Crescent Lodge #240 AF & AM - 5050 King Avenue, Rosedale, MD 21237

Senior Warden- Lodge Officer Duties: The Senior Warden sits in the west, symbolic of the setting sun, and assists the Worshipful Master in opening and closing the lodge. He is the second in command, like the vice president, and if the Master is unable to attend the meeting, he may open and conduct business. His ancient duties were to pay the Craft their wages and to handle disputes among the workers. These days, he's just a heartbeat away from the east, so his task is to support the Master and to prepare himself for that office for the following year.

The Senior Warden and the Junior Warden often have small wooden columns on the pedestals in front of their positions. When the lodge is at work (during a meeting), the Senior Warden's column stands upright, and the Junior Warden's column is laid on its side, showing that the Senior Warden is now in charge of the Craftsmen. When the work is concluded and the lodge retires to refreshment, the Junior Warden's column is raised, and the Senior Warden's is laid down, showing that the Craftsmen are now under the supervision of the Junior Warden.

The Senior Warden's jewel of office is the level, a stonemason's instrument used to check the level of horizontal surfaces. It symbolizes that all Masons meet on the level, without regard to social, political, or religious status.