The portrait of the “Head [or Master] of all True Freemasons” is a typical element of Theosophical influence on co-Masonry. It was introduced in the 1913 third edition of the “Dharma Workings of Craft Masonry” (together with the incense ceremony and the lighting of the candles before the opening of the lodge). It has been variously placed: “above the R.W.M.’s pedestal” or “in the North”. Because the latter isn’t specified, many lodges place the portrait above an empty chair in the middle of the North “column”. Some lodges place the portrait in the North-West corner against North wall.
The man on the portrait is known by many names: Count of St. Germain, Marquess of Montferrat, Count Bellamarre, Chevalier Schoening, Count Weldon, Count Soltikoff, Manuel Doria, Graf Tzarogy, Prince Ragoczy.
In many lodges the portrait has disappeared, even Theosophically leaning lodges. Some have kept it.
