MASONIC RITUAL IN VIRGINIA

by
Samuel T. Atkinson, PM

Historical Foundations of the Masonic Ritual unwritten. The original ceremonies were brief
and simple. They consisted of the administering
Masonic scholars have been trying for two of an oath of secrecy; the communication of the
hundred years to solve the Craft's greatest secrets; and the giving of the charges. Each
mystery, the origin of the ritual. Our Masonic Lodge was a separate unit, with no standard to
forefathers were told imaginative stories about go by. The ritua l therefore became a matter of
the origin of the Craft. We were established by the Master's preference as to what words to use
King Solomon with the help of Hiram, King of to convey the ideas involved. It was several
Tyre; Masonry began with Noah and his sons; decades after the Grand Lodge was formed
one story claimed Adam as our first Grand before any standardization was accomplished, or
Master because he was the first man to wear an even sought after. Thus we find the ritual
apron! This kind of Masonic history prevailed evolving through a system of trial and error. A
until 1850 when a reaction set in. Later gifted Master or Masonic lecturer would frame a
historians discounted the tales and accepted only passage of appealing beauty. Soon others would
those facts of Masonry which had use it and gradually it found acceptance in many
incontrovertible written proof. Lodges. This was a slow evolution; in the first
several decades of the newly formed Grand
Operative Masonry existed in ancient times; but Lodge, no uniformity existed. Even today there
that our modern Fraternity began with Solomon, are eight widely variant rituals in use in
or someone prior to the cathedral builders of the England, all accepted as valid and regular.
medieval period, is pure legend. Out of the old
Craft guilds, out of the loose confraternity of Early in Scottish Operative Masonry there were
men who worked on the great churches and two ceremonies, for they quickly divided
castles of the period between 1200 A.D., and entered 'apprentices from fellows of the Craft;
1500 A.D., came Operative Masonry with but there were no lectures as we know them
organized Lodges and ceremonies. By process today. A tradition did gradually grow up around
of gradual change it became Speculative the world — (our ancient brethren had both little
Masonry, first organized into a Grand Lodge of education and much superstition) — the idea of
Masons in London on June 24, 1717. a word too sacred to be pronounced, except
under special circumstances.
The so-called Gothic Constitutions or Old
Charges are the earliest proof of our modern The evolution of the Master's degree resulted
Masonry. They consist of about one hundred old from the introduction and assimilation of the
manuscripts, found in various places and now Hiramic Legend into the Master's degree. The
carefully preserved. origin of the story of Hiram, the Widow's Son,
is as great a mystery as anything in Masonry.
Many today consider our ritual virtually We know that miracle plays, religious dramas,
unchangeable. But this was not so in 1717, and tales of folklore were commonplace from
when the Mother Grand Lodge was formed, and the Middle Ages. The story of Hiram developed
the years before and after. The charges were over a couple of centuries. It may have been
read or repeated from memory; they were not referred to in Lodge ceremonies for half a
secret, but the signs and words, used originally century before 1717. In 1723, Dr. Anderson
to identify the operative, and later the makes no mention of it whatsoever in his
speculative, Mason were strictly secret and Constitutions. But in 1738, the revised edition
refers to the "sudden death of their dear Master The ritual of the original Grand Lodge changed
Hiram Abiff, who they recently interr'd in the as it flowed, through many years after 1717. The
Lodge near the Temple, according to ancient Grand Lodges of "Antients" and "Moderns"
usage." both made alterations in the ritual so that rival
members of each body found it impossible to
Where the legend came from no one knows. make themselves known Masonically in the
Hiram is mentioned in the Bible in I Kings and other. Members of Lodges subordinate to these
II Chronicles. He was also mentioned in the Grand Lodges came to this country to form
Cooke Manuscript of 1410. But the Graham themselves into Lodges without warrant or
Manuscript, discovered in 1936 and dated 1726, charter. A dozen men, bringing what they
and filled with Masonic ritual, tells of the remembered of the ritual they heard when
legend of Noah. A valuable secret died with "made", would naturally include in their ritual a
Noah. His three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth little of one original source, some phrases from
supposed that Noah had carried it with him into another beginning, a paragraph from a third
the grave and determined to exhume the body, wellspring, and so on.
"agreeing beforehand that if they did not find
the very thing itself, the first thing they found The Mother Grand Lodge ritua l was not the
was to be to them as a secret. They found ritual of the United Grand Lodge which came
nothing in the grave except a dead body; when into existence in 1813, when the two parts of the
they gripped the finger it came away, and so original Mother Grand Lodge again came
with the wrist and the elbow. They then reared together. The United Grand Lodge formed its
up the dead body, supporting it by setting foot to ritual from the best of the divergent rituals of
foot, knee to knee, breast to breast, cheek to the "Antients" and the "Moderns".
cheek, and hand to back. One said there is yet
marrow in this bone and the second said but a From four primary sources of American ritual,
dry bone and the third said it stinketh." in one way or another all American
Jurisdictions, in part at least, received their
While we are not able to fully account for the "work". These sources include Massachusetts,
adoption of the Hiramic Legend, we can, with which at first sent forth what must have been at
certainty, state that our Masonry and our ritual least an approximation of the work of the
came from: original Mother Grand Lodge, though her ritual
today is derived from both "Moderns" and
The Grand Lodge of England "Antients"; Pennsylvania and Virginia, both
— 1717-1753 giving forth individual variants of a combination
of "Modern" and "Antients"; and North
The Grand Lodge of the "Antients" Carolina, almost purely "Modern".
