lodge: The Lodge Layout
Section 4
Your Lodge: Customs and Protocol
Section 5
Regalia
Section 6
Hymnody
Section 7
The Festive Board
Section 8
The Lodge of Instruction
Section 9
Visiting Other Lodges
Section 10
Introduction to the Supreme Order of
the Holy Royal Arch
Section 11
Grand Lodge
Section 12
Further Reading
Masonic ‘Fire’
Appendix 1.
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1. Your Questions Answered
Q. What is Freemasonry?
A . Freemasonry is the U.K.’s largest secular, fraternal and charitable organisation.
United by a belief in God as Supreme Being, it teaches moral lessons and self-
knowledge through participation in a progression of two part plays without
trespassing on the preserves of religion, and at the same time exhorting its
members to practice the religion of their choice. Freemasonry offers its members
an approach to life which seeks to reinforce thoughtfulness for others, kindness
in the community, honesty in business, courtesy in society and fairness in all
things. Though the interests of one’s own family are paramount, Freemasonry
teaches and practices concern for people, care for the less fortunate and help for
those in need.
Q. Why are you a secret society?
A . We are not, but Lodge meetings, like those of many other groups, are private,
open only to members. The rules and aims of Freemasonry are available to the
public, many of the well known books on Freemasonry being available from the
local library. Grand Lodge and Provincial Grand Lodges have websites. Meeting
places are known and in many areas the local community for activities other than
Freemasonry uses them. Members are encouraged to speak openly about
Freemasonry. Masons have sometimes been understandably reticent about
discussing their membership, perhaps fearing discrimination which may have
affected their employment adversely. Such discrimination has been challenged
legally.
Q. What are the secrets of Freemasonry?
A . The secrets in Freemasonry are the traditional modes of recognition. They are
not used indiscriminately, but solely as a test of membership, e.g. when visiting a
Lodge where you are not known.
Q. What happens at a Lodge meeting?
A. The meeting is in two parts. As in any association there is a certain amount of
administrative procedure: minutes of last meeting, discussion and voting on
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financial matters, election of officers, news and correspondence, proposing and
balloting for new members. Then there are the ceremonies for admitting new
Masons, or for the annual installation of the Master and the appointment of
officers. The three ceremonies for admitting a new Mason are in two parts: a
dramatic instruction in the principles and lessons taught in the Craft followed by
a lecture in which the candidate’s various duties are spelled out.
Q. Isn’t ritual out of place in modern society?
A . No. The ritual is a shared experience which binds the members together. Its
ancient use of drama, allegory and symbolism impresses the principles and
teachings of Freemasonry more firmly in the mind of each candidate than if they
were simply passed on to him in matter-of-fact modern language.
Q. Why do grown men run around with their trousers rolled up?
A . It is true that candidates may have to roll up their trouser legs during the three
ceremonies when they are being admitted to membership. Taken out of context,
this can seem amusing, but like many other aspects of Freemasonry, it has a
symbolic meaning.
Q. Why do Freemasons take oaths?
A . New members make solemn promises concerning their conduct in Lodge and
in society. Each member also promises to keep confidential the traditional
methods of proving that he is a Freemason, which he would use when visiting a
Lodge where he is not known. Freemasons do not swear allegiances to each other
or to Freemasonry. Freemasons promise to support others in times of need, but
only if that support does not conflict with their duties to God, the law, their
family or with their responsibilities as Citizens.
Q. Why do your ‘obligations’ contain hideous penalties?
A . They no longer do. When Masonic ritual was developing in the late 1600s and
1700s it was quite common for legal and civil oaths to include physical penalties
and Freemasonry simply followed the practice of the times. In Freemasonry,
however, the physical penalties were always symbolic and were never carried out,
referring only to the pain any decent man should feel at the thought of violating
his word. After long discussion, the penalties were removed from the
‘Obligations’ in 1986.
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