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Taking Up Masonic Words
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U.S. Grand Lodges
| Grand Lodge |
Details |
| Alabama |
|
| Alaska |
|
| Arizona |
In Arizona, in what is referred to as
"mainstream" Freemasonry, on the FC degree the word is collected from the
brethren by the Deacons and borne up to the East. On the MM degree the
substitute for the AMW accompanied by its due guard and sign are sent up to
the East by the Deacons only (although the ritual does provide for it to be
collected from the Brethren as well I have never seen it done, probably due
to the amount of time it would take to open and close the Lodge.
In AZ, the password must be collected from the brethren
ONLY when a FC Lodge is opened.
It is optional to collect the d-gs signs of all 3
degrees, plus the substitute MM word from the brethren at the opening of
the MM degree, but this is hardly ever done due to the time required.
|
| Arkansas |
|
| California |
In California the pass is collected by the
Deacons in the Second Degree only |
| Colorado |
In Colorado the password is collected by the
Deacons. |
| Connecticut |
|
| Delaware |
|
| District of Columbia |
Does not take up word at start of lodge
meetings |
| Florida |
In Florida, the passwords are only picked up
if the Senior Warden answers "I am not satisfied" when the WM asks him "Are
all present MM, FCM, EAMs?". When that happens, the Deacons collect the word
- but only from the brother the deacon stops in front of and grounds his
rod. I have never seen this in any lodge, however. The only place I've seen
this done is at a school of instruction. |
| Georgia |
|
| Hawaii |
|
| Idaho |
|
| Illinois |
|
| Indiana |
|
| Iowa |
Iowa Yes. The Lodge is purged during the
opening. |
| Kansas |
|
| Kentucky |
|
| Louisiana |
|
| Maine |
|
| Maryland |
Takes up word at start of lodge
meetings |
| Massachusetts |
The GL of MA does NOT take up the word |
| Michigan |
|
| Minnesota |
In Minnesota, yes on the FC and MM degrees by
the deacons. On the EA degree, visual inspection is performed by the
deacons. |
| Mississippi |
|
| Missouri |
In Missouri, the word is not collected on the
first degree, but is collected (by the Deacons) on the second and third
degree. |
| Montana |
|
| Nebraska |
|
| Nevada |
|
| New Hampshire |
|
| New Jersey |
Takes up word at start of lodge
meetings |
| New Mexico |
|
| New York |
In NY, which only permits Lodges to be opened
on the 3rd Degree, stepping down for Degree work, the two Deacons collect
the password from the assembled members on the north and south and
communicate it to the WM in the East. The password is only exchanged during
this purging as part of the opening.
Brethren entering the Lodge after it is open proceed west of the altar and
salute the WM with the Due Guard and Sign of the Degree the Lodge is on,
after having obtained that knowledge from the Tyler prior to entering and
after confirming by observing the position of the S&C on the altar before
them. If the WM is busy, some members insist on giving the Due Guard and
Sign to the SW in the West, but there is nothing in NY's constitutions,
rules or ritual that requires this, and I advise newer Brothers not to
bother since its not required, and indeed seems to be a violation of the
instructions given to a Brother in the degrees. |
| North Carolina |
|
| North Dakota |
|
| Ohio |
Ohio-No. |
| Oklahoma |
Takes up word at lodge meetings the
word is not collected on the first degree, but is collected (by the Deacons)
on the second and third degree. |
| Oregon |
|
| Pennsylvania |
Does not take up word at start of lodge
meetings |
| Rhode Island |
|
| South Carolina |
|
| South Dakota |
> In Florida, the passwords are only picked up
if
> the Senior Warden answers "I am not satisfied"
> when the WM asks him "Are all present MM, FCM,
> EAMs?". When that happens, the Deacons collect
> the word - but only from the brother the deacon
> stops in front of and grounds his rod.
In theory this is how the South Dakota ritual is worded. However - I've
never seen it not kick into the subroutine of "for our better satisfaction."
In my experience since Lodge usually is convened at the MM degree in South
Dakota, then called down to EA or FC for degree work, we do what's for us
typical
purging of the Lodge and reception of the word by the deacons.
But if you enter "late," you are dressed as a MM, but as you stop at the
altar to recognize and be recognized the the WM, you check the positioning
of the S&C and make the appropriate due-guard and sign. (Yeah, I know you
probably don't have the due-guard in Emulation variations.) |
| Tennessee |
|
| Texas |
Does not take up word at start of lodge
meetings |
| Utah |
|
| Vermont |
|
| Virginia |
Takes up word at start of lodge
meetings |
| Washington |
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| West Virginia |
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| Wisconsin |
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| Wyoming |
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