After the Chair: Servitude of a Past Master is a profound and necessary guide for all who have sat in the East and asked, "What now?"
More than a reflection, this book is a reawakening of purpose. Phillip A.D. Lyles offers a powerful narrative and instructional blueprint for Past Masters within Prince Hall Affiliated Masonry and beyond, focusing on what it means to serve after the gavel has been passed. In Freemasonry, the role of Worshipful Master is often seen as the summit?but in truth, it is only a transition point. This book shines a light on the vital, often unspoken, chapter that follows.
Combining personal experience, ritual insight, and fraternal wisdom, Lyles explores how Past Masters can remain relevant, respected, and revitalized in their lodges. With thoughtful guidance on leadership, mentorship, communication, and the art of fraternal influence, After the Chair redefines "servitude" as noble, voluntary commitment rooted in experience, humility, and continued growth.
Topics include:
- The evolving responsibilities of a Past Master
- How to be a mentor without overshadowing new leaders
- Reengaging disengaged or "lost" Past Masters
- Delivering impactful lodge addresses
- Creating continuity and clarity in Masonic education
- Embracing lifelong learning and servant leadership
- Preserving the Prince Hall legacy through action, not just memory
Written in a style that blends solemnity, insight, and accessibility, this work speaks to all Masons who recognize that the true measure of a man is not found in the station he held, but in how he continues to serve long after.
Whether you are newly raised, newly seated, or newly past the Chair, this book serves as a compass for those who still feel called to make a difference. Let this be your reminder that the work continues?quietly, powerfully, and purposefully?after the Chair.
