Midnight Freemasons Contributor
Joe Covell
For those familiar with my work with Midnight Freemasons, this subject matter may seem completely off-brand compared to what has been previously published. One might ask why such a stark departure from the usual trestleboards of mysticism, esotericism, spiritualism, and the like. In addition to this blog, I’ve expanded my ideas into new spaces under the persona “Arcanum in the Brainum,” a nod to the classic Cypress Hill song, "Insane in the Brain." Arcanum in the Brainum brings together a mix of in-person and virtual study groups, engaging social media channels, and multimedia content enhanced by AI tools like Pictory, Leonardo, ChatGPT, and VSub. This includes visually rich images and videos inspired by my previous articles, as well as audio clips from recorded study group sessions and other sources.
To me, the ideal lodge is one that offers a mix of thought-provoking programs that inspire attendees to dive deeper, along with those that are lighthearted and entertaining, in other words, something for everyone. The work we do as Masons carries a deeper meaning beyond what meets the eye, but there’s still a strong need for disciplined ritual instruction, focused work, and well-organized, synchronized administration. Within the world of Freemasonry, there’s a role for every member, one that complements their strengths, interests, and passions.
Having become a Mason in 2022, my progression through the appendant bodies has been incredibly fast, including all three York Rite Bodies, Scottish Rite, Shrine, Tall Cedars, Allied Masonic Degrees, and more. I can say with complete confidence that no one forced me into anything I wasn’t ready for. I spent a good five years exploring Freemasonry before joining and knew exactly what I wanted to pursue, actively seeking membership. Not only did I join these various organizations, but I currently hold officer roles in four of them. To say "desperate times call for desperate measures" would be a complete understatement, but I have not taken on any role that I am not capable of fulfilling.
If you are a grumpy past master reading this, I have a fairly good idea of your thoughts on the matter. Here in Pennsylvania, I have heard discussions about requiring newly made Masons to wait a mandatory one year before joining any other bodies. I understand the reasoning behind this, but from my experience, I personally feel this would be a huge detriment. My justification for doing so much so soon was that I wanted to join everything I was interested in and start from the ground floor to better determine which directions I wanted to pursue. I received my Royal Arch in November 2022 and was asked to be Scribe of the Chapter that January. I put it off until January 2024, jumping straight to King (out of necessity), and now I am serving my year Most Excellent High Priest in 2025.
In my mother lodge, Quakertown Lodge No. 512, I served as Junior Master of Ceremonies and often stepped in as Pursuivant on evenings when attendance was sparse. For those unfamiliar with Pennsylvania Masonry, this might sound a bit unusual, as Pennsylvania often does things differently. The Junior and Senior Masters of Ceremonies, for instance, are comparable to Stewards in most other jurisdictions, positioned near the Senior Warden. The Pursuivant, on the other hand, sits between the Junior and Senior Masters of Ceremonies and is responsible for tiling the lodge. In Pennsylvania, all three officers, along with the Tyler, carry swords as part of their duties.
In 2024, I chose to become a plural member of Shiloh-MacCalla Lodge No. 558, and by 2025, I find myself honored to serve as Junior Warden. Shiloh-MacCalla Lodge is more than just a Blue Lodge; it is also home to Lansdale Royal Arch Chapter No. 301, Damascus Commandery No. 95, and Akhawiyah Council No. 185 (Allied Masonic Degrees), all of which I am proud to be a member of.
Before committing to being King in 2024, I had firmly held to the idea that I must first go through Blue Lodge before taking on any leadership role in any of the bodies. As 2023 progressed and I saw the dire need for fresh legs in these other bodies, I realized that going through the Chapter line would better prepare me to be a stronger leader in the Blue Lodge line. The appendant bodies tend to have a much more laid-back atmosphere compared to the Blue Lodge. This is not to suggest that they should be taken any less seriously, only that regular stated meetings tend to be far less attended than those of the Blue Lodge, and the requirements are also not as stringent.
