by Gary W. Arseneau,
Most Worshipful Grand Master
The path to the Master’s chair can be a confusing journey. Last year’s Masonic forums told us that officers said that as they progressed, they didn’t feel really prepared for the obligations that come with the various officer positions. This was especially true of the elected positions, Junior Warden, Senior Warden, and Worshipful Master. The Master’s Path courses are a response to those comments.

The courses start with the Senior Deacon to prepare him for the responsibilities of the Junior Warden. They progress through the Junior Warden and Senior Warden to add to their knowledge and abilities of the important positions they will hold when elected to higher office.

The Master’s Path is designed to replace the current qualifications and put educational requirements into a course that the Senior Deacon, Junior Warden, and Senior Warden will need to complete before being installed in their next offi ce. The courses remove the need to remember what each Grand Master might have declared as a qualification.

All the courses will consist of two parts: educational and ritual. The education sections will begin to aquaint each officer with the Rules and Regulations, Policy and Procedures, as well as the degree work necessary to be able to open and close a Masonic lodge.

The respective courses will be delivered to Senior Deacons, Junior Wardens, and Senior Wardens via email by the Dean of the Master’s Path. This part of the course will contain instructions on what the material in the Rules and Regulations, Policy and Procedures and ritual pertains to the course. It will also contain three quizzes for each subject.

 

In the educational portion the officer is to study the required material and complete the quizzes. When the quizzes are completed they are to be returned to the Dean of the Master’s Path. The Dean will grade them. A score of 80% is required to pass the quizzes. If a passing grade is not achieved the quiz will be returned so that it can be retaken. When a passing grade for all quizzes is accomplished the Dean will send the final exam. Upon completion of the final exam, it will be returned to the Dean for scoring.

A score of 80% must be achieved to pass the final exam. If the final exam is not passed it will be returned so the officer can retake it. When the officer has achieved a satisfactory grade the Dean will record the accomplishment of the officer. For the ritual qualification section the officer will have to make arrangements with his District Deputy to meet the ritual qualifications. When the District Deputy is satisfied that the officer meets the qualifications he will notify the Dean that the officer has been qualified.

There is one exception for ritual qualification. If the lodge is participating in the Honor Lodge program, proficiency in opening, closing, going to refreshment, returning to labor, and receiving dignitaries is a requirement for the three elected officers. Therefore, the JW and SW would meet the requirements for their sections of the Master’s Path.

When both the educational and ritual sections of the Master’s Path have been completed, the Dean will notify the Grand Lodge office. The Grand Lodge office will issue a certificate of completion and a pin indicating that the officer is now qualified to assume the next elected position in his lodge.