Comments on Beacon of Masonic Light: Where Have All the Past Masters Gone?

I always believed that one could do a better job s...

2008-04-28T06:07:00.000-07:00

I always believed that one could do a better job second time around.

It seems that a year flies by so fast in each seat, that by the time it is over, and your ready to progress further, one never feels they "got" all that chair had to offer.

But without time to reflect, you are learning the new chair and new resposibilities. By the time one makes it to the east, depending on ones supporting cast, will determine how smooth it may go. A good core of Past masters around surely should help.

It is a commitment.
It takes volunteering to another level.

It is a sense of accomplishment when it is all over though!

I agree with Michael. In my jurisdiction we do no...

2008-04-26T19:15:00.000-07:00

I agree with Michael. In my jurisdiction we do not have the SW and JW confer any degrees. That is the responsability of the WM. I am a past master with a young family and a young business. I can tell you everything you said is true. I was bone dry at the end and then they asked me to sit a second year. I had to decline. Being Master of the Lodge is a great experience. When you are finished though you still feel like you should be running the lodge. It's odd. Maybe someday I'll head back into the east but for now I help my new lodge by filling every seat that someone fails to fill at each meeting. That caused me endless last minute concern when i was in the east, people failed to make the meeting and didn't give me a heads up. The seats needed to be filled to do a degree or just to ensure smooth running of the lodge. It is a great way for past masters to assist because they typically have been there and know the work.
Good post Theron...

Worshipful,I thank you for your light on the Maste...

2008-04-26T16:02:00.000-07:00

Worshipful,
I thank you for your light on the Masters’ work. Again, being new to your lodge and Masonry, I am ignorant in the true dedication the Master makes. I've known he has a great commitment, but was unaware to what extent. All I know is, as a new member of this great Fraternity, I look up to ours with great emulation and admiration. In the short time I have been present, I have seen him fulfill all the requirements you list and then some, always (at least in appearance) with pleasure, alluding that the requests and work he caters too are an honor for him to perform. I guess I just want to say thank you, to you and all the other Past Masters that read this. I can only hope that I can do as good a job as all the Past Masters in the ages before me, when it is my time to serve.
Brother Jon

Thank you Michael, I had heard that some jurisdict...

2008-04-26T12:14:00.000-07:00

Thank you Michael, I had heard that some jurisdictions don't do this, notably UGLE lodges. CA and HI (since they used to be one and the same) do this, to give the upcoming officers a chance to sit in the east and to practice.

I particularly enjoyed being able to initiated new brothers when I was the Junior Warden. Its their first view of the craft, and I always struggled to get it right and solemn.

As the Junior Warden (one the three principle lead...

2008-04-26T12:06:00.000-07:00

As the Junior Warden (one the three principle leaders of the lodge)... serving as Acting Master during the conferral of the first degree (including a 20 minute lecture that must be memorized).... As Senior Warden, you are ... serving as Acting Master during the conferral of all second degrees

These are local traditions, I think. They're not done where I live.