The Grand Master holds the authority to preside over any Lodge and can appoint Grand Officers to assist him. If the Grand Master is absent, the Pro Grand Master, Deputy Grand Master, and Assistant Grand Master, in that order, can assume this authority. Similarly, Metropolitan, Provincial, or District Grand Masters have the same power within their respective jurisdictions. In their absence, their Pro and Deputy counterparts can preside. A Grand Inspector also holds this authority in Lodges within their Group. For Lodges outside a defined jurisdiction, if no senior Grand Officer is available, a commissioned Grand Officer of at least Very Worshipful rank may preside, with the commission limited to a specific Lodge and meeting. The Master of the Lodge is positioned immediately to the left of the presiding officer. These guidelines ensure structured leadership during official visitations and maintain the order of Masonic proceedings.
December 4th, 2025
February 10th, 2026
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The Grand Master has full authority to preside in any Lodge, and to order any of his Grand Officers to attend him. His Wardens, if present and so commanded, are to act as Wardens of the Lodge while he presides; but the Grand Master may Command the Wardens of the Lodge or any Master Masons to act as Wardens. The Pro Grand Master, if the Grand Master be not present, has the same authority. The Deputy Grand Master, if the Grand Master and the Pro Grand Master be not present, has the same authority. An Assistant Grand Master, if the Grand Master, the Pro Grand Master and the Deputy Grand Master be not present, has the same authority. The Metropolitan, Provincial or District Grand Master has the same authority in any Lodge he visits within his Metropolitan Area, Province or District. The Pro Metropolitan, Provincial or District Grand Master, if the Metropolitan, Provincial or District Grand Master be not present, has the same authority. The Deputy Metropolitan, Provincial or District Grand Master, if the Metropolitan, Provincial or District Master and the Pro Metropolitan, Provincial or District Grand Master be not present, has the same authority. An Assistant Metropolitan, Provincial or District Grand Master, if the Metropolitan, Provincial or District Grand Master, the Pro Metropolitan, Provincial or District Grand Master and the Deputy Metropolitan, Provincial or District Grand Master be not present, has the same authority. A Metropolitan Grand Inspector, if the Metropolitan Grand Master, the Pro Metropolitan Grand Master, the Deputy Metropolitan Master and the Assistant Metropolitan Grand Masters be not present, has the same authority. The Grand Inspector has the same authority in any Lodge he visits within his Group. In the case of a Lodge not within a Metropolitan Area, a Province or a District, if neither the Grand Master, nor the Pro Grand Master, nor the Deputy Grand Master, nor an Assistant Grand Master is available to preside in pursuance of this Rule, any one of them may by commission authorise a present Grand Officer of not less than Very Worshipful rank so to preside in his stead. A commission issued under this Rule shall be limited in its effect to a named Lodge and for a specified meeting. In all the above cases the Master of the Lodge shall be placed on the immediate left of the Brother so presiding.