where did the office of inner guard come from and what are his duties

The office of Inner Guard was added to the roster of lodge officers following the Union of 1813 in the English system 1. Upon its creation, the Inner Guard was armed with a dagger or poignard, assuming part of the physical guarding of the inner portal formerly performed by the Tyler 1. The office is standard in the English system but unknown in the American system, where its functions correspond in part to those of the Junior Deacon 1.

The primary duties of the Inner Guard are to admit visitors, receive candidates, and obey the commands of the Junior Warden 1. Additionally, the United Grand Lodge of England states that the Inner Guard's duties include ensuring candidates are properly prepared before entering the Lodge.

The office also exists at the Grand Lodge and regional levels in several jurisdictions. Active national officers include the Grand Inner Guard within the Grand Lodge of Ireland, the Grand Lodge of Scotland, and the Grand Lodge of India. Similarly, the Regional Grand Lodge of Southern India lists both a Regional Grand Inner Guard and an Assistant Regional Grand Inner Guard among its active regional officers.

The Inner Guard is an appointed officer rather than an elected one. During the annual installation ceremony, the Worshipful Master takes over the leadership of the lodge and appoints the officers for the coming year, which include the Inner Guard, as the United Grand Lodge of England states. The Master selects and invests the brother appointed to the role during these annual proceedings, as an article on the United Grand Lodge of England website notes.

The supplied sources do not explicitly state whether the Antients Grand Lodge maintained the office of Inner Guard prior to the Union, but note that the Inner Guard was added to the roster of lodge officers after the Union of 1813 1.

Prior to this post-Union introduction, the physical guarding of the inner portal was performed by the Tyler, who carried the blade until the newly created Inner Guard assumed part of that duty armed with a poignard 1.

The primary physical difference between the two roles lies in their station: the Tyler guards the lodge from the outside, whereas the Inner Guard operates from within the lodge room at the inner door 1. As the United Grand Lodge of England states, the Tyler guards the Lodge from the outside, whereas the Inner Guard ensures candidates are prepared before entering the Lodge.

Historically, this division of labor developed when the office of Inner Guard was created following the Union of 1813 1. Before that post-Union addition, the Tyler himself performed the physical guarding of the inner portal 1. Upon the creation of the Inner Guard, that new officer assumed charge of the inner door armed with a poignard, while the weapon and duty of guarding the outer door remained with the Tyler 1.

Under the Regional Grand Lodge of Northern India, which operates under the Grand Lodge of India, the difference between the two roles extends to how each officer is selected and placed in office. The Inner Guard is appointed directly by the Worshipful Master as a regular officer of the Lodge, whereas the Tyler is elected by the Lodge members during the election meeting and subsequently invested at the installation meeting, as an article on the Regional Grand Lodge of Northern India's website notes.