Where Do You Sit.

The location does give reference to the position, in that you are correct. But people have already stated that the Stewards sit at different places in different lodges as well as others. In Arkansas, the Secretary sits to the right of the WM (like over in the corner at a desk) and the treasurer to the left. The Stewards sit either side of the JW and No one sits by the SW, except the JD, who's chair is next to the door of the lodge room so he can convey messages to the tiler or else where as directed.

Some jurisdictions do not have stewards for example. Some have a position called an Inner Gard. There are many differences between jurisdictions. However, there are huge simularities as well. The position of the 3 main officers is pretty much standard. When someone you meet on the street ask if you are a traveling man, a common answering would be "I am traveling east". The directions have the same meanings in the vast majority of lodges (I will not say all because there is probably some lodge somewhere that is slightly different).

Brothers and siStars, I am in the EAST.

Hey, great!  Congratulations, Stuntman, and have a splendid year! (Incidentally, I'm going back to the East again myself next month.)

Y'all stay safe........ya hear?.

JD is an appointed position in some GLs and up to the EM on who he wants. It is that way in my lodge.

Caution1010 wrote: BigBob wrote: no one told me to be JD. Our SW simply asked how I felt about it. well, if your WM says You are JD, the only person whose other opinion matters is you.

You're right, Bro Caution. If someone has a problem with you being JD, that's their problem not yours. Tell him politely to take his complaint to the WM. If you do the very best job you can, all the complainers will come over to your side, and, who knows, maybe they will be saying it was their idea that you be appointed JD in the first place.

Personally, I am not in a hurry to go through the chairs. I want to experience all of them. I started this year as JS and got moved into SS. I have been asked by our SW if I would like JD if he gets elected master. I told him it is up to him. I listened to a talk that Brother Chris Hodapp gave a couple years ago. He talked about being put in the chairs instantly and in a lodge with that was struggling. He was made WM within 2 years. He said that he would not recommend that to anyone. It is not something that I wish that is for sure.

My only concern, is that nothing else interfere with my BL. I'm sure Ill thoroughly enjoy the Chapter/Council but my lodge has to come first. 

For next year,
Still not sure about the BL...looking like JS or SS. I was informed that I would be M1V for for the chapter.

tm274 wrote: BigBob wrote: My only concern, is that nothing else interfere with my BL. I'm sure Ill thoroughly enjoy the Chapter/Council but my lodge has to come first.  I like your "attitude & devotion" to BL, but when I read of a MM, so young" joining an appendant degree, so early, it does send my mind spinning. There is SO much to learn in the BL, that there isn't time or energy to apply yourself to other tasks and the old saying goes........"you cannot serve two Masters". I am in my first year a WM.......and believe you, me...........there is SO much to learn......and it's not the learning.....it's a lot more than you anticipate. My advice.....go through your BL chairs and leave the appendant degrees until such time you have served your BL well.

In The East

I'm currently SW, but we have elections later this month.  Last Monday night at practice, our WM told me to take the East to practice opening and closing all three lodges.  I was allowed to place whoever I wanted where ever I wanted.  It was a lot of fun and was pretty challenging, too!  Let me tell you...it got hot underneath that hat.  Just in case I am elected to the East, I've already chosen who I will appoint as SD and Chaplain.  In Mississippi F&AM, we don't have Stewards.  The WM appoints SD and Chap.  The SW appoints JD.  The tiler stands without at the door, Sec. on the left of the WM, Treas. to the right.

I was just recently appointed Jr. Steward for AL 6012.  It's an honor to be selected and to enter "the line."  Lot's of work though, the JW, SS, and I will be cooking almost every Tuesday!

As of 12/27/11 (Saint John's Day) I am now in the SW chair in the West!

Mother Lodge: Sidelines (after being Junior Warden my first year. Could've had the SW chair but declined it for a reason)
Second Lodge: Marshall

Tuesday Night I was installed as Senior Deacon.  Right off the bat I have to conduct my friend though his 2nd degree in two weeks and my Dad through his 1st Degree in a month.  What a way to start a year.

Congrats to both of you.. cbtinker, the SD chair is fun. Right after I was installed I had to do a 3rd degree the following week and a first the next night. It is a great position.

I was just recently intstalled to the South.

YoungBlood wrote: Mother Lodge: Sidelines (after being Junior Warden my first year. Could've had the SW chair but declined it for a reason) Second Lodge: Marshall

Spoke too soon, the brother that was elected as Senior Warden resigned the night before installation. Looks like I'll be the favorite to be nominated again.

I was recently appointed Junior Master of Ceremonies for this year and so far enjoy it very much. My first masonic Birthday is the 20th of this month. I am looking forward to moving through the chairs.

BigBob wrote: Tonight I was installed Senior Steward! This is my first chair outside of degree work and filling in for an absent brother. I'm excited about the new year and continuing my Masonic journey. This past thursday I was also installed as the Master of the First Veil in my Royal Arch Chapter. I guess technically and chronologically that was my first chair but the BL comes first so my chair there comes first too. Got a busy year ahead of me. I'll be sitting in the East for the first MM degree of the year. I'm nervous but I'm really excited at the same time.

I see.