Manual of the Lodge/Ancient Ceremonies of the Order/Annual Installation of the Officers of a Lodge

by Albert Gallatin Mackey

SECTION II.

ANNUAL INSTALLATION OF THE OFFICERS OF A LODGE.

T every annual election in a Subordinate Lodge, it is necessary that the officers should be installed. This ceremony may be performed by any Past Master.

The officers having been constitutionally elected, and the Lodge being opened in the third degree of Masonry, the Worshipful Master of the last year, or some other Past Master, takes the chair.

The Master elect is then conducted by some Past Master, if possible, and if not, by an old Master Mason, in front of the pedestal of the East. The new Master advances with the usual distinctive forms, and his conductor says:

Worshipful Sir, I here present before you Brother A. B., who has been duly elected to serve this Lodge as Worshipful Master, for the ensuing Masonic year, and who now declares himself ready for installation.

The new Master then turning and facing the brethren, the presiding officer says:

Brethren, you now behold before you, Brother A. B., who has been duly elected to serve this Lodge as Worshipful Master, and who now declares himself ready for installation. If any of you have any reasons to urge why he should not be installed, you will make them known now, or else forever hereafter hold your peace. Hearing no objections, I shall proceed to install him.

The new Master then faces the East, and the presiding officer addresses to him the following charge:

Brother, previous to your investiture, it is necessary that you should signify your assent to those ancient charges and regulations which point out the duty of the Master of a Lodge.

I. Do you promise to be a good man and true, and strictly to obey the moral law?

Ans. I do.

II. Do you promise to be a peaceable citizen, and cheerfully to conform to the laws of the country in which you reside?

Ans. I do.

III. Do you promise not to be concerned in plots and conspiracies against the government of the country in which you live; but patiently to submit to the decision of the law and the constituted authorities?

Ans. I do.

IV. Do you promise to pay a proper respect to the civil magistrates, to work diligently, live creditably, and act honorably by all men?

Ans. I do.

V. Do you promise to hold in veneration the original rulers and patrons of the Order of Freemasonry, and their regular successors, supreme and subordinate, according to their stations; and to submit to the awards and resolutions of your brethren in Lodge convened, in every case consistent with the constitutions of the Order?

Ans. I do.

VI. Do you promise, as much as in you lies, to avoid private piques and quarrels, and to guard against intemperance and excess?

Ans. I do.

VII. Do you promise to be cautious in your behavior, courteous to your brethren, and faithful to your Lodge?

Ans. I do.

VIII. Do you promise to respect genuine and true brethren, and to discountenance impostors and all dissenters from the Ancient Landmarks and Constitutions of Masonry?

Ans. I do.

IX. Do you promise, according to the best of your abilities, to promote the general good of society, to cultivate the social virtues, and to propagate the knowledge of the mystic art, according to our statutes?

Ans. I do.

X. Do you promise to pay homage to the Grand Master for the time being, and to his officers when duly installed; and strictly to conform to every edict of the Grand Lodge or General Assembly of Masons that is not subversive of the principles and ground work of Masonry?

Ans. I do.

XI. Do you admit that it is not in the power of any man, or body of men, to make innovations in the body of Masonry?

Ans. I do.

XII. Do you promise a regular attendance on the committees and communications of the Grand Lodge, on receiving proper notice; and to pay attention to all the duties of Masonry, on convenient occasions?

Ans. I do.

XIII. Do you admit that no new Lodge can be formed without permission of the Grand Lodge; and that no countenance ought to be given to any irregular Lodge, or to any person clandestinely initiated therein, as being contrary to the ancient charges of the Order?

Ans. I do.

XIV. Do you admit that no person can be regularly made a Freemason in, or admitted a member of, any regular Lodge, without previous notice, and due inquiry into his character?

Ans. I do.

XV. Do you agree that no visitors shall be received into your Lodge without due examination, and producing proper vouchers of their having been initiated in a regular Lodge?

Ans. I do.

These are the regulations of Free and Accepted Masons.

The presiding officer then addresses the new Master as follows:

Do you submit to these charges, and promise to support these regulations, as Masters have done in all ages before you?

The Master is to answer, I do.

The presiding officer then addresses him:

Brother A. B., in consequence of your cheerful conformity to the charges and regulations of the Order, you are now to be installed Master of this Lodge, in full confidence of your care, skill, and capacity to govern the same.

But previous thereto, it is necessary that you should be solemnly inducted into the Oriental Chair of King Solomon, during the performance of which ceremony it is requested that all but Past Masters will retire.

All but Past Masters having retired, the candidate is invested with the mysteries of that degree, and solemnly inducted into the chair. Whereupon the doors being opened, the brethren in turn, and forming an avenue on each side, from the West to the East the new Master being in the chair, the presiding officer says:

Brethren, behold your Master!

Master, behold your brethren!

A procession is then formed, and the brethren pass around the Lodge, signifying their homage and obedience by the usual distinctive marks in the different degrees of Freemasonry, during which time the Installation Ode is sung.

Hail! Masonry divine!
Glory of ages shine;
⁠Long may'st thou reign!
Where'er thy lodges stand,
May they have great command,
And always grace the land,
⁠Thou art divine.

Great fabrics still arise,
And grace the azure skies—
⁠Great are thy schemes;
Thy noble orders are
Matchless beyond compare;
No art with thee can share;
⁠Thou art divine.

