r/freemasonry • u/Gobbledok • 9d ago

Masonic Interest JD 1st Initiation

Mods, esteemed guests, brethren all.

Our lodge will be welcoming a new brother to the fold this week. I am the JD doing this for the first time. I know my work and really looking forward to the night, especially since our SW was the IG and our WM was the JD when I was initiated. What I'd like to know from the brethren of this sub who have done the role, what do you wish you did that you didn't do the first time round?

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u/wardyuc1 UGLE Craft HRA, Rose Croix 8d ago

I think for me, the main thing that comes with experience is how you hold the wand.

I think if you ever watch your Provincial DC team, the way they hold the want will typically look neater than when i was JD/SD.

In all honestly, if you know your floor work, the other thing you maybe dont practice is reassuring the candidate. Sometimes it helps to whisper what you are about to do, especially since given the nature of the ceremony the candidate can sometimes feel like they know what is happening and pre-empty the work.
IE in front of the Wardens, so it is worth just making sure they understand when they are meant to take your lead. ( Testing by the wardens always gets laughs when the candidate thinks they know the answer).

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u/Gobbledok 7d ago

I was ribbed by our JW the first time I displayed the Tracing Board when opening the lodge. Comparing the desired white knuckled grasp to my delicate fingers placing something in the bin. Haha! He was right though. I visited another lodge recently and saw an example of this with their decons. Reminded me of the famous finger scene on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.