Lodge Burroughs Strange No. 87
Vijayawada, India

Chamber's dictionary defines the word Etiquette as "the unwritten or conventional laws of courtesy observed between the members of the same society"

The world Etiquette is derived from French whose meaning also corresponds to "The Ticket". Again a reference to the dictionary defines "The Ticket" as "The correct thing". Therefore, Masonic Etiquette covers the correct form of discipline and decorum to be observed among the Brethren.

The charges of a Freemason which are enumerated at the commencement of the Book of constitutions, on which our entire Masonic structure is based enumerates the various Obligations of a Brother and his behaviour towards society under different circumstances. On the subject of Masonic Etiquette I would draw the attention of the Brethren to section VI in particular, which deals with the behaviour of the Brethren towards the other Brethren whilst in the Lodge and outside.

A contemporary Philosopher and thinker says: "Man is the roof and crown of creation". This shows the high position man occupies in the eyes of our divine Creator.

The same Philosopher further says : "The success and beauty of an individual life helps to build the glory and effectiveness of the nation".

There is of course no argument about the truth of these statements and it must always be the effort of man. to realise his high position in creation and develop a life of success by being useful to his fellow-beings and beauty by his cheerful, amiable and discreet conduct.

Our Masonic Institution affords ample scope for the development of this state of mind and body. The fundamental requirement to achieve this state of mind is a sense of discipline and decorum which in part forms the Etiquette to be observed by the Brethren in and out of the Lodges.

I shall now deal with the Etiquette required to be observed by the Brethren in the Lodges and at Banquet.

The very fact that while in all other institutions there are Chairman and President who preside over the Meetings, in Masonic Lodges the head is the 'Master' who rules over the Lodge, shows that implicit obedience and discipline is the basic requirement of our Institution.

At the same time it must not be forgotten that although various gradation of Officers are required to maintain the discipline and to impart instructions to those who are placed under them, we are all always equal and on the level. But in the fast changing world this outlook appears to have considerably changed. Still Brethren are expected to give respect and reverence due to the elder not only by age but also in Masonic experience. To do this and to infuse a sense of discipline and obedience into the younger minds, the behaviour of the elders play a very important part. It must be their aim to infuse into the minds of the younger generation the basic truth that: "Any Institution will be in grave danger of chaos and disintegration if men who have not learnt to obey are given the right to command".

If this axiom is first imbibed by the Brethren who enter the Order, not only his future will be bright, but also the Institution will gloriously prosper. Our system has been so well organised that by convention in Lodges a Brother is elevated to the Office of the Master usually after going through the various offices where he learns to obey the orders of the higher officers and also how to command those in the lower rung. Our Institution, we must acknowledge, is highly democratic in that every member is trained gradually and elevated to the highest office of a Master, there to rule for a year and then become the invaluable "Past Master". Not only to advise the Master where necessary in the discharge of his duties, but also to unite with every other Past Master in the grand design of infusing character and discipline into the minds of new entrants.

It is therefore the primary duty of Past Master to always stand by the Worshipful Master in maintaining harmony in the Lodge. It must be borne in mind that an entrant gets his first impression of masonry only during the ceremony in the Lodge. With this object in view there are various forms of Etiquette that a Past Master must observe.

1. Dress in Lodges and at Banquet Must receive careful attention. The Dress specified by the Regional Grand Lodge at its Meetings: "Brethren not in Naval, Military or Air Force Uniforms shall wear either full evening dress or dark lounge suit with tie or black and white or Indian Ceremonial dress: and not bush shirts, open neck shirts or other informal dress" should be adopted. Banquets must be considered as a social completion of the Meeting and therefore Dress regulation must be observed there also.
2. Correct Masonic Regalia appropriate to the Rank held by the Brother should be worn.
3. While within the Temple the posture of the Brother must conform to what has been imparted at the Initiation Ceremony, i.e. "all Squares, Levels and Perpendiculars are true and proper signs to know a Mason by". Brethren should therefore while sitting, standing or moving around in the Lodge must do so with perfection. Lounging and slovenly attitude should be avoided.
4. All Brethren must maintain absolute silence in the Lodge.
5. Except the Director of Ceremonies, no other Brother should correct any mistake that may occur during the course of a Ceremony and even he does so only when the error is a serious one.
6. Prompting in Lodges should never be done by any one, except the Immediate Past Master with respect to the Worshipful Master and Director of Ceremonies with respect to other Officers.
7. Use of Ritual Books in the Lodges by any one must not be encouraged. There are Lodges where the Director of Ceremonies makes it a point to see that Brethren, except the Immediate Past Master and the Director of Ceremonies, leave their Books outside the Temple.

