Ritual of the Order of the Eastern Star/Installation, Grand Chapter
CEREMONY OF INSTALLATION
Officers of Grand Chapters.
The Grand Chapter being properly opened, as for work, a Past Grand Matron or Grand Patron presiding; if none such be present, then the oldest member being a Past Matron shall take the chair, and, with such assistance as she may appoint, the ceremony shall proceed, as follows:
The Grand Secretary shall call the list of officers, elected and appointed; and, as their names are called, they will form a semi-circle on the west side of the Altar, facing the East, to receive the Obligation; the emblems of office and jewels having been collected at the East; the Worthy Grand Matron on the extreme South, followed by the Worthy Grand Patron, &c. [This ceremony may be used to install the officers of the General Grand Chapter, by prefixing the words, "Most Worthy" to Grand Matron and Grand Patron, "Right Worthy" to the Associate Grand Matron, Associate Grand Patron, Grand Secretary, Grand Treasurer, Grand Conductress, and Associate Grand Conductress and "Worthy" before the rest of the Grand Officers. Whenever "Grand Chapter" occurs, prefix the word "General."]
The Grand Marshal will then present the officers to the Grand Matron or Grand Patron.
G. M. Grand , I have the pleasure to present to you for installation, these sisters and brothers, who have been duly elected and chosen to preside over us and assist in conducting the business of this Grand Chapter and to discharge all other duties appertaining to their several stations until their successors are lawfully chosen and installed.
Installing Officer rises and calls up the Grand Chapter, which is addressed as follows:
Grand . Sisters and brothers of the Grand Chapter, these persons, selected by you, are now ready and willing to take upon themselves the obligations, duties and responsibilities of office. In our beautiful Order, preferment to office should not be sought after, but should come to the individual chosen as an honor, justly merited and freely bestowed. Those only should be chosen who, by their reputation, their work and high moral character, command the esteem and confidence of our members, and can give us standing and credit before the world. Do you believe they possess these qualifications and now desire that they shall be installed into the offices to which they have been chosen?
The Grand Chapter responds:
We do.
Installing Officer continues:
Grand . Sisters and brothers-elect, there being no objection against either of you, gives us full assurance of your competency to discharge the responsible duties to be assigned you. You have been chosen to take charge of the affairs of this Grand Chapter for the ensuing year.
It is no small mark of esteem to be thus selected; let it be your aim to make the ensuing year the most prosperous in the history of this Grand Chapter; then you will find in the record of its prosperity the reward of your faithful service.
You will please give your assent to the obligation of office.
Do you each sacredly promise to support, maintain and enforce the Constitution, By-Laws and Regulations of this Grand Chapter; be obedient to its orders and directions and to the best of your knowledge and ability, impartially and faithfully discharge the duties of your office; and use your utmost endeavors to make yourself useful and your station honorable, in the office with which I am now about to invest you?
They severally assent and the Installing Officer will then seat the Grand Chapter, the officers elect being seated together and the ceremonies will proceed, as follows:
G. M. Grand , I have the honor to present for installation, Sister , duly elected Grand Matron for the ensuing year. Our sister is fully aware of the great responsibility she is assuming, in the acceptance of this important position, yet she is willing to undertake it, in the belief that, with the aid and assistance of the sisters and brothers and by the help of God, she will not fail in the performance of her duty and thus prove that the confidence reposed in her has not been misapplied.
Grand . Sister , you have been elected by the free ballot of the members of this Grand Chapter, to occupy the most exalted position in their power to bestow upon a sister, a just and deserving tribute to your zeal and worth and I congratulate you upon your preferment.
The high honors attached to the office of Grand Matron are accompanied by weighty and delicate responsibilities. It is expected that you will have a watchful care over the interests of this Grand Chapter; see that its Constitutions, By-Laws and Regulations, orders and edicts are promptly enforced throughout this jurisdiction, that subordinate officers discharge their duties and that, by your own respect for law and good government, you will cause all others to find the strongest incentive of obedience to all lawful commands.
Your duties are more specifically set forth in the Constitution, to which I refer you, with the admonition: Be cautious in your words, courteous in your actions, sincere in your rulings, governing with moderation and decorum, trusting that your well-known zeal in the cause of the Order will lead you to discharge these important trusts with lasting benefit to this Grand Chapter and great credit to yourself.
You will now be invested with the proper badge of office and be conducted to your station in the East.
After she is in her station, the Installing officer will call up the Grand Chapter and say:
Grand . Grand Matron, behold your sisters and brothers! Sisters and brothers, behold your Grand Matron and salute her with the Grand Honors.
