Lodges under our Grand Lodge are called ‘Craft Lodges’.

The terms ‘Blue Lodge’ or ‘Symbolic Lodge’ are not appropriate.

The presiding officer of a lodge is called the ‘Worshipful Master’, and not ‘Sitting Master’, ‘Reigning Master’ or ‘Ruling Master’.

When entering, crossing, or retiring from a lodge, when it is at labour, you salute the Worshipful Master with the penal sign of the degree in which the lodge is working.

The officers should be addressed as “Brother [office]”, e.g. “Bro. Senior Deacon”. The surnames of brethren are used when speaking of them or to them, and always use the rank they have achieved, e.g., “Right Worshipful Brother Smith”.

However, when addressing an envelope to a masonic brother, it is not proper to use the masonic title, but you should use the masonic title in the salutation.

The preferred forms of abbreviation are, in order of seniority: “M.W. Bro.”, “R.W. Bro.”, “V.W. Bro.”, “W. Bro.” and “Bro.” Note that only initial capitals are used before “Bro.”; there is one space before “Bro.”; and that there are no other spaces, only periods. You will find all sorts of variations of these abbreviations in general use, but, if you use only those given here, you will never be wrong.

As every Freemason is a brother, it is wrong to omit this noun when referring to a member of the Craft. For example, “Very Worshipful Jones” and, in abbreviated form, “V.W. Jones” are both incorrect.

Titles and Forms of Address