What Every Brother Should Know About the Grand Master
If you’ve ever wondered what a Grand Master actually does, or how someone becomes one, here’s what you should know.
Leadership
The Grand Lodge of Masons in Massachusetts was chartered in 1733, making it the third oldest Grand Lodge in the world and the oldest in the Western Hemisphere. Its earliest Grand Masters included Paul Revere and General Joseph Warren.
Every Grand Master who follows steps into that same line of succession. It’s a volunteer role, not a paid job, and the Grand Master is elected and installed annually. By long-standing tradition, Grand Masters in this Jurisdiction serve for three consecutive years before passing the gavel to another.
The Two Sides of the Office
The Grand Master wears two hats.
First, he’s the fraternal leader of more than 18,000 Masons and 190 lodges across Massachusetts.
He makes sure that every activity follows the Constitutions and Regulations of the Grand Lodge, first adopted in 1792. He also carries out the ceremonial duties unique to his station.
Second, he leads the business operations of the Grand Lodge. That includes chairing or presiding over several key committees:
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Grand Lodge Board of Directors: Oversees the organization’s overall governance.
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Masonic Education & Charity Trust (ME&CT): A 501(c)(3) foundation supporting education and charitable programs.
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Library & Museum Board of Directors: A 501(c)(3) that manages the Samuel Crocker Lawrence Library and Museum, which is open to Brethren and open to the public.
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Masonic Health System (MHS) – Based in Charlton, MA, and including The Overlook communities and Overlook Care at Home, which together serve more than 1,800 people daily.
The Path to the East
Most Grand Masters begin as active members in their local lodges. They might first serve as Worshipful Master, then in district or Grand Lodge offices. In some cases, they are later appointed Deputy Grand Master, the second highest position in the state.
When elected, a Grand Master receives the title Most Worshipful, using the old English meaning of honorable. The same title given to mayors and judges in England today.
A Real Example
In 2013, Most Worshipful Harvey John Waugh became the 88th Grand Master.
His Masonic journey began in Wyoming Lodge, Melrose, where he served as Worshipful Master in 1977–78.
Over decades of service, he was the Grand Representative to the Grand Lodge to Spain, earned the Henry Price Medal (its highest honor), and later served two terms on the Board of Directors before his election as Grand Master.
Beyond Masonry, he served as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy, and for forty years as Recorder of Aleppo Shrine Temple, overseeing its administration and relocation to Wilmington, MA.
He was also active in the York Rite, Scottish Rite, and Shriners, and received the 33° in the Scottish Rite in 1991. His Masonic record reflects how long service, leadership, and integrity lead to the East of your Grand Lodge, not ambition.
How to Explain It to a New Brother
When someone asks, how is the new Grand Master elected, keep it simple:
“The Grand Master is a Brother elected by the Grand Lodge to lead both its fraternal and charitable work. He serves for one year at a time, three years total. The position is voluntary, and it carries both ceremonial and administrative duties that preserve our traditions and guide the Craft.”
In Summary
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The Grand Master is the elected volunteer head of Freemasonry in Massachusetts.
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He ensures compliance with the Constitutions and Regulations of the Grand Lodge.
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He leads both the fraternal and charitable arms of the organization.
