Ok, I am still new to the lodge. But I was wonder if anyone could explain to me the difference between the Worshipful, Right Worshipful, and Most Worshipful Brother titles.

Thanks for the help.  I don’t want to cause any disrespect by not understanding what I am talking about.

The term “Worshipful”, comes from the middle English word “Worchyppe”, which is a title of respect.

Middle English worshipe, worthiness, honor, from Old English weorthscipe : weorth, worth; see worth1 + -scipe, -ship.]
wor’ship·er, wor’ship·per n.

In England (and Canada, Australia, etc). Mayors and other civil officials, are addressed as “Your Worship”.

In the USA, some lodges and Grand Lodges will modify and expand the courtesy title. Grand Masters are often addressed as “Most Worshipful Grand Master, John Smith,of the Grand Lodge of Delaware”, for example.

Bro. Nichols-

Thank you for your question.

The answer varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. In Massachusetts, Most Worshipful is reserved for the Grand Master and Past Grand Masters. District Deputies, Past District Deputies, and Grand Representatives are addresses as Right Worshipful. And Masters or Past Masters are Worshipful.

C&F,
-Robert

Yes these “titles” do differ by jurisdiction; in my jurisdiction (Ontario Canada) we have the following:

The term “Worshipful Brother” designates a brother who is serving, or has served his lodge as Worshipful Master.

The term “Very Worshipful Brother” designates a brother appointed as a Grand Lodge Officer by the Grand Master.

The term “Right Worshipful Brother” designates a brother elected to a Grand Lodge Office.

The term “Most Worshipful Brother” is reserved for brothers who are serving, or have served as Grand Master.

Jim Nicholas - 25 June 2009 02:54 PM

Ok, I am still new to the lodge. But I was wonder if anyone could explain to me the difference between the Worshipful, Right Worshipful, and Most Worshipful Brother titles.

Thanks for the help.  I don’t want to cause any disrespect by not understanding what I am talking about.

Hi, Brother.
I have two thoughts. Firstly, in the English (United Grand Lodge of England), in a Lodge, you would have a Brother, who is an EA, FC or MM who has not reached the Chair. Once installed as Master he is titles W Bro (Worshipful Brother). He stays W Bro until he attains varying Grand ranks. Some are “Very” and the GM is “Most”, if I recall, but then, I don’t often see or talk to him :-) .

In the Scottish, EVERY Brother is “Brother”. His position might be Right Worshipful Master or Worshipful Warden, such as “this is the Right Worshipful District Grand Master, Brother Sagrestano ...”.
The Master is RW and both Wardens are Worshipful.

In the South African Constitution, the Master is Agbare Meester, I think. (Afrikaans, although many SAC lodges work in English. At least 1 Scottish Lodge works in Afrikaans and 1 in Greek!).

Second thought ... someone proposed and someone seconded you. They should be your mentors. Speak to them.