Where VSL is Opened To
The information on this chart comes from various sources. 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 | Where the VSL is Opened To in lodge meetings |
|---|---|
| Alabama | opens randomly to passages (but not to pictures) |
| Alaska | Different passages for each degree |
| Arizona | EA – Psalms 133:1-3 FC – Amos 7:7-8 MM – Ecclesiastes 12:1-7 |
| Arkansas | |
| California | The VSL is opened randomly but with one condition. If the random opening is to a page with a picture, the volume is closed and again opened at a random page until a page without a picture is opened. |
| Colorado | 1st Degree: EA – Psalms 133:1-3 2nd degree: FC – Amos 7:7-9 3rd degree: MM – Ecclesiastes 12:1-7 It is common practice to mark the passages with ribbons colored red, white and blue: Red for the EA, white for the FC, and blue for the MM. This is not an estoeric practice, merely so the Senior Deacon, when opening the Bible, can quickly locate the appropriate passage. That particular color order is easily remembered. |
| Connecticut | 1st Degree: EA – Psalms 133:1-3 2nd degree: FC – Amos 7:7-9 3rd degree: MM – Ecclesiastes 12:1-7 |
| Delaware | 1st Degree: EA – Psalms 133:1-3 2nd degree: FC – Amos 7:7-9 3rd degree: MM – Ecclesiastes 12:1-7 |
| District of Columbia | |
| Florida | Different passages |
| Georgia | There is no requirement but the following are customarily followed: EA – Psalms 133:1-3 FC – Amos 7:7-9 MM – Ecclesiastes 12:1-7 |
| Hawaii | |
| Idaho | No specific passage |
| Illinois | Non picture page |
| Indiana | EA – Psalms 133:1-3 FC – Amos 7:7-9 MM – Ecclesiastes 12:1-7 |
| Iowa | Different passages |
| Kansas | EA – Psalms 133:1-3 FC – Amos 7:7-9 MM – Ecclesiastes 12:1-7 |
| Kentucky | |
| Louisiana | |
| Maine | |
| Maryland | |
| Massachusetts | Random |
| Michigan | |
| Minnesota | Different passages |
| Mississippi | Open to where both pages are Scripture. No pictures at all. for EA Book is open 1/3 for FC Book is open 2/3 for MM Book is open in center |
| Missouri | Randomly |
| Montana | EA – Psalms 133:1-3 FC – Amos 7:7-9 MM – Ecclesiastes 12:1-7 |
| Nebraska | |
| Nevada | |
| New Hampshire | Psalms 133:1-3 1 Corinthians 13 Ecc 12:1-7 |
| New Jersey | Optional |
| New Mexico | |
| New York | 1st Psalm CXXXIII 2nd Amos VII,7,8 3rd Ecc XII, 1-7 |
| North Carolina | |
| North Dakota | |
| Ohio | Different specific passage for each degree |
| Oklahoma | From an email: EA is opened at Psalms 133:1-3 (S&C placed on left side of opened Bible) FC is opened at Amos 7:7-9 (S&C placed on right side of opened Bible) In our FC lodge, we only use verses 7 and 8 of Amos … not the usual 7-9 MM is opened at Eccl 12:1-7 (S&C placed on right side of opened Bible) |
| Oregon | EA Psalm 133:1-3 FC Amos 7:7&8 MM Ecclesiastes 12:1-7 The S&C is placed on the right side of the Bible when Opened |
| Pennsylvania | No different pages |
| Rhode Island | |
| South Carolina | Different passages |
| South Dakota | |
| Tennessee | |
| Texas | EA Psalm 133:1-3 FC Amos 7:7&8 MM Ecclesiastes 12:1-7 Basically the VSL is opened to the passages that are read during circumambulation. |
| Utah | |
| Vermont | |
| Virginia | |
| Washington | Different passages |
| West Virginia | The Bible is opened to any page in West Virginia when the lodge is open. The Committee on Work makes it a point to stress that there is no correct page for any particular degree. |
| Wisconsin | Random |
| Wyoming |
Other than the United States
| England | Varies |
| Scotland | In Scotland, many Lodges work according to their Old traditional Working, all with Grand Lodge blessing. My main experience, having affiliated with Lodge Aggrey 1396 and Lodge Niger 1670, and being a Past Master of Lodge Yerwa 1686, all in Nigeria under Grand Lodge of Scotland, is as follows : – Opening Lodge in EAFM Degree: VSL is opened at RUTH, chap. 2 and Chaplain reads verse 19, – Opening Lodge in FCFM Degree: VSL is opened at JUDGES chap. 12 and Chaplain reads verses 5 & 6, – Opening Lodge in MM Degree: VSL is opendd at GENESIS chap. 4 and Chapalin reads verse 22, – Closing Lodge generally : VSL opened at 2 CORINTHIANS chap.13, Chaplain reads verse 17 then closes VSL. And I remember quite well seeing the same procedure in the 25 or so other Scottish Consitution Lodges I visited in Nigeria or Ghana while I was there (1971-1978). |
| Israel | Varies |
| Brazil | EA – Psalms 133 FC – Amos 7:7,8 MM – Ecclesiastes 12:1-7 |
| British Columbia, Canada | Custom is to open at specific passages, but they may vary |
| Ontario, Canada | EA – Ruth IV, verse 7 Judges XII, verse 6 Ecclesiastes XII |