For someone entering this office for the first time, what advice can we give that will help him be the very best he can be?
What can the Senior Deacon do to help ensure that the very best possible Lodge experience is had by all? How can he help contribute to a truly Legendary Lodge Experience?
“To learn to subdue my passions and improve myself in Masonry.” Is a bit of our ritual that has always remained at the front of my mind. I wrote a bit about that over on my Tarot site the other day. Can fear be one of those passions that we should subdue? If that’s of interest to you, you can find that post here: Enchained By Fear
Whenever a lodge needs someone to fill the Senior Deacons chair for a degree I volunteer if I don’t have another commitment. If you have a Master and Senior Deacon that work well with each other the degree will flow and be a pleasure to watch from the sidelines.
Looking back over the years I can’t pinpoint the exact time I realized how a seasoned Senior Deacon makes degree work go for a Brother sitting in the East for the first few degrees, but it truly makes a difference.
I hadn't thought about the fact that a solid Senior Deacon can make the Degree work smoother for the Worshipful Master, but now that you bring it to my attention, it makes a great deal of sense. Thank you Brother!
When I was the SD, I made it a point to stand at the Tyler’s register and greet every brother coming into the lodge room. I would shake their hands, tell them thanks for coming, and give out first time visitor cards as needed. Since the SD introduces first time visitors it would behoove him to know who they were beforehand. The ritual also acknowledges those duties as well.
Yes, I 100% agree one of my favorite chairs is the SD. It is a metric shit ton of work during degrees and the most ritual a master mason must learn in order to do his job properly.
What is most important for a first time SD is that the lodge explains to him exactly what his duties are before being installed. Ideally this should actually take place before he is installed as the JD, it gives the brother an entire year to memorize the parts.
The SD also needs to be able to look ahead and plan his preparations for memorization of the work to make sure he is ready for the next upcoming degree. You could possibly be doing the 3rd degree circumambulation a week after installation. Planning ahead, even while sitting in the JD chair, makes life a whole lot easier and lets you prioritize what ritual to learn.
Don’t skip chairs, don’t rush through the line. You are doing no favors to yourself or the lodge. I am so grateful to my former mentors of the lodge who made sure I progressed through each chair starting as Sr Steward. It gave me the best chance for success, and the journey was so much better. Every new master mason should do the same. You might see those pillared chairs as shiny baubles to grab hold of, but trust me, savor the journey.
I’ve had more than one brother come up to me later, after eagerly jumping ahead to the SD chair against my warnings of just what they were getting into, and acknowledge that I was right about how hard the SD role really is. Yes, in some small lodges it’s not a big deal as perhaps the lodge hasn’t done a degree in eons. That’s a true pity, as I personally think conferring a degree is one of my favorite activities as a mason. Every master mason, if they have designs on sitting in the east, should confer degrees as part of their own personal growth.
I think you are exactly right when you talk about standing near the register and welcoming everyone.
I often hear laments from Masons that their Lodge doesn't get many visitors. Well, when visitors do come, how warm is the welcome they receive? We talk a lot about men who are Initiated and then never seen from again. Well, how warm was their welcome to the Lodge. We also see seasoned Masons walk away from their Lodge from time to time. Well, did the Lodge make it really clear that they are valued?
It seems to me that every Lodge should have an informal group of Masons who make it a point to ensure that everyone who comes is acknowledged and greeted warmly. This it seems to me is a duty of both Deacons, and the Tyler as well.
Ultimately, it is a duty of everyone, but the WM can't be everywhere at once, and sometimes ongoing conversations can seem closed to others. But if there are three Officers who make it a special point to ensure that they absolutely welcome everyone, no one will feel left out.
Senior Deacon is my favorite role in Lodge! I look forward to being able to perform the Senior Deacon role to the best of my ability and without prompts. Circumambulation is one of my favorite rituals in Masonry.
I've always thought that this chair is the best one to prepare one for advancing to the JW, SW and WM, it teaches you the most about the degrees, ritual work and conferring. I took so much pride in delivering my parts when doing degree work. Important for the candidate & as they advance to get the most out of the degree. Especially the altar work!
