Years and years ago, back when I was a baby Mason, I was getting married.
Now I knew that Masonic weddings were possible, because I’d seen a great many photographs, and a story about just such a thing that took place in Puerto Rico. I’d also encountered stories about one taking place in Australia, and I learned that they have been regularly performed by a Regular Grand Lodge, a Grand Lodge Recognized by my own near the Middle East.
Melinda thought that a Masonic wedding would be a very cool thing, so we were off!
I found the ritual that had been used in Australia, and I found three Brothers who were willing, and legally qualified, to act as officiants.
We took that ritual, practiced it, and made a few slight changes to the Floor Work in order to make it flow better. Some of the ritual elements clearly showed it to be from the Continental Masonic lineage. Those of you who visited Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity Lodge with me last winter would recognize those elements.
We rented a Lodge to hold the ceremony in, we arranged for a concordant Masonic body to add ritual elements (and plenty of flair) to the occasion, and we invited all of our Masonic friends along with our families.
It was quite wonderful, and extremely well received!
Having performed it ‘for real’ we now had a very good idea of how the Floor Work accompanying the ritual could best be done, and made a handful of tiny changes, given the layout of our Lodge Rooms, and our custom of Squaring the Corners.
Time passed and a Mason who had been present at our wedding decided it was time for himself to get married, and asked if we (Myself and one of the Masons who had officiated at my wedding) would do the same for him.
We did. To a Lodge room completely packed with Masons and friends.
My primary compatriot in all of this created three nice ritual books containing the ceremony, so that all three necessary officiants would have one, and would look good holding it. I in turn made up fifty saddle-stiched booklets containing the ceremony, so that anyone who wanted to read the ritual, or learn about how we came about it could. All of those have long since been distributed to Washington Freemasons.
A bit more time passed, and said ‘Primary Compatriot’ decided that he too was going to get married. He was, and remains, a very well known Mason in this Jurisdiction and beyond, so his wedding was a huge affair. Held in an outdoor Lodge Room.
Once again we gathered around the altar and performed the Masonic ceremony to a rave reception.
Over time, we had three Masonic wedding ceremonies in Washington. Each attended by Masons of every rank, up to and including Grand Masters. But, in all three cases, we were old fogies. Not a one of us under 40.
Well that changed!
One day I received a phone call from my ‘Primary Compatriot’ telling me that a young couple, just starting their life’s journey planned on getting married, and wanted us to do the Masonic marrying.
We did, and it was great! I’m writing this on their Anniversary, and I’m told that our Brother is now the Master of his Lodge. I’ve also heard from his friends that the marriage is going well.
There you have it I suppose. A brief history of Masonic weddings in Washington State.
I’m writing all of this today because when I signed on to my Social Media account this morning, I stumbled across a post made by a Lodge in Brazil. It detailed the Masonic wedding that had taken place there earlier this week, and it included quite a few excellent photographs. Based on the items shown on the altar in those photos, it would seem that the ceremony used must have been quite similar to the one that has been used here.
A few minutes after that, I received a reminder that the last couple we performed the ceremony for are having their anniversary today.
I decided that seeing both of those things within minutes of each other this morning, must be a sign that it was time to talk about Masonic wedding ceremonies.
I do have a few disclaimers that I feel I should share along with this post:
I’ve not used any names other than my own in this post because I think that weddings are private things. Those who have participated in the past can and have shared about it, but that is their choice, not mine to make for them.
While all of these weddings have been performed within Lodge rooms (including an outdoor Lodge room) none of them have been performed by a Lodge. The participants, other than the bride of course, were all Masons, but Masons working as individuals, not as a Lodge.
No Lodge was Open while these ceremonies took place. They took place well outside the Tiled Recesses of a Lodge Communication.
In Washington weddings are regulated by State Law, and recorded by County Auditors. Legally one can be as creative as a couple desires when it comes to the ceremonies involved, but an officiant must be legally entitled to carry it out, and the paperwork must be both completed and timely filed.
There you have it. A bit of history about some Masonic weddings that have been performed in Washington State. I hope that you found some interest in reading about them.
On Sunday night we will have our weekly Rummer & Grapes gathering over Zoom for all those who hold a paid subscription to Emeth. Login information will go out on Sunday, I hope that you will be able to join us!
This is the sort of thing that should be available within the jurisdiction, along with the festive boards, table lodges, funerals, etc. It doesn't need to be officially adopted by GL, but I don't see any reason why it can't be provided electronically through grandview. Becoming ordained in this state is a fairly trivial matter and I'd be willing to be part of a team to do these ceremonies. Anything to enhance a brother's masonic life.
I was an officiant at the first two weddings was a great experience. However, it Lady Foley's & mine wedding where it got huge. Our ceremony was held at the Masonic Family Park where the Outdoor 3 degree & the Torchlight Fellowcraft degrees are held. It was a magical ceremony attended by a couple hundred people Masonic and non Masonic alike. The non Masons thought it was cool when the brothers formed the circle and escorted Lady Foley around the inside of the circle showing that no matter what happened to me, she will always be within the fold of the brotherhood. I will cherish that memory for the rest of my life. Then came the young couple, Eric & Taijia. We need more of this ceremony. It truly bonded Lady Foley & Lady Taijia to not just their husbands but to the Fraternity as well.