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TheThumbPuppy

Registered User
What posts are not on the path to become a WM?

I suppose that Organist is one of them, but are there any other?

And are there any new posts that we should propose to cover functions that have become relevant in our day and age?

The context of my question is how you could be of service, if you didn't have the ambition to become a WM.
 

Tylerl90

Registered User
What posts are not on the path to become a WM?

I suppose that Organist is one of them, but are there any other?

And are there any new posts that we should propose to cover functions that have become relevant in our day and age?

The context of my question is how you could be of service, if you didn't have the ambition to become a WM.

Depends on where you’re at. I’ve always saw it as it starts at Junior Steward and you work your way up to the East one year at a time. The other positions are usually Past Masters around me, but not always.


Sent from my iPhone using My Freemasonry mobile app
 

Brother JC

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
Edit: of my three lodges only one has a “progressive” line but the only requirement is to have served as a Warden.
My English lodge has a very different system in place.
 
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Number4

Registered User
In my AO the line is stewards, deacons, wardens WM. Marshal, Tiler, Chaplain Secretary and Treasurer are not part of the progressive line of succession
 

J.R. Massey

Registered User
In my lodge the line is normally Inner Guard, Junior Deacon, Senior Deacon, Junior Warden, Senior Warden, Worshipful Master.
 

Brother_Steve

Premium Member
Marshal, Chaplin, Tyler, treasurer, secretary, Historian and organist.

The rest of the officers in my jurisdiction are considered line officers.

You can be of service to your lodge by learning lectures, working tools, speaking craftsmen parts if you like ritual.

Other paths are helping with events. Cooking, cleaning, planning, being that go-to guy that goes above and beyond showing up, eating and leaving.

These Brothers are recommended for the distinguished white apron. It's recommended for those who are committed, but do not intend to go through the chairs.
 
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Bloke

Premium Member
....The context of my question is how you could be of service, if you didn't have the ambition to become a WM.

I had no ambition to become WM, but the Lodge needed it.. so I became the WM.

I have the "washing dishes" thing in my footer... I went from the sink to the East (third time there, different lodges) and then to a few other jobs - but I finally got back to the sink late last year.. there are a lot of ways to serve,, but turning up, smiling a lot, encouraging everyone, being happy and trying cheer others is a very undervalued and very important role in a lodge..
 

Canadian Paul

Registered User
Many lodges here have a tradition of certain offices being 'progressive', but it is all very unofficial and often not followed. In my lodge the unofficial line is JD, SD, JW SW RWM. But that is not the end! After your year in the Chair you are automatically 'Immediate Past Master' and the following year are expected to move to 'Director of Ceremonies' and the following year to Tyler.
 

hanzosbm

Premium Member
My lodge has the ideal state of JD>SD>JW>SW>WM
Stewards, Tyler, Secretary, Treasurer, Chaplin, and Marshal are all outside of the progressive line.

That being said, as all of the "line" offices (except JD) have a qualification requirement through the Grand Lodge, and not all brethren can say what their commitments will be 5 years from now, things happen.
For myself, I came in at JW (I was previously SD at a different lodge), went to SW, and was supposed to go to the East for 2019. However, my son was born in December 2018, I had just started a new job, and knew I'd be moving out of state sometime during the 2019 term. It wasn't going to be possible for me to either qualify as Master, nor sit in the chair for the full year. Instead, I agreed to sit as Marshall while I remained in state.
That being said, my lodge is almost exclusively PMs, so it's not as big of a deal to swap people in and out of the line.
 

Mark Stockdale

Premium Member
In my mother lodge, the line of progression is IG, JD, SD, JW, SW, RWM, IPM, we do 2 years in each position. There are various positions outwith that line that members have held for years, Tyler, Bard, Architect, Jeweler, Piper, Organist and Chaplain to name a few.
 

Brother_Steve

Premium Member
In my mother lodge, the line of progression is IG, JD, SD, JW, SW, RWM, IPM, we do 2 years in each position. There are various positions outwith that line that members have held for years, Tyler, Bard, Architect, Jeweler, Piper, Organist and Chaplain to name a few.
11th year puts you in the East. Ouch. It's 8 years in my jurisdiction if you do every chair in the line.

There is a joke. It's not my joke, but it's fitting to use at your installation. I used it to scare the younger guys in the line...

"I remember being junior Steward and doing the math to see how old I would be if I become master. Well, here I am and I can't believe I'm here and this much older."
 

bro.william

Premium Member
In my mother lodge it's IG>JD>SD>JW>SW>WM(>IPM). One year each. It's not uncommon, but not strictly required, to do some time as Steward beforehand. Tyler is usually one of our elder statesmen. DC and ADC are experienced ritualists. Organist is ... well ... an organist. Chaplain is someone who values the role and the spiritual dimensions of Freemasonry. I start my year as JD this coming month, and I'm looking forward to the next few years' worth of experiences. But, after that, like Bloke, I'll be more than happy to wash a dish or two. (As a liturgy/ritual guy, I'm in it for the experience rather more than for the plaudits.)
 
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