Episode 65. 18:53 Working Tools Series - The Wardens’ Columns

“There are two peculiar pieces of equipment in a Masonic lodge that have no explanation in our ritual. Masonic scholars have reached no conclusions as to the origin, function or purpose of the wardens’ columns.” 

This week we dive into the writings of John L. Cooper III, author of “The Questing Mind is a Salient Characteristic of a Freemason.” Before being elected the 10th Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of California in 1991, John was a leader in public education. In 2013, he became the first Past Grand Secretary to be elected as Grand Master in California. 

“John knows that everyone is capable of learning, and he has a way of making it so interesting that many of us are more motivated to learn and share than we might have been without knowing him.” -Allan L. Casalou 

It’s an all-new Minnesota Masonic Histories & Mysteries. 

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Recently, a copy of a bookcrossed my desk, titled The

(00:03):
Questing Mind is a SalientCharacteristic of a Freemason.
It was shared by a member ofAcacia Lodge in Cottage Grove.
And thank you, Brother JustinOrtega, for passing it along.
The author was John L.
Cooper III.
Past Grand Secretary and PastGrand Master of Masons in
California, 2013.

(00:24):
John's love of Masonic researchand study is incomparable, and
this book is absolutely amazing.
Many thanks to Grand Secretaryof California, Alan Kasalew.
For the time spent compiling,editing, and organizing this
tremendous collection.
this week on our podcast, we arerevisiting the 1853 Working Tool

(00:45):
Series with an excerpt from thisbook by John L.
Cooper III, and it's titled TheWarden's Columns, and it's
titled The There are twopeculiar pieces of equipment in
a Masonic Lodge that have noexplanation in our ritual.
Masonic scholars have reached noconclusions as to the origin,
function, or purpose of theWarden's Columns.

(01:08):
In California Lodges, as well asin Minnesota, these are foot
tall wooden imitations of IonicColumns.
They have a particular use inand when it is at Refreshment.
The position of the columnsbeing reversed when the Lodge
changes from one activity toanother.

(01:28):
equipment show that But there isno explanation in the ritual as
to why these two pieces ofequipment show that nor is that
an explanation of why they havethe form that they do.
However, we can guess an originby knowing something about how
early degrees were conferred andthe author suggests that their
origin is to be found by takinga look at how lodges,

(01:50):
customarily function twocenturies ago.
lodges in the 18th century,usually met in taverns.
In a room that providedsufficient privacy to conduct
Masonic ceremonies.
These rooms were usuallyfurnished with tables, and when
a candidate was to receive adegree, the tables would be
taken down and placed againstthe wall so that there would be

(02:13):
room to do the degree work.
at meetings when no degree workwas to be performed, the tables
remained in place.
The tables were placed togetherin the center of the room so
that the officers could sitaround the table, talking to
their neighbors and enjoying theconviviality that such lodge
meetings afforded.
We do not eat nor drink in ourlodge rooms today.

(02:36):
But two centuries ago, they did.
If you the museum at the GrandTemple in London, the home of
the United Grand Lodge ofEngland, you will see
magnificent Masonic tableware,including beautiful rum
punchbowls with Masonic symbolson the outside.
These punchbowls wereconveniently placed around the
table.

(02:56):
So that the officers andbrethren could help themselves
during the dinner andfestivities, which followed.
And from other sources, we knowthat our ancient brethren
managed to enjoy themselves,even to excess, on more than one
occasion.
The entertainment, if it can becalled that, was usually the
rehearsing of Masonic lecturesby well skilled brethren, who

(03:19):
had memorized the old questionand answer lectures.
The author imagines that ifmistakes were made in the
recitation of these oldlectures, the past masters of
those days were as unforgivingin their comments as past
masters are today.
it was also the custom to smokein lodge in those days.

(03:40):
The devil weed had come toEngland with Sir Walter Raleigh
in the time of Queen Elizabeth,and by the 18th century, pipe
smoking was a popular habit.
However, it was considered to bedistracting to the rehearsal of
the lectures to be reaching formore rum punch or filling one's
pipe when the lectures were inprogress.

(04:02):
The master therefore called thelodge from labor to refreshment
with some frequency so that thebrethren could enjoy their pipes
and their rum punch.
After an appropriate break inthe proceedings, the master
would call his lodge fromrefreshment to labor again,
usually with the sound of thegavel in the east.
And of course, because that wasthe side of the table on which

(04:24):
he was seated.
The Brethren would instantlystop their conversation, put
down their glasses of punch, andlay their pipes aside.
For the, quote, sound of thegavel in the east, unquote, was
their cue that it was time topay attention to the lectures
which constituted the teachingof Freemasonry.
in order to remind the brethrenthat they were now at labor, the

(04:47):
Masonic term they used forreturning to the serious part of
the evening, the wardens woulduse their columns.
If the senior warden stood hiscolumn upright in front of him
on the table, it was a sign thatthe lodge was at labor, and
everyone should pay attentionand stop talking.
When the junior warden had hiscolumn upright, the lodge was at

(05:10):
refreshment, and the brethrencould disport themselves in the
usual manner, as long as theydid not violate any of the
obligations of a brother towardanother brother.
If anything, our ancientbrethren were courteous to a
fault, and whether at labor orrefreshment, never engaged in
behavior which would haveembarrassed the lodge nor

(05:31):
caused, quote, injury to abrother in his person or good
name, unquote.
we have inherited this ancienttradition and still call from
labor to refreshment and fromrefreshment to labor.
Today this is usually associatedwith the conferral of a part of
our degree work, but its use isnot limited to that function.

(05:53):
Properly speaking, the master ofa lodge may call his brethren
from labor to refreshment Whenit is desirable to do so, the
columns remind us that someMasonic work is serious and
requires our full attention andsome Masonic work is less
serious and allows us to havefun and enjoy each other's

(06:14):
company.
If any lesson is to be learnedfrom the use of the warden's
columns, it is that whether atwork or at play, we never cease
to be Masons.
We are always under anobligation to act decorously and
behave in a manner appropriateto a Mason.
After all, that's what sets usapart from so much of the rest

(06:37):
of society.
For the 1853 Working ToolSeries, I'm Reed Endersby, and
this has been another episode ofMinnesota Masonic Histories and
Mysteries.