Charge to the Grand Marshal G. M.-Brother, you have been appointed Grand Marshal, and we now invest you with the jewel of your office, and with this baton as the ensign of your authority. It is your duty to proclaim the Grand Officers of the Grand Lodge, and to preserve order according to the forms prescribed. Skill and precision are essentially necessary to the faithful discharge of these duties. Charge to the Grand Stewards G. M.-Brethren, you have been appointed Grand Stewards, and we now invest you with the jewels of your office, and place in your hands these white rods as ensigns of your station. It is your duty to superintend the tables at the hour of refreshment, and see that every brother is suitably provided. It is, therefore, indispensably necessary that you yourselves should be temperate and discreet in the indulgence of your own inclinations, carefully observing that none of the craft transgress the due bounds of moderation in the enjoyment of their pleasure. Charge to the Grand Tiler G. M.-Brother, you have been appointed Tiler of this Grand Lodge, and we now invest you with the jewel of your office, and place this sword in your hands, the more effectually to enable you to guard against the approach of cowans and eavesdroppers, and to suffer none to pass or repass but such as are duly qualified. It is your duty to guard the door of the Grand Lodge on the outside, to report those who desire to be admitted, to summon the members of the Grand Lodge under the direction of the Grand Secretary, and to attend to such other duties as may be required of you by the Grand Lodge. Your punctual attendance is essentially necessary at every communication. [The Grand Marshal then makes proclamation as follows.] Grand G. M.-By authority of the Most Worshipful Lodge of Ancient Freemasons of I proclaim that the Grand and Subordinate Officers have been installed in ample form with the grand honors of Masonry by three times three. Amen! Response: So mote it be. [The public grand honors are given and an appropriate ode may be sung; after which the Grand Lodge is closed in ample form.] When the Grand Master, or some other brother acting for the time being as such, visits a Subordinate Lodge, the following ceremonies should be observed: The Lodge being opened in the usual form the two Deacons are placed at the sides of the door with their rods crossed. Unofficial brethren are arranged in two parallel rows from the door to the Master's station. Some proper brethren should be placed near the door to bear the orders of architecture before the entering Grand Master. A Past Master is selected by the acting Master to escort the Grand Officers who, at the proper signal, enter in the usual form of procession. If only the Grand Master is present, he, of course, enters alone. Preceded by the Orders of Architecture, they march to the East and the Grand Master assumes the chair. Any Grand Officers with him sit on his right on the platform in the order of their official seniority. As the Grand Master ascends the East, the acting Master receives him with the private honors, resigns him the chair and the hiram. The Lodge officers resign their seats to the corresponding Grand Officers and take their positions on the right of the latter, respectively. The Grand Master makes such remarks and attends, through himself, his deputies or officers of the Lodge, to such business as he wishes. If the Grand Officers retire before the Lodge is closed, a corresponding ceremony is observed as in entering. Otherwise the Lodge is closed in the usual form by the Grand Master. REGULATIONS FOR PROCES SIONS Order of Procession for Subordinate Lodges Tiler, with drawn sword; Holy Bible, Square and Compasses, supported by oldest unofficial member of the Lodge; Junior Deacon-Master-Senior Deacon. When the procession is composed in part of Masons who do not belong in any other specified part of the procession, the following order is observed: Tiler, with drawn sword; Two Stewards, with white rods; Masters of Lodges, with hirams. Order of Procession for the Grand Lodge Grand Tiler, with drawn sword; Grand Architect, with Square, Level and Plumb; Grand Treasurer and Grand Secretary; Junior Grand Warden (bearing silver vessel of oil when used) and Senior Grand Warden (bearing silver vessel of wine when used); Grand Chaplain; Holy Bible, Square and Compasses, carried by a Past Master; Past Grand Officers, in inverse order of their official rank; Deputy Grand Master (bearing golden vessel of corn when used); Book of the Constitutions, carried by the Master of the oldest Lodge; Grand Master, supported by the two Grand Deacons. Where the Standards, Orders of Architecture, etc., are carried, they may be borne by unofficial brethren stationed at such place in the ranks as the Acting Master or Grand Master may direct. So where the Architect, Civil Authorities, etc. (as, for instance, the laying of corner-stones), unite in the procession, they may be likewise stationed where the Acting Master or Grand Master may direct. Where the Lodge is borne in the procession, it should be by four brethren at some appropriate place in the procession, to be determined by the officer in charge. When the Grand Master or Deputy Grand Master or either of the Grand Wardens joins the procession of a private Lodge, proper respect is to be paid to his rank, and his position will be immediately before the Master and Wardens of the Lodge, and Deacons must be appointed to attend them. Whenever the Grand or Deputy Grand Master is present, the Book of Constitutions must be borne in the procession immediately |