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 meetingsthe word is not collected on the first degree, but is collected (by the Deacons) on the second and third degree. |
| Oregon | No |
| 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 |
| Tennessee | |
| Texas | Does not take up word at start of lodge meetings |
| Utah | |
| Vermont | |
| Virginia | Takes up word at start of lodge meetings |
| Washington | |
| West Virginia | |
| Wisconsin | |
| Wyoming |