"Grand West" - annoying use

[dbindel]

Does anyone else find it annoying when the term "Grand West" is used to denote all the members (past masters and constituent lodges) of a grand lodge?

When I saw all the grand lodge business discussions here saying that the "Grand West" had made such and such decision regarding many of the resolutions, it first struck me as strange that so much procedural power would be left in the hands of the Grand Senior Warden. It baffled me after seeing this repeated a few times, and I thought it surely must be some strange and unfortunate part of GLTX procedure that I'd never noticed before.

I let it simmer for a while and then decided to Google it and see if anyone else had been perplexed by this.

When we talk about a grand master, we often call the station he occupies the "Grand East."

When we talk about a guy campaigning (but not really campaigning - we don't do that! :wink for grand junior warden, we often refer to him as running for the "Grand South."

But somewhere in the mix, we've forgotten that our grand senior warden is the one occupying the Grand West (or at least we've made that fact very ambiguous!) Isn't that station getting slighted a little?

 

[Bill Lins]

Never really thought about it that way- I just always understood that it referred to us. You know, about the only time we hear about "the Grand South" is during election time.

 

[Michael Gillard]

Greetings Brothers ~ The "Grand West" terminology baffled me somewhat. Is this a Texas only usage? I've never heard of the body of the Grand Lodge being so referred in any other Grand Lodge jurisdictions. (I am in Indiana - haven't ever heard "Grand West" utilized as a reference to the seated body of the Grand Lodge here - nor in any other Grand Lodge jurisdiction that I have visited.) Just curious.
Fraternally in the bonds of our ancient Order, Michael Gillard, PM:.OPC:.KYCH:.

 

[Bill Lins]

Greetings Brothers ~ The "Grand West" terminology baffled me somewhat. Is this a Texas only usage?

Couldn't tell you- I've never been a Mason anywhere else. :wink:

 

[rhitland]

I always thought it reffered to those at labor when Grand Lodge was open which means the Grand SW would be represented in that term since he is the "general" in charge when at labor as well as all the masons at work under his leadership.

 

[Dave in Waco]

Plus given the physical arrangement of GL, the GSW really isn't sitting in the Grand West, more like the Grand Center. In a regular lodge, the WM, SW and JW are seated with their backs against the wall, so that no one is sitting behind them. At GL, the GSW has probably about 70% of the brethren present sitting to the side or behind him. So I would guess that might have had something to with it as well.

It did kind of confuse me at first as well.

 

[Bill Lins]

the GSW really isn't sitting in the Grand West, more like the Grand Center.

I know you didn't intend for it to be, but that's pretty funny right there! :laugh:

 

[Heirophant]

By "Grand West" such parties are referring to the fact that it's not uncommon for the West and East to be at odds. It's really a North and South thing. In depth studies regarding global-geo-political climate must be taken into account (past/present/future). It has much more to do with the "Politics of Theory" not so much as the "Theory of Politics". one theory for example (that has been perpetuated verbally for some time now) is that after the Civil War during one of many Cease-Fire agreements; it was agreed upon that the Southern-Dixie-Confederacy laid claim in the WEST as well as the South. While the Yankee-North made their home in the EAST as well as the North. DISCLAIMER: SEE DEFINITION FOR THEORY. There is also a difference between the word OPINION & the word FACT. THIS POST IS MY OPINION.

 

[Michael Gillard]

I found the above Brother's "opinion" most interesting. I am still curious about the usage of "Grand West" to denote the body of Grand Lodge. I have not heard of the membership of Grand Lodge referred to as such in any other U.S. Grand Lodge Jurisdiction and am wondering if this usage is strictly a Texas thing?

 

[Bill Lins]

My theory is that calling us "the Grand West" sounds much nicer than being called "the Great Unwashed" ! :wink:

 

[Nate Riley]

I found the above Brother's "opinion" most interesting. I am still curious about the usage of "Grand West" to denote the body of Grand Lodge. I have not heard of the membership of Grand Lodge referred to as such in any other U.S. Grand Lodge Jurisdiction and am wondering if this usage is strictly a Texas thing?

Probably so. We have a lot of cool lingo around hear. Personally, I think using the term Grand West is pretty nifty.

 

[coffeybr]

From what I can tell, that might be a GLoT specific term. In Georgia, we refer the the members of Grand Lodge as "Grand Lodge".

 

[Glen Cook]

From what I can tell, that might be a GLoT specific term. In Georgia, we refer the the members of Grand Lodge as "Grand Lodge".

I think you win the Necro posting award: 13 years since the last post in the thread!