Charge to the Third Officer, or Scribe.

COMPANION,

"The office of scribe, to which you are elected, is very important and respectable; in the absence of your superior officers, you are bound to succeed them, and to perform their duties. The purposes of the institution ought never to suffer for want of intelligence in its proper officers; you will therefore perceive the necessity there is of your possessing such qualifications as will enable you to accomplish those duties which are incumbent upon you in your appropriate station, as well as those which may occasionally devolve on you, by the absence of your superiors.

The Purple Robe, with which you are invested, is an emblem of union, and is calculated to remind you that the harmony and unanimity of the chapter should be your constant aim; and to this end you are studiously to avoid all occasions of giving offence, or countenancing any thing that may create divisions or dissentions. You are, by all the means in your power, to endeavour to establish a permanent union and good understanding anong all orders and degrees of masonry; and, as the glorious sun at its meridian height dispels the mists and clouds which obscure the horizon, so may your exertions tend to dissipate the gloom of jealousy and discord whenever they may appear.

"Your badge (a Plumb-rule, surmounted by the Turban) is an emblem of rectitude and vigilance; and while you stand as a watchman upon the tower to guard your companions against the approach of those enemies of hu man felicity, intemperance and excess, let this faithful monitor ever remind you to walk uprightly in your station; admonishing and animating your companions to fidelity and industry, while at labour, and to temperance and moderation while at refreshment. And when the great Watchman of Israel, whose eye never slumbers nor sleeps, shall relieve you from your post on earth, may he

I

permit you in heaven to participate in that food and refreshment which is

"Such as the saints in glory love,

"And such as angels eat."

Charge to the Fourth Officer, or Captain of the Host. "COMPANION,

"The office with which you are intrusted is of high importance, and demands your most zealous considera. tion. The preservation of the most essential traits of our ancient customs, usages, and landmarks, are within your province; and it is indispensably necessary that the part assigned to you, in the immediate practice of our rites and ceremonies, should be perfectly understood, and correctly administered.

"He that brings the blind by a way that they know not and leads them in paths that they have not known, should always be well qualified to make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight.

"Your office corresponds with that of marshal, or master of ceremonies; you are to superintend all processions of your chapter when moving as a distinct hody, either in public or private; and as the world can only judge of our private discipline by our public deportment, you will be careful that the utmost order and decorum be observed on all such occasions.

"I invest you with the badge of your office, and presume that you will give to your duties all that study and attention which their importance demands."

Charge to the Fifth Officer, or Principal Sojourner. "COMPANION,

"The office confided to you, though subordinate in degree is equal in importance to any in the chapter, that of your chief alone excepted. Your office corresponds with that of junior deacon in the preparatory degrees. Among the duties required of you, the preparation and

introduction of candidates fare not the least. As in our intercourse with the world experience teaches that first impressions are often the most durable, and the most difficult to eradicate, so it is of great importance in all cases that those impressions should be correct and just; hence it is essential that the officer who sustains the station assigned to you should possess a thorough knowledge of his various duties; and that he should execute them with a promptitude and propriety of deportment that shall give them their proper effect.

Your robe of office is an emblem of humility; and teaches that, in the prosecution of a laudable undertaking, we should never decline taking any part that may be assigned us, although it may be the most difficult or dangerous.

"The rose coloured tesselated border, adorning the robe, is an emblem of ardour and perseverance, and sig-. nifies, that when we have engaged in a virtuous course, notwithstanding all the impediments, hardships, and trials we may be destined to encounter, we should endure them all with fortitude, and ardently persevere unto the end; resting assured of receiving, at the termination of our labours, a noble and glorious reward.

"The white banner, intrusted to your care, is emblematical of that purity of life, and rectitude of conduct, which should distinguish every one that passes the white vail of the sanctuary.

"Your past exertions will be considered as a pledge of your future assiduity, in the faithful discharge of your duties."

Charge to the Sixth Officer, or Royal Arch Caplain. "COMPANION,

"The well-known duties of your station require out little elucidation. Your office in the preparatory degrees corresponds with that of senior deacon. It is your parti cular province conjointly with the captain of the host, to attend the examination of all visiters, and to take care

34108B

that none are permitted to enter the chapter but such as have travelled the rugged path of trial, and evinced their title to our favour and friendship. You will be ever attentive to the commands of your chief, and always near at hand to execute them.

(

1 give it to you strongly in charge, never to suffer any one to pass your post without the signet of truth.

"I present you the badge of your office, in expectation of your performing your duties with intelligence, assiduity, and propriety."

Charge to the Master of the Third Vail.

"COMPANION,

"I present you with the Scarlet Banner, which is the ensign of your office, and with a sword to protect and defend the same. The rich and beautiful colour of your banner is emblematical of fervency and fidelity; it is the appropriate colour of the royal arch degree; it admonishes us that we should be fervent in the exercise of our devotions to God, and fa thful in our endeavours to promote the happiness of man."

Charge to the Master of the Second Vail.

" COMPANION,

"I invest you with the Purple Banner, which is the ensign of your office, and arm you with a sword to enable you to maintain its honour. The colour of your banner is produced by a combination of two distinct colours, namely blue and scarlet; the former of which is the characteristic colour of the symbolic, or the first three degrees of masonry, and the latter that of the Royal Arch degree. It is an emblem of union, and is the characteristic colour of the intermediate degrees. It admonishes us to cultivate and improve that spirit of union and harmony, between the brethren of the symbolic degrees and the companions of the sublime degrees, which should ever distinguish the members of a society founded upon the principles of everlasting truth and universal philanthropy."

Charge to the Master of the First Vail.

"COMPANION,

"I invest you with the Blue Banner, which is the ensign of your office, and a sword for its defence and protection. The colour of your banner is one of the most durable and beautiful in nature. It ts the appropriate colour adopted and worn by our ancient brethren of the three symbolic degrees, and is the peculiar characteristic of an institution which has stood the test of ages, and which is as much distinguished by the durability of its materials, or principles, as by the beauty of its superstructure. It is an emblem of universal benevolence, and instructs us that in the mind of a mason this virtue should be as expansive as the blue arch of heaven itself."

For other Charges and addresses used at installation, see the Monitor, and other Masonic text-books.

1 2