PAST MASTER OF A LODGE THE OFFICE OF PAST MASTER The Past Master has been acclaimed as being one

who has served his term of office in a Society. He is one who has gone by in time; has elapsed; his term is over. 1. It is not however, a position of release of those duties nor a signal for one to retire to a rest home. One cannot go through the chairs, including that of the Worshipful Master without a sense of strain, and you will always have some pangs of regret that you did not accomplish all you would like to have done. 2. An 'Actual Past Master' has been quoted as being one who has 'passed the chair,' and has served as both Junior and Senior Wardens in succession and upon stepping down from the Worshipful Masters' position making way for his successor, becomes Ex-Officer of the Lodge. 3. One writer has suggested a Past Master must now tread the difficult path between forcing his opinions [interference] and when not to [indifference]. And so, your 'duties' have now shifted, so to speak. A Past Master must have certain attributes and he lists six that are: a) Be an historical link with the past; b) Accept responsibility, or blame where due, as well as accolades, for the Lodge's performance; c) Assist but not stifle; d) Make himself obviously interested in the younger members and be freely available to them at all times; e) As the Past Master is the Lodge, and the Lodge is the Past Master, he must assist and teach; and f) He has an obligation to Grand Lodge. 4. The title and jewel of a Past Master has been given to you as a fitting and glorious tribute to what you has given hour Lodge during the past twelve months. I will say more on the subject of the jewel shortly. You have received the highest gift and position your Lodge may bestow upon you. 5. Your logic and past experience encompassed by high ideals have aptly been passed on to your successor, and you now sit to his left as the 'Immediate Past Master.' When this year has ended, you are not entitled to relax from future obligations. Your faithful attendance and your wisdom are very much needed; for ours is a Progressive Science. There are many cornerstones still to be laid as the completion of our Temple is eternal, the role ageless, even to the Grand Lodge above. I recommend you become a Past Master in ''reality" and not one in ''incognito. '6 You must remember that "P.M." does not stand for "Post Meridian." You have risen to this highest point in this Lodge and will h! ave a certain amount of humility.. You have completed your year of 'building bridges' and now have stepped down to allow others who follow to build theirs. Do it with dignity. 7 It has been said that the extent that Past Masters count depends very largely on their personality and character, and whether by counsel, good leadership, and efficient administration, they have won confidence and esteem. It is nothing short of a tragedy when Past Masters lapse into indifference, when they show no concern for the maintenance of the Lodge in its full strength of efficiency. It is incumbent on them to uphold and support the current Worshipful Master.

8 The Masonic writer Jones tells us the phrase "Past Master" was believed first used around the 1720's to designate the Past Masons' Degree - that is - the Hiramic Legend. Not until late into the century did the inner workings of the installation ceremony possibly take place. 9 At one time, the ceremony of putting a master into the Master's Chair in a lodge was of the barest kind. Prior to the 1750's there is no knowledge of any type of ceremony peculiar to the occasion. For it was around this time when the "Antients" are believed to have introduced the Ceremony of Installation. The Ceremony of the "Modern" Lodges was believed to have been restricted to advice, congratulations and the reading of the Old Charges to the Master. So, while the ceremony of giving the Old Charges to the incoming Master goes back an unknown period of time, the 'ceremony' of the installation is only about two centuries old. The writer Hamilton, suggests the Installed Masters Degree is believed to have originated in England in 1768 and was at that time considered to be a 'scandalous subterfuge' to pass the chair in an attempt to meet the qualifications for advancement to the Holy Royal Arch Degree. 10 England abolished the Past Masters Degree itself in 1826 when the Royal Arch began working its' own Grade of Past Master which is available to any Master Mason. 11 As can be appreciated, consternation and controversy was caused by this action as a brother could obviously become a Past Master, yet not having served as such in a 'Blue Lodge.' 12 It has also been stated that it is an Honourary Degree usually conferred upon the Master of a Lodge at his Installation. 13 Recent years has seen changes wherein all Lodge Officers in this Grand Jurisdiction form part of Grand Lodge, regardless of rank held. According to Macoy, the Past Master in the Royal Arch is out of place as it belongs to the 'Blue' Lodge. He was also of the opinion the Installed Master receives the Degree of a Past Master. 14 It is most interesting to read in part IV of a 1919 copy of the Constitution of the Grand Lodge of Alberta: "N.B. - In ancient times, no brother, however skilled in the craft; was called a master mason until he had been elected into the chair of the Lodge." 15 In some jurisdictions, the Worshipful Master-elect must have received his Past Master Grade in the Royal Arch before he can become a Worshipful Master of his 'Blue' Lodge. 16 One Brother, is quoted as saying that in 1810 the Royal Arch considered the main secrets of the Royal Arch were those of a "True Mason" who must pass from the substituted ones by filling the chair of a Lodge consisting of three Past Masters at least by their election and appointment. 17 The Past Master of a Chapter of the Royal Arch is said to be only a "Quasi" or "Seeming" Past Master, and the "True and Legitimate" Past Master is one who has presided over Symbolic Lodges. 18 THE APRON OF A PAST MASTER You will of course, receive an apron from your Lodge to indicate their appreciation of that which you have given, although your real service has just begun. Your apron has, in addition to its own peculiar symbolism, the symbolism of the first apron tied on you by your Senior Warden when you received the Entered Apprentice Degree. This apron too, is an emblem of innocence and symbolizes sacrifice, purity of thought and deed, perfection, light, joy as well as many other noble things. It is yours to wear throughout the remainder of an honourable life, and so you should wear it with the pride it deserves. 19 The Past Master's apron is described in our Regulations pursuant to our Constitution.