Any error in the rendering of the Ritual or Floor Working or general procedure in the Lodge, must be made a note of and informed to the Brother concerned in private after the Meeting. Such corrections and concrete and constructive suggestions to the best advantage of the Lodge must always be brought up at the Lodge of Instruction, subject them to the scrutiny of other Past Masters and if acceptable, adopt the same. In doing so it must always be borne in mind that deviations from the Ritual issued by the Grand Lodge should not occur.

The practice of some Brethren to sit in the Lodge and go on criticising the working during the course of the Ceremony is highly improper. They should rather exhibit their knowledge and capacity by doing a perfect ceremony when an opportunity offers itself and thereby improve the standard of the Lodge by example and precept.

Brethren, Please remember that every person is not endowed with the same amount of memory, mode of delivery or stature as yourself. That draw back by itself should not subject the Brother to adverse comments. If it does we are ourselves flouting the fundamental etiquette and principles of Masonry. Such Brethren who are not endowed so have always in them some compensatory good quality or other, such as sincerity of purpose, administrative ability or highly charitable disposition, which could always be used to the best advantage for the progress of the Institution.

In general, the Brethren must refrain from a tendency to adversely criticise the action or behaviour of other Brethren and ridicule them inside or outside the Lodge. Such actions have always a reaction, which kindle the ego in the criticised person, leading to misunderstanding and ultimately variance. In matters like this, it is only the elders who should set an example by their acceptable, amiable and pleasant attitude and behaviour towards every other person.

Man by nature is a child of ignorance. Every day event unto death he keeps on learning. If what ever thus learnt by experience is imbibed in us and that experience passed on to the younger generation to their best advantage, then definitely something more valuable than any material gains would have been contributed to the Institution in particular and society at large. I have so far dealt with only one aspect, i.e. behaviour in the Lodges leading to proper Masonic etiquette. You will appreciate that there are a number of such aspects in the various walks of life which require similar study and correction, if necessary.

I would now like to dwell briefly on the Etiquette to be observed at the Masonic Banquets. It has always been found that the pre-Banquet fellowship is indulged to excess. While it is perfectly in order to have some innocent mirth, it is absolutely essential that Brethren keep within limits. Lodges in England and Continent, it is understood, have a system by which a fellowship before Banquet is always kept to the minimum. Rarely they exceed even half an hour. Those who want to enjoy further fellowship may well do so the Bar after the Banquet and the Toasts are over.

The conversation during fellowship, could border on mild humour and mirth, but must not lead to frivolity or levity.

The seating at the Dinner Table is always the duty of the Director of Ceremonies. I need not here dwell on this as this has been well laid down by convention. The Stewards must be always on attendance at the Dinner Table to ensure that every Brother enjoys the hospitality.

Challenges on Installation or other important Nights should be kept to a minimum. Obligatory Toasts should be called by the Worshipful Master only. In exceptional cases, the only other person authorised to call the Toast is the Director of Ceremonies. Brevity should be the watch word of speeches at the Dinner Table. Normally the proposer and the Responder of a Toast should limit their speeches to about two and three minutes respectively. Thus the speeches will be heard and Brethren will enjoy it.

Some Lodges have a system of calling the Absent Brethren Toast at 10:00 PM. This is a good system, to remember those Brethren who for some reason or the other are unable to attend the Meeting.

The one Brother who is responsible for the maintenance of dignity, decorum and etiquette at the fellowship and banquet is the Director of Ceremonies. it is therefore essential that he is a Past Master with a genial temper and sober disposition.

Be it a Past Master or master Mason, I do not wish them to get the impression that the Worshipful Master or the director of Ceremonies are autocratic in the discharge of their duties even if it be so. It is up to the other Brethren to unobtrusively rectify such defects. Past Masters have been ruling Masters and whenever they wish to make an open comment they should consider how they themselves would have felt under similar circumstances during their ruler-ship. If this is conscientiously done many problems would be solved, nay, I would say there should be no problems at all.

The other Brethren who aspire to become Masters in due course would do well to study the various procedures adopted in the Lodges and formulate within themselves an acceptable and perfect system of ruling the Lodge during their Master-ship which would disseminate maximum happiness to the maximum Brethren.

May the Great Architect of the Universe bless and guide every Mason to realise that Mankind is the crowning feature of creation and that the success and beauty of their individual life will always contribute to the effectiveness of the Nation. This would enable the Brethren to realise the necessity of observing strict Masonic Etiquette in theory as well as in practice, so that men of character would emerge with capacity to contribute the maximum good to the society at large.