Lodge Layout

When you join Freemasonry you have the option to start what is known as the ‘Progression’ this is the route to the Masters Chair, each year you take a different office (role) in the lodge and have a different part to play in each of the ceremonys the idea being after the six years it takes to move through all the offices you feel comfortable and confident enough to be Master of the Lodge, its important to stress you do this at your own speed, some people are eager to progress while others prefer to take their time – either is fine!

There are many lodges across the country but they are laid out in a similar manner. The entrance to the lodge is always in the West and the Worshipful Master always sits in the East.

There are two other senior Officers, the Senior Warden who sits in the West and the Junior Warden who sits in the South.

Below is an illustration of the Lodge room showing where the officers sit along with a description of each of the offices which forms the progression to the Worshipful Masters chair.

The progession to the the Masters chair involves moving through the progressive offices (light blue symbols on the above diagram) when you join you will not hold any office just be a observer to what is going on and many choose to stay an observer for a couple of years. When you ready you may join the progression and start to move though the offices in the following order:-

Helps look after the guests of the Lodge.

Formally announces any visitors and assists with opening and closing of the lodge.

Guides the candidate around the lodge room during an initiation ceremony.

Guides the candidate round the lodge room for the 2nd and 3rd degree ceremonies.

Now one of the three senior officers, the Junior Warden takes on more responsibility for the admittance of visitors and more speaking parts during all three ceremonies, they also make a small toast/speech to the visitors at the festive board.

Your year before the ‘chair’ you will take on more speaking roles in the lodge throughout all three ceremonies and will give a small toast/speech to the Worshipful Master.

As the head of the lodge you will take on around half of all the speaking roles, you will need to organise your officers for the year, the work the lodge is going to do and all your social events. Its a busy year and no one goes into it not feeling a bit nervous but everyone says it was was a very rewarding role to take on.