Illinois Freemasonry Ritual Instructor— A Treasured Masonic Teacher
Dedicated to Continuous Self-Improvement and Serving Our Brothers
What is an Illinois Freemasonry Ritual Instructor?
An Illinois Freemasonry Ritual Instructor is a Master Mason who has been examined by the Grand Lodge Board of Grand Examiners and appointed by the Grand Master to teach Lodge Officers and Master Masons how to perform the ritual ceremonies of Ancient Craft Masonry with accuracy, consistency, and proficiency. The three commissioned Ritual Instructor roles are Grand Lecturer, Certified Lecturer, and Certified Lodge Instructor.
In Illinois Freemasonry, we are privileged to have Brethren who serve as valuable teachers to help Lodge Officers and all Master Masons learn how to execute the time-honored ritual ceremonies of Ancient Craft Masonry with quality, accuracy and confidence. Our fraternity has flourished across time and around the globe by passing along wisdom through our unique teaching system of ritual and symbols. That immersive learning experience is taught by Ritual Instructors so that the new Brother entering the fraternity today connects back to all of the honorable men who have gone before him through the same transformative ritualistic experience.
To deliver that level of positive impact for new men entering the fraternity and reinforce the lessons for all current Brothers, the ritual work must be delivered proficiently. To achieve that standard of expectation, local Brothers need help to learn the intricacies and details of how to execute the ritual experience consistently across the entire state. Fundamentally, Freemasonry is an oral tradition in which we pass along our teachings, lessons and practices from the mouth of well-informed teachers to the ears of attentive students regardless of their Masonic tenure.
The Master Masons who have invested heavily in themselves to learn and demonstrate the details of the ritual work execution are examined by the Grand Lodge Board of Grand Examiners and after a successful exam performance, appointed by the Grand Master to serve as commissioned Ritual Instructors. The Ritual Instructor roles are Grand Lecturer, Certified Lecturer and Certified Lodge Instructor. Each designation has its own requirements for what must be learned and examined prior to being recommended to the Grand Master for the teaching appointment.
A Journey To Become A Certified Lodge Instructor
To provide context about the learning journey to become a Ritual Instructor, we invite you to read a concise story about one Brother’s journey to become a Certified Lodge Instructor. The message helps to answer questions about why he chose to pursue the journey, the support and tools needed along the way to be successful, and the exact steps of the Ritual Instructor candidate process.
Certified Lodge Instructor — What is Required to Learn and Exemplify (spoken ritual and floor work)?
Here is a list of the portions of our Standard Ritual Work that are required for Certified Lodge Instructor:
First Section work of all three degrees (including the Secretary’s interrogatories in the 1st Degree)
Open and Close the Lodge in-form and short
Opening — Purging with and without an Assistant
Opening — Five Purge challenges and four wrong Passes situations
Going from Labor to Refreshment and back
Dispense — To temporarily move between degrees
Merge from a Special Meeting to a Stated Meeting
Reception of Members and Visitors situations (including the Test Oath)
Reception of the Right Worshipful District Deputy Grand Master
Grand Lecturer and Certified Lecturer — What is Required to Learn and Exemplify (spoken ritual and floor work)?
Here is a list of the portions of our Standard Ritual Work that are required for Grand Lecturer and Certified Lecturer:
All of the requirements for Certified Lodge Instructor
Lectures and Charges of all three degrees
Second Section work of the 3rd Degree
Reception of the Most Worshipful Grand Master
Candidate Proficiency Exams of all three degrees
Important Notes:
The exam for the Grand Lecturer and Certified Lecturer candidate is the same.
Upon passing the exam, the Brother who has been installed as a Worshipful Master to lead a local Lodge receives the appointment as a Grand Lecturer.
Upon passing the exam, the Brother who has not yet held that office receives the appointment as a Certified Lecturer. Further, when a Certified Lecturer is installed as a Worshipful Master, his appointment is updated to a Grand Lecturer.
Are you ready to develop your Study Plan and road to success in becoming a Ritual Instructor?
Begin by ensuring that you first have a clear understanding of the portions of the Standard Ritual Work that are required for the Ritual Instructor role that you are seeking (reference the requirements sections above). Next, create a detailed study plan so that you can make intentional progress in learning and mastering those requirements. Don’t underestimate the value of tracking your progress in writing either on paper or digitally.
Engage with the local Ritual Instructor community especially by regularly attending Masonic Ritual Schools of Instruction held at local Masonic temples at various times during the month. Also, get information about and plan to attend the District Lodge Officer Schools of Instruction and Grand Lecturers’ Standard Ritual Work School of Instruction events occurring within a reasonable driving distance. These are valuable experiences to interact with additional Ritual Instructors, secure guidance, and get questions answered.
In the article entitled, “A Journey To Become A Certified Lodge Instructor” (accessible above), the Brother mentioned securing a detailed checklist type of tool which added value and helped him work smarter to develop and execute his study plan. You can request this checklist and progress tracking tool called, the “Ritual Instructor Candidate — Self-Assessment Tool” by doing the following:
Send an email to glccmemb@ilmason.org
In the email subject line include “Ritual Instructor Candidate Checklist Request”
In the body of the email, provide your full name, Lodge name and number, member number (it is located on your dues card and begins with the letter “M”), and mobile phone number
Once your membership status is verified as a Master Mason in good standing within Illinois Freemasonry, you will receive a return email containing the checklist tool
How can I express interest in becoming a Ritual Instructor and get local assistance for my journey?