Whenever a lodge needs someone to fill the Senior Deacons chair for a degree I volunteer if I don’t have another commitment. If you have a Master and Senior Deacon that work well with each other the degree will flow and be a pleasure to watch from the sidelines.
Looking back over the years I can’t pinpoint the exact time I realized how a seasoned Senior Deacon makes degree work go for a Brother sitting in the East for the first few degrees, but it truly makes a difference.
I hadn't thought about the fact that a solid Senior Deacon can make the Degree work smoother for the Worshipful Master, but now that you bring it to my attention, it makes a great deal of sense. Thank you Brother!
When I was the SD, I made it a point to stand at the Tyler’s register and greet every brother coming into the lodge room. I would shake their hands, tell them thanks for coming, and give out first time visitor cards as needed. Since the SD introduces first time visitors it would behoove him to know who they were beforehand. The ritual also acknowledges those duties as well.
Yes, I 100% agree one of my favorite chairs is the SD. It is a metric shit ton of work during degrees and the most ritual a master mason must learn in order to do his job properly.
What is most important for a first time SD is that the lodge explains to him exactly what his duties are before being installed. Ideally this should actually take place before he is installed as the JD, it gives the brother an entire year to memorize the parts.
The SD also needs to be able to look ahead and plan his preparations for memorization of the work to make sure he is ready for the next upcoming degree. You could possibly be doing the 3rd degree circumambulation a week after installation. Planning ahead, even while sitting in the JD chair, makes life a whole lot easier and lets you prioritize what ritual to learn.
Don’t skip chairs, don’t rush through the line. You are doing no favors to yourself or the lodge. I am so grateful to my former mentors of the lodge who made sure I progressed through each chair starting as Sr Steward. It gave me the best chance for success, and the journey was so much better. Every new master mason should do the same. You might see those pillared chairs as shiny baubles to grab hold of, but trust me, savor the journey.
I’ve had more than one brother come up to me later, after eagerly jumping ahead to the SD chair against my warnings of just what they were getting into, and acknowledge that I was right about how hard the SD role really is. Yes, in some small lodges it’s not a big deal as perhaps the lodge hasn’t done a degree in eons. That’s a true pity, as I personally think conferring a degree is one of my favorite activities as a mason. Every master mason, if they have designs on sitting in the east, should confer degrees as part of their own personal growth.
I think you are exactly right when you talk about standing near the register and welcoming everyone.
I often hear laments from Masons that their Lodge doesn't get many visitors. Well, when visitors do come, how warm is the welcome they receive? We talk a lot about men who are Initiated and then never seen from again. Well, how warm was their welcome to the Lodge. We also see seasoned Masons walk away from their Lodge from time to time. Well, did the Lodge make it really clear that they are valued?
It seems to me that every Lodge should have an informal group of Masons who make it a point to ensure that everyone who comes is acknowledged and greeted warmly. This it seems to me is a duty of both Deacons, and the Tyler as well.
Ultimately, it is a duty of everyone, but the WM can't be everywhere at once, and sometimes ongoing conversations can seem closed to others. But if there are three Officers who make it a special point to ensure that they absolutely welcome everyone, no one will feel left out.
I think attending at the Altar is one of the most sublime duties of the Craft. Many Brothers said they have benefited from my article on the subject: http://www.midnightfreemasons.org/2021/04/the-senior-deacons-king-fu.html
This is a really superb essay. Thank you for sharing it with us Brother! I've also made it available over in the 'Chat' section.
Senior Deacon is my favorite role in Lodge! I look forward to being able to perform the Senior Deacon role to the best of my ability and without prompts. Circumambulation is one of my favorite rituals in Masonry.
I'm with you Brother! It's a really fun, and fulfilling Office.
I've always thought that this chair is the best one to prepare one for advancing to the JW, SW and WM, it teaches you the most about the degrees, ritual work and conferring. I took so much pride in delivering my parts when doing degree work. Important for the candidate & as they advance to get the most out of the degree. Especially the altar work!
I agree, it is superb preparation for what is to come. Done well, it inspires the confidence of the Lodge, and the confidence of the Mason doing it.