Why do Masons call themselves "Worshipful Master"?

reply to post by fiorano

God is not "jealous" that God is worshipped by a million different names in just as many languages.

God is worshipped. You are correct.

Not Master Masons.

In every lodge of Masons, the Worshipful Master is the representative of King Solomon. As the King and the builder of King Solomon's Temple, Solomon was the master of all and in a position where he would be shown the most reverent respect. Although not truly worshipped as a deity, you could imagine the respect that a young entered apprentice mason would show if he were to approach the great king. Today Masons show the leader of their lodge with the same respect (at least during open lodge!). So this term is just alluding to the practices of Masons of old, as a lot of the ceremonies and procedures in lodge do today.

reply to post by doctordoom


Masons are not worshipped

the way it is said "worshipful master" it is recognizing the Master of the lodge who by his diligence has shown to be of the utmost high in character as a Good Man and a Good Mason he is full of reverence for his fellow and his Creator- he is full of Worship - he is the master voted of the lodge
the Worshipful Master will guide the lodge for the year and help us all be better men-
Hence the term

why don't people get it?

He doesnt want to get it.

I am about to join Eastern Star. Most of my family including my grandparents are in the lodge.

We are all Christian and worship one God.

Would you accuse girls scouts of worshiping another God because they give an oath to the organization?

What about all those that give an oath to our flag.

A judge that sits on a bench is called your honor. Yet that judge is not worshiped, and in fact those testifying swear on the bible.

When I think of the lodge, I think comradary, trust, and charity.

I think the fact that it is ritualistic scares people, but look at the catholic and Luthurn churches. They are also ritualistic and the Lodge is not a religion.

Ama

Additionally, those with a Ph.D. or M.D. are usually referred to as "Doctor" even though Doctor means teacher - Jesus was called "rabbi" which also means teacher. Yet, I don't see any evangelical outcry over that one - even though the title Doctor goes all the way back to being a clergy title.

Ordained ministers are also often called "The Reverend," lawyers in the US often use the post nominal initials Esq. for the title of "esquire" (which has origins in being a term for all those who were of the upper class in England), and we won't even bother with all the titles being thrown around for diplomats heads of state since they are not a "common" title.

The point is titles exist - they are born out of custom and appropriate to use in the right context. Just as no lawyer will ask you to call him/her Esquire or use the title outside of the practice of law, no Worshipful Master is going to use the title outside the lodge. In fact, in my experience I have rarely ever seen a WM call himself by his title - its the lodge members who do it out of respect.

reply to post by LowLevelMason


Well said and well done




Mod Note: One Line Post – Please Review This Link.

[edit on 21/12/2008 by Sauron]

reply to post by doctordoom

God is worshipped. You are correct.

Exactly.

Not Master Masons.

You've got it!

Each Mason worships his faith, not pressing it on his fellows. The term Worshipful master does not mean the guy is worshiped at all.

Originally posted by doctordoom
reply to post by RuneSpider

 

I'm sorry, but the very word "worship" is full of religious undertones, and had a cult like sound to it.

But the word in question is Worshipful which is a completely different word then worship. Similar to how fruit becomes a completely different word when -ful is added.

Mayors in The United Kingdom are still refered to as Worshipful. Do you feel that they are also somehow being worshipped?

reply to post by AugustusMasonicus

Good job. I don't
see any argument here.

Yet.............

Many of the titles used in Freemasonry are holdovers from the really old language used in the rituals.

"Worshipful Master" or "Worshipful" is a title (in my lodge anyway) we use to refer to the master of the lodge. The master runs the meetings and is elected by the members each year. He only runs the lodge for a year and any Master Mason can be elected to the post.

There are lots of other titles like that. If you are talking to another Master Mason you would call him "Brother". If he has served as a Master in the past you would call him "Worshipful Brother".

A district deputy Grand Master is called "Right Worshipful" in lodge.

Other appendant bodies use similar language. For example in some of the York degrees we call each other "Companion" in place of brother.

Outside of lodge or in informal communications we just call each other by name such as Bob or Jim.

If you are looking for evidence of some grand conspiracy against religion or Christianity you are looking in the wrong place. These are simply titles of respect in Masonic Etiquette.

Originally posted by doctordoom
reply to post by Level_Head

 

Oh good, your a Christian.

Remember the part in the bible where is says, "I am a jealous God, and thou shalt not put any other gods before me?" .

If your a Christian, you believe in the bible. But if you are a Mason, you are allowing gods other than the God of the bible to be put before Him.

Don't you think this makes God jealous?

so If a Budist prays to Budda, that makes God jealous? Or when a Muslem payst to Alah? This is one of the main reasons I enjoy masonry so much. There are no religous barriers. It's not a baptist only club, or any other religion for that matter. Only a belief in a higher power. So you can eliminate most of the reasons people fight right off the bat. After all, what is it you are not supposed to talk about with family?....religion and politics. Both are easy targets for a disagreement.