— 1753-1813
In 1915 Dean Roscoe Pound showed how
The Grand Lodge of the "Moderns" various were the next groups of States which
— 1753-1813 received their rituals from the first four
American sources. He averred that Maine
The United Grand Lodge derived from Massachusetts; Vermont from the
— 1813 and on Grand Lodge of the "Antients" in Massachusetts
before the fusion; Ohio from Massachusetts,
The Grand Lodge of Ireland from Connecticut, a strictly "Modern" ritual,
— 1724 and on and from Pennsylvania; Indiana from Ohio and
Kentucky, the latter representing Virginia after
The Grand Lodge of Scotland the fusion; Michigan from the "Antient" Grand
— 1736 and on Lodge of Canada and from New York;
Kentucky from Virginia; Tennessee from North
Carolina, from South Carolina, and from Massachusetts and New Hampshire, in 1806,
Tennessee; Louisiana from South Carolina, stated, "In the three degrees every master of a
Pennsylvania, and France; Florida from Georgia Lodge should be indulged with the liberty of
and South Carolina; Missouri from adopting historical details, and the
Pennsylvania and Tennessee; Illinois from personification of the passing scene, as most
Kentucky; and the District of Columbia from agreeable to himself, his supporting officers,
Maryland, Massachusetts, and Virginia. and assisting the Lodge."

There have been certain unifying influences: On the defensive in the aftermath of the Morgan
The Baltimore Convention of 1843; the work of Affair (1826), the Fraternity was obliged
Rob Morris and his Conservators, which despite carefully to guard against cowans and
the chilly reception by many Grand eavesdroppers. Evidence of membership of a
Jurisdictions, undoubtedly left its impression on would-be visitor was critically tested. Under
the American ritual; the work of Thomas Smith such conditions, the lack of uniformity of
Webb and Jeremy Cross, plainly evident in the Masonic work among the several Grand Lodges,
esoteric paragraphs printed in many State or even among Lodges in the same State, was a
monitors and manuals; and the honest desire and formidable obstacle to fraternal intercourse. It
efforts of many Grand Lodges, through District was thought that possible relief from these
Deputies, Grand Lecturers, Schools of conditions might be found in uniformity of the
Instruction, similar instruction, and similar lectures. Identification of the members could
machinery, to preserve what they have in its thus be more readily made, and Lodges could
supposedly ancient perfection. By the time the discontinue turning away visitors, among whom
latter forces were in operation, the ritual was many must have been in good standing, even if
more or less fixed. unable to prove themselves as such.

Because of the reverence of the average Mason The Baltimore Convention, held May 8-17,
for what he is taught, and his fierce resentment 1843, attempted to agree on a mode of work so
of any material change in that which he learns, that the Masonic ritual might become uniform
rituals and degree forms, ceremonies and throughout the nation. On the opening day of
practices, usages and customs, continue to be the Convention, which was called to address
what he believes them to have been "from time these and associated issues, Dr. John Dove,
immemorial" even when sober fact shows that Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of
in all probability they have an antiquity of less Virginia, was elected president. In the agenda
than two hundred years. adopted was a statement declaring the objects
and purposes of the Convention to be the
The catechism forms of lectures came to this promotion of uniformity of Masonic work and
country with Freemasonry. The system the recommendations of such measures as
originated by Anderson was revised by many should tend to elevate the Order to its due
including William Preston, who suggested, if he degree of respect throughout the world at large.
did not teach, the esoteric parts of the "work" by
illustrations of symbols and emblems, depicted To accomplish its objectives, four Committees
on carpets. The Prestonian work was largely were appointed:
spread in this country by Thomas Smith Webb,
who published his first "Freemason's Monitor" 1. On the work and lectures in conferring
in 1797. Almost every jurisdiction, except the degrees.
Pennsylvania, adopted some or all of Smith's 2. On the funeral service.
modifications of Preston. 3. On the ceremonies of Consecration and
Installation.
A joint report recommending the adoption of the 4. On Masonic jurisprudence.
Webb lectures to the Grand Lodges of
The Committee on the Work and Lectures in Lodge Name Location Origin of Ritual
Conferring the Degrees consisted of Dr. Dove as Richmond Richmond Virginia
Northhampton Northhampton Virginia
Chairman, and four others. Within the
Kempsville Kempsville Virginia
Committee, we are told, a "satisfactory degree Staunton Staunton Virginia
of uniformity existed", except for one member. Manchester Manchester Virginia
In a letter written twenty years after the Petersburg Petersburg Virginia
Convention, Charles W. Moore, a member of Portsmouth Portsmouth France
Charlotte Charlotte Virginia
the Committee, said, "The work and lectures of
Smithfield Union Smithfield Virginia
the first three degrees, as adopted and Richmond Richmond Virginia
authorized by the Baltimore Convention, in Randolph
1843, were, with a few unimportant verbal Scottsville Scottsville Virginia
exceptions, literally as they were originally Baltimore Union Baltimore Virginia
Alexandria Alexandria Pennsylvania
compiled by Brother Thomas Smith Webb,
about the close of the century, and as they were
The Grand Lodge first addressed the ritual in
subsequently taught during his lifetime.
