Page 46 - MML - Journal - Centenary Edition - Vol. 01 / 2023

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A Publication of Madras Masters Lodge No. 103, GLI
Brother Director Of Ceremonies
By R W Bro. Sushil Raj, OSM, P.DY.G.M., P.R.G.M.
INTRODUCTION
In the Middle Ages operative masons who were engaged on the erection of a structure, built a temporary building to house themselves whilst the construction work was taking place. This became known as ‘the lodge’ and was dismantled when their job was finished. They would then move on to another construction site, where a new Lodge would be built again. The Lodge was a place of preparation for the mason.
In modern age of speculative masonry’ the candidate’ is prepared by our rituals and ceremonies to chisel out his life as a super structure, perfect in its parts and standing tall to the world around him. For achieving this, the Lodge must be perfect in its preparation. The unique indoctrination experienced by the candidate must have a lasting impression on his mind and the ideals imbibed, must be practiced by him throughout his entire life.
Though we have left our operative brethren of the yester years far behind, the lodge is still the place of preparation for every Freemason.
The ritual performed in a lodge is a teamwork. A perfect drill repeated every meeting. For this team work to produce results there should be perfect coordination between the officers or performers taking
part. It must be coordinated in perfection. The success of any hit, box office movie mainly rests on its director. It may have an excellent and very highly rated star cast. But if the movie must do well in box office the director has to do his job well. Likewise for any Lodge ceremony or ritual to be conducted well and impressive to the candidate, the Lodge needs a good Director of Ceremonies.
In any Lodge the D of C ranks in precedence immediately below the secretary, having been upgraded in 1916, signifying the acceptance by the United Grand Lodge of England, of the very valuable duties that the D of C performs both in the ceremonial and ritual side of Masonry.
The title 'Director of Ceremonies' is used in the Grand Lodge of India, United Grand Lodge of England, and its subordinate lodges, as well as in many other jurisdictions. However, other titles found in various other jurisdictions include, 'Lecturer', 'Ritualist', Ritual Director, Master of Ceremonies etc. In the past, the office of Director of Ceremonies was not there, even in Grand Lodges; the work was done by the Grand Usher with his staff of office.
The office of 'Marshal' is quite common in the United States, but not in other countries. In some jurisdictions where it is found, the title is simply an alternative for 'Director of Ceremonies’. We have Marshals in our Grand Lodge and Regional Grand Lodges. We can assume their duties could be to form the processions.
Madras Masonic Journal Vol. 01 / 2023 - Centenary Year Edition
However, there are jurisdictions in which the office is distinct from any other, in which cases the duties of the office revolve around