Seats the Grand Chapter.
G. M. Grand , it is with pleasure I introduce to you Brother , who has been duly elected Grand Patron for the ensuing year. I doubt not but you will find him as willing to discharge the duties as to enjoy the high honors conferred upon him.
Grand . Brother , you have been elected by the free choice of the members of this Grand Chapter to occupy the most exalted position in their power to bestow upon a brother; a just compliment to your zeal and worth and for which I offer you my sincere congratulations. Your intimate acquaintance with the rules and affairs of our Order justify me in saying that the members have exercised a sound discretion in this selection. You are elevated to a position from which the power and prerogative may depart with the expiration of your term of service; but the honor and dignity, except by your own act, never!
Your duties are to issue dispensations, organize and supervise new Chapters and assist the Grand Matron in the discharge of her duties. Other duties appropriate to your high office might be named, which will readily suggest themselves to a sensitive mind, imbued with a proper zeal to promote the interests of our Order. The field is broad and whitening for the harvest; may you be the instrument of gathering many sheaves to our garner, that it may be said of you, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things."
You will now be invested with the insignia of office and be conducted to your station on the left of the Grand Matron in the East.
After he is in his station, the Installing Officer will call up the Grand Chapter and say:
Grand . Grand Patron, behold your sisters and brothers! Sisters and brothers, behold your Grand Patron and salute him with the Grand Honors.
Seats the Grand Chapter.
G. M. Grand , with pleasure I present Sister , elected Associate Grand Matron, for installation. I am persuaded she fully appreciates the honor conferred and will discharge the duties imposed, with credit to herself and satisfaction to the Order.
Grand . Sister , the duties of your honorable station are embodied in the name of your office. You are to assist the Grand Matron and in case of her death, absence or disability, you shall act for her and discharge her duties. To you, is especially intrusted the supervision of your sister officers, that the paraphernalia of the Grand Chapter be properly preserved and its ritual ceremonies performed intelligently. Be ever ready to discharge these duties.
You will now be invested with your badge of office and conducted to your station in the West.
G. M. Grand , I now have the pleasure of presenting to you, for installation, Brother , who has been duly elected Associate Grand Patron.
Grand . Brother , I congratulate you on being chosen to fill so high a station. Your duties are to assist the Grand Patron and in case of his death, absence or disability, to assume his powers and duties. Those who have reposed so much confidence in you have reason to expect you to faithfully look after their interests and zealously work for the welfare of the Order. Let the laws, tenets and professions of the Eastern Star be your constant study, that you may be ready to enforce them by precept and example and the better enabled to exercise the higher and more exalted position to which you may be called at any moment.
You will now be invested with the proper emblem of office and conducted to your station on the left of the Associate Grand Matron, in the West.
G. M. Grand , it is my pleasant duty to introduce , duly elected to serve us as Grand Secretary for the ensuing year.
Grand . , the office to which you have been elected is by far the most important, if not the most honorable, within the gift of this Grand Chapter. Yours is an onerous and most responsible charge. But few are competent to perform it in the thorough manner it demands. Failure or neglect upon your part will complicate and embarrass all our proceedings and give us a disgraceful record before the world. To you, also, is intrusted the collection of all funds due the Grand Chapter, the custody of the seal, records, books and papers. You are the correspondent and financial agent of the Grand Chapter, the medium of intercourse between the officers and members thereof, as well as between them and Subordinate Chapters. The faithful discharge of all your various duties requires constant and systematic work, a careful keeping of records and accounts, prompt and discreet action and the highest integrity of character.
You will now receive your emblem of office and be conducted to your station in the Southeast.
G. M. Grand , it is with confidence and pleasure I present to you, for installation, Sister , duly elected to serve as Grand Treasurer for the ensuing year.
Grand . Sister, , to you is intrusted the proper care, preservation and disbursement of the funds of this Grand Chapter. This is a trust of the utmost importance, for without money little good can be accomplished. You will, therefore, attend carefully to the financial interests of the Order, receiving the funds, through the Grand Secretary, from the different sources of revenue, keep them safely invested, render a just account thereof and pay the same out only on proper vouchers, with the consent of this Grand Chapter. Let it be your constant care to be faithful to your trust and not forfeit the confidence reposed in you by this Grand Chapter.
You will now receive your badge of office, and be conducted to your station, in the North-east.
G. M. Grand , I have the pleasure to introduce, for installation, Sister chosen as Grand Conductress and Sister , chosen as Associate Grand Conductress for the ensuing year.
