Ceremonial: Addressing Brothers in Freemasonry

The general address of Masons to each other is “Brother.”

However, in various rituals, at each degree of initiation, during official meetings, there are specific titles for adepts. In the first two degrees Masons call themselves Brethren, in the 3rd – Worshipful Masters, in the 4th – Secret Masters, in the 5th – Worshipful Secret Masters, in the 6th – Guardians of Solomon, in the 7th – Priests and Judges, in the 8th – Glorious Guardians, in the 9th – Elect Knights, in the 10th – Glorious Knights, in the 11th – Excellent Elect Knights, in the 12th – Masters of Architecture, in the 13th – Knights of the Royal Arch, in the 14th – Very Excellent Brethren, in the 15th – Knights, in the 16th – Courageous Princes, in the 17th – Worshipful Ancient Masters, in the 18th, Very Mighty and Perfect Masters; in the 19th, Faithful and True Brethren; in the 20th, Most Worshipful Grand Masters; in the 21st, Knight Masons; in the 22nd, Patriarchs; in the 23rd, Levites; in the 24th, Princes of the Tent; in the 25th, Knights; in the 26th, Princes of Thanksgiving; in the 27th, Sovereign Commanders; in the 28th, Cherubim of the five first, Sylphs of the five second; in the 29th, Worshipful Masters; in the 30th, Grand Knights; in the 31st, Very Enlightened Brethren; in the 32nd, Majestic and Courageous Princes, in the 33rd – Glorious Sovereigns, Great General Inspectors.

Appeal to the deputy leaders of the Pozh – in the 1st – 2nd degrees of the – 1st and 2nd Guards, in the 3rd degree – Very Honorable 1st and 2nd Guards, in the 4th – Inspector, in the 5th – Honorable, in the 6th – Captain of the Guard and Lieutenant of the Guard, in the 7th – Glorious Brothers, in the 8th – Thrice Glorious Inspectors, in the 9th – Inspector, in the 10th – Inspector and Entertainer, in the 11th – Grand Inspector and Master of Ceremonies, in the 12th – Excellent, in the 13th – Hiram, in the 14th – Honorable 1st and 2nd Grand Guards, in the 15th – Knights, in the 16th – Very Serene Princes, in the 17th – Venerable Ancients, in the 18th – Very Excellent and Perfect Masters of the 1st and 2nd Guards, in the 19th – Faithful and True Brother, in the 20th – Venerable Grand Masters, in the 21st – Inspector, Initiator, in the 22nd – Patriarchs, in the 23rd – 1st and 2nd Grand Priests, in the 24th – Mighty, in the 25th – 1st and 2nd Ministers, in the 26th – Princes of Thanksgiving, in the 27th – Sovereign Commanders, in the 28th – Brother of Truth, in the 29th – Venerable Masters, in the 30th – Grand Knights, In 1931 – Inspectors, in 1932 – 1st and 2nd Lieutenant Commanders, in 1933 – Sovereign Lieutenant · Grand Commander.

Address to the leaders of the lodges – in the 1st-2nd degrees of initiation – Worshipful Master, in the 3rd – Very Worshipful Master, in the 4th – Thrice Mighty Master, in the 5th – Thrice Worshipful Master, in the 6th-7th – Thrice Glorious Master, in the 8th – Thrice Mighty Master, in the 9th – Sovereign Master, in the 10th – Glorious Master, in the 11th – Thrice Mighty Master, in the 12th – Grand Master Architect, in the 13th-14th – Thrice Mighty Grand Master, in the 15th – Sovereign, in the 16th – Supreme, in the 17th – Very Mighty, in the 18th-19th – Thrice Mighty, in the 20th – Grand Master, in the 21st – Grand Lieutenant Commander, in the 22nd – Grand Patriarch, in the 23rd – Very Sovereign, in the 24th – Almighty Master, in the 25th – Almighty Grand Master, in the 26th – Excellent Master, in the 27th – Almighty Master, in the 28th – Adam, in the 29th – Patriarch, in the 30th – Thrice-Mighty Grand Master Commander, in the 31st – President, in the 32nd – Glorious Commander, in the 33rd – Thrice-Mighty Sovereign Grand Commander.

In other rituals, other titles for workshop leaders exist.

The informal address “you” is customary in Freemasonry at lodge meetings.

Source in Russian: Karpachev, S. P. Masons. Dictionary. The Great Art of Masons, ISBN 978-5-7390-2221-9 (000 •Agency •KRPA •Olimn•), M.: Olimp, 2008, pp. 290-292.

Illustration: Mosaic floor of the Grand Loge of France.