My personal belief is in God. But I am quite sure that the budist talks to the same guy, he just calls him something different. The worshipful master is a position not a person per say. Each year he is a different person. Some of the things we do seem silly, but they are all for a reason. (and the reason is secret) ask12B1

Originally posted by emsed1

A district deputy Grand Master is called "Right Worshipful" in lodge.

is that for all lodges in the US? I have never heard that. On goes the learning process.

reply to post by network dude


Sorry I should have specified it's for Illinois. I am not sure about other states.

Originally posted by network dude

Originally posted by emsed1

A district deputy Grand Master is called "Right Worshipful" in lodge.

is that for all lodges in the US? I have never heard that. On goes the learning process.

It's accurate for Ontario as well and (I'd suspect) the other provinces and territories as well. The DDGM is a Right Worshipful, officers of Grand Lodge below the Grand Master are Very Worshipfuls and the Grand Master is Most Worshipful

Participants should be aware that this forum is under close staff scrutiny because of an increased pattern of general rudeness and apparent "posting gangs" favoring one side of a topic. Discussion topics and

Wow. I' amazed at the amount of Masons posting on this website

It's like I've been approached by a gang of worshippers.

Originally posted by emsed1


Sorry I should have specified it's for Illinois. I am not sure about other states.

Some states don't have District Deputy Grand Masters; instead, they have "Inspectors", which are usually referred to as "Very Worshipful", but in other jurisdictions just plain "Worshipful".

Here, Grand Masters and Past Grand Masters are styled "Most Worshipful"; all other Grand Lodge and Past Grand Lodge Officers are styled "Right Worshipful", and Masters and Past Masters of Lodges are styled "Worshipful".

Originally posted by doctordoom

Participants should be aware that this forum is under close staff scrutiny because of an increased pattern of general rudeness and apparent "posting gangs" favoring one side of a topic. Discussion topics and

Wow. I' amazed at the amount of Masons posting on this website

It's like I've been approached by a gang of worshippers.

OK! so what was the purpose of your thread? Oh yea, you asked a question about masons on the secret societies page (which happens to adorn the masonic emblem). Just for the record, who did you think was going to respond? Surely not the guys from the weapons forum.


I think there should be an IQ test before people are alowed to post on ATS.

reply to post by Level_Head



the Brother tells the truth, and furthermore Lodge is opened and closed with a prayer.

it should be addressed that the honorific "worshipful" does not imply that the master of a Lodge is worshiped but respected.

Masonary is a charitable fraternity and the oldest by the way. Having said that it should be noted that like our Lord who cared for the least among, so there to go the Masons.

Originally posted by doctordoomI'm sorry, but the very word "worship" is full of religious undertones, and had a cult like sound to it.

Let me show you what an ex-Mason says.

One evening, I asked about the inconsistency involved for the Jewish member in having the Bible resting on our altar. I was informed that it did not necessarily have to be the Bible. It could be the Koran, the Rig Veda, or even the Book of Mormon. What sacred writing was on the altar would depend upon the religious persuasion of the lodge. So, it really didn’t matter if the Lodge had any Jewish member or not. The important thing was not to pray in the name of Jesus Christ!

www.ephesians5-11.org...

This, I believe is the true identity of the Freemasons. They are the tentacles of the Anti-Christian beast.

I believe in Jesus, but I am not a "Christian". I don't believe in the church system, a system that meets behind closed doors with secret back rooms, just like the Freemasons.

You only believe what you want to believe. Stay in ignorant bliss.

In older English times, Mayors were called "Worshipful" along with Lords in even older times. Magistrates or higher level officials they were called "Right Worshipful" which is what Freemasons call the higher Grand Lodge officers.

Originally posted by doctordoomAbsolutely.

The statement that the term worshipful came from old English is really quite questionable.

You find the term worship translated from Hebrew and Latin way before old English was ever invented.

Where do you come up with your answer from? A Masonic website??

British history proves that officials were called 'Worshipful'. Freemasonry as we see it today originated from England and many of their terms we still use.

Originally posted by doctordoomIf your a Christian, you believe in the bible. But if you are a Mason, you are allowing gods other than the God of the bible to be put before Him.

Don't you think this makes God jealous?

Freemasons are taught to believe/worship in their own way. I being a Christian believe in the Christian God so therefore I am not allowing any other gods before the Almighty. Also, religion (along with partisan politics) is forbidden within the Lodge.

If you would just ask us questions we would tell you. Quit looking on anti-Masonic sites that know as much about the Masons as you do.