District Deputy Grand Masters' Association of Florida

DDGM stands for District Deputy Grand Master.  Florida is a BIG state.  The Grand Master cannot possibly be everywhere all the time.  There are currently 29 Masonic Districts in Florida and the DDGM acts as the representative of the Grand Master in their district during the Grand Master's year in office.  

Although he has the authority to carry out the Grand Master's instructions and directives, he is not a Grand Line Officer and has very few powers of his own.  

All District Deputy Grand Masters carry the title of "Right Worshipful" and retain that title for the rest of their lives.

During his year, the Grand Master of Masons of Florida has authority over the entire fraternity including all allied and appended bodies of Masonry.  The DDGM's authority is limited to the particular or "Blue Lodges" in their district.

When the DDGM is performing his duties in an official capacity, he should be afforded the same level of respect as the Grand Master.

The position and authority of the DDGM is derived from the Digest of Masonic Law where it can be found in our Constitutions and in Chapter 10.

Semantics are important in Masonry.  The Digest states that the District Deputy Grand Master is appointed by the Grand Master.  In reality, the Deputy Grand Master "selects" all of his DDGM's with appointment letters going out to the prospective DDGM's in the January time frame.  They must sign and return the appointment letter agreeing to serve in this capacity.

The duties are outlined in Constitution | Article VI | Section 11 | Digest of Masonic Law (2022) which you can view here.

The entire Digest of Masonic Law is available from the Grand Lodge of Florida's website.

First, a brother must be a Past Master (see Digest below).  This makes him eligible to be selected and appointed by the Grand Master.  Next, the best way to make yourself eligible is to be an active, educated, and dedicated brother.  While it's not required that one must serve on District committees, doing so displays the desire to serve the craft and the fraternity.  There are other activities a brother can engage in to show engagement. 

Chapter 10 | Digest of Masonic Law (2022)

The officers of the Grand Lodge are: “a District Deputy Grand Master from each Masonic District, which Districts shall not exceed twenty-eight (28) in number, who shall be appointed by the Grand Master, the title of each being Right Worshipful.” (2016) (Art. II, Sec. 1 - Excerpt)

ELIGIBILITY FOR APPOINTMENT

Regulations

10.09   No Brother shall be appointed Grand Marshal, Senior Grand Deacon, Junior Grand Deacon, Grand Standard Bearer, Grand Sword Bearer, Senior Grand Steward, Junior Grand Steward, Grand Pursuivant, Grand Tyler, or District Deputy Grand Master who is not a Past Master of a Florida Lodge. Any Master Mason in good standing in a Florida Lodge shall be eligible for appointment to any other Grand Lodge appointive office or position and to any Grand Lodge Committee, Board, or Commission. (1982)

The DDGMAF was chartered in 2004 by R:. W:. Milledge Murphey as a state-wide association of current and past District Deputy Grand Masters and the mission and goals were more clearly defined in 2022 to include:

• Inform the Craft about the vital role of the DDGM to the fraternity and answer many frequently asked questions. Also thoroughly explain what things a Master Mason should be doing to make themselves a viable candidate for selection should they desire to hold this important office.

• Provide a resource of knowledge and experience to current DDGMs while presenting a one-stop location for Masons throughout the state to get to know all of the DDGMs by district.

• Most importantly, preserve the history of those who serve as DDGM.  Some go on to hold higher offices in our fraternity and some do not.  But all deserve to be honored and remembered for their contribution as a District Deputy Grand Master.  By providing one location to search, by year, Masons and their loved ones will be able to scan the archives of those who have and currently do hold the title of District Deputy Grand Master.

Dues are applied to the following:

• administrative overhead of the association including member ID cards, badges, postage, etc.  

• annual contribution to charity (voted by the association members).

• website maintenance.

• other activities as voted by the association members.