Currently, in Pennsylvania, in order to be Junior Warden, the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania requires that a brother must be certified in the Business of the Lodge. To be Senior Warden, he must be certified in the First Degree, and to be Worshipful Master, he needs to be certified in either the First and Second Degrees or the Third Degree. Some districts require certification in all three degrees, mainly to ensure there are enough qualified brothers who can confer all three degrees when needed.
The Grand Holy Royal Arch Chapter of Pennsylvania, at the time of writing, requires that in order to be considered a Past High Priest, a Companion (not referred to as brothers in the Royal Arch Chapter) must be proficient in either a degree or in the role of Principal Sojourner or Captain of the Host in the Royal Arch Degree. The Captain of the Host dialogue has a similar word count to reciting the Lord’s Prayer twice. To be recognized as a Past High Priest, the Companion must meet this requirement. However, this proficiency is not necessary to become the Most Excellent High Priest of the Chapter. If a Companion chooses not to meet the requirement, he does not receive the honor of being designated as a Past High Priest.
Similar to the requirements in the Royal Arch, the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of Pennsylvania requires a Sir Knight to be proficient in the Fifth Libation to become Eminent Commander of the subordinate Commandery. This does not require anywhere near the amount of memory work that the Blue Lodge demands. Is the point here to suggest that the appendant bodies don’t require as much memory or ritual work? While that may appear to be the argument, the agenda being presented, that the appendant bodies can help prepare Blue Lodge officers, can be supported by the idea that there is much less pressure on the officers of the appendant bodies compared to those of the Blue Lodge.
For many brothers, the memory work required to progress through the Blue Lodge line can be extremely intimidating. I see the Royal Arch Chapter (as well as other bodies) as the perfect incubator for newer brothers to gain experience and build their confidence. It’s no secret that only a small percentage of Master Masons ever seek further light by joining appendant bodies. What if these bodies were marketed not only as offering more of the story to be unfolded but also as a Blue Lodge officer training program? Once a member goes through the line of an appendant body, he gains confidence in his ability to lead a meeting, organize, and oversee (with the help of the Secretary, Treasurer, or equivalent roles) the Chapter’s business. He will then possess the skills needed to lead the Blue Lodge.
After the brother recognizes that he possesses the necessary qualifications to be a leader, he may become more motivated to learn the work well enough to meet any requirement, and perhaps even well enough to confer it on new candidates. There will always be those who excel at administration and those who excel at Ritual, though it is rare for a brother to excel at both.
Are there bound to be hiccups in this proposed model? Of course. I would classify myself as someone who does well with memory work (once I put in the effort to learn), but I often confuse terms like Brother with Companion or Lodge with Chapter. Another observation: the dialogues of the Senior Warden in the Blue Lodge and the King in the Royal Arch Chapter are similar, but just different enough to cause confusion. I often wonder why the creators of these rituals couldn’t have standardized the lines, simply substituting the appropriate officer’s title. That question is a research topic on its own, one I am not yet prepared to tackle.
This model doesn’t just benefit the Blue Lodge; it also encourages more brothers to become active in the Appendant bodies, strengthening the fraternity as a whole.
~JC
Joe Covell is new to Masonry, having been raised in March of 2022 at Quakertown Lodge No. 512 in Quakertown, Pennsylvania. He is a student of Esoteric Philosophy since 2016 and loves to discuss it with like-minded brethren. He is involved in The Valley of Allentown AASR where he helps administer the Valley’s social media accounts. He is a member of Lansdale Royal Arch Chapter No. 301, Doylestown Cryptic Council No. 51, Damascus Commandery No. 95, and a Noble of LuLu Shrine. He has plans to highlight Masonic Education by facilitating study groups on various topics at his Blue Lodge. He is currently going through the chairs at Quakertown Lodge No. 512, as well as the other bodies of which he is a member.
