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Lodge Officer Duties - Senior Deacon

Blake Bowden

Administrator
Staff Member
His Jewel is the Square and Compass with the Sun in the middle. The sun signifies that his position is on the lower level, to the right of the Worshipful Master in the east.

His duty is as messenger of the Worshipful Master, hence he does a lot of walking.

The Senior Deacon of a Masonic Lodge is an assistant officer of the Lodge. The Senior Deacon's principle roles are to welcome and escort both visitors and candidates into the lodge and introduce distinguished visitors.

It is his duty to assist the Worshipful Master and carry orders between the Worshipful Master and the Senior Warden. During degree rituals, he guides the new candidate and conducts him around the lodge room.

During the opening and closing ceremonies, the Senior Deacon opens the Holy Scriptures to the correct passage of the degree being worked and closes it after the lodge is adjourned. He also lights and extinguishes the candles at the altar.
In some lodges, he carries the ballot box around the lodge when new members are being voted upon.

The Senior Deacon's position is similar to a Manager. The Senior Deacon (and the Junior Deacon) both carry long staffs (or rods), because as messengers of the Worshipful Master, the staffs are symbolic of the caduceus (or wand) that the Roman winged god and messenger Mercury carried during their duties. Atop the rods are the jewels of their offices.
 

Ripcord22A

Site Benefactor
As a SD in Oregon i was told that the rods were to protect the alter from the candidate, hence why they are carried in the right and the candidate is guided on the left...and then once obligated the sides are switched and now the rod is to protect the candidate from the out side world
 

Brother_Steve

Premium Member
His Jewel is the Square and Compass with the Sun in the middle. The sun signifies that his position is on the lower level, to the right of the Worshipful Master in the east.

His duty is as messenger of the Worshipful Master, hence he does a lot of walking.

The Senior Deacon of a Masonic Lodge is an assistant officer of the Lodge. The Senior Deacon's principle roles are to welcome and escort both visitors and candidates into the lodge and introduce distinguished visitors.

It is his duty to assist the Worshipful Master and carry orders between the Worshipful Master and the Senior Warden. During degree rituals, he guides the new candidate and conducts him around the lodge room.

During the opening and closing ceremonies, the Senior Deacon opens the Holy Scriptures to the correct passage of the degree being worked and closes it after the lodge is adjourned. He also lights and extinguishes the candles at the altar.
In some lodges, he carries the ballot box around the lodge when new members are being voted upon.

The Senior Deacon's position is similar to a Manager. The Senior Deacon (and the Junior Deacon) both carry long staffs (or rods), because as messengers of the Worshipful Master, the staffs are symbolic of the caduceus (or wand) that the Roman winged god and messenger Mercury carried during their duties. Atop the rods are the jewels of their offices.

I find that interesting and heard it elsewhere as well.

The only requirements in NJ are that it has to be opened on the old testament and cannot be a page with a picture. We do not utilize book marks in order to open on the page which contains the prayer for that particular degree.
 

MaineMason

Registered User
As the new Jr., Deacon of my lodge, I will be certainly be paying close attention to our new Sr, Deacon. Stewards also carry rods, though of a different color, and assist in the preparation of candidates at least in my jurisdiction. Regarding Bro, Steve's remarks, my father and I recently discovered my grandfather's (his father's) cypher book from NJ, a great deal of which was in rather plain English rather than cypher. That would not be done here in Maine today (or ever, as far as I know, except for certain ceremonies, public or semi-public that we can find in Drummond's which is given at least in our lodge to Master Masons who are line officers. I found it rather interesting that my grandfather's book, given to him upon his raising in NJ in 1942 contained nearly all Blue Lodge ritual spelled out in plain English. His book contains a very specific inscription from the Secretary of his lodge to him. I find it interesting that his "cypher book" as we call them here was not in "cypher" at all. Apparently, however, that was a practice by the Grand Lodge of New Jersey in those days. My father hadn't seen it in ages and recently discovered it and we were both rather surprised.
 

MaineMason

Registered User
I should add that my father is also a Master Mason and, as I am 32nd Degree NMJ. We were both rather surprised to find that to be the case about his father's book. My grandfather was a life-long dues paying member of a lodge near Passaic which no longer exists though did exist until his death in 1992. Though he lived in Massachusetts he always payed his Blue Lodge dues. His father was also a Mason, Raised in Massachusetts, HIS father in England.
 

Brother_Steve

Premium Member
As the new Jr., Deacon of my lodge, I will be certainly be paying close attention to our new Sr, Deacon. Stewards also carry rods, though of a different color, and assist in the preparation of candidates at least in my jurisdiction. Regarding Bro, Steve's remarks, my father and I recently discovered my grandfather's (his father's) cypher book from NJ, a great deal of which was in rather plain English rather than cypher. That would not be done here in Maine today (or ever, as far as I know, except for certain ceremonies, public or semi-public that we can find in Drummond's which is given at least in our lodge to Master Masons who are line officers. I found it rather interesting that my grandfather's book, given to him upon his raising in NJ in 1942 contained nearly all Blue Lodge ritual spelled out in plain English. His book contains a very specific inscription from the Secretary of his lodge to him. I find it interesting that his "cypher book" as we call them here was not in "cypher" at all. Apparently, however, that was a practice by the Grand Lodge of New Jersey in those days. My father hadn't seen it in ages and recently discovered it and we were both rather surprised.
I would be curious to know if this book had the installation and funeral in it. Even some of the degree lectures are in there but there are huge chunks missing.