First, thanks for your interest in becoming a commissioned Ritual Instructor for our grand jurisdiction. The journey to become a Grand Lecturer, Certified Lecturer or Certified Lodge Instructor is a worthy investment in self-improvement and usefulness to our ancient and honorable fraternity. Next, contact your District Deputy Grand Master to express your interest in becoming a Ritual Instructor. He can help you get connected with local Ritual Instructors who can assist you.
If needed, then access the statewide directory of District Deputy Grand Masters
Ready to take your Ritual Instructor exam within the next six months?
Follow these steps to connect with the Grand Lodge Board of Grand Examiners when you are ready to get examined:
Download and save either the Certified Lodge Instructor or Grand Lecturer Ritual Instructor candidate petition document (see below); the Certified Lecturer uses the same petition document as Grand Lecturer.
Complete the basic information section of the Ritual Instructor candidate petition document
Submit the petition document to your Lodge; they need to vote during a Stated Meeting to support your candidacy to become a Ritual Instructor — the Lodge Secretary will complete the appropriate section of the petition document
Secure the signature of a Grand Lecturer or Certified Lecturer — who will confirm your readiness to get examined, and vouch for the quality of your character to the Board of Grand Examiners and Grand Master
Submit the petition to the Secretary of the Board of Grand Examiners who will confirm the date and logistics of your exam
After your examination, the final part of the petition will be completed by the Board of Grand Examiners
Use the buttons below to download and save the Certified Lodge Instructor and Grand Lecturer candidate petition.
Ritual Instructor — Frequently Asked Questions
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The Grand Lodge Board of Grand Examiners holds Ritual Instructor exam events in May and November annually. The exam location is selected based upon the geographic distribution of the candidates for each exam. The Secretary of the Board of Grand Examiners will confirm the exam date and logistics once the petition document is received.
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The Grand Lodge Board of Grand Examiners (BOGE) was established in the 1860s and is a team of experts who accurately teach and perpetuate the Standard Ritual Work done in every Lodge within The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of the State of Illinois. They are the chief custodians and managers of the ritualistic traditions.
Within our grand jurisdiction, we use a hierarchal system to provide local instruction to the Lodge Officers and Brethren. The local Ritual Instructors (Grand Lecturers, Certified Lecturers and Certified Lodge Instructors) are examined by the BOGE before being recommended to receive an official teaching commission. Additionally, the BOGE annually conducts Grand Lecturers’ Standard Ritual Work Schools of Instruction events in locations throughout the state. During these events, the instruction is provided by the BOGE and the ritual work is performed by Ritual Instructors. Through that direct instruction to the Master Masons present, the BOGE continues to teach, address questions, and communicate the expectation about the proficient execution of our Standard Ritual Work for the benefit of all current and future Brethren.
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The life enhancing and transformational lessons of Ancient Craft Masonry are taught through immersive learning experiences provided by our ritual ceremonies. The tradition of learning the ritual work from the mouth of a well-informed teacher to the ear of an attentive student is still relevant today. Even though written books exist, the totality of the ritual experience must be learned effectively through that tradition. Therefore, to retain what is unique, valuable and cherished about our time-honored learning and development experience as Freemasons requires an ongoing and engaged team of teachers. That is the work of our local Ritual Instructors (Grand Lecturers, Certified Lecturers and Certified Lodge Instructors) across the state of Illinois. Overall, like any team of experts that uphold valuable traditions, new ones are needed to continue the important instruction work for present and future Brothers as others grow older or pass away.
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Diving deep into learning every word and physical movement of our Standard Ritual Work provides an opportunity to extract and personally incorporate into your life the timeless wisdom passed along to us. The words can take on transformative meaning and inform adjustments to personal behavior. Gaining perspective about the purpose, patterns and order of executing the ritual work is humbling and inspires a sense of duty for its accuracy and preservation. Building on that humility (especially after becoming a Grand Lecturer or Certified Lecturer), helps to make you approachable to the Brethren around you who are eager to learn and tap into your valuable expertise and instruction. That level of service and devotion to the Brethren makes a positive impact on them and on you. The self-confidence achieved cannot be fully captured in words and can serve as a foundation to explore leadership or other opportunities to engage the work of the fraternity more broadly.
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An opportunity for all Master Masons to elevate their Standard Ritual Work proficiency!
Grand Lecturers’ Standard Ritual Work Schools of Instruction are the mechanism through which our Standard Ritual Work is promulgated in a uniform manner throughout the grand jurisdiction. The Standard Ritual Work is instructed by members of the Grand Lodge Board of Grand Examiners (BOGE) and performed by commissioned Ritual Instructors (Grand Lecturers, Certified Lecturers and Certified Lodge Instructors). Attending these unique learning opportunities is a worthwhile investment in self-improvement and to advance the legacy of our ancient and honorable fraternity! The name notwithstanding, these schools of instruction are open to all Master Masons desirous of learning how to perform our time-honored Standard Ritual Work with quality, accuracy and confidence. An additional benefit is the ability to have your questions answered regarding any portion of the Standard Ritual Work performed. Lastly, it is a wonderful fellowship opportunity especially during the lunch break to connect with other Brethren and the Ritual Instructors who serve as valuable Masonic Teachers across the state.
Though the members of the BOGE are collectively charged in our grand jurisdiction to be the keepers of the Standard Ritual Work, “the preservation of our Craft, however, is the charge of every Master Mason, for we are ALL its Keepers.”
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No. Current Certified Lodge Instructors are only examined on the remaining parts of the Grand Lecturer and Certified Lecturer Standard Ritual Work requirements (reference the requirements section above).