1786: ". . . considering the diffused situation of
the Craft in this State, was pleased to delegate to
The only change of consequence was in the due
all Lodges the power of raising to the degrees of
guards of the second and third degrees, which
Fellow Craft and Master, though in Europe and
were changed and made to conform to that of
in large cities that power is solely confined to
the first degree in position and explanation. This
the Grand Lodge." Thus, at least twenty
was analogically correct."
versions of the ritual were authorized by this
action.
Virginia's Ritual in the First Hundred Years
(1776-1875)
On November 12, 1791, the Masters and
Organization of the Grand Lodge of Virginia as Wardens met ". . . in order to consider of and
America's first independent Grand Lodge adopt a uniform mode of working to be
occurred in 1777 and 1778. The diverse origins observed by all Lodges under this jurisdiction . .
of these Lodges set the basis for the evolution of ." The results of this meeting are recorded in the
the ritual in Virginia: minutes as "The Grand Lodge took under
consideration the business for investigating and
Lodge Name Location Origin of Ritual establishing certain rules and regulations to be
Norfolk Norfolk England (Moderns) engraved on the hearts of all present, but not
Scotland proper to be committed to writing."
Port Royal Port Royal Scotland
Blandford Petersburg Scotland
Fredericksburg Fredericksburg Scotland The Grand Lodge was convened for the purpose
St. Tammany Hampton England (Moderns) of laying the foundation stone of the bridge to
Williamsburg Williamsburg England (Moderns) be erected over Shockoe Creek, on the 13th day
Botetourt Fredericksburg England (Moderns) of June 1795. However, the interesting event
Gloucester Fredericksburg England (Moderns) which occurred is contained in the Proceedings:
Cabin Point Cabin Point North Carolina
York Yorktown England (Moderns) "In ample form the Grand Lodge was opened in
the first degree of Masonry . . ." This is the first
Subsequent to the forming of the Grand Lodge indication as to the exact degree on which any
of Virginia several other Lodges, with existing session of Grand Lodge had been conducted.
foreign charters, were chartered. In addition,
several new Lodges were instituted. The origin Grand Lodge Inspectors (now called District
of these Lodges of the first ten years of the Deputies) were directed ". . . not only to report
Grand Lodge added to the original Lodges, on the proceedings of those Lodges, but also to
resulted in the merger from which our ritual instruct the officers of each Lodge in the proper
began. mode of working, in order that a uniform
method may be established throughout this
jurisdiction" at the 1796 session of Grand Grand Lodge in 1804. The committee
Lodge. Here we note the first written indication established in 1800 and eliminated in 1801, was
of the encouragement of the Grand Lodge again made part of Grand Lodge. However, the
towards a standardized ritual. new committee was required only to exemplify
the three degrees at a time and place of
The requirement for an examination in open convenience and 'such brothers as choose will
Lodge ". . . in the degree from which he is to be attend the said exemplification."
advanced . . ." was approved by Grand Lodge in
1798. The resolution further required that a The regularity of the several lectures in the early
condition of his advancement would be the years of Masonry in Virginia, appears
majority ballot of those present. questionable. The resolution of 1806 attests to
this fact. In that resolution it was declared,
The year 1800 heralded the beginning of the "That it be, and is hereby specially
Committee on Work. The resolution directed the recommended to the subordinate Lodges, an
Grand Master to appoint "..some expert Masons, injunction on the Master, or presiding officer, at
not less than five in number, who, after having two, at least, or more specified regular meetings
conferred together, and agreed upon the mode of in the year, to give, or cause to be given, a
working, which, in their judgments, shall lecture on each of the three degrees of
conform with the ancient usages of masonry, Masonry.". The stated reason for this Grand
shall appoint one of their body . . . to exemplify Lodge action was that "the different subordinate
the same, in open Lodge, in the three degrees of Lodges are far from being expert in the
masonry." This resolution's stated purpose was mysteries of Masonry, which must no doubt be
to promo te uniformity of working in the owing to the want of regular lectures in the
different subordinate Lodges. different Lodges".

The Grand Lodge of Virginia voted in 1800 Failure of the District Deputies to make the
against the establishment of a National Grand necessary visits to assure the purity of the ritual
Lodge. However, it did recommend that a caused the following resolution to be passed by
convention be held every three years in the Grand Lodge in 1815: "That the first
Washington ". . . for recommending a uniform evening of every succeeding Grand Annual
mode of carrying on the great work of the Craft, Communication, a committee of five members
in the different degrees of Entered Apprentice, be appointed by the Grand Master, to be called
Fellow Craft, and Master Mason." the 'Working Committee', whose duty it shall be
to attend on the second and third days of each
The committee approved in 1800 reported to the Grand Annual Communication, to exemplify to
Grand Lodge in 1801 that they had been unable any brother or brethren wishing it, the three
to agree "owing to the incalculable difficulties, degrees of Masonry." This appears as a
arising from a prepossession in favor of the resolution of clarification of a similar one
mode each member has been accustomed to . . ." passed by the Grand Lodge in 1804.
The committee proposed an alternative method.
