Stories In celebration of ceremony
IN PERFECT HARMONY Ritual shouldn’t spoil the fun of Freemasonry. Instead, let’s be encouraging and welcoming, says Grand Director of Ceremonies Charles Hopkinson-Woolley
PORTRAITS RICHARD GLEED
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s a member of five Craft lodges and two Royal Arch chapters (along with two Rose Croix chapters and a Mark lodge), I am often asked why I am a member of so many masonic units. I invariably reply that it is because I enjoy my Freemasonry so much, but I rarely stop to think about what exactly it is that gives me so much pleasure. When I try to analyse it, it is clear that there are many components. Among them are the sense of tradition, the pleasure of a good ceremony or well-delivered ritual, the joy in seeing old friends and making new ones, the satisfaction derived from our charitable activities, and the conviviality of a good meal. However, it is clear that underpinning all of this is the importance of a sense of being among friends and of enjoying a pervading atmosphere of goodwill and togetherness, whether in the lodge room, or afterwards. It is this sense of ‘harmony’ that is the foundation of a happy lodge; its presence will help to ensure that a lodge is well-attended and growing, while its absence, in the long term, will lead to dwindling attendance and a shrinking membership.
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The importance of this harmony is not immediately apparent to a newly Initiated Freemason; there is so much for him to take in that his early progress in Freemasonry is probably driven by curiosity and the encouragement of his Proposer and Seconder. However, it is specifically referred to by the Worshipful Master in the First Degree ceremony, when it is drawn to the attention of the newly made Freemason immediately after he has been invested with his apron. The Worshipful Master warns the Initiate that he should never put on this badge if he is about to visit a lodge in which there is a brother with whom he is at variance, lest the harmony of the lodge be disturbed. This seemingly minor caution, so little remarked upon perhaps because it is followed shortly after by that magnificent piece of masonic prose, the Charge after Initiation, is one that we neglect at our peril. We must ensure that our meetings are harmonious, and that we avoid dissent between brethren with differing views and priorities, not just when we visit other lodges, but also in our own. Active membership of the Craft is first and foremost a hobby. Time spent in Freemasonry is time away from our families and our work, and we may end up spending considerable sums on dress FMT Autumn 2021
and regalia, annual memberships, travel, charitable donations and dining. If a member does not enjoy his lodge or chapter meetings, he will lose interest in attending, however strong his sense of duty. We must therefore think carefully about every element of our meetings to ensure that they enhance, rather than detract from, enjoyment: is the time of the meeting convenient for the members, is the stipulated dress code popular, are brethren encouraged (but not pressurised) to attend a lodge of rehearsal, are the meetings well-run and efficient, and is the quality of the dining arrangements and meeting venue appropriate. One of the many strengths of Freemasonry is the diversity of its lodges and membership, so each of these aspects should be viewed in the context of the lodge in question, and not be aligned with some imaginary template. Younger working Freemasons generally benefit from meeting times that allow them to leave their job at an acceptable time, often prefer more formal dress codes and enjoy high-quality dining, while older Freemasons might prefer earlier meeting times, and may be more concerned about the cost of dining. A lodge whose brethren are mainly retired might wish to organise a regular lodge of rehearsal so that the members can enjoy a drink or a meal together afterwards, while the Director of Ceremonies of a lodge with a young membership might find it more productive to arrange evening or weekend video calls to rehearse those taking part in the ceremony and give them confidence and direction. Just as important as all of these factors is an acceptance that the arrangements can never be perfect for every member of the lodge, and that we must avoid intolerance when this is the case. For example, there should be no stigma attached to a late arrival; better that the member in question feels confident that he will be warmly welcomed even if he has missed part of the ceremony than that he be too embarrassed to come at all if unavoidably delayed. Most of these matters will be decided by a lodge committee, but there is one facet of Freemasonry that can be a considerable
