During all lodge meetings, the lodge requires officeholders to help with the workings of the lodge. Any Master Mason can apply for an office holder position and each office holder position is of equal importance.
What are the titles of each office holder in a lodge meeting?
• Worshipful Master
• Senior Warden
• Junior Warden
• Treasurer
• Secretary
• Senior Deacon
• Junior Deacon
• Inner Guard
• Almoner
• Orator
• Organist / Director of Music
• Steward
• Tyler / Outer Guard
• Director of Ceremonies / Marshal
• Past Master (Not an Office Holder)
AAFM – WORSHIPFUL MASTER
Lodge Officer Duties
The Worshipful Master’s Jewel is the Square, which is a stonemason’s tool to ascertain true and correct angles of the cut and smoothed stone…thus his Jewel symbolizes virtue. The Worshipful Master of a Masonic Lodge is the highest ranking of all Lodge Officers which a Lodge may elect.
The Worshipful Master sits in the East of the Lodge room (symbolic of the Rising Sun in the East) and directs all of the business of the Lodge. Note: Even if the building faces a different direction, the Master is said to be “in the East”. He also presides over rituals and ceremonies.
His position is similar to a President of any other organization. As Master, his word is final over any and all actions pertaining to his Lodge.
It is his duty to:
“Set the Craft to work and give them wholesome instruction for their labor”.
While the Worshipful Master’s rank is the highest of all members, his Lodge Officer Duties are the easiest to remember.
The Worshipful Master is responsible for every single thing within his lodge during his year as Master.
He is ultimately responsible for every other lodge officer and their duties, every lodge committee, ritual and degree work, Masonic education, social functions, fundraisers, District and Grand Lodge liaison, Trestle Board communication, etc.
All eyes are upon the Master. If lodge functions go smoothly, it is the Master who takes the credit. If lodge functions go awry, it is the Master who bears the blame. Therefore, the Master wears many hats.
It is his duty to preside over business meetings, the conferral of degrees, and the delegation of duties to all other Lodge Officers. While Freemasons call the Master, “Worshipful Master”, they do not, as some people may erroneously believe, actually worship him. “Worshipful” is an honorary title that shows respect for his position. In France, the word “Worshipful” is replaced with the word “Venerable”.
The name ‘Worshipful Master’ is no different than respecting the office of our President of the United States. He would be addressed, formally, as “Mr. President” rather than by his first name, thus the same goes for the Worshipful Master during a lodge meeting.
Sources:
https://www.masonic-lodge-of-education.com/