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Form of Address

NY.Light

Registered User
I have a draft letter that I plan to send to the Grand Master here in New York. What is the proper way to address him in the letter? Most Worshipful Grand Master?
 

Companion Joe

Premium Member
You can't go wrong using that because that is the full formal title. Also, depending on the tone and formality of the letter, you would be OK with "Worshipful Sir" as a salutation.
 

Morris

Premium Member
Oh, you might give a grandmaster a bit more credit than that.
I wouldn't expect or desire to be called Brother, Worshipful Brother, or Most Worshipful by any non-Mason.

Likewise. I don't expect or desire for any civilian to call me by my military rank. If someone addressed me as such I would initially think the person was affiliated with the military and I don't consider myself unintelligent.
 

Glen Cook

G A Cook
Site Benefactor
I wouldn't expect or desire to be called Brother, Worshipful Brother, or Most Worshipful by any non-Mason.

Likewise. I don't expect or desire for any civilian to call me by my military rank. If someone addressed me as such I would initially think the person was affiliated with the military and I don't consider myself unintelligent.
Expect such? No. Be confused (which was your original point)? No as well. I quite regularly am addressed by my military rank and Masonic rank by civilians. In don't expect it, but it causes no confusion either.
 

Morris

Premium Member
Expect such? No. Be confused (which was your original point)? No as well. I quite regularly am addressed by my military rank and Masonic rank by civilians. In don't expect it, but it causes no confusion either.
I would.

If someone approached me and said hi brother Morris, I would think they were a Mason.
 

Glen Cook

G A Cook
Site Benefactor
I would.

If someone approached me and said hi brother Morris, I would think they were a Mason.
Or a member of my church, but that wasn't the scenario, was it? The question was about addressing a letter to the GM, not a personal approach using the term "brother.". Based on your experience you think the GM would be confused being addressed as GM. Based on my experience, I think otherwise. Just opinions.
 
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Morris

Premium Member
Or a member of my church, but that wasn't the scenario, was it? The question was about addressing a letter to the GM. Based on your experience you think the GM would be confused. Based on my experience, I think otherwise. Just opinions.
No it was not the scenario. Also, for clarification, I used "might" not "would".
 

dfreybur

Premium Member
I don't expect or desire for any civilian to call me by my military rank. If someone addressed me as such I would initially think the person was affiliated with the military ...

I would be inclined to use the title is a mark of respect. I've written to Congressmen from other districts because they sit on some committee working on legislation I have been interested in. I've addressed those letters to "The Honorable ..." for that reason. They are not my Congressman but they are a Congressman.

One month my USAA statements started including my rank. I have no idea why they bothered to look it up, but I found it more hilarious than confusing. That gives my perspective on what topics a non-Mason are likely to address a Grand Master. To me the fun part isn't the form of address but what sort of hilarity is likely to ensue from a petitioner addressing the Grand Master.
 

Glen Cook

G A Cook
Site Benefactor
.... To me the fun part isn't the form of address but what sort of hilarity is likely to ensue from a petitioner addressing the Grand Master.

Oh, gosh, I've been addressed / introduced with about every conceivable permutation and combination of the title (and that doesn't even include the less than dignified terms some might mutter to themselves :))
 

Warrior1256

Site Benefactor
Oh, gosh, I've been addressed / introduced with about every conceivable permutation and combination of the title (and that doesn't even include the less than dignified terms some might mutter to themselves :))
It's the things that they mutter that I worry about. lol
 

MBC

Twice Registered User
Premium Member
I have a draft letter that I plan to send to the Grand Master here in New York. What is the proper way to address him in the letter? Most Worshipful Grand Master?

IMHO, As a non-Mason, I would suggest using "Dear Mr Grand Master" or "Dear Mr (John) Doe"
As you are not Mason, I don't think it's proper to address any Mason as "Brother". Worshipful, V.W., R.W. And M.W. are theoretical follow by Brother, such as W. Bro. XXX, or M.W.Bro. XXX.
Also in outside world, you seldom see Bro. can be a choice of honorific.
One more example, Bro A is a Master Mason in Craft and also a Shriner. How a non-Noble Mason address him? Brother, exactly.
So I don't think using Most Worshipful Brother John Doe or MWGM John Doe is a proper way to address a Mason by a non Mason.
 

MaineMason

Registered User
I would be inclined to use the title is a mark of respect. I've written to Congressmen from other districts because they sit on some committee working on legislation I have been interested in. I've addressed those letters to "The Honorable ..." for that reason. They are not my Congressman but they are a Congressman.

One month my USAA statements started including my rank. I have no idea why they bothered to look it up, but I found it more hilarious than confusing. That gives my perspective on what topics a non-Mason are likely to address a Grand Master. To me the fun part isn't the form of address but what sort of hilarity is likely to ensue from a petitioner addressing the Grand Master.
I would never call anyone not active in the military by their rank though as a Kentucky Colonel I am allowed to be called "The Honourable".
 

MaineMason

Registered User
It is an honour that is bestowed on one by the Governor of Kentucky and the State Legislature, you become an "Aide de Camp" of the Governor of Kentucky. It is in itself a kind of Fraternal Organizastion and as a Yankee, unusual for me.
 
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