At each Grand Lodge Session the Grand Master The appointment of one or more Grand
would exemplify in open Lodge the third Lecturers "for the purpose of disseminating
degree', the Deputy Grand Master the second among the brethren of the subordinate Lodges
degree, and the Senior Warden the first degree. within the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge, the
The resolution passed. The Grand Lodge session mode of work now adopted . . ." was granted to
of 1802 first complied with this resolution. the Grand Master in 1819. However, the Grand
Lodge repealed this authority at the Grand
The Grand Lodge officers continued to Annual Communication in 1820.
exemplify the degrees in open Grand Lodge
until the resolution was eliminated by act of
In 1821 the Working Committee exemplified jurisdiction be required to hold all sessions in
the three degrees in open Grand Lodge. After the third degree, except for the purposes of
which the Grand Lodge passed a resolution that working and lecturing in the First and Second
"the mode of working, as this night exemplified Degrees." "That a Special Committee be
by the Working Committee, is the proper mode appointed to prepare a work containing the
of working, and that it accordingly be Charges, Ceremonies of Institution, Funeral
recommended to the subordinate Lodges, for Service, and other forms adopted by this Grand
their adoption and that the District Deputy Lodge for the government of the Subordinate
Grand Masters be requested to instruct them Lodges, and report to the next Grand Annual
accordingly." Thus, the first Grand Lodge Communication." "That a Grand Working
approval of a standard ritual in Virginia. Committee be appointed by the Grand Master,
whose duty it shall be to exemplify their mode
The first Grand Lecturer was elected in 1822 to of work before Grand Lodge on the first night of
". . . visit such Lodges as may request his each Grand Annual Communication."
attendance. . . ." The filling of any vacancy
occurring during recess being left to the Grand In 1842 a convention was held at the request of
Master. James Cushman was then elected as the the Grand Lodge of Alabama to consider the
first Grand Lecturer of the Grand Lodge of standardization of the ritual in the United States.
Virginia. However, due to a lack of representation of
Grand Lodges, the convention recommended
The 1823 session of the Grand Lodge saw the that each Grand Lodge appoint a Grand Lecturer
abolishment of the position of Grand Lecturer. to meet in Baltimore in 1843 to establish a
The subject of the ritual received very little standardized ritual.
attention for the next twenty years as almost
nothing is mentioned in the annual Proceedings. The Virginia Grand Lecturer, James D. McCabe
and the Grand Secretary, Dr. John Dove,
In an effort to standardize the ritual, the Grand reported to Grand Lodge on the 1842
Lodge in 1840 passed a resolution "That a convention and introduced a resolution "That
Working Committee, consisting of three this Grand Lodge appoint a skillful Brother as
residents of the City of Richmond, be appointed Special Grand Lecturer to attend and participate
at this Grand Annual Communication whose in the actions of the 1843 Baltimore
duty it shall be to confer with each other at least Convention."
as often as once a month, during the recess, and
to exemplify their work at the next Grand The Baltimore Convention was held in 1843 and
Annual Communication, and the mode of work, was attended by Dr. Dove, Grand Secretary of
when approved, shall be appointed by all the the Grand Lodge of Virginia. A report on the
subordinate Lodges." In addition, in both 1841 Baltimore Convention is contained in a separate
and 1842 a resolution was passed by the Grand part of this paper.
Lodge to establish the position of Grand
Lecturer as an appointed officer of the Grand Dr. Dove exemplified on the floor of the Grand
Lodge, "That the Grand Master be requested to Lodge in 1843, the ritual adopted by the
appoint a suitable person to act as Grand Baltimore Convention. The Grand Lodge, by
Lecturer, whose duty it shall be to visit such resolution, adopted this work as its standard
Lodges as may request it, and for his services ritual. Several other related resolutions were
shall receive the voluntary contribution of such passed by the 1843 Grand Lodge. "That the
Lodges." Grand Master be empowered to appoint two or
more, not exceeding four, brethren to act as
1841 also saw the passage of several other Grand Lecturers." That the system of work and
resolutions with regard to the ritual. "That lectures agreed to by the Baltimore Convention,
hereafter the Subordinate Lodges under this as exhibited in the Grand Lodge this evening, be
adopted as the system of work and lectures for in 1855, created what was termed "Vigilant
this Grand Lodge, and that the several Lodge".
Subordinate Lodges within the same be
instructed to abide thereby." The Grand Lodge In 1856 clarification of the "individual Mason"
disapproved use of the "Masonic Trestleboard" term was made. The Grand Lodge adopted the
written by Charles W. Moore of Massachusetts. following resolution: "That the Grand Lodge
The Grand Master appointed two Grand hereby forbid the Subordinate Lodges from
Lecturers for the Eastern and Western Districts. conferring any portion of any degree, except the
Explanatory Lectures, upon more than one
In 1844 Dr. Dove wrote the Text Book for the candidate at a time."
Grand Lodge of Virginia and at the 1844 Grand
Lodge Session a special committee was The questionable practice of more than one
appointed to examine it and make Grand Lecturer was brought to an end in 1859.
recommendations as to the sections to be Grand Lodge agreed, "That it is inexpedient to
adopted. Additionally, the 1844 Grand Lodge have more than one Grand Lecturer in the State
repealed the law requiring exemplification of of Virginia.", and in 1861 the Committee on
the work on the first night of the Grand Annual Work was identified as the "Custodians of the
Communication. Work" and was authorized to consist of five
members.
