Grand Master (Freemasonry)

Masonic leader

This article is about the title in Freemasonry. For Grand Masters in chivalric orders, see Grand Master (order). For other uses, see Grandmaster.

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Wilkins F. Tannehill, Masonic Grand Master of Tennessee, in his regalia Part of a series on

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* v
* t
* e

A Grand Master is a title of honour as well as an office in Freemasonry, given to a freemason elected to oversee a Masonic jurisdiction, derived from the office of Grand Masters in chivalric orders.[1] He presides over a Grand Lodge and has certain rights in the constituent Lodges that form his jurisdiction. In most cases, the Grand Master is styled "Most Worshipful Grand Master."[2] One example of a differing title exists in the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, where the Grand Master is titled "Right Worshipful".[3] Under the Grand Lodge of Scotland, the role is titled "Grand Master Mason".

## Deputies

[edit]

Just as the Worshipful Master of a Lodge annually appoints lodge officers to assist him, so the Grand Master of each Grand Lodge annually appoints Grand Lodge officers to assist him in his work. Grand Lodges often elect or appoint Deputy Grand Masters (sometimes also known as District Deputy Grand Masters) who can act on behalf of the Grand Master when he is unable to do so.[4]

In the United Grand Lodge of England, if the Grand Master is traditionally a Prince of the Blood Royal (ie: a member of the Royal Family), he may appoint a 'Pro Grand Master' ('Pro' is from the Latin for 'for') to be "his principal adviser, and to act for him on those occasions when, due to royal engagements, he is unable to be present".[5] The Pro Grand Master is distinct from the Deputy Grand Master.

## Traditions

[edit]

There are two distinct traditions in connection with the office of Grand Master. Generally speaking, the European practice is for the same Grand Master to be re-elected for several consecutive years, maybe even several decades, whilst in other countries, a Grand Master serves a set term of only one to three years and then retires.[citation needed]

In several European countries, the position of Grand Master has often been held by members of royal families or the high nobility. In some Protestant northern European countries, the position was held by the King for a long time. In England and Wales, the current Grand Master is Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, who was elected in 1967 and has been re-elected each year since.[6][citation needed]

## See also

[edit]

* Provincial Grand Master
* Grand Master (order)

## References

[edit]

1. ^ [1] Grand Master
2. ^ [2] Use of the Term Worshipful
3. ^ [3] The Right Worshipful Grand Master of Pennsylvania
4. ^ "Freemasons NSW & ACT – Grand Master". Masons.org.au. Archived from the original on 23 December 2015. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
5. ^ "United Grand Lodge of England – Who's Who". Ugle.org.uk. 1 September 2014. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
6. ^ "The Duke of Kent Celebrates His 89th Birthday with His Family". Town & Country. 9 October 2024. Retrieved 1 December 2024.

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Freemasonry

Fraternal organisations with origins in the United Kingdom in the 18th century, sorted by bodies, lodges, locations and rites

General|

* Abbreviations
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Square and
Compasses

Freemasons' Hall,
London,
headquarters (1775/1933-)
of the
United Grand
Lodge of England (1722-)

Anglo-American
Freemasonry|

| Eurasia|

| British Isles|

* United Grand Lodge of England
* Grand Lodge of Scotland
* Grand Lodge of Ireland

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Swedish Rite|

* Swedish Order of Freemasons
* Danish Order of Freemasons
* Icelandic Order of Freemasons
* Norwegian Order of Freemasons
* Grand Lodge of Spain
* Grand Landlodge of the Freemasons of Germany

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* Armenia
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* Cyprus
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* Italy
* Regular Grand Lodge
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* Luxembourg
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* Malta
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Australia and New Zealand|

* United Grand Lodge of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory
* Grand Lodge of New Zealand

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Americas|

| United States|

* Alabama
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| African-American|

* Prince Hall Freemasonry
* Order of the Eastern Star
* Ancient Egyptian Arabic Order
* Imperial Court

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Canada|

* Manitoba
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* Ontario

Latin America|

* Brazil
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Continental
Freemasonry and
Co-Freemasonry,
including CLIPSAS|

| Eurasia|

* Le Droit Humain (several countries)
* Belgium
* Grand Orient
* Female Grand Lodge
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* Malta
* Poland
* Portugal
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Americas|

* Universal Co-Masonry
* Venezuela
* United States
* Canada
* Mexico

Appendant Orders|

| Non-Denominational|

* Allied Masonic Degrees
* Grand College of Rites
* Holy Royal Arch (Anglo-European)
* Royal Arch Masonry (American)
* Order of Athelstan
* Order of the Eastern Star
* Order of Knight Masons
* Order of Mark Master Masons
* Order of the Scarlet Cord
* Order of the Secret Monitor
* Order of Royal and Select Masters (Anglo-European)
* Cryptic Masonry (American)
* Royal Ark Mariners
* Shriners

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Christian Only|

* Holy Royal Arch Knight Templar Priests
* Knights of the York Cross of Honour
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* Masonic Order of the Bath
* Order of Saint Thomas of Acon
* Red Cross of Constantine
* Reformed and Rectified Rite
* Royal Order of Scotland
* S.R.I.A.
* Royal Order of Eri
* Societas Rosicruciana
* Sovereign Order of Knights Preceptor
* York Rite Sovereign College

Ancient and Accepted
Scottish Rite|

* USA
* Northern Jurisdiction
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* Supreme Council of Louisiana

People|

* List of Freemasons
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Places|

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Anti-Masonry|

* Anti-Masonry
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