We get two books now. Opening, closing and degree work in one which is 99 % in cipher and a second one that has the funeral and installation in it.

We could meet in the middle at a Lodge as I would love to see it!

I know that is Wishful thinking on my part
 

MaineMason

Registered User
I would be curious to know if this book had the installation and funeral in it. Even some of the degree lectures are in there but there are huge chunks missing.

We get two books now. Opening, closing and degree work in one which is 99 % in cipher and a second one that has the funeral and installation in it.

We could meet in the middle at a Lodge as I would love to see it!

I know that is Wishful thinking on my part
No, it has everything.
Drummonds or whatever you might have in your jurisdiction has the other parts. Very strange little book, granddads.
 

Bro Darren

Premium Member
In Australia our JD and SD have the dove with fig leaf as their jewels of office.

Our Assistant Director of Ceremonies welcomes and introduces Past Masters and Worshipful Masters to the Worshipful Master.
 

Brother_Steve

Premium Member
No, it has everything.
Drummonds or whatever you might have in your jurisdiction has the other parts. Very strange little book, granddads.
Our books are issued straight from GL and you usually have to be an officer or want to be an officer to get one. At least in my lodge you have to be. There have been many revisions since the 40's however it reminds us to guard it wisely even though the actual secrets are not printed.
 

Bro. Staton

Registered User
His Jewel is the Square and Compass with the Sun in the middle. The sun signifies that his position is on the lower level, to the right of the Worshipful Master in the east.

His duty is as messenger of the Worshipful Master, hence he does a lot of walking.

The Senior Deacon of a Masonic Lodge is an assistant officer of the Lodge. The Senior Deacon's principle roles are to welcome and escort both visitors and candidates into the lodge and introduce distinguished visitors.

It is his duty to assist the Worshipful Master and carry orders between the Worshipful Master and the Senior Warden. During degree rituals, he guides the new candidate and conducts him around the lodge room.

During the opening and closing ceremonies, the Senior Deacon opens the Holy Scriptures to the correct passage of the degree being worked and closes it after the lodge is adjourned. He also lights and extinguishes the candles at the altar.
In some lodges, he carries the ballot box around the lodge when new members are being voted upon.

The Senior Deacon's position is similar to a Manager. The Senior Deacon (and the Junior Deacon) both carry long staffs (or rods), because as messengers of the Worshipful Master, the staffs are symbolic of the caduceus (or wand) that the Roman winged god and messenger Mercury carried during their duties. Atop the rods are the jewels of their offices.


Thank you for the wealth of information in which you have presented. If I may with your permission I would like to use this information within a powerpoint presentation.

Bro. Staton
 

Bro. Staton

Registered User
Was raised this past August and last night was installed as Senior Deacon in my lodge. Am already getting busy learning my roles.
Warrior1256 what day were you raised in August I too was raised this past Auugust and was installed as Senior Deacon. It's much to be learned and you are the man during the ritual work....Congrats...
 

Mac

Moderator
Premium Member
As a SD in Oregon i was told that the rods were to protect the alter from the candidate, hence why they are carried in the right and the candidate is guided on the left...and then once obligated the sides are switched and now the rod is to protect the candidate from the out side world
I just got to Oregon, and boy is the work here different! I'll have to hit you up sometime to discuss it. I'd go visit, but KFalls is a bit far from Roseburg. ;)
 

BroGracy

Registered User
I'm SD this year in Kansas, and it seems slightly different than other places apparently. Here, SD, JD, SS and JS all have rods. SS assists the SD by lighting the tapers and extinguishing them. But all 4 of us carry our rods before the lode is tiled. Once it's tiled, the rod is only carried if the door is to be opened, or to conduct official business, i.e. Escort bro so and so west of the alter. Or to conduct a candidate for a degree. We also don't change hands after the obligation. It was explained to me that the rod is carried before we are ruled to protect the lodge from outsiders. But I've never heard anything here about symbolic reasons for other actions other than its part of the official duties. I'll have to ask to see if there's more of a symbolic reason like in Oregon. I think it's pretty cool.
 

Ripcord22A

Site Benefactor
My 9+ months as SD was awesome. I miss my home lodge and the life long friends i met there. However my adopted lodge of Cerrillos19 here in Santa Fe is great. Very welcoming!
 

PennsylvaniaMason

Registered User
I realize I'm late to the party, just curious if in order to advance in your chairs are you all required to be certified in certain aspects of ritual and business of the lodge before moving onward? In Pennsylvania (and this could change from year to year), currently the SD must be certified in the funeral service and business of the lodge in order to take the Jr. Warden chain for the next masonic year.

Just curious how other states work, if in the same manner...
 

mrpierce17

KOP Council director / Lodge instructor
Premium Member
I realize I'm late to the party, just curious if in order to advance in your chairs are you all required to be certified in certain aspects of ritual and business of the lodge before moving onward? In Pennsylvania (and this could change from year to year), currently the SD must be certified in the funeral service and business of the lodge in order to take the Jr. Warden chain for the next masonic year.

Just curious how other states work, if in the same manner...
In Florida Prince Hall jurisdiction you have to first take a worshipful master certification class and pass an assessment test before you can sit as warden or become master of a lodge unless granted a special dispensation from the GL
 
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