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Temple Layout

The Officers within a Masonic Lodge are as follows, and they are seated as indicated in the above floorplan:

Worshipful Master (WM) - this is the name given to the chairman of the Lodge. The role of Worshipful Master is taken for one year by one of the brethren, elected to that position by the rest. The honorific "worshipful" does not imply that he is in any way worshipped, it is simply a courtesy title much as an MP is called the "Honourable Member for ..." We are not expected to honour the title bearer! Nevertheless, the Worshipful Master plays a pivotal role in the work of the lodge. It is the Master's perogative to decide what is to be the business transacted at each Lodge meeting, but much of this is governed by the bye-laws of the lodge and the Book of Constitutions. All the other officers of the lodge are appointed at the sole discretion of the Master with the exception of the Treasurer (who is elected by ballot), and the Tyler, (who is elected if he is not a member of the lodge.)

Immediate Past Master (IPM) - Last year's Master, in a position to prompt and support the new encumbant.

Charity Steward(CS) - One of the primary activities of any Freemasons' lodge is to raise money for charity. The Charity Steward gently encourages us to relax the grip on our wallets and contribute! Unlike other charitable organisations, Freemasonry only raises money from within its own membership, you'll never find us rattling collection boxes on street corners or with a stall at the local fete. In the 5 years to 2000, Freemasonry has contributed £75million to charitable causes. (See also: The Almoner)

Almoner(A) - Is responsible for distributing the funds raised for charity to the various worthy causes being supported by the lodge, and for ensuring that sick or needy Brethren receive visits or words of encouragement.

Director of Ceremonies (D.C.) - the DC is to a Lodge as the conductor is to an orchestra. It is his job to ensure that everyone knows what is happening now, what will happen next and generally to ensure that the meetings run flawlessly.

Secretary(S) - As in every formal meeting, the secretary takes the minutes and deals with the correspondence.

Senior Deacon (SD) - The deacons are the lodge's messengers. The SD has particular responsibilities during the ceremony of Passing (2nd Degree).

Junior Deacon (JD) - The deacons are the lodge's messengers. The JD has particular responsibilities during the ceremony of Initiation.

Inner Guard (IG) - Inner Guard is the first formal office which members of a lodge normally hold. His job is to vet and announce everyone wishing to enter the lodge after it has opened.

Outer Guard or Tyler (T) - The Tyler is the Lodge's Outer Guard. In the days when people were far less literate than they are now, and the Masonic grips and words were the only reliable means of proving yourself to be a fully trained stonemason, Masons' lodges were guarded from intruders seeking fraudulently to enter the lodge by a Tyler. The tradition is maintained today in Fremasons' lodges where it is the Tyler's responsibility to ensure that only bona-fide Masons enter the lodge room.