CHAPTER XII.

CEREMONIES and CHARGES,

ON THE

Installation of the Officers of a Royal Arch Chapter.

1. THE grand officers will meet at a convenient place, and open.

2. The fubordinate chapter will meet in the outer courts of their hall, and form an avenue for the reception of the grand officers.

3. When formed they will difpatch a committee to the place where the grand officers are af fembled, to inform the grand marfhal that the chapter is prepared to receive them; the grand marfhal will announce the fame to the grand officers, and introduce the committee.

4. The grand officers will move in proceffion, conducted by the committee, to the hall of the chapter; when the grand high priest enters, the chapter will give the grand honours.

5. When the grand officers have paffed through the avenue, the chapter will form rank entire, and face to the front; the officers of the chapter then file off, and form a front rank two paces in advance of their members.

6. The grand fecretary will then call over the names of the officers elect, and the grand high prieft will ask whether they accept their refpective offices. If they anfwer in the affirmative,

he then afks the members whether they remain fatisfied with their choice. If they anfwer in the affirmative, he directs their officers to approach the facred volume, and become qualified for installation, according to ancient usage and cuftom.

7. The grand marfhal will then form the whole in proceffion, in fingle files, and in cafe the ceremonies are to be performed in public, they march to the church, or if they are to be performed in private they will march through the veils into the inner apartment, where they will furround the altar, which is to be previoufly furnished and prepared, in ample form, for the occafion.

8. All prefent will then kneel, and the following prayer will be recited.

PRAYER.

"Almighty and Supreme Governor and Ruler of heaven and earth! who is there in heaven but thee, and who upon the earth can stand in competition with thee? Thy omnifcient mind brings all things in review, paft, prefent, and to come; thine omnipotent arm directs the movements of the vaft creation; thine omnipresent eye pervades the fecret récefs of every heart; thy boundless beneficence fupplies us with every comfort and enjoyment; and thine unfpeakable perfections and glory furpass the understandings of the children of men! Our Father, who art in heaven, we invoke thy benediction upon the purposes of our prefent affembly; let this chapter be established to thine honour; let its

officers be endowed with wifdom to difcern, and fidelity to purfue, its trueft interefts; let its members be ever mindful of the duty they owe to their God, the obedience they owe to their fuperiors, the love they owe to their equals, and the good will they owe to all mankind. Let this chapter be confecrated to thy glory, and its members ever exemplify their love to God by their beneficence to man.

"Glory be to God on high !"

Refponfe," Amen! So mote it be."

9. The whole then repair to their appropriate stations.*

10. An anthem or ode is to be performed. II. An oration or address is to be delivered. 12. An ode or piece of mufic.

[13. The deputy grand high priest then rises, and informs the grand high priest, that "a number of companions, duly inftructed in the fublime myfteries, being defirous of promoting the honour and propagating the principles of the art, have applied to the grand chapter for a warrant to conftitute a new chapter of royal arch mafons, which having obtained, they are now affembled for the purpose of being conftituted, and having their officers inftalled in due and ancient form."]

[14. The grand marfhal will then form the officers and members of the new chapter in front of the grand officers; after which, the grand

*NOTE.---Those paragraphs, which are enclosed within brackets, apply exclusively to cases when new chapters are constituted, and their officers installed for the first time: the rest apply equally to such cases, as well as to annual installations.

high priest directs the grand fecretary to read the warrant.]

[15. The grand high priest then rifes and fays, "By virtue of the high powers in me vested, I do form you, my refpected companions, into a regular chapter of royal arch mafons; from henceforth you are authorized and empowered to open and hold a lodge of mark mafters, paft masters, and moft excellent mafters, and a chapter of royal arch masons; and to do and perform all fuch things as thereunto may appertain; conforming in all your doings to the general grand royal arch conftitution, and the general regulations of the ftate grand chapter; and may the God of your fathers be with guide and direct you in all your doings."]

you,

[16. The public grand honours will then be given by the officers and members of the new chapter, while paffing in review in front of the grand officers.]

17. The furniture, clothing, jewels, implements, utenfils, &c. belonging to the chapter, (having been previously placed in the centre, in front of the grand officers, covered) are now uncovered, [and the new chapter is dedicated in ancient manner and form, as is well defcribed in the most excellent mafter's degree.]

18. The deputy grand high prieft will then prefent the first officer of the new chapter to the grand high priest, faying,

"Most excellent grand high priest,

"I present you my worthy companion

nomina

ted in the warrant to be installed high priest of this new chapter; F find him to be skilful in the royal art, and attentive to the moral precepts of our forefathers, and have therefore no doubt but he will discharge the duties of his office with fidelity."

The grand high prieft then addreffes him as follows:

"Most excellent companion,

"I feel much satisfaction in performing my duty on the present occasion, by installing you into the office of high priest of this new chapter. It is an office highly honourable to all those who diligently perform the important duties annexed to it; your reputed masonic knowledge, however, precludes the necessity of a particular enumeration of those duties; I shall therefore only observe, that by a frequent recurrence to the constitution, and general regulations, and a constant practice of the several sublime lectures and charges, you will be best able to fulfil them; and I am confident, that the companions who are chosen to preside with you, will give strength to your endeavours, and support your exertions. I shall now propose certain questions to you, relative to the duties of your office, and to which I must request your unequivocal answer.

"1. Do you solemnly promise that you will redouble your endeavours to correct the vices, amend the morals, and promote the happiness of those of your brethren who have attained this sublime degree.

2. That you will never suffer your chapter to be opened unless there be present nine regular royal arch masons.

"3. That you will never suffer either more or less than three brethren to be exalted in your chapter at one and the same time.

"4. That you will not exalt any one to this degree, who has not shewn a charitable and humane disposition; or who has not made a considerable proficiency in the foregoing degrees.

"5. That you will promote the general good of our order, and on all proper occasions be ready to give and receive instructions, and particularly from the general and state grand officers.

"6. That to the utmost of your power you will preserve the solemnities of our ceremonies, and behave, in open chapter, with the most profound respect and reverence, as an example to your com panions.

"7. That you will not acknowledge or have intercourse with any chapter that does not work under a constitutional warrant or dispen

sation.

"8. That you will not admit any visitor into your chapter who has not been exalted in a chapter legally constituted, without his being first formally healed.

9. That you will observe and support such by-laws as may be made by your chapter, in conformity to the general grand royal arch constitution, and the general regulations of the grand chapter.

"10. That you will pay due respect and obedience to the instructions of the general and state grand officers, particularly relating to the several lectures and charges, and will resign the chair to them, severally, when they may visit your chapter.

"11. That you will support and observe the general grand royal arch constitution, and the general regulations of the grand royal arch chapter under whose authority you act.