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Today we re-install our master.

David612

Registered User
Kinda snuck up on me a bit, it’s re-installation day-
I have affiliated and am the incoming senior deacon after filling in as a visiting Junior Deacon this past year.
I have declined office in my mother lodge this year as the meeting days have become an issue and honestly I just don’t get a lot of engagement from my mother lodge, though that may be my problem not theirs.

I’ve been asked (last night) to deliver a toast to the installing master which is great as he’s a mason I really look up to, I just need to get a decent toast on paper..
 

David612

Registered User
Having members that are willing to work the line and sit in all the seats isn't worth being proud of?
That’s not what’s being discussed.
52 masters in 52 years just means you have had 52 people willing to take on the role, it says nothing to their qualifications or performance in the role.
I’m glad it’s a point of pride for you and you certainly would know better how these men served but my lodge voted and elected our master as he is the right man for the job this coming year.
 

Mark Stockdale

Premium Member
It varies in the Scottish lodges, some serve only 1 year, some 2. My own Mother Lodge, Lodge Oak No.877 it is generally expected for the RWM to serve 2 years. I was the current RWM's first candidate put through the degrees and have been the lodge's JD for just under a year. In January we install a new RWM for the first of his 2 terms. Our process does allow us to elect a different brother for RWM each year, but we have not had to use that excuse so far in 121 years.
 

Keith C

Registered User
my lodge voted and elected our master as he is the right man for the job this coming year.

The question this raises is WHY is he "The best man for the job for this coming year?"

What made the Senior Warden "not right?"

Was the Junior Warden not ready, willing and able to be elected Senior Warden?

Was there no one qualified, willing and able to be elected Junior Warden?

In our jurisdiction it is expected that the WM will not be re-elected unless one of the scenarios above exist. If those behind you in the line are qualified, willing and able to move up, the incumbent WM should not be in their way, even if he thinks he is better equipped for the job.
 

David612

Registered User
Nothing wrong with either of the wardens, the lodge just elected the master to serve another term as we believe the current master will be the best choice for the coming year.

I’m not understanding why this concept of an election in which multiple candidates stand for office and the lodge chooses their preferred candidate is such a struggle..nothing wrong with the lodge or the wardens...
 
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Keith C

Registered User
Nothing wrong with either of the wardens, the lodge just elected the master to serve another term as we believe the current master will be the best choice for the coming year.

I’m not understanding why this concept of an election in which multiple candidates stand for office and the lodge chooses their preferred candidate is such a struggle..nothing wrong with the lodge or the wardens...

I see. So was it a contested election between the sitting WM and the sitting SW?

While a contested election CAN happen here, it rarely does, and when it does it usually results from or in contention.
 

David612

Registered User
Realistically isn’t every year a contest between all PM and the wardens-
It just depends on who accepts their nomination.

I can’t see why it would cause contention, I mean, it’s an election.. if you lose, you lose and there’s always next year-
Our lodge is in the process of rebuilding and while we have any number of past masters and our current wardens are certainly capable of sitting in the oriental chair, I suspect the reason our WM was reinstalled was more for his pleasure than anything, he’s done a lot this past year and to get another year to see the benefits he has brought to the lodge being enjoyed would be a thrill for him im sure.
That said both our wardens are worthy and well qualified but the members of my lodge just aren’t particularly interested in personal rank advancement and progression is asked rather than assumed at every station.

I was asked about 4 times if I was sure I would like to be nominated for SD-
This is a stark contrast to my other lodge where I found out I was to be chaplain by having my misspelt name in the notice paper.
 

Bloke

Premium Member
As a PM, I would always stand aside for a MM as a WM unless he was obviously going to be a disaster or put the warrant at great risk; I would stand aside even if I thought I would do a "better job" - I've only stood against the Chair twice - both times against PMs, one because he not the right man for the job- he was my Proposer (and remained a great friend and gave me wonderful support in my year), the other because I thought I thought I would get better loyalty and put in more (because I was better positioned to do so). He was and remains a very close friend.... I've strongly supported a MM who could only open a close the lodge; he got PMs to do his Degree work and stood on that basis. He did exactly that. He was a fantastic Master, and is a great asset to the lodge as a PM. He's till hopeless at ceremonial but an outstanding Freemason and a great example to us all.

For me, I like to see MMs go in, but that does not happen in a year, it takes a long time to develop a Master and we work hard on it as a group. In my experience they often surprise, one I thought would be a star was competent in the lodge room but lackluster outside it, the other I thought would be a bit hopeless was a true star.. I am a big believer in giving men a go - from Proposition to the Highest office in the job. Our role as PMs is to develop Freemasons and encourage the hell of everyone, and you don't need to be sitting in the East to do that, in fact, I very very rarely do...
 

Keith C

Registered User
Our Worshipful Master will be installed for his eighth consecutive term this January.

More jurisdictional differences I guess. Our DDGM would never permit this. We are expected to have our SW replace us at the end of 1 year in the East, 2 at most. If a Lodge can't equip Brothers to advance through the chairs, and WMs to step aside when they are qualified, there would be consequences.

I've strongly supported a MM who could only open a close the lodge; he got PMs to do his Degree work and stood on that basis. He did exactly that. He was a fantastic Master, and is a great asset to the lodge as a PM. He's till hopeless at ceremonial but an outstanding Freemason and a great example to us all.

Yet more jurisdictional differences. If a Brother couldn't Open, Close and properly conduct the Business of the Lodge AND confer the EA Degree he couldn't not become a Warden and thus would never even be in consideration for the Oriental Chair here. I don't disagree that there are Brothers who would make great leaders of the Lodge, despite an inability to perform ritual, but here they can't become WM.
 

Brother JC

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
More jurisdictional differences I guess. Our DDGM would never permit this. We are expected to have our SW replace us at the end of 1 year in the East, 2 at most. If a Lodge can't equip Brothers to advance through the chairs, and WMs to step aside when they are qualified, there would be consequences.
We have thirteen Master Masons in my lodge and we follow the edict of “who can best work and best agree.” If the Inspector (our version of a DDGM) has an issue he can try to bring grand heat down upon us... so far it hasn’t worked for him.
 

Bloke

Premium Member
.....Yet more jurisdictional differences. If a Brother couldn't Open, Close and properly conduct the Business of the Lodge AND confer the EA Degree he couldn't not become a Warden and thus would never even be in consideration for the Oriental Chair here. I don't disagree that there are Brothers who would make great leaders of the Lodge, despite an inability to perform ritual, but here they can't become WM.

I hear you - but a great ritualist does not necessarily maketh the great leader.
Moreover - I think we have long had the problem of drawing our Leaders from Grand Ceremonial Team - that is only a measure of how well you walk and talk - not how you lead. It will be the death of us. It might already have been...
 
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