20 THE JEWEL OF A PAST MASTER Delving into the jewel itself supplies an abundance of information - some of which is explained hereunder. Jones writes that no one knows when or why the jewel was adopted as the insignia of a Past Master; nor of any Craft ritual that offers any explanation of the proposition, or any philosophical lesson it may conceivably teach. 21 The Regulations to our Constitution in this jurisdiction advises the jewel which may be presented with the design selected by the individual Lodge. 22 Harry Mendoza suggests the jewel itself is of course not a symbol, but the badge of a Past Master. 23 Ryland tells us that in his opinion, "....no reason whatever was in anyone's mind when the 47th. Proposition gradually came to be recognized as the distinguishing mark of a Past Master. 24 In ancient Egypt it has been known that a triangle with sides of three, four and five unites would be right-angled. Ancient surveyors employed this knowledge and builders, in order to mark out and construct square corners. The learned Greek mathematician, Pythagoras of Samos discovered this was only one specific application of a general rule, that 'the square on the hypotenuse of a right-angled triangle is equal to the sum of the squares on the two sides which contain the right angle.' Two and one half centuries later the geometer Euclid of Alexandria included the pythagorean theorem as the 47th. Problem of his first book. Both these learned persons have been portrayed in the Charges as early Masons. 25 An 18th. Century Past Master's jewel is pictured showing the Compasses at 60 imposed on a Square enclosing a Sun in splendour and resting on a Quadrant or scaled ark of 90. It is understood American Past Master's Jewels derive from the Pre-1813 Scottish form, although those now vary in different jurisdictions. 26 The Square has been said to be the symbol of the human soul as it was generated out of the Divine Word ....that soul was created 'square,' 'perfect,' and like everything which was produced from the Creator's hand, was originally pronounced 'very good,' though invested with freedom of choice and capacity for error. 27 The square continually reminds masons of that duty owed to their community, and to square their actions by the square of virtue and morality. Its symbolism transcends from the Chinese, Greeks, and Egyptians who all used the square to refer to 'honesty,' 'straightforwardness,' 'morality,' and 'truthfulness' many centuries before the Christian era. 28 The square with its apex pointing upward is said to be approximating the equilateral triangle of the perfect ma; for as 'perfection' is unobtainable in this world, the symbol is not that of perfection, but that of the complete, but not yet perfect, man. 29 In the days of the Operative Mason, the Past Master did not exist. However, by 1739 the Immediate Past Master had become an important rank, although not an elected nor appointed officer of the Lodge. It was agreed in Speculative Masonry the position required an appropriate jewel which would be a symbol of splendour showing the brother had traveled from West to East; that he had left the Chair of King Solomon and was now in a position to give counsel and advise to those who were still building their own person 'Temple.' 30 The Masonic writer Ward, dealing with the apron, insists the horizontal lines forming three sets of right angles, and which has not been changed since 1814, were really Tau crosses and models of the architects T-Square.

31 While it is not known when the first jewel appeared, in the exposures of 1760 (Three Distinct Knocks), 1762 (Jachin and Boaz), and in 1766 (Mahhabone) all say the Past Master "Hath compasses and Sun with a line of chords bout his neck" or similar wording. 32 Ireland is said to have a jewel consisting of compasses added to the Master's square with the capital "G" in the centre. Scotland adds compasses to the Master's square with an arc of a circle. 33 Around 1800 the gallows square with the 47th. Proposition appeared, and in 1840 the square was replaced with an equal arm square. 34 One final remark; one of a personal nature, and that is simply from what I have observed in this Lodge, we are most fortunate to have Past Masters who indeed, on the whole, take an interest in the Lodge and assist our Worshipful Masters, rather than hinder them. I am of the belief our record shows this to be the case, and I sincerely hope our help will continue to be available when we may be called upon for advice, or for whatever 'service' we may be requested to render or supply. PAST MASTER OF A LODGE - THE OFFICE OF PAST MASTER The Past Master has been acclaimed as being one who has served his term of office in a Society. He is one who has gone by in time. Has elapsed; his term is over. It is not however, a position of release of those duties nor a signal for one to retired to a rest home. One cannot go through the chairs, including that of the Worshipful Master without a sense of strain, and you will always have some pangs of regret that you did not accomplish all you would like to have done. An 'Actual Past Master' has been quoted as being one who has 'passed the chair,' and has served as both Junior and Senior Wardens in succession and upon stepping down from the Worshipful Masters' position making way for his successor, becomes ex-officer of the Lodge. One writer has suggested a Past Master must now tread the difficult path between forcing his opinions (inter-ference) and when not to (indifference). And so, our 'duties' have now shifted, so to speak. A Past Master must have certain attributes and one brother lists six that are: be an historical link with the past; accept responsibilities or blame where due;, as well as accolades for the Lodge's performance; assist but not stifle; makes himself obviously interested in the younger members and be freely available to them at all times; as the P.M. is the Lodge and the Lodge is the P.M., he must assist the Lodge and teach; and, he has an obligation to Grand Lodge. The title and jewel of a Past Master has been given to you as a fitting and glorious tribute to what you have given your lodge during the past twelve months. You have received the highest gift and position your Lodge may bestow upon you. Your logic and past experience encompassed by high ideals have aptly been passed on to your successor, and you now sit to his left as the "Immediate Past Master.' When this year has ended, you are not entitled to relax from future obligations. Your faithful attendance and your wisdom are very much needed; for ours is a progressive science. There are many cornerstones still to be laid as the completion of our Temple is eternal, the role ageless, even to the Grand Lodge Above. I recommend you become a Past Master in 'reality' and not one in 'incognito'. You must remember the "P.M." does not stand for "Post Meridian." You have risen to this highest point in your lodge and will have a certain amount of humility. You have completed your year of 'building bridges' and now have stepped down to allow others who follow to build theirs. Do it with dignity.