Grand . My sisters, your duties are to attend upon your superior officers, assist in the active duties of this Grand Chapter, introduce and welcome visitors and aid in exemplifying the rites and ceremonies of our Order upon all proper occasions.
If you attend to these duties aright, throwing sisterly courtesy and dignity around your official conduct, you will acquire the confidence and respect of all and merit promotion to still higher honors and more weighty responsibilities.
You will now receive your respective badges of office and be conducted to your proper stations in the South and North.
G. M. Grand , I have the honor to present , chosen to officiate as Grand Chaplain for the ensuing year.
Grand . My , our beautiful Order, founded upon the moral teachings of the Holy Scripture, everywhere and on all occasions, acknowledges the existence and providence of God. Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it; except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh in vain. You have been chosen Grand Chaplain and as such, it will be your duty to conduct the devotional exercises of this Grand Chapter and superintend and promote its charitable and benevolent objects. These will afford a wide field of usefulness and may you be so successful in pointing to the "Star in the East" that all will be induced to follow it until they meet in the Grand Chapter above.
You will now be invested with your badge of office and take your station on the right of the Grand Matron.
G. M. Grand , it is with pleasure I present , appointed Grand Lecturer.
Grand . , to you is intrusted the work of the Order; its rites, traditions and ceremonies and it will be your duty to exemplify the same, whenever called upon by this Grand Chapter and see that they are intelligently performed by the subordinate Chapters of this jurisdiction. To discharge these duties well, will require much time, study and observation upon your part; but we trust that your attachment to the principles of our Order and zeal in promoting its interests, will lead you to the faithful discharge of your duties.
Receive the jewel and emblem of your office and take your station in the South.
G. M. Grand , I now have the pleasure of presenting , for installation, as Grand Marshal.
Grand . , the post assigned to you is one of honor and responsibility. It is your duty to superintend and marshal all processions of the Grand Chapter, assist in all its public and private ceremonies, conduct and proclaim the officers at the time of installation and perform such other duties as pertain to your office.
You will now be invested with the badge of your office and conducted to your station in the Southeast.
G. M. It is my pleasant duty to present for installation, Sister , appointed to serve as Grand Organist for the ensuing year.
Grand . My sister, your duties are embodied in the name of your office admonishing you that by uniting music and harmony with our mystic lessons the ceremonials of our Order will prove more lasting.
You will be invested with your badge of office and conducted to your station.
G. M. Grand , it is with pleasure that I present to you, for installation, these sisters, who have been appointed to represent the five distinguished heroines of our Order, Sister , as Grand Adah; Sister , as Grand Ruth; Sister , as Grand Esther; Sister , as Grand Martha; Sister , as Grand Electa.
Grand . My sisters, the most important lessons of our Order are given from the five points of our emblematic Star. It should be your study to most impressively render these lessons, during the opening ceremonies of this Grand Chapter and whenever your services may be needed.
You will now each be invested with the badge of your office and conducted to your stations.
G. M. It is with pleasure that I present, for installation, Sister , appointed to be Grand Warder and Brother , appointed to be Grand Sentinel.
Grand . My sister and brother, you are respectively the inner and outer guards of the Grand Chapter. Upon you, therefore, we rely to preserve that secrecy which is essential to our proceedings; to see that our ceremonies are not interrupted by untimely alarms and to discharge such other duties as appertain to your office. A prompt and faithful discharge of these responsibilities will afford the best evidence of your attachment for the tenets and professions of our Order.
You will be invested with your respective badges of office and conducted to your stations within and without the door of the Grand Chapter.
G. M. Grand , my duties are ended. The several officers of this Grand Chapter have been duly elected, installed, invested with their badge of office and conducted to their respective stations.
Grand . It is well. Officers and members of the Grand Chapter, all things are now ready for you to enter upon the proceedings of a new year. Harmony and good-will prevail and we start under the most auspicious circumstances. But no one can affirm that another year, nor even a single day, will be committed to our trust. Therefore, if we have been faithful heretofore, let us redouble our exertions for the future. Let us continue kindly affectionate, one toward another. Let us walk circumspectly, sacredly preserving our lips from slander and evil speaking, ever remembering our sacred obligations. And may we, each of us, through the good providence of God, be brought, through a useful and happy life, to a blissful close and a triumphant entrance upon the joys of the Heavenly life.
Let us now look to God for His benediction.
Installing Officer calls up the Grand Chapter.
Prayer.
Grand . Grand Marshal, you will proclaim the Grand Officers regular installed.
G. M. In the name of the Grand Chapter and by order of the Worthy Grand , I proclaim the officers of the Grand Chapter of , Order of the Eastern Star, duly installed.
Seats the Grand Chapter.