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Becoming an Officer

Mark Stockdale

Premium Member
In your opinion, which officer's seat would be good for a newly raised MM?
Surely that would depend on the Brother? I and 3 of my Lodge Brothers have taken office this year, one as Tyler, one as Master Steward, one as Inner Guard and myself as Junior Deacon. Myself and the Inner Guard are involved in the floor work for the degrees and I enjoy the experience, but I know the other 2 have no interest in floor work at present.

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Brother JC

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
It may depend on your lodge. My Mother Lodge started everyone at the same chair. My present lodge believes in “who can best work and best agree.” My English lodge is rather unique in its process, as might be expected from a global membership.
 

CLewey44

Registered User
It would depend on how involved you would like to be. For me, personally, I think the JD seat is a good place to start if your looking at being at all meetings and then ultimately sitting in the East. JS/SS or MCs and those positions are not bad and have a purpose but if you want to be apart of opening, closing and have some solid duties, I'd go with JD.

If your lodge is thriving and people are 'fighting' over different seats, you may could start as a steward or MC(if your GL has them).
 

Canadian Paul

Registered User
In my case the first office I held in my lodge was Secretary! This was after being a MM for about a year and because of some rather unique circumstances at the time. The learning curve was, as you can imagine, very steep but with copious support from the Master and other senior brethren I 'survived' the year and went as Junior Deacon the following year. One result, however, was thatI learnt how the administration of the lodge worked and its relationship to both our District Grand Lodge and our Grand Lodge, as well as much else that stood me in good stead in my later Masonic career. I must have done something right, for after passing through the Chair I served as District Grand Secretary as well as Grand Secretary/Registrar in the Scottish Rite for several years and am now Secretary of my Mothe Lodge again!

NOT the masonic career beginning I would recommend, but it seems to have worked for me.
 

rpbrown

Premium Member
I served as Master of Ceremonies the last half of the year I was raised then appointed to JD for my first full masonic year. Moved up from there then kind of started over in the chairs as a Past Master at Tiler.. Only chair I have not held is Steward
 

Warrior1256

Site Benefactor
At my lodge we start at JS and follow the line for 7yrs to the east
Ideally this is as it should be. However, when I joined my mother lodge they were very much in need as far as filling the officer chairs. I started out as Senior Deacon and had a lot of knowledge to soak up fast. Luckily I was already retired and had a lot of time to spare for this. Therefore, a little over three years after being raised I was sitting in the East. A lot of Past Masters pitched in to helped me....thank goodness!
 

David Duke

Premium Member
At my lodge we start at JS and follow the line for 7yrs to the east

Brother Stright and I are members of the same Lodge, as he said the typical route to the East begins at JS and we have pretty much a progressive line.

That said, nothing is absolutely guaranteed, the junior chairs are a proving ground to see if you are committed and willing to do the work required. By the time you reach the end of your SD year you should be somewhat proficient in opening and closing all 4 Lodges at all positions if you are not, the JW station is an elected position and there may be some concern amongst the brethren.

We are a relatively young Lodge (52 years) and have never had a WM serve over 1 year which shows you we are a pretty active Lodge and most brothers who get in the line are very committed (including Bro. Stright) but we have had a few through the years (none in the last 15) who have either dropped out or were not advanced because they could not commit the time or didn’t take it seriously.

We did have one about 6 years ago when another brother was nominated to run for JW ( I actually made the nomination) because the brother in line wouldn’t take the time to learn opening/closing. I didn’t try to hide anything, several weeks before the election I went first to the brother in question and to the probable WM elect who were real good friends and told them what I was going to do and why. The brother in line was elected and after the election he came to me and promised he would dedicate the time needed. I am proud to say that he did and that he became very proficient in all aspects of the work. He came to me after his year in the East and thanked me for the kick in his rear. By the way I was his JW!




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Bro. A

Registered User
I am taking in everything each of you are saying my brothers. And I really like the feedback that I'm getting.
I'm paying attention to each officer during opening and closing of the lodge in each degree. But I do know it's just not about learning the ritual, there are more responsibilities of each officer that I wasn't aware of. I'm learning more from my mentors each day that goes by...
 

Keith C

Registered User
This will, of course, coming from Pennsylvania, likely result in the scratching if heads and questions! In our Lodge the typical first chair to put someone in is the Junior Master of Ceremonies. The reason being you are just in front of the Senior Warden who can keep an eye on you, and you are next to the Pursuivant who can also keep an eye on you and keep you informed of what is going on. Also there are no actual duties during a stated meeting other than standing when the officers stand. At Extra Meetings for Degrees there is work to be done but it is fairly easy, with little to remember as essentially the same things are said multiple times. The Business of this office puts the JMC in an ideal position to observe and learn from the Business and Duties of the other Officers during degrees.

Plus, you get a sword! How cool is that?
 

Bro. A

Registered User
This will, of course, coming from Pennsylvania, likely result in the scratching if heads and questions! In our Lodge the typical first chair to put someone in is the Junior Master of Ceremonies. The reason being you are just in front of the Senior Warden who can keep an eye on you, and you are next to the Pursuivant who can also keep an eye on you and keep you informed of what is going on. Also there are no actual duties during a stated meeting other than standing when the officers stand. At Extra Meetings for Degrees there is work to be done but it is fairly easy, with little to remember as essentially the same things are said multiple times. The Business of this office puts the JMC in an ideal position to observe and learn from the Business and Duties of the other Officers during degrees.

Plus, you get a sword! How cool is that?

Very interesting Brother Keith C.
 
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