Brethren/Brother/Bro A Freemason becomes known as a Brother on joining, e.g. ‘Brother Smith’, abbreviated to ‘Bro Smith’ when written.
Chapters Units in the Royal Arch, Chapters are presided over jointly by three Principals, and are organised as a Metropolitan area or in Provinces (roughly based on the old county boundaries), each with a local Grand Superintendent in charge.
District Grand Lodge The equivalent of a Provincial Grand Lodge, but in one of UGLE’s overseas Districts, headed by a District Grand Master (DistGM).
Exaltation The ceremony at which a Master Mason is made a member of the Royal Arch.
Freemasons’ Hall/FMH The headquarters of the United Grand Lodge of England – a Grade II* listed art deco building in Covent Garden, London.
Grand Lodge/United Grand Lodge of England/UGLE The United Grand Lodge of England (‘Grand Lodge’ or UGLE) is the governing body for Freemasons in England, Wales, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and a number of Districts and Groups overseas. The Grand Lodge is a representative body of all private Lodges and Grand Officers and Past Grand Officers, with The Grand Master at its head. The Grand Lodge meets four times a year in a Quarterly Communication to enact laws and regulations and to vote on the administrative agenda required to run the organisation.
Grand Master The most senior Freemason in the constitution, elected annually by Grand Lodge. The Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England is HRH The Duke of Kent.
Grand Officers Officers in Grand Lodge are called ‘Grand’, e.g. The Grand Master, the Grand Treasurer. After retiring from active positions they are called ‘Past’ Grand Treasurer etc.
Initiation The ceremony at which a candidate (‘Initiate’) is made a Freemason.
Installation The ceremony at which a Freemason is made the Master of his Lodge.
Master Mason A Freemason who has been through all three basic ceremonies of Freemasonry.
Metropolitan Grand Lodge The administrative body overseeing London Lodges. It is headed by the Metropolitan Grand Master.
Museum The Museum of Freemasonry, located at FMH and containing UGLE’s archives and collection of artefacts.
Lodge The basic unit in which Freemasons meet. To be regular it must have a Warrant or Charter from a Grand Lodge. It is sometimes referred to as a Private Lodge.
Prestonian Lecture An official annual lecture sponsored by UGLE and delivered in its Lodges.
Pro Grand Master If The Grand Master is a member of the Royal Family, he is entitled to appoint a Pro Grand Master to stand in for him on most occasions.
Provincial Grand Lodge The administrative body overseeing Lodges in a particular county or area. It is headed by a Provincial Grand Master (ProvGM).
Regional Communications Group Regional Communication Groups (RCGs) are groups of Provinces that have been divided into 10 geographical clusters to provide a means for Provincial Rulers to meet regularly and share ideas and good practice.
Supreme Grand Chapter The Supreme Grand Chapter of England is the governing body of Royal Arch Masons in England, Wales, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. Overseas, there are 32 Districts and four Groups.