Page 47 - MML - Journal - Centenary Edition - Vol. 01 / 2023

THE JEWEL
the organisation of processions and ensuring the correct precedence and etiquette in formal proceedings, including the introduction of visitors to the lodge. This is distinct (in such jurisdictions) from the role of the Director of Ceremonies in supervising the ritual of the lodge's degree ceremonies The office of Director of Ceremonies in a private Lodge did not appear until about the middle of the 19th century. There is no such office in the Emulation Lodge of Improvement, and it remains a permissive additional office in many Lodges today. This office is not regular, but a permissive one. It is however, a most important one, which should not on any account offered to, or taken by, anyone, not fully acquainted with the laws and regulations that fully govern us, the land marks, rituals, procedures and etiquettes, that are the everyday environment of Lodge work. It requires a Past Master of skill, ability, and well-tried knowledge, and above all good experience. It can be held only by a subscribing member and not an honorary one. A good and competent D of C, who knows his work, is a blessing and acquisition to any lodge.
The Director of Ceremonies acts under the direct authority of the Master, yet the very nature of his office demands that he must be permitted to a great extent to develop his own methods of procedure. He must be fully conversant with the ritual in all the ceremonies, he must know the rules of Masonic etiquette, and he must have a thorough knowledge of the Book of Constitutions. It is essential that the D of C is a Past Master.
The Director of Ceremonies is responsible to see that the ceremonies and degrees are well rehearsed and that the brethren know their work to the credit of the lodge. You will often see him with a furrowed brow and sweaty palm as he watches the degree work and probably sees things which you wouldn't notice but which, in his desire to achieve perfection keeps his worry-level high.
“Two rods saltire-wise tied by a ribbon.” It can be defined as a pair of crossed batons tied together by a ribbon and may imply that, the loosely tied batons by the frailest of materials which can easily be snapped shows that the firmest of rule is not that which is founded upon by force. His emblem or jewel, the crossed rods, also depicts the marshal’s baton originally the officer in charge of the king’s horses, but which has come to have certain ceremonial duties, in respect to the marshalling of processions.
SITUATION OR PLACE
His situation in the lodge is at the southeast corner, or at the top of the south side, from which position he can see every corner of the lodge and what is going forward. He is also near to the WM so that the WM can give directions to him whenever necessary without disturbing the decorum of the meeting. The seats of the Regional Grand and Grand Director of ceremonies would confirm the same.
DUTIES
The duties of the D of C are multitudinous and of all kinds, they are all ceremonial and the following are some of the important ones.
Madras Masonic Journal Vol. 01 / 2023 - Centenary Year Edition
A Publication of Madras Masters Lodge No. 103, GLI
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