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Not going to JW

JamesMichael

Premium Member
I am currently SD and have decided not to go to the JW chair this coming January.


I was asked to be Secretary! Love it and as it is something I really enjoy.
 

Canadian Paul

Registered User
Our present JW has asked to remain in that office for another year as he plans to retire in a year and then will be retired his year as Master. As he has done such a good job as JW there were no objections!
 

AndreAshlar

Registered User
That's interesting. I recently made the mirroring transition: from Secretary to JW. Have fun in the Secretary's seat. It will be invaluable in solidifying your understanding of the business of the lodge.
 
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NZ-Freemason

Registered User
As it turns out, my lodge has a standing committee meeting tomorrow night to discuss officers for the upcoming year and I have been approached to go into the JW chair. I'm currently JD, so I will skipping SD which is the usual next office taken on the ladder in my lodge.

To be honest, if the WM agrees, I'll be more than happy to take the JW chair, but I must say, I am in two minds about "skipping" SD.
 

Plustax

Registered User
I don't understand how persons "skip" chairs. How does one know how these positions operate in a lodge.... by here say or opinion? It's like skipping FC & going from EA to MM. It just shouldn't be especially for the 3 main positions.
 

NZ-Freemason

Registered User
I don't think skipping chairs (especially the assistant officers positions) is like skipping the degrees, but I understand what you're getting at.

Here in NZ, you can skip any or all of the Assistant Officer Chairs on your way to the East, but you cannot skip any of the Principle Chairs. So everyone making their way to the east must sit in the JW and SW chairs before taking the Master's Chair.

Skipping the Assistant Officers roles is pretty common here, the idea of a set promotional ladder never really took off here, except for the 3 principle officers.
 

AndreAshlar

Registered User
So everyone making their way to the east must sit in the JW and SW chairs before taking the Master's Chair.
In my jurisdiction, one must serve as a Warden for a year and have graduated from the Lodge Of Instruction to be eligible to sit in the East. Conceivably, a JW could skip the SW chair and assume the East, if elected by The Craft.
 

CuAllaidh

Registered User
In my jurisdiction it is tradition to go through the chairs in order, however as far as I know the constitution only states one must have been a JW and SW before becoming WM the order is not specified. I skipped SD this year because the SD from last decided to remain SD, and there was actually an election as another brother was also running for JW and he was a newly proven up MM and had not sat in any chairs prior to running for JW, he ended up being appointed JD instead when I won the election.
 

Ripcord22A

Site Benefactor
in both of my jurisdictions there is no "running" for a chair. its usually progressive line from JD->WM however it doesn't always workout that way. The lodge votes for who they want in the BIG 5 (J/S Ws, WM, Sec and Treas) all the rest are appointed. campaigning is not allowed.
 

CuAllaidh

Registered User
It is generally, by tradition, a progression from IG -> Tyler -> JD -> SD -> JW -> SW -> WM but for JW and up we do require elections, even if there is only one candidate, in these elections no campaigning allowed, just a vote anyone is officially allowed to be nominated. So "running" for a chair is fairly unusual but it does happen and its more a case of more than one person nominated and a secret ballot is held and voila someone is elected. This year we raised quite a few masons so we went from basically having just enough active masons to fill the seats and thus just a shuffle to the right each year to lots of keen new masons looking for chairs. It was an awesome nomination meeting :D
 

Warrior1256

Site Benefactor
in both of my jurisdictions there is no "running" for a chair. its usually progressive line from JD->WM however it doesn't always workout that way. The lodge votes for who they want in the BIG 5 (J/S Ws, WM, Sec and Treas) all the rest are appointed. campaigning is not allowed.
In my mother lodge all officers are elected.
 

Ripcord22A

Site Benefactor
In my mother lodge all officers are elected.
to include the Marshall, chaplains and stewards?

that's interesting!

IM a member of both Oregon and NM and both GLs trace their lineage to Missouri and its funny how much difference there is between NM and OR and how much is the same. Its gets even better when I hear things like what you just said from GLs that come from other places.
 

Canadian Paul

Registered User
I find it interesting that, at least here, how the rules say offices are to be filled and how they are actually filled are two different things. In lodges under the GL of Scotland all offices, except those of Immediate Past Master Depute Master and Substitute Master,, are filled by election at the Annual Meeting. In practice, at a meeting of the lodge General Committee the 'Master-designate' (usually the present Senior Warden) with the agreement of the Committee , prepares a list of candidates to recommend at the Annual Meeting. At the Annual Meeting further nominations are called for and, if there is more than one candidate for an office, an election is held. In practice, I know of no case in any of our lodges where there has been a nomination from the floor! With only one nomination for each office the Secretary is called on to cast a 'symbolic ballot' and the nominated brethren are declared elected.

In my mother lodge there is an unofficial line of progression which is usually, but not always, followed. The usual order is to start as a Steward, then progress through Inner Guard to Junior Deacon, to Senior Deacon, to Junior Warden, to Senior Warden, to Master, to Immediate Past Master, to Director of Ceremonies and finally to Tyler. Note that we get full value from a brother becoming Master - two further years of service inside the lodge before kicking him out of the lodge completely to be the Tyler!
 
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