FAQs - Continued

Q. ‘Can you tell me what is meant by “The Dark Corner”?’ A. The term arose at festive board in some lodges in the North East of England. On enquiry as to the state of charge in the lodge to the two Wardens there is a reply from the South and from the West. The East is covered by the Master. The North of the room is referred to as the 'Dark Comer' and the brethren reply 'All Charged in the Dark Corners'. The concept is also observed in churchyards. The North side, or Dark side, was reserved for less fortunate members of the parish who would be buried there. The ground on the North side of the church tends to be a small area since it would be hoped that most burials would take place on the East, South and West.

Q. ‘Are the Wardens columns derived from the pillars?’ A. The pillars are holders which carry the candles at the three pedestals. These are not to be confused with the two pillars which are present in many lodges either at the entrance or in front of the Senior Warden. One theory is that the Wardens columns are the sole remains of what once were Hour Glasses. The Senior Warden’s column would therefore mark the time at which the lodge was open. It would be interesting to know what other theories might explain this.

Q. ‘When the Deacons are invested they are also given instructions as to their duties and these are repeated in part, by the Wardens in the ritual. Why do they never perform those dealing with commands and messages?' A. In my own lodge we had a document to be signed in open lodge. This was given to the Master by the Secretary who signed it. The Senior Deacon delivered it to the Senior Warden who, in turn, gave it to the Junior Deacon to take to the Junior Warden and return it to the Senior Deacon. He, in turn, returned it to the Secretary. I understand that in some lodges the same procedure is adopted with the Minute book.

Q. ‘What is the origin of the black and white pavement?’ A. The squared pavement, now preserved in our carpet almost certainly is derived from the floor pattern. This type of flooring is very evident in art particularly Dutch interiors of both churches and houses of important people. As has happened so often freemasonry has used a common artifact and given it a more esoteric meaning.

Q. ‘What was the Grand Lodge of Wigan?’ A. Following the Union of the two Grand Lodges in 1813 there. was still some friction between some lodges. Lodge No. 31 of Liverpool was suspended and later erased. This Lodge with two others set up the ‘Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of England According to the Old Constitution’. It is, in fact, better known as the ‘Grand Lodge in Wigan’. There were at one time twelve lodges within this Grand Lodge. The last Grand Master was elected in 1886. He was a member of the Lodge of Sincerity which had, been one of the original Lodges in this Grand Lodge. The Lodge of Sincerity returned to the United Grand Lodge in 1913 when its members were re-obligated.