Worshipful Master

The Worshipful Master of a Lodge of Masons is the leader of the Lodge.  He is an Elected Officer who is elected usually at the December meeting of a Lodge.  He takes office at Noon on the 27th of December which is also known as Saint Johns Day. 

The Worshipful Master is assisted in running the Lodge by the Senior Warden and the Junior Warden.  The Secretary and the Treasurer also assist the Worshipful Master.

The Worshipful Master should be able to give all three degrees to incoming candidates but this ideal has not been followed for many years.  The new requirements for this proficiency are really a return to the old rules for becoming the Worshipful Master.  While it is probably a good idea it needs to be implemented slowly as many Masons seem not to really have the extra time to spend learning all the degrees.

The Worshipful Master is in charge of opening and closing the meeting, in addition to conducting the meeting.  Meetings of a Lodge do not Adjourn, they are simply closed the Worshipful Master.  He may Close his Lodge whenever he decides to so do.

The Station of the Worshipful Master is in the East.  

Some Anti-Masonic people consider the Worshipful Master to the the same as a High Priest in the old Mystery Religions, or as a Sun God, or Osiris.  It is said that the High Priests stood in the East or facing the East to observe the rising of the Sun. Many, if not most, Christian Churches are also arranged in such a manner so the the priest or preacher is either in or facing the East.  Who knows?