Hi there brothers, just to say I have an Installation tonight and this is my first one. Steak pie for dinner, some drinks (and some more and more, more!!...) and of course my guitar for the harmony afterwards.
Have any you guys had any good stories from Installations you have attended? If so please tell me about them.

Bro J.D. MM

Can someone expalin "Installation" for me please...

Originally posted by Nexus
Can someone expalin "Installation" for me please...

I believe he's referring to the annual installation of officers in a Masonic Lodge.

Congrats cra114. Were you installed as an officer or were you just there to watch? I had the priveledge of sitting in on my local lodge's installation ceremony last night. It was cool to ge tto see the inside of the lodge room and see the ceremony. I can hardly wait...

I have a question guys... Why is there no officer in the North? You've got the Master in the East, Senior Warden in the West, Junior Warden in the South, but the seat in the North is empty. Can someone tell me why?


One of the Masters of Ceremonies (Junior Deacons elsewhere, I think) that was installed last night has only just been raised not even a month ago... This is encouraging, as I look forward to getting into officer's line once I'm a Mason. Is there any kind of waiting period elsewhere to get in line?


[edit on 12/17/04 by The Axeman]

Originally posted by The Axeman
I have a question guys... Why is there no officer in the North? You've got the Master in the East, Senior Warden in the West, Junior Warden in the South, but the seat in the North is empty. Can someone tell me why?

One of the Masters of Ceremonies (Junior Deacons elsewhere, I think) that was installed last night has only just been raised not even a month ago... This is encouraging, as I look forward to getting into officer's line once I'm a Mason. Is there any kind of waiting period elsewhere to get in line?

Good eye Axe, you will be informed in detail upon your Initiation, but for now, think in terms of the sun, and shadows that are cast.

Typically for the appointed offices you only need to be a Master Mason in good standing, and a member of the particular Lodge to hold such an office (actually “Stations" which are the Master, Senior and Junior Wardens and "Places" which is everything else). Some Grand Lodges require you to hold a proficiency card to hold an office, and to be elected Master of a Lodge you must have previously held the Station of Senior or Junior Warden (which are also elected offices).

Thanks MM, I knew there was some good reason. I was sitting beside one of the brothers’ wives, and I asked her the same question, but she offered no explanation (of course). She did tell me that in OES (she is a Past Worthy Matron) that the seat in the North is occupied, but not in Blue Lodge.

It really was a great ceremony. Once the installation was over, they called up the family of the newly made Past Master, and thanked them for their support throughout the year. I guess his family chipped in a lot with cookouts and various events throughout the last year. They gave his wife a certificate of appreciation. It was very much heartfelt and you could tell it meant a lot to his family. When they brought the outgoing Master up to receive his recognition, they gave him a plaque with the lodge number, etc. engraved on it, and it also had a gavel attached to the plaque. The man was literally almost in tears as he spoke to the brothers, telling them how much it meant to him to be given the honor of being Worshipful Master of their lodge for the last year. There were many chuckles when someone asked him if he was glad that it was over and he answered with a resounding “YES!” (smiling and laughing all the while, of course ). You could just feel in the air the kind of relationship these men have with each other. They also gave him a pocket knife (this is Arkansas, remember ) with the S&C engraved on it, and a Past Master’s apron. The whole thing was really touching, and I just had a really good feeling in my heart having witnessed it.

My K of C Council has an installation of officers annually as well. It's more of a formality. We don't have dinner or meals aftewards usually. Sometimes the officers of many councils are done at the same time. It is a very nice ceremony, the officers are usually robed. A family member or girlfreind is the one who puts the jewel of the office around the neck of the installed officer.

I like being an officer, you get to sit at the tables with the rest of the executive instead of the isle seats!

Originally posted by The Axeman
I have a question guys... Why is there no officer in the North? You've got the Master in the East, Senior Warden in the West, Junior Warden in the South, but the seat in the North is empty. Can someone tell me why?

In Ancient Craft Masonry, the Master, among other things, represents "the sun rising in the East to open the day"; the Junior Warden represents the "sun at high twelve in its meridian"; and Senior Warden represents the "sun setting in the west to close the day."

When the sun is in the north, it cannot be seen; therefore, in Masonry, the North represents night, when all labor is suspended and the Craft enters rest. Therefore, no officer is charged to superintend the night.

[edit on 17-12-2004 by Masonic Light]