The Virginia Text Book written by Dr. Dove
was approved at the 1845 Grand Annual The Grand Annual session in 1871 agreed,
Communication. The exemplification of the
work on the first night of Grand Lodge was "That the Lodges in the several districts in
reestablished. this jurisdiction be and are hereby
authorized to recommend, in the same
"That every subordinate Lodge under this manner and at the same time that the
jurisdiction shall be entitled to the services of recommendations are made for the
the Grand Lecturer at least once in two years, appointment of the District Deputy Grand
upon defraying the actual expenses of the Grand Master, such skillful brother as they may
Lecturer, while attending such Lodges, and deem fit to be appointed District Deputy
going to and from the same." This resolution Grand Lecturers for their respective
was accepted by the 1846 Grand Lodge. Districts. That upon the said
recommendation, the Grand Master with the
The 1850 Grand Lodge session approved an advice of the same Grand Officers who
increase in the size of the Grand Working advise him as to the office of District
Committee from two to five. Deputy Grand Master, shall appoint at the
same time the District Deputy Grand
"The report of the Committee on the plan for a Masters are appointed, District Deputy
working Lodge was taken up, read, and Grand Lecturers for such Districts as may
considered, whereupon; Resolved, that the make recommendatio ns therefor.
Special Grand Lodge Committee on Work, be
considered and made custodians of the Ritual, as That the said District Deputy Grand
approved and adopted, until otherwise ordered Lecturer shall be charged with, and held
by the Grand Lodge." This was a result of much responsible for, the correctness of the work
disagreement on the ritual among the in his respective District; shall visit each
Committee on Work and the District Deputy Lodge at least once each year, and make a
Grand Masters and was the resolution to a report of his visiting to the Grand Lodge;
disagreement which continued for the preceding but shall be vested with none of the powers
several years. This resolution, which was passed of the District Deputy Grand Master.
Should any District fail to make
 recommendation of a suitable brother, the committee was to attend on the second and third
District Deputy Grand Master shall continue days of each Grand Annual Communication, or
to supervise the work as heretofore. District more often if required by the Grand Lodge, to
Deputy Grand Lecturers shall be exemplify to any Brethren wishing it the three
commissioned in the same manner as the Degrees of Masonry by actual work, giving the
District Deputy Grand Master, but no lectures in full, and, in addition, to exemplify
District Deputy Grand Lecturer shall the catechism through the first section of each
proceed to execute the duties of his office degree that was required for the examination of
until he shall have received a certificate candidates for advancement. This committee
from the Grand Lecturer of his proficiency was also directed to function as the custodian of
in the work. The Grand Master is the work. Thus the precedent was set whereby
authorized, in vacation, to make the Grand Lodge at various times in the future
appointments for any or all of the Districts, adjusted the size and directed the activities of
for the current year, without reference to the this committee.
recommendations of the Lodges."
In 1882 Grand Lodge acted to authorize the
In 1872, a decision by the Grand Master "That Working Committee to meet in the City of
the Grand Lodge regulation requiring of the Richmond on the Thursday preceding the
District Deputy Grand Master a certificate that meeting of the Grand Lodge, with the
the officers named in the application for a Committee on Finance and Investment
Dispensation to form a new Lodge, 'are providing "for the payment of three days
competent to superintend the work and confer expenses for such members. . . ." This
the Degrees, including the lectures,' applies to Communication of the Grand Lodge also
the Wardens as well as the Masters." reaffirmed the duty of the Committee on Work
to report to report to the Grand Lodge what
"That it is contrary to Masonic Law and usage difference if any, existed in the work between
to require a Master Mason to be proficient in the the members of the Committee, in order that the
Third Degree before he can be received into Grand Lodge might act intelligently on such
membership in a Lodge, consequently the matters as might be brought before it. Thus two
enactment of a By-Law to that effect would be more precedents, prevailing to this day, were
improper." This decision was rendered by the established.
Grand Master in 1874.
The relationship of the Grand Lecturer and the
Modern Masonic Ritual Deputy Grand Lecturer, the latter office being
unfilled at times, to the Grand Working
The Grand Master's report to the Grand Lodge Committee was spelled out in 1880 when the
in 1876 made it clear that it was necessary to Grand Lodge took action that provided:
provide some means to preserve the ritual and to
devise a methodology whereby differences that FIRST - That immediately after the election
might arise in the rendition of the ritual could be of officers, annually, the Grand
reconciled. His report laid a solid foundation for Master shall appoint a Grand
the allocation of responsibility to what we now Lecturer and Deputy Grand Lecturer,
term the Committee on Work and the Grand whose duty it shall be to visit and
Lecturer. instruct the Lodges and members
thereof when requested so to do.
In 1879 the Grand Lodge approved a resolution
whereby on the third evening of every Grand SECOND - That in their instructions they
Annual Communication a "Working shall conform to the Ancient York
Committee" was to be appointed by the Most Ritual, as taught by the Grand
Worshipful Grand Master. The duty of this Working Committee, and revised
 and adopted by the Grand Lodge in Grand Lodge under this Section shall
1855, and to the laws of the same, as not exceed $300.00 per year.
contained in the Virginia Text Book.
