CEREMONY

OF

INSTALLATION

OF A

LODGE OF PERFECTION.

Com.-in-C. Brethren of the Lodge, these are the officers whom you have elected! Look upon them, and do you, Illustrious Brethren, officers of the Consistory, the same! and if any one present has any objection to offer, why any one of them shall not be installed, let him now prefer it, or else forever after hold his peace.

No objection being made:

Brother Grand Master of Ceremonies, present the Thrice Potent Grand Master elect.

My brother, your brethren have been pleased to elect you to the office of Thrice Potent Grand Master of this Lodge of Perfection. Before your investiture it is necessary you should signify your assent to these ancient charges and regulations which define the duty of a Grand Master of a Lodge of Perfection! Listen, therefore, and respond.

I. You agree to be impartial and upright, and to obey in every point the moral laws of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish rite. You promise not to engage in any plot or conspiracy against government; and to submit peacefully to the will of the majority; and to act with honor and generosity toward all men.

II. You agree to hold in veneration the ancient landmarks and great principles of our order; to respect and obey the authorities of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish rite, supreme and subordi.

nate, according to their stations; and to submit to the decision and awards of your brethren in any case where the constitution or principles of the order require it.

III. You promise to avoid disputes and quarrels; to be modest in your behavior and carriage; courteous to all men, and faithful to your Lodge and brethren, and carefully to refrain from intemperance and excess.

IV. You promise hospitably to treat and courteously to receive all brethren, and to discountenance impostors and all who seek to disturb the Ancient and Accepted Scottish rite.

V. You agree to diffuse and disseminate the principles of our order; to pay due homage to the Supreme Council, and strictly to conform to all edicts emanating therefrom that are not subversive of the principles and ground-work of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish rite.

VI. You admit that it is not in the power of any man or body of men to make innovations in the essential and fundamental principles of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish rite.

VII. You promise to attend regularly the meetings of your Lodge, and to instruct and counsel the brethren; that you will faithfully and punctually perform all your duties as Grand Master, and that you will never open or close your Lodge without giving a lecture, or some portion thereof, for the instruction of the brethren.

VIII. You admit that no new Lodge of Perfection can be formed without permission of the Supreme Council, or a Deputy Inspector-General in a country where there is no Consistory, and that no countenance should be given to an irregular Lodge, or to any person initiated therein.

IX. You admit that no person can be regularly allowed to receive any degree in a Lodge of Perfection, or admitted a member of the same, without previous notice and due inquiry into his character, nor unless he be a Master Mason, in good standing.

X. You agree that no visitor shall be received into your Lodge without due examination and proof of his title to be so, unless he is personally known as a Grand Elect, Perfect, and Sublime Mason, to some member of your body.

These are the regulations of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish rite. Do you submit to these charges and promise to sup

port these regulations, as Ineffable Masons have done in all ages before you?

T. P. G. M. I do.

CHARGE.

Com.-in-C. My brother, your ready assent to the charges and regulations of the order, justifies the confidence which your brethren have reposed in you, and authorizes me to proceed with your installation. You cannot have advanced to the degree which you have attained in our rite without becoming acquainted with the requisites necessary to constitute an efficient Master of a Lodge of Perfection, with the duties that devolve upon the position, and of the serious responsibility which he incurs.

The honor, reputation, and usefulness of your Lodge will chiefly depend upon the mode in which you discharge the duties of your office. If you should be satisfied with merely knowing by rote the formulas, the phrases, and ceremonies of the work, and end with that, you may maintain good order and conduct the work with regularity, but you will soon see indifference succeed to zeal, inattention to punctuality, lassitude to interest, and stagnant immobility to activity.

You cannot satisfy your promise never to open and close your Lodge without giving a lecture, or some portion thereof, for the instruction of the brethren, by asking a few trivial questions of routine. It would be absurd to require of you to take a solemn obligation to do that; and a sad matter if Masonry would so cheapen its oaths.

