The Universal Language of Freemasonry - ArchiMeD - Johannes ...

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4.1.1 The Lodge
Chapter 4 - Signs & Symbols
The lodge can be described administratively, symbolically, and historically.
Since its historical development from the time of the operative lodges, the early
speculative lodges, the table lodges, and the Mother Lodge has already been
dealt with in chapter 2., the following will be a description of the lodge's
administrative and symbolic significance.
Administratively, what the church is for the Christians, the lodge is for the
Freemasons - the location where they assemble. It must be "just and legally
constituted," or, in other words, "just, perfect, and regular." According to Macoy,
it is "just," because the Volume of the Sacred Law lies there unfolded, "perfect,"
because the necessary number of brethren is present, and "regular" from its
warrant of constitution, implying the sanction of the Grand Master of the country
where this lodge is held 316 . Lodges without a warrant are called "clandestine" or
"spurious" lodges.
A lodge in the First Degree must be composed by at least one Master Mason
and six Entered Apprentices, i.e. by seven or more brethren, the seven being the
Worshipful Master, The Senior and Junior Wardens, the Treasurer, the Secretary,
316 GHCDF, p. 573/574.