Masonic Glossary

Plain-English meanings of words you'll hear around the lodge.

Word of the Week

Fellowcraft

The second degree of Freemasonry, and the title of a Mason who has received it.

A.F. & A.M.: Short for "Ancient Free and Accepted Masons," the title used by the Grand Lodge of Texas and many other American grand lodges.
Apron: The white apron every Mason wears in lodge. It recalls the aprons of the old operative stonemasons and is a badge of the fraternity and a symbol of a clean, honest life.
Brother: How Masons address and refer to one another, a reminder that the fraternity is a brotherhood.
Called Meeting: A lodge meeting held in addition to the regular stated meeting, usually to confer degrees or handle special business. See also: Stated Meeting
Chaplain: The lodge officer who offers the prayers at the opening and closing of meetings and at other occasions.
Charter: The document from the Grand Lodge that makes a lodge permanent and lawful. Ennis Lodge #369 received its Charter on June 9, 1873. See also: Dispensation
Cornerstone: Masons have long laid the cornerstones of public buildings with a traditional ceremony. George Washington laid the cornerstone of the U.S. Capitol in a Masonic ceremony in 1793, and Texas lodges still lay cornerstones for courthouses, schools and churches.
Dark: A lodge "goes dark" when it doesn't meet — for example, during a summer month or over a holiday.
Deacons: The Senior and Junior Deacons carry messages between the officers and guide candidates during ceremonies.
Degree: One of the three stages of becoming a Mason. Each degree is a ceremony that teaches moral lessons through symbols and allegory. See also: Entered Apprentice
Dispensation: Special permission from the Grand Master — for example, letting a new lodge begin meeting before it receives its charter. Ennis Lodge's Dispensation was granted on September 27, 1872. See also: Charter
District: Texas lodges are grouped into Masonic districts. Ennis Lodge #369 is in District 18, along with the other lodges of Ellis County. See also: District Deputy Grand Master
District Deputy Grand Master: Often shortened to DDGM. The Grand Master's representative in a district, who visits its lodges and helps them with Grand Lodge matters. See also: District
Entered Apprentice: The first degree of Freemasonry, and the title of a Mason who has received it. See also: Fellowcraft
Fellowcraft: The second degree of Freemasonry, and the title of a Mason who has received it. See also: Master Mason
Gavel: The small mallet used by the Worshipful Master and Wardens to call the lodge to order. As a symbol, it stands for knocking off the rough edges of our character.
Grand Lodge: The governing body of Freemasonry in a state. The Grand Lodge of Texas was formed in Houston in 1837 and today has its home in Waco.
Grand Master: The elected head of a Grand Lodge. Anson Jones was the first Grand Master of Texas.
Lodge: Both the group of Masons who meet together and the room or building where they meet.
Master Mason: The third degree of Freemasonry. A Master Mason is a full member of the fraternity. See also: Raised
Moon Lodge: A lodge that sets its stated meeting by the full moon instead of a fixed week of the month. Tradition holds that the moonlight helped brothers travel home on horseback. A few Texas lodges still meet this way.
Mother Lodge: The lodge where a Mason received his degrees. A lodge whose members founded another lodge is sometimes called its mother lodge too — Waxahachie Lodge #90 played that role for Ennis Lodge.
Past Master: A brother who has completed a term as Worshipful Master of his lodge. See also: Worshipful Master
Petition: The written application to become a Mason. Masons don't recruit — a man must ask on his own. The saying goes: "To be one, ask one."
Proficiency: Showing that you have learned the lessons of a degree before moving on to the next one.
Raised: To be "raised" is to receive the third degree and become a Master Mason. See also: Master Mason
Secretary: The lodge officer who keeps the minutes and records, collects dues and handles the lodge's correspondence.
So Mote It Be: An old way of saying "so may it be." Masons say it at the end of prayers, much as others say "Amen."
Square and Compasses: The best-known emblem of Freemasonry. The square stands for virtue and honesty in our dealings; the compasses for keeping our desires within due bounds. The "G" often shown in the center is commonly explained as standing for God and for Geometry.
Stated Meeting: A lodge's regular monthly meeting, held on a set schedule, where it conducts its business. Ennis Lodge #369's stated meeting is the 2nd Tuesday of each month. See also: Called Meeting
Stewards: Officers who assist with preparations, help candidates, and see to refreshments.
Tiled: A tiled meeting is one with the Tyler guarding the door, so only Masons are present.
Treasurer: The lodge officer who receives and pays out the lodge's money and keeps its accounts.
Trestle Board: Originally the board on which a master builder drew his plans. Today a lodge's calendar or newsletter is often called its trestle board.
Tyler: The officer who guards the door of the lodge, outside, to make sure only Masons enter. Sometimes spelled "Tiler."
Visiting Brother: A Mason attending a lodge other than his own. Visiting other lodges is a cherished Masonic tradition — be sure to sign our guest book!
Wardens: The Senior and Junior Wardens are the second- and third-ranking officers of a lodge, and usually go on to serve as Worshipful Master.
Working Tools: The stonemason's tools Freemasonry uses as symbols — such as the plumb for upright living, the level for equality, and the square for virtue.
Worshipful Master: The presiding officer of a lodge, elected for a year. "Worshipful" is an old English title of respect, still used for some mayors and magistrates in England — it doesn't mean the Master is worshipped. See also: Past Master

Want to know more? Read What is Freemasonry?, try our Masonic trivia, or learn how to join.