Whenever your Lodge is closed, and an evening has passed away without your having given the brethren some new and useful information, you will have failed to do your duty.

Think not that the field of Masonic learning has been so often reaped and gleaned that there is nothing left for you to gather. Its history has never yet been written. Its symbols are only in part understood. Its philosophy is a vast region almost wholly unexplored. You are to arouse the indolent, encourage the desponding, and incite the unreflecting brethren to do something the influences whereof shall be felt beyond the limits of the Lodgesomething for society, something for humanity. Admonish them of the duty that rests upon them-so to act and behave as to bring no discredit or reproach upon the order. Charge them to prac

tise out of the Lodge the duties taught in it, and by their forbearance, frankness, discretion, equity, and profound regard for truth and honor, to convince all who know them of the excellence of our institution.

I hope your example will remain as the best and brightest of lessons for your successors, to show them in what way to walk, and how to act; to deserve well of the order, to be entitled to its gratitude, and to win for themselves honor and reputation. Brother Grand Master of Ceremonies, present the deputy Grand Master elect.

Charge to the Deputy Grand Master.

My brother, your brethren have been pleased to elect you Deputy Grand Master of this Lodge of Perfection, to take the place of the Thrice Potent, in case of his absence. The duties which, in that case, you are to perform are known to you, and need not be repeated. When he is present, you are to assist him with your counsel and advice in maintaining the dignity and authority of his office, and the peace and harmony of the Lodge, and perform such other duties as are laid down in the ritual. I congratulate you on being thought worthy by your brethren of this honorable station, and earnestly hope that you may give them no reason to regret the choice they have made.

Brother Grand Master of Ceremonies, present the Senior Grand Warden elect.

Charge to the Senior Grand Warden.

:

My brother, your brethren have been pleased to elect you as Senior Grand Warden of this Lodge of Perfection. In the absence of the Thrice Potent and his Deputy, you are to govern the Lodge and perform the duties of his office and in that case you are bound by all the pledges and promises he has made; and you will consider all that has been said to him as addressed equally to you. When he is present, you are to assist him and second all his efforts. Your acquaintance with the history, symbols, and philosophy of our rite, should be as extensive as his; therefore you should prepare yourself, so as never to be taken unawares when called to the performance of any duty.

I firmly rely on your knowledge, your zeal for the order, and

your attachment for your Lodge, for the faithful discharge of the duties of this important trust.

Brother Grand Master of Ceremonies, present the Junior Grand Warden elect.

Charge to the Junior Grand Warden.

My brother, you have been elected to the office of Junior Grand Warden of this Lodge of Perfection.

You may be called upon to fill the place of the Senior Grand Warden, or even that of the Grand Master or his Deputy, and in such case the promises they have respectively made become yours. You should therefore be as fully instructed, and your office demands of you the same diligent study and thoughtful care.

Your regular and punctual attendance is required by our laws, and it is expected you will faithfully discharge the duties attached to that responsible office.

Brother Grand Master of Ceremonies, present the Grand Orator elect.

Charge to the Grand Orator.

My brother, you have been elected Grand Orator of this Lodge of Perfection. It will be your duty to pronounce a discourse to the neophyte at every reception, and to the Lodge if required. It may also of right call upon you to read an essay or lecture upon the history, philosophy, doctrine, or symbolism of the rite. It is therefore indispensable that you should make yourself familiar with those subjects, so that you may be able to instruct and enlighten the brethren. I trust that the duties of your office will be so performed that your name will be hereafter identified with the prosperity of the Lodge, and mentioned with honor and respect by all who love our order.

Brother Grand Master of Ceremonies, present the Grand Treasurer elect.

Charge to the Grand Treasurer.

My brother, you have been elected Grand Treasurer of this Lodge of Perfection. It is your duty to receive all moneys from the Secretary, make due entry of the same, and pay them out on