MLC – Masonic Leadership Center
webpage about
Placement of Lesser Lights
The following information is from the Southern California Research Lodge Fraternal Review of 1985, Bro. Ralph A. Herbold, Editor. If anyone has any updates for additions or changes on this chart, please send email to Paul M. Bessel.
 |
Florida Rhode Island Pennsylvania Wyoming Alabama |
Connecticut |
 |
| Georgia |
Arkansas |
||
| Alaska Arizona California Idaho Illinois Kentucky Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Mexico Texas Utah Vermont Wisconsin |
Idaho |
||
| Colorado Delaware Michigan New Jersey Ohio Oregon |
D.C. (I do not think this is accurate for D.C.) |
||
 |
Washington |
Louisiana |
|
| New York Oklahoma |
England |
||
| Scotland |
Ireland |
The following information is the result of research efforts by Chris Harris, on the Philalethes Society listserv. The information on this chart comes from various sources, mostly email messages from several brethren. If anyone has definite information for additions or changes on this chart, please send email to Paul M. Bessel so I can update this chart.
United States
| State | Placement of Lesser Lights |
|---|---|
| Alabama | NE, NW, SW sides of altar |
| Alaska | |
| Arizona | |
| Arkansas | |
| California | South of altar |
| Colorado | |
| Connecticut | NE, SE, and SW of altar |
| Delaware | NW, NE, SW of altar |
| District of Columbia | |
| Florida | NW, NE, SW of altar |
| Georgia | NW, NE, SW of altar |
| Hawaii | |
| Idaho | |
| Illinois | South |
| Indiana | South of altar |
| Iowa | North side |
| Kansas | 3 on the Noth of the altar and none at the officers’ stations. |
| Kentucky | |
| Louisiana | |
| Maine | |
| Maryland | |
| Massachusetts | NE, NW, SE, around altar, or on the pedestals in front of the WM, SW, JW Another email message said he only saw the lesser lights at the podiums E, W, and S in Massachusetts, but the earlier description describes Maine’s practice. |
| Michigan | |
| Minnesota | South side of altar, or vicinity of the NE corner of the altar |
| Mississippi | |
| Missouri | One stand south of the altar |
| Montana | South side of the altar |
| Nebraska | |
| Nevada | |
| New Hampshire | NE, NW, SE, during degree work – WM, SW, JW dais during meetings |
| New Jersey | 2 on North side, 1 on South side |
| New Mexico | |
| New York | 2 North, 1 South |
| North Carolina | |
| North Dakota | |
| Ohio | NE, NW, S sides of altar |
| Oklahoma | NW, SW, SW sides of altar |
| Oregon | |
| Pennsylvania | SW, NW, NE corners of altar |
| Rhode Island | |
| South Carolina | North side |
| South Dakota | |
| Tennessee | |
| Texas | Side side of altar |
| Utah | |
| Vermont | |
| Virginia | |
| Washington | South side of altar |
| West Virginia | |
| Wisconsin | 1 stand South of the altar |
| Wyoming |
Other than the United States
| England | E, S, W, at pedestals of WM, SW, JW in majority – small number have them in that order and on those sides of a centrally placed pedestal or altar |
| Scotland | in the East |
| Israel | doesn’t have 3 lesser lights |
| Brazil | WM, SW, JW tables |
| British Columbia | varies from lodge to lodge |
