Dear Brothers,
At our last regular communication there was a brief discussion regarding the ritual differences in the various masonic jurisdictions. Freemasonry is one of the few, if not the only, fraternal organizations that is not governed by a national or international body. In the United States, each state has its own Grand Lodge, governing the lodges located in that state, and is independent of the other States’ Grand Lodges. As a result, the ritual that is being performed differs between jurisdictions. It is what, in my opinion, makes our fraternity so unique, special, and interesting.
There was a time in our Fraternity’s history, here in the U.S., when a lack of a unified ritual was thought an issue and an effort was made for a unifying ritual to be in use through out the country. In 1842 the Grand Lodge of Alabama call for a meeting of representatives from each of Grand Lodges, the purpose of which was to create a unifying ritual. Attendance was sparse and while little came out of it, there was an agreement to convene again with each Grand Lodge sending persons knowledgeable in ritual. The meeting took place in May 1843 in Baltimore, Maryland, known as the Baltimore Convention. During the Convention, committees were formed to work on establishing one unifying ritual for our various degrees and ceremonies. It should be noted that while most of the then active Grand Lodges sent representatives, several did not, including Pennsylvania, Kentucky and Louisiana. It was determined that the Convention should memorialize their work in a “Trestle Board” or “Monitor” which would be given to each Grand Lodge for adoption.
The Convention met from May 9, 1842 to May 17, 1842, after which a committee was formed for the purpose of assembling the Trestle Board. However, while compiling the Trestle Board there was disagreement among the committee and while a Trestle Board was published, a member of the committee wrote to the various Grand Lodges indicating it was not the proper work agreed upon. As a result, various Grand Lodges refused or withdrawal their endorsement of the Trestle Board as published.
There were other items presented at the Convention for their consideration, including the idea of forming a national Grand Lodge which was rejected. However, the Convention did agree on several things including making the due guards and signs of the EA and FC degree two distinct things, switching the moveable and immovable jewels of a lodge and doing business on the Master Mason degree.
*The information above was taken from “The Mason’s Word” by Robert Davis and the website “The Masonic Trowel”.
Fraternally,
Daniel E. O’Brien, WM
