White Rose - Masonic Province of Yorkshire, West Riding

Gordon Smith PPGSwdB of De Grey
& Ripon No 387 and Linton Lodge No
9444 makes the case for an Organist
at Lodge meetings
PULLING OUT THE STOPS
Of all the liberal arts and sciences,
music must surely rank high in the
conduct of a Lodge ceremony.
The Province is blessed
with Brethren of many talents,
particularly of a musical nature,
having provided organists of
a calibre to hold Grand Lodge
appointments. There are however,
many jobbing organists across the
Province, endeavouring to provide
music for Lodge ceremonies.
Not all these organists are
professionally trained, but will have
drifted into playing the organ from
an ability to play the piano. All have
a common aim, which is to play all
the right notes if not necessarily
in the right order. The scarcity of
Lodge organists has been likened
to the writer as ‘hen’s teeth’ or
‘rocking horse droppings’ and
as time progresses, the situation
is not going to get better. Fewer
young people are learning the
keyboard and this will be reflected
in future Freemasons.
Even now, I know of some lodges
where a CD and laptop are the
order of the day. In my view this is
a shame, there is no substitute for
live music in a Lodge, no matter how
good or bad. An organist’s mistakes
are usually good for a little levity
after all!
An organist’s duties can be quite
tedious, having to sit on a stool,
probably without a backrest, be
attentive to the ritual throughout the
ceremony as well as playing both
before and after the ceremony and
at the festive board. No taking a
quiet snooze as some seniors are
seen to do!
The position of organist is not
always one held by a member of
the Lodge; they tend to be nomadic
or peripatetic and are often called
upon when visiting a Lodge. An
anomaly I have come across is
where the office of organist is a
progressive one within the Lodge,
whether he can play or not. It is
weird to be playing for a ceremony
whilst the non-playing organist sits
alongside you.
My own Masonic career as an
organist began when I left the Chair
of Studley Lodge No 6364 in 1991
and became a Founder Member
of Linton Lodge No 9444. I was
volunteered as Founding Organist, a
position I still hold. At the same time I
was asked to play for Stability Lodge,
Leeds and as ‘guest organist’, did
so for 12 years, travelling from my
home in Ripon. I was told at one
time that my attendance record was
the best in the Lodge! During this
time I also played for Zetland Lodge
No 1311, Leeds.
Having moved to Ripon I joined De
Grey and Ripon Lodge No 387 and
yes, you’ve guessed it, immediately
became the Lodge organist and still
am. I played for Corona Chapter No
2922 for several years and still help
out at Vale of Nidd Lodge No 4984
and Falcon Lodge No 1416, Thirsk
(Yorks. N & ER).
This potted history is by no
means typical of every Lodge
organist but I am sure many of my
fellow musicians will be in accord
with the situation. Individually, I
am sure that the Lodges to which
I have referred have been grateful
to have music to accompany their
ceremonies. I feel however that the
position of organist is low down in
the ‘pecking order’ and that more
recognition could be given to the
office by Province, perhaps given
mentoring as other ranks. If not
then we could see more and more
electronic music in ceremonies (‘a
good thing,’ I hear some say?).
I believe it will be a sad day for
Masonry should this be the case.
White Rose Masonic News Spring 2013
33