In its actions in 1880 the Grand Lodge
THIRD - The Grand Lecturer and the Deputy established the precedents which were to govern
Grand Lecturer shall be ex-officio the relationship of the Grand Lecturer to the
members of the Grand Working Grand Lodge and the Subordinate Lodges from
Committee, and the Grand Lecturer that time on to the present. At the Grand Annual
shall be the Chairman of said Communication in 1905 the Grand Lodge
Committee. authorized the division of the State into six
lecturing divisions, to be served by six
FOURTH - That the Grand Lecturer and appointed lecturers, one of which was the Grand
Deputy Grand Lecturer shall receive Lecturer. At this Communication the Grand
as compensation for their services Lodge also authorized the expansion of the
the sum of five dollars per day while "Working Committee", now called the
engaged in Lecturing or travelling to Committee on Work, to 12 members in order to
and from said Lodges or members, include the six lecturers, with the Grand
such expenses to be paid by the Lecturer serving as Chairman. This pattern
Lodges or parties to whom such prevailed until 1922, at which time Grand
services are rendered. Lodge specified that one lecturer and one
committeeman "shall be appointed from each
FIFTH - That on such visits of instruction, if lecturing district."
said Grand Lecturer or Deputy
Grand Lecturer shall discover any Grand Lodge in 1950 increased the Lecturing
moral or Masonic irregularity among Divisions from six to nine, and the Committee
the members of such Lodges, or in on Work was increased to consist of "the Grand
the Lodges themselves, he shall Lecturer and eleven other members." In this
report the same to the District action the Grand Lodge stipulated that one
Deputy Grand Master of the District. Division Lecturer and one Lecturer shall be
appointed from each Lecturing Division by the
SIXTH - That they shall, annually, on the first Grand Master, except that in Division 1 a
night of each Grand Annual Division Lecturer and two lecturers shall be
Communication, make a report in appointed, one of whom shall reside on the
writing of their acts and doings Eastern Shore of Virginia, and in Division 9 two
during the year, and lecturers shall be appointed.

SEVENTH - That in order to promote the In 1961 Grand Lodge approved a modification
efficiency of the Subordinate Lodge to its law concerning the Grand Lecturer and the
and to instruct them in the work, the Committee on Work. Section 1.87, which
Grand Master shall visit the governs these matters, was modified to read:
subordinate Lodges and instruct "At each Annual Communication the Grand
them, or he may require the Grand Master shall appoint a Grand Lecturer, one
Lecturer or the Deputy Grand Division Lecturer from each Lecturing Division,
Lecturer to visit and instruct any as specified in Section 1.92 hereof, and a
Subordinate Lodge, in which case, number of Lecturers, which, including the
the expense attending such visitation Division Lecturer, shall be one for each eighteen
shall be paid by the Grand Treasurer Lodges or major fraction thereof, located within
on the order of the Grand Master; the boundaries of each of the Lecturing
provided that the expense to the Divisions. The Grand Master may appoint an
assistant Grand Lecturer, but neither he nor the
Grand Lecturer shall be included as a Grand required to include this item in his annual
Lecturer or Division Lecturer of any Division. report."
The Grand Lecturer shall be Chairman, and the
Division Lecturer, Lecturers, and Assistant Price's remarks led Grand Lodge to adopt a
Grand Lecturer, if he be appointed, shall resolution in 1924 which was to be read by the
compose the Committee on Work, and they Master to the Candidate at the conclusion of the
shall be endowed with the functions of Charge as follows: "My brother (or brethren):
Custodians of the Work." At this time it was The Grand Lecturer and District Deputy Grand
also determined that "The Grand Lecturer and Masters emphasize the teaching of the
members of the Committee on Work shall be catechism of the Master Mason's Degree in each
charged with the duty of examining Wardens of the subordinate Lodges. The Grand Lodge of
and issuing to those proficient in the work, as Virginia urges the stationed officers of the
taught by the Committee on Work, such Subordinate Lodges to use their influence to
certificates as may be required for election to induce those who are raised to the sublime
any office in a subordinate Lodge as hereinafter degree of Master Mason to learn the catechism
provided by law or resolution of the Grand of the Master Mason's Degree. The Master of
Lodge. each Subordinate Lodge shall read this
resolution to every brother who is raised to the
It is interesting to note that with the exception of sublime degree of Master Mason."
Virginia's participation in the Baltimore
Convention, the Grand Lodge has refrained In 1925 the Grand Lodge amended and
from entering into ritualistic arrangements with reenacted the then Section 165 to read: "No
other jurisdictions. In 1906 for example, the brother can be installed as Master of a Lodge
Committee on Propositions studied a until he shall have received the Degree of Past
communication received from the Grand Lodge Master, and shall have received from the Grand
of Colorado, the primary thrust of which was a Lecturer or Division Lecturer a certificate
proposal to establish a collegium of Grand certifying that he is qualified to confer all the
Lecturers for the purpose of unifying the degrees, but this provision shall not become
esoteric and exoteric work of the several Grand effective until the annual election of officers in
Lodges of the United States. The Committee 1926."
reported that such action was not feasible or
desirable, and it therefore recommended that no In 1928 the Grand Lodge considered an
action be taken in regard to this matter. amendment to this Section which would have
included the lectures as part of the requirement
Most Worshipful James H. Price, Grand Master for a certificate. However, the result was the
in 1923, made his mark on the teaching of the elimination of the certificate entirely. The new
ritual in Virginia. He recommended that the Section 165, as amended and reenacted, read:
Committee on Work, in conjunction with the "No brother can be installed as Master or
Committee on Jurisprudence, provide some Warden, nor occupy such office in a Lodge
means of making it obligatory for newly made under Dispensation, until he shall have received
Masons to attain a mastery of the catechism in the Degree of Past Master."