Hiram, the architect,
Did all the craft direct
⁠How they should build;
Sol'mon, great Israel's king.
Did mighty blessings bring.
And left us room to sing,
⁠Hail, Royal Art!

After the singing of the ode, the new Master calls the Lodge to order, and the Senior Warden is brought before him with the same ceremony as was used in his own case. No objection being made to his installation, the new Master administers the following obligation of office:

I, A. B., do solemnly promise that I will serve this Lodge as . . . . . . for the space of one year, from the festival of St. John the Evangelist to the one next ensuing, and will perform all the duties appertaining to that office, to the best of my abilities. So help me God.

The following charge is then rehearsed to him:

THE SENIOR WARDEN.

Brother C. D., you are appointed Senior Warden of this Lodge, and are now invested with the badge of your office.

The Level demonstrates that we are descended from the same stock, partake of the same nature, and share the same hope; and though distinctions among men are necessary to preserve subordination, yet no eminence of station should make us forget that we are brethren; for he who is placed on the lowest spoke of fortune's wheel, may be entitled to our regard; because a time will come, and the wisest knows not how soon, when all distinction, but that of goodness, shall cease; and death, the grand leveler of human greatness, reduce us to the same state.

Your regular attendance on our stated meetings is essentially necessary. In the absence of the Master, you are to govern this Lodge; in his presence, you are to assist him in the government of it. I firmly rely on your knowledge of Masonry, and attachment to the Lodge, for the faithful discharge of the duties of this important trust.—Look well to the West.

The Senior Warden takes his appointed station.

The Junior Warden is then brought up with the same ceremonies; and the same obligation being administered, he receives the following charge:

THE JUNIOR WARDEN.

Brother E. F., you are appointed Junior Warden of this Lodge, and are now invested with the badge of your office.

The Plumb admonishes us to walk uprightly in our several stations; to hold the scales of justice in equal poise; to observe the just medium between intemperance and pleasure; and to make our passions and prejudices coincide with the line of our duty.

To you is committed the superintendence of the craft during the hours of refreshment; it is, therefore, indispensably necessary that you should not only be temperate and discreet in the indulgence of your own inclinations, but carefully observe that none of the craft be suffered to convert the purposes of refreshment into intemperance and excess.

Your regular and punctual attendance is particularly requested; and I have no doubt that you will faithfully execute the duty which you owe to your present appointment.—Look well to the South.

The Junior Warden takes his appointed station.

Proclamation is then made as follows by the first presiding officer:

I hereby proclaim, that Brother A. B. has been duly installed as Worshipful Master, Brother C. D. as Senior Warden, and Brother E. F. as Junior Warden of . . . . . . Lodge, No. . ., with the grand honors of Masonry by three times three.

The grand honors are then given, and the new Master proceeds to install in like manner the rest of the officers, rehearsing to each his appropriate charge, as follows:

THE TREASURER.

Brother G. H., you are appointed Treasurer of this Lodge, and are now invested with the badge of your office. It is your duty to receive all moneys from the hands of the Secretary, make due entries of the same, and pay them out by order of the Worshipful Master and the consent of the Lodge.

I trust your regard for the fraternity will prompt you to the faithful discharge of the duties of your office.

THE SECRETARY.

Brother J. K., you are appointed Secretary of this Lodge, and are now invested with the badge of your office. It is your duty to observe all the proceedings of the Lodge; make a fair record of all things proper to be written; receive all moneys due the Lodge, pay them over to the Treasurer, and take his receipt for the same.

Your good inclination to Masonry and this Lodge, I hope, will induce you to discharge your office with fidelity; and by so doing, you will merit the esteem and applause of your brethren.

SENIOR AND JUNIOR DEACONS.

Brothers L. M. and N, O., you are appointed Deacons of this Lodge. To you, with such assistance as may be necessary, is intrusted the introduction of visitors. It is also your province to attend on the Master and Wardens, and to act as their proxies in the active duties of the Lodge; such as in the reception of candidates into the different degrees of Masonry, and in the immediate practice of our rites. The Square and Compasses, as badges of your office, I intrust to your care, not doubting your vigilance and attention.

THE STEWARDS.

Brothers P. Q. and R. S., you are appointed Stewards of this Lodge, and are now invested with the badge of your office. The duties of your office are, to assist in the collection of dues and subscriptions; to keep an account of the Lodge expenses; to see that the tables are properly furnished at refreshment, and that every brother is suitably provided for; and generally to assist the Deacons and other officers in performing their duties.

Your regular and early attendance will afford the best proof of your zeal and attachment to the Lodge.

THE TILER.

Brother T. U., you are appointed Tiler of this Lodge; and I invest you with the implement of your office. As the Sword is placed in the hands of the Tiler to enable him effectually to guard against the approach of cowans and eavesdroppers, and suffer none to pass or repass but such as are duly qualified; so it should morally serve as a constant admonition to us, to set a guard at the entrance of our thoughts; to place a watch at the door of our lips; to post a sentinel at the avenue of our actions, thereby excluding every unqualified and unworthy thought, word, and deed; and preserving consciences void of offense toward God and toward man.

Your early and punctual attendance will afford the best proof of your zeal for the institution.

The officers having been thus installed, the new Master returns thanks, and the new officers resign their stations and places to the old officers, not to resume them again until St. John the Evangelist's day, when the Masonic year commences, unless the installation should have taken place on that day.

The Lodge is then closed.