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"Most Worshipful"

MBC

Twice Registered User
Premium Member
Greetings Brethren all,

I'm curious on the name of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge in US.
Why the name of the PH Grand lodge has a "Most Worshipful" before the name?
As far as I know, Most Worshipful is normally used by GMs or ProGMs and we won't say Most Worshipful United Grand Lodge of England, sounds a little bit strange right?



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MarkR

Premium Member
My Grand Lodge is "The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Minnesota." I think the "Most Worshipful" part is pretty common in the full name of American Grand Lodges.
 

MBC

Twice Registered User
Premium Member
I see. Then it is just for courtesy right?
As I read the foreign GL recognition list on UGLE website. There are no "Most Worshipful" in the name of every lodges, even recognised PH GL.



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MBC

Twice Registered User
Premium Member
Thanks for replying Brethren.


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Mike Martin

Eternal Apprentice
Premium Member
Is it not because each Grand Lodge is actually named a "Prince Hall Grand Lodge" and Prince Hall was the first Grand Master hence there is a MW in front of his name.
 

MBC

Twice Registered User
Premium Member
Is it not because each Grand Lodge is actually named a "Prince Hall Grand Lodge" and Prince Hall was the first Grand Master hence there is a MW in front of his name.
Thanks Bro.Mike.

With all due of respects to my other brethren, I thought this reason before and it seems make more sense than the courtesy use for GLs.

However another question arises, are these two the same?
"Most Worshipful Prince Hall"
Or
"Most Worshipful Bro. Prince Hall"

Sorry that I'm not quite familiar with the styles.
I observed that normally there is "bro." in the style with name and no "bro." with the masonic title. So, can I ask which is the correct one?
"M.W.Bro.(name)"? Or just simply "M.W.(name)"?


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MarkR

Premium Member
For convenience, we generally just refer to "the Grand Lodge of . . ." but the full, legal name includes the "Most Worshipful" part. As for the precise wording for an individual, I've always used "Most Worshipful Brother", but the main purpose is the respect the title implies, and saying " Most Worshipful Robert Smith " is certainly not disrespectful.

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MBC

Twice Registered User
Premium Member
Online and on all unofficial documents "Grand Lodge of Alabama". On official documents Most Worshipful is added.

Can you have some evidences on it?
I can't find any documents that these GLs use "MW"


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Brother JC

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
Quoted directly from the Monitor; Installation of the Grand Master:
"...that I will strictly conform to the Constitution, Laws, Rules and Regulations, of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of New Mexico..."
 

Brother_Steve

Premium Member
Here is another take on it.

Grand could be used in the same sense as "grandfather."

The first, most important or principal...

So Most Worshipful would be an adjective modifying an idea and not an actual place or setting.
 

MBC

Twice Registered User
Premium Member
Here is another take on it.

Grand could be used in the same sense as "grandfather."

The first, most important or principal...

So Most Worshipful would be an adjective modifying an idea and not an actual place or setting.

Then this is the difference between British and American. British usage on styles, titles and post-nominals are quite strictly as I know, not even in masonic business, also in the society as well.


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goomba

Neo-Antient
Site Benefactor
Section 1.Be it enacted by the Senate and House of
Representatives of the State of Alabama, in General Assembly
convened, That R. H. Ervin, S. F. Hale, H. S. Shelton and J. A.
Whitaker, and their successors in office, be, and they are hereby
incorporated by the name of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge
of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of Alabama;

This is from page one of the Alabama Masonic Acts of Incorporation.
 
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