the Master's Degree. "The average Mason, in his
anxiety to pass on to the so-called higher The Grand Lodge amended and reenacted
things," he said, "makes no effort to familiarize Section 165 in 1929 by adding: "Effective at the
himself with the climax and conclusion of our annual election of officers in December 1929
Masonic structure, and knows nothing of the and thereafter, no brother shall be installed
Master's Degree. It might be made the duty of Master of a Lodge unless he is able to confer the
the Master to see that every Mason is required first section of the three Degrees and the second
to learn this catechism, and a blank could be section of the Master Mason's Degree and has a
provided for the secretary, who would be certificate from the Grand Lecturer or a
Division Lecturer." The Grand Lodge also Lodge No._____ duly installed and the Lodge
stipulated at that time that "Effective at the properly constituted for the ensuing year."
annual election of officers in December 1931
and thereafter, no brother shall be installed A new Memorial Service was presented jointly
Master of a Lodge unless he is able to confer the by the Grand Master and the Grand Lodge
three Degrees, including the lectures, and has a Committee on Work and accepted by the Grand
certificate from the Grand or Division Lecturer Lodge in 1961.
showing him qualified." In 1935 the Grand
Lodge eliminated the part of Section 165 which In 1962 the Grand Lodge adopted the Tiler's
required the lectures in order to qualify for the oath as follows: "I, , hereon
certificate. In 1945, the certificate issue was solemnly swear that I have been regularly
again raised, this time resulting in action to initiated, passed, and raised to the Sublime
require that the certificate be issued not more Degree of Master Mason in a jus t and legally
than one year prior to election. constituted Master Mason's Lodge; that I am not
now suspended or expelled and know of no
The Grand Lodge amended and reenacted reason why I should be." In addition, the Grand
Section 126 in 1947 to read: No Lodge shall, Lodge in that year approved a benediction for
without dispensation from the Grand Master, use with the funeral service when it was not
make more than five Entered Apprentices, or given by the minister.
Fellowcrafts, or Master Masons at one
Communication." In 1968 the Grand Lodge agreed that the
instructions given by the Worshipful Master
In 1956 the Grand Lodge adopted a prayer to be after the candidate is conducted out of the lodge
used at the installation of officers. In that year it room at the conclusion of the first section of the
also agreed to modify the funeral service so that Master Mason's Degree should include an
it might be used other than at the grave site. admonishment to retain the solemnity of the
This change was made by the insertion or Degree. In this year on recommendation of the
substitution of appropriate words. The word Committee on Work, a new Memorial Service
"grave' was changed to "body" with regard to to be used in a tiled lodge was also adopted by
the apron. Grand Lodge.

Also, the words "with the body" were In 1970, the Grand Lodge adopted a ceremony
substituted for "grave" at the close of the apron for the Consecration of a Lodge Hall and
portion. The words "the grave" in the committal adopted an optional Evening Memorial Service.
ceremo ny were changed to "his maker". In the The next year it approved a resolution allowing
prayer of the Chaplain, the word "grave" was a Lodge of Sorrow to be opened and closed only
changed to "mortal remains". However, Grand once a year.
Lodge went on record by recommending ". . .
that the graveside service be used in every Grand Lecturers of Virginia
instance possible."
The first Virginia Mason to have the title of
In 1957 the Grand Lodge agreed to a charge to Grand Lecturer was James Cushman, who was
be used in the installation of the Chaplain. It appointed by Grand Master Dr. John H. Purdie.
also adopted a conclusion for the installation He was apparently an associate of Jeremy Ladd
ceremony by acceptance of the Marshal's Cross, of Connecticut, who came to Virginia in
proclamation, to wit: "In the name of the Most 1819 and exemplified the ritual to the Grand
Worshipful Grand Lodge of Ancient, Free, and Lodge, the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch
Accepted Masons of the Commonwealth of Masons and thereafter organized the Grand
Virginia, I proclaim the officers of ________ Council of Royal and Select Masters.
The office of Grand Lecturer was filled by In 1845 the Rev. James D. McCabe informed
Cushman for two or three years and, since he the Grand Lodge that he was unable to
was authorized to visit only on invitation and to discharge the duties of the office of any Lodge.
be paid only by the voluntary contributions by Levi L. Stevenson was appointed as the Grand
the Lodges, the post fell into disuse and a Lecturer and served in that post for seven years,
resolution was adopted to discontinue the office through 1852. There was no Committee on
in 1823. Work, the Grand Lecturer simply taught the
work in the Lodges that requested him to do so.
In 1841 the next Grand Lecturer was appointed
after Cushman some twenty years earlier. He Powhatan B. Starke, of Petersburg, was
was James D. McCabe. He served a second term appointed Grand Lecturer in 1853, but as far as
in 1842 in this same office. the record shows he did not serve in that office.
Starke was followed by James Evans, being
In 1843 a Convention of Masons met in appointed in 1853 and serving until 1872, when
Baltimore and Dr. John Dove, Grand Secretary he resigned. He was reappointed in 1876 and
of Virginia, was elected its President. served through 1880. J. R. Dowell was
appointed Grand Lecturer in 1872 and served
This convention conceived its duty to be that of until 1876 when he died. William Lovenstein
establishing a uniform mode of working and "to was the fifth Grand Lecturer, serving from 1881
recommend such measures as shall tend to the through 1882. The next Grand Lecturer was
elevation of this Order to its due degree of Peyton S. Coles, who was appointed in 1883
respect throughout the world at large." Four and served through the year 1887.
