Talk:Masonic Lodge Officers

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I started creating this article just after Christmas 2006, but ran out of steam. Another editor encouraged me to finish the work a couple of days ago - so here it is. I hope people will agree that it helps clarify things, and is better than the collection of small individual articles (most of which now redirect to here) and the rather messy 'officers' section of Masonic Lodge. Timothy Titus 20:37, 16 January 2007 (UTC)

Contents

[edit] British slant

I fully understand how this can occur, but the list has a distinct British slant. It leaves out some positions that are very common in the US (such as Senior and Junior Masters of Ceremony - who are in charge of preparing the candidates in the outer room, assist in escorting the candidates during the degree work, and escort potential cowains out of the room should they not have an apron or the password or something... amoung other duties). Even then, I doubt all 50 states do things the same. One way to deal with this would be to have several charts showing the officers common under several traditons, and then a fairly open text list to describe anyone we left out and what they do. Still... a good beginning. Blueboar 21:10, 16 January 2007 (UTC)

That may be true (I can't be certain as I'm also British!), but this article certainly includes all the offices that were listed on the old "officers" part of the Masonic Lodge article, including all the entries made by Americans. I think this new version by Timothy Titus is a big improvement. But yes, an American table could be added as well. JCDomm 22:32, 16 January 2007 (UTC)
Well, in my jurisdiction (the emphasis is there on purpose), the SD and JD take the the MC work, so I think it might be better to chop the table down a bit, or add alternate titles here and there. Our lines work differently, too, as the Inside Sentinel comes below the JS and SS. I'm going to try something, and remove the table. Revert it if you think it;s bad. MSJapan 04:25, 17 January 2007 (UTC)
After doing the edit, let's not replace the table. I've done some heavy editing, such as removing "private", as I think it unnecessarily complicates matters, and removing a bunch of HTML breaks that we don't need. On another note, I know for sure we have a Grand Pursuivant, so I'll find out what he does (I don't know who he is, so I don't know what he does), and add it in, because I don't think he's the flag bearer. MSJapan 05:13, 17 January 2007 (UTC)

What about other office bearers like Jeweller and Bible Bearer, which also feature in craft lodges of the GL of Scotland? I feel that these should be mentioned. Additionally in Scottish Lodges it is Worshipful Senior Warden and Worshipful Junior Warden. Perhaps this should also be included also. Aquizard 23:32, 21 January 2007 (UTC)

These offices are probably unique to Scotland, but that's why section 3 exists "Other (less common) offices". Why don't you enter them there, assuming you know enough about the offices to write them up? Timothy Titus 02:34, 31 January 2007 (UTC)
I can see it now... rename article to "Regular Blue Lodge Masonic Officers", etc &/or list every rite & version of "Freemasonry's" officers too...;~D But yeah, maybe an italicized small line below office saying it's UK/USA/whatevs-centric?

[edit] Senior and Junior Masters of Ceremony

found mostly in US Lodges

[edit] Senior and Junior Masters of Ceremony

Not found in many/any UK Lodges

etc... Grye 02:48, 22 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Marshal

Very common in US lodges (usually a "Line" office), not common in UK etc, etc, etc.

I really think we need to re-think how this article is organized .... We have to account for the huge variations that exist between different jurisdictions. Perhaps one section for "Elected Officers - common to all jurisdictions" (ie Worshipful Master, Wardens, Secretary and Treasurer... at least I assume these are common to all). Then a section on "Appointed Officers - common to all jurisdictions" (Deacons and Stewards?) And then final catch all section for "Other Officers - appointed in some jurisdictions but not in all" Blueboar 15:32, 13 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] New Organization

I have re-organized the sections and moved some of the offices around. I think this is correct, but if you notice any errors, please correct them. Essentially the structure is as follows:

  • Elected Officers - common to all jursidictions
Master, Wardens, Secretary, Treasurer
  • Appointed Officers - common to all jurisdictions
Deacons, Stewards, and Tyler
  • Appointed Officers - in some jurisdictions but not all
This contains almost everyone else
  • Other Officers
Things like Poet, or Historian that are rare.
  • Officers Unique to Grand Lodge

(do we really need this?)

Comments? Blueboar 16:13, 13 February 2007 (UTC)

I'm not sure about the revision. It doesn't appear to improve either clarity or the problems of different systems. In England the only elected officers are the Master, Treasurer and Tyler. This therefore puts both Wardens, the Secretary, and the Tyler into the 'wrong' category from an English perspective. Timothy Titus 03:46, 21 February 2007 (UTC)
It sounds like there is no logical way to organize this stuff... There are simply too many permutations and variations - too many different Masonic jurisdictions with different officers and different ways to organize them. Given that, I have to question whether we should actually HAVE an article on Lodge Officers. Blueboar 15:43, 21 February 2007 (UTC)
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