Oswego District AGL article April 2010

The Warden's Columns

Brethren: As I sit writing, it is a beautiful March day, shining sun and 55 degrees. Spring cannot be far off and none too soon.

This month I thought I would address a subject that seems to be a mystery to many, especially the younger members of our gentile craft, the Warden's Columns. The Warden's Columns are the two small replicas of J & B that belong to the Senior and Junior Wardens respectively. The Senior's inscribed with a level and the Junior's with a plumb. Normally they rest on each warden's sounding pillar alongside his gavel.

Their origin goes back to the mid 1700's and their usage has evolved with lodge floor-plans over the years. Today, the rule is that J, the Senior Warden's column, should be upright while the lodge is at labor and laid on its side while at refreshment. Conversely, the miniature B would be up at the Junior Warden's station during refreshment and down during labor. One column should always be up and the other down depending on the status of the lodge. The position of the Warden's Columns thus indicates which has authority over the floor.

The use of the Warden's Columns seems a little spotty in this district, I have never seen them used in my lodge. I have seen them on the sounding pillars in other lodges but I do not recall observing them employed to indicate the state of the lodge. Lodge Regalia and furnishings are an integral part of our ritual and add greatly to the mood and ambiance during our meetings. With this explanation and reminder it is my hope that these sometimes overlooked tools will reappear in our lodge rooms.

In closing, don't forget to keep Norm and me informed of whats going on in your lodges. If you need help or a program or cast members for a degree, we are just a phone call or email away.

After this article was published, I was reminded by our Grand Lecturer, Chuck Toombs, that Warden's Columns are not part of the ritual in New York Freemasonry so your use of them is strictly optional.

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