That Time Of Year

[Brian K.Lingard]

Ottawa Canada

Had my first opghone call to remind me my lodge is doing a First Degree on
I['m required to do tghe Chaplain's parts. So our meeting year is
approaching..

I like being Chaplain as for the most part I just sit in the North and
take in the proceedings. Habitually nmost of the brethren sit in the
South. Whhen we have a lot of visitors some inevitably join me uop in the
North.

I trust your lodge meeting year will go smoothly.
Brian Lingard
Chaplain, The Builders Lodge,, #177 GL of Canada in the Province of Ontario

[David Simpson]

Post by Brian K.Lingard
Ottawa Canada
Had my first opghone call to remind me my lodge is doing a First Degree on
I['m required to do tghe Chaplain's parts. So our meeting year is
approaching..
I like being Chaplain as for the most part I just sit in the North and
take in the proceedings. Habitually nmost of the brethren sit in the
South. Whhen we have a lot of visitors some inevitably join me uop in the
North.

Interesting. In Australia the place of the Chaplain is to the left of
the Master.

[Torence]

Post by Brian K.Lingard
I like being Chaplain as for the most part I just sit in the North and
take in the proceedings.

That part is a great one to start with. After I was raised, as a
much younger Mason, I performed my 3rd degree catechism and then
learned the Chaplain’s parts. Our Chaplain then, Elmer Kaufman, had
had a series of strokes and I filled in for him when he was not well
enough to do the work. The lodge was surprised when I had all three
scripture readings put to memory before the first scheduled degree.
They expected only the opening and closing prayers. In Illinois, just
as an FYI, our Chaplains sit at the left of the Master but on the
floor with the other officers rather than on the dais.
You will find that to know the Chaplain’s work will be quite useful
particularly if you like to travel and take part in many lodges. To be
esteemed, be useful.
The appointed chairs used to play a much more integral role to lodge
life and I would like to see the Chaplin-Marshall-Tyler & Stewards,
here in Illinois, work together more closely as they used to do. In
the old way of working, the Chaplain, then, was much more integral to
Lodge life. True Clergy, rather than just some handy Past Master who
may know the written ritual by rote memory, often filled the chair.
Many lodges waived the degree fees and dues for ministers so that they
could acquire a particularly skilled and eloquent speaker for the
spot. At a time when feeble Government Paternity had not yet usurped
the constructive purposes of the churches, it was usually the Chaplain
who served as Almoner, keeping abreast of the happenstances involving
the sick or distressed, our widows and any orphans. An examination of
the old minutes of your lodge will probably show the loving and quiet
hand of some former expert, a reach that brought the beauties of our
fraternity out into the profane world to lift us all up when we may
have been down and to soar even higher when His Great Gifts become
manifest.
Chaplains, then also, say before 1914 here in Illinois, used a
variety of prayers suitable for the occasion rather than just a single
standard so there was variety for when a formal celebration was at
hand such as a degree or another selected to remind the Brethren of
their duty should the Lodge be experiencing some temporal trouble. I
wonder how many different prayers are in use jurisdiction to
jurisdiction? Perhaps we should share a few here?

Fraternally,
Torence Evans Ake
Secretary – Auburn Park Lodge No. 789 – Crete, Illinois
PM – Arcadia Lodge No. 1138 – Lansing, Illinois

[KIV11]

Post by Brian K.Lingard
Ottawa Canada
I like being Chaplain as for the most part I just sit in the North and
take in the proceedings.

Interesting, our Chaplain sits in the East on the WM's left side.

[Stuart H.]

Post by KIV11

Post by Brian K.Lingard
Ottawa Canada
I like being Chaplain as for the most part I just sit in the North and
take in the proceedings.

Interesting, our Chaplain sits in the East on the WM's left side.

According to what I was told, the Chaplain sits in the North to bring a
ray of light to the dark side of the Lodge. The sun does not shine from
the North.

Stuart H.
Alberta, Canada

[John W..]

Post by Stuart H.

Post by KIV11

Post by Brian K.Lingard
Ottawa Canada
I like being Chaplain as for the most part I just sit in the North and
take in the proceedings.