Committees were appointed to consider (a) the
Work and Lectures, (b) the funeral service, (c) In December 1887, the Grand Lodge at its
Ceremonies of Consecration and Installation, Annual Communication laid off the State into
and (d) Masonic jurisprudence. four divisions, each of which was to have a
Lecturer, and the Working Committee would be
The report of this Convention was a 65 page composed of these four Lecturers and five other
document which contained the work of a non- brethren to be appointed by the Grand Master.
esoteric nature adopted by the convention, One of the four Lecturers would also be named
including the funeral service, and the Grand Lecturer. Under this new District or
ceremonies of consecration and installation. Division system the first Grand Lecturer was J.
C. Little. Appointed to serve with him as
On December 14, 1843 the Grand Lodge Lecturers were Harry B. Owens, Francis H. Hill,
adopted the work of the Convention as the and George W. Wright. Little served for two
official work of Virginia and ordered all years, 1887 and 1888.
subordinate Lodges to abide thereby. Thus for
the first time in its history Virginia had a ritual George W. Wright was appointed Grand
which was adopted by official action. Lecturer in 1889. The brother added as a
Lecturer in Little's place was John Clopton.
After hearing the report of Dr. Dove in 1843, Wright served until 1893 when he was elected
the Grand Master appointed two Grand Grand Junior Deacon.
Lecturers, James D. McCabe for the Eastern
District and Levi L. Stevenson for the Western In 1893 George W. Carrington was named
District. Stevenson made a recommendation in Grand Lecturer, he having been appointed a
1844 that the Grand Lecturer for the Western Lecturer in 1891. He served until 1895 when he
District be not appointed. The Grand Master was elected Grand Secretary in December of
appointed both of them, however, paying no that year.
attention to the recommendation.
The tenth brother to be Grand Lecturer was position in 1967 when Most Worshipful H.
William E. Turner, but he died during the year Bruce Green assumed the office of Grand
and H. B. Owens was appointed by Grand Master. "Charmie" served as Grand Lecturer
Master Fitzgerald to succeed him. He served until 1975 when he was made Grand Lecturer
until December 1896 as Grand Lecturer. Emeritus by the Grand Lodge.

C. G. Davis was appointed Grand Lecturer in The nineteenth Grand Lecturer was appointed
1897 and served until 1902. Some changes were by Most Worshipful Brother Seymour Levy in
made in the requirements as to memb ers of the 1975. Reid James Simmons assumed the
Committee and James M. Clift was appointed a position of Grand Lecturer in February and as of
Lecturer in 1901. this writing continues to serve the Grand Lodge
in that capacity.
William T. Rea was appointed Grand Lecturer
in 1903 by Grand Master Thomas N. Davis to Conclusions
replace James M. Clift. He continued to serve as
Grand Lecturer until 1910. During his tenure the Certain fundamentals are to all intents and
Grand Lodge increased the number of Lecturing purposes the same in every one of the forty- nine
Divisions from four to six. Grand jurisdictions in the United States. All
American Lodges have a Master, two Wardens,
George W. Wright became Grand Lecturer a a Secretary, Treasurer, and Altar with the Holy
second time in 1910, he having been appointed Bible and the other Great Lights, lesser lights,
a Lecturer after he completed his term as Grand three degrees, require a unanimous ballot, make
Master. He was appointed Grand Lecturer upon Masons only of men, have the same Substitute
the death of William T. Rea. He continued to Word given in the same way, are tiled, and have
serve as Grand Lecturer until his death in 1924. a ceremony of opening and closing. To some
Two brethren served as Assistant Grand extent all dramatize and exemplify the Master's
Lecturers with him: Most Worshipful E. L. degree, although the amount of drama and
Cunningham in 1921 and James M. Clift in exemplification varies widely.
1923.
But beyond these and a few other simple
James M. Clift was again appointed Grand essentials are wide variations. Aprons are worn
Lecturer when George W. Wright died. He one way in one degree in one jurisdiction and
served from 1924 until 1928 when he was another way in the same degree in another. In
elected Grand Secretary. He was succeeded in some jurisdictions, Lodges open and close on
1928 by Thomas C. Nelson who served as the Master Mason's Degree; others on the First
Grand Lecturer until ill health forced him to Degree; others only in the degree which is to be
retire in 1936. Nelson was succeeded by Most "worked". Lesser lights are grouped closely
Worshipful Ben W. Beach of Danville, who about the Altar, in a triangle to one side of the
served nine years until 1946, when he asked to Altar, or in the stations of the Master and
be relieved of the duties of the office because of Wardens. In some Lodges the immediate Past
age and health. Master plays an important part, as in England.
Some Lodges have Inner Guards and two
George Robert Marshall, of Victoria, was Masters of Ceremonies. Dividing, lettering,
appointed Grand Lecturer by Most Worshipful syllabling are almost as various in practice as
T. Penn Coleman in 1946 and continued to the jurisdictions. Obligations show certain close
serve in that post until his death in 1965. similarities in some requirements; but what is a
part of the obligation in one jurisdiction may be
Charles Armistead Sinclair, Jr., was the next merely an admonition in another.
Grand Lecturer, but the office remained open
for two years until he accepted the title and
While uniformity in work within jurisdictions is
fairly well established as good American
Masonic practice, it is not universal. There are
several "workings" for instance, permitted in
English Lodges, and even in some American
jurisdictions, such as Kentucky, not all Lodges
use the same ritual.

Speculations - Will it change?