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Sitting in the East

rpbrown

Premium Member
In our lodge, we have a Marshal that sits to the left of the WM and in front of the Secretary. It has been our custom for the outgoing Master to be installed as the Marshal so he is close to the new WM and can softly guide him if needed.
 

Keith C

Registered User
In our lodge, we have a Marshal that sits to the left of the WM and in front of the Secretary. It has been our custom for the outgoing Master to be installed as the Marshal so he is close to the new WM and can softly guide him if needed.

It is funny, it is tradition in our lodge to have the immediate PM be Tyler, in order to not unduly influence the new WM in case he deviates from the immediate PM's policies and actions. Our Treasurer and Secretary are both PMs and the Treasurer is a Senior Instructor of our district ritual school of instruction, so they step in with gentle assistance if needed.
 

Andy Fracica

Site Benefactor
Premium Member
In our lodge there is no tradition for where the Past WM sits. for 2018 our PWM is Junior Steward and my son is Senior Steward and I guess they work for me as JW, which is kind of weird to have the PWM in the lowest office.
 

cemab4y

Premium Member
Tonight at my mother lodge, St. Matthews 906, I was installed as Worshipful Master. I am very humbled by the confidence invested in me by my Brothers and will do my very best to live up to their expectations. Am excited and eager to get to work!

I was born in Louisville, and after the hospital, my parents and I lived in St. Matthews. (I was brought up in Lexington and Bowling Green, and my mother lodge is in Bowling Green). I wish you every possible success.
 

Canadian Paul

Registered User
In my lodge (holding of the GL of Scotland) the Master stands (as does everyone) during the Opening and Closing of then Lodge, as well as any time he is speaking, or is being addressed by an Office-bearer or any other brother. When addressed he returns all salutes. This rule is relaxed during the business portion of the meeting. The Master would also remain seated during degree work except when actually speaking himself.

Besides the Master, the only other office-bearers with a right to sit in the East are the Immediate Past Master, the Depute Master, and the Substitute Master, High-ranking Office-bearers present from District Grand Lodge or Grand Lodge also sits in the East by right. The Master, of course, has the right to invite anyone else he wishesto sit in the East with him, so in practice other distinguished visitors would be sitting there.

As an new mason I was told that ONLY Past Masters could sit in the East. That is NOT true in Scottish lodges. The Master can invite any Master Mason to join him in the East Indeed, neither the Depute Master or the SunstituteMaster has to be a Past Master.

As a member of this forum I am constantly observing that when it comes to the 'nuts and bolts' of how lodges work in different jurisdictions it is definitely a matter of 'different strokes for different folks'!
 

Warrior1256

Site Benefactor
Besides the Master, the only other office-bearers with a right to sit in the East are the Immediate Past Master, the Depute Master, and the Substitute Master, High-ranking Office-bearers present from District Grand Lodge or Grand Lodge also sits in the East by right. The Master, of course, has the right to invite anyone else he wishesto sit in the East with him, so in practice other distinguished visitors would be sitting there.

As an new mason I was told that ONLY Past Masters could sit in the East. That is NOT true in Scottish lodges. The Master can invite any Master Mason to join him in the East Indeed, neither the Depute Master or the SunstituteMaster has to be a Past Master.
In my lodge the only members of the lodge that can sit in the East is WM, SW, JW, Past Master in that order.
 

Andy Fracica

Site Benefactor
Premium Member
We are essentially the same in Indiana, but if I'm not mistaken, the Grand Master and some of the Grand Officers may also sit in the east. Beyond the GM I'm not sure which ones get that honor.
 

Matt L

Site Benefactor
Dang Warrior, congratulations. As I've mentioned before it can get hot up there. You'll do a great jib. sometime during the summer I need to take a ride up and visit.

Matt
 

Bill Lins

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
Under GLoTX, any Brother who is invited to by the WM may sit with him in the East- usually a visiting Brother who might be presenting a program or a member of the Lodge who is receiving an award (service, Golden Trowel, or the like).
 

Warrior1256

Site Benefactor
FINALLY! Something that is the same in PA as somewhere else!!!
Lol!
We are essentially the same in Indiana, but if I'm not mistaken, the Grand Master and some of the Grand Officers may also sit in the east. Beyond the GM I'm not sure which ones get that honor.
Same here, such as the DDGM is qualified to sit in the East in my lodge. I was simply listing the members of my lodge that are qualified to sit in the East.
Dang Warrior, congratulations. As I've mentioned before it can get hot up there. You'll do a great jib. sometime during the summer I need to take a ride up and visit.

Matt
Thank you Brother, would love to have you visit.
Worshipful Master Warrior - has a nice ring to it.

Congratulations Brother and many you and your Lodge has a successful and prosperous year !
Lol...Thank you very much Brother.
 

Warrior1256

Site Benefactor
Under GLoTX, any Brother who is invited to by the WM may sit with him in the East- usually a visiting Brother who might be presenting a program or a member of the Lodge who is receiving an award (service, Golden Trowel, or the like).
Not sure about that here as I have never seen it done. Will try to remember to check on this out of curiousity.
 

Warrior1256

Site Benefactor
Under GLoTX, any Brother who is invited to by the WM may sit with him in the East- usually a visiting Brother who might be presenting a program or a member of the Lodge who is receiving an award (service, Golden Trowel, or the like).
Speak of the devil, last night I went to an officer installation at a local lodge and saw this happen. Many in the Grand Line were present and the Grand Master installed the in coming Master. The newly installed Master then had the Grand Master sit in the East with him while he (Master) installed the remainder of the officers. The Master also had the outgoing Master sit in the East with him as well. First time that I have seen this happen the same day I was discussing this on the forum, lol.
 
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