Interesting, our Chaplain sits in the East on the WM's left side.

According to what I was told, the Chaplain sits in the North to bring a
ray of light to the dark side of the Lodge. The sun does not shine from
the North.
Stuart H.
Alberta, Canada

If the sun does not shine from the North, how does the JW sitting in the
South mark it at its meridian? Surely it would always be behind him!!

From my wealth of Masonic Questions, that I use to start "debates" over
a couple of drinks at festive boards.

[Doug Freyburger]

Post by John W..
If the sun does not shine from the North, how does the JW sitting in the
South mark it at its meridian? Surely it would always be behind him!!
From my wealth of Masonic Questions, that I use to start "debates" over
a couple of drinks at festive boards.

The symbolic positions map to the actual track of the Sun as seen from
the northern hemisphere as the Earth revolves around its axis. When the
Sun is in the south that's noon local time. When the Sun is in the
north that's midnight local time. The Sun is in the west at the close
of the day and the Sun rises in the east to open the day. This is some
of the simpler of the symbols in Masonry.

[Stuart H.]

Post by John W..

Post by Stuart H.

Post by KIV11

Post by Brian K.Lingard
Ottawa Canada
I like being Chaplain as for the most part I just sit in the North and
take in the proceedings.

Interesting, our Chaplain sits in the East on the WM's left side.

According to what I was told, the Chaplain sits in the North to bring a
ray of light to the dark side of the Lodge. The sun does not shine from
the North.
Stuart H.
Alberta, Canada

If the sun does not shine from the North, how does the JW sitting in the
South mark it at its meridian? Surely it would always be behind him!!
From my wealth of Masonic Questions, that I use to start "debates" over
a couple of drinks at festive boards.

Since our craft is all over the world, including at the equator, then
the sun at its meridian must be directly over the JW somewhere on earth
between the Tropics.

That "paradox' is part of the questions BF in our ritual that I will be
posing to a candidate in September when we have a Past Masters Degree
team doing the work.

The JW "marks" the sun (represents) so that it comes from the South,
just as the SW marks the setting sun which would be behind him.

You also can go to the Northern part of Canada, and there are times
during the winter when the sun definitely does NOT shine in the North.
*grin*
Far North Lodge in Tuktoyaktuk, under the Grand Lodge of Alberta, can
attest to this.

Stuart H.
Alberta Canada

[John W..]

Post by KIV11

Post by Brian K.Lingard
Ottawa Canada
I like being Chaplain as for the most part I just sit in the North and
take in the proceedings.

Interesting, our Chaplain sits in the East on the WM's left side.

In the UK in the vast majority of Lodges the Chaplain sits immediately
to the left of the IPM in the east on the northern side.

[Mudge]

Post by KIV11

Post by Brian K.Lingard
Ottawa Canada
I like being Chaplain as for the most part I just sit in the North and
take in the proceedings.

Interesting, our Chaplain sits in the East on the WM's left side.

As does ours !

[Stuart H.]

Post by Mudge

Post by KIV11

Post by Brian K.Lingard
Ottawa Canada
I like being Chaplain as for the most part I just sit in the North and
take in the proceedings.

Interesting, our Chaplain sits in the East on the WM's left side.

As does ours !

We are Canadian rite. You must be York rite?

Stuart H.
Baseline #198 GRA

[Mudge]

Post by Stuart H.

Post by Mudge

Post by KIV11

Post by Brian K.Lingard
Ottawa Canada
I like being Chaplain as for the most part I just sit in the North and
take in the proceedings.

Interesting, our Chaplain sits in the East on the WM's left side.

As does ours !

We are Canadian rite. You must be York rite?

Nope ! Canadian (and occasionally Australian - but not by charter - it
just happens when our BC affiliate shows up !)

[Stuart H.]

Post by Mudge

Post by KIV11

Post by Brian K.Lingard
Ottawa Canada
I like being Chaplain as for the most part I just sit in the North and
take in the proceedings.

Interesting, our Chaplain sits in the East on the WM's left side.

As does ours !

That is where our IPM sits, close and able to render advice to the WM
when needed.

Stuart H.
Baseline #198 GRA