Masonic Monitor of the Degrees of Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft and Master Mason Part 12

Charges to the Officers and Brethren.

Inst. Off.: Wors.h.i.+pful Master: (Who rises.) The Grand Master having committed to your care the superintendence and government of the brethren who are to compose this new lodge, you cannot be insensible of the obligations which devolve on you, as their head, nor of your responsibility for the faithful discharge of the important duties attached to your office.

The honor, reputation, and usefulness of your Lodge will materially depend on the skill and a.s.siduity with which you manage its concerns; while the happiness of its members will be generally promoted in proportion to the zeal and ability with which you propagate the genuine principles of our inst.i.tution.

For a pattern of imitation, consider the sun, which, rising in the east, regularly diffuses light and l.u.s.ter to all within its circle. In like manner, it is in your province to spread and communicate light and instruction to the brethren of your Lodge. Forcibly impress upon them the dignity and high importance of Masonry; and seriously admonish them never to disgrace it. Charge them to practice out of the Lodge, those duties which they have been taught in it; and by amiable, discreet, and virtuous conduct, to convince mankind of the goodness of the Inst.i.tution; so that, when any one is said to be a member of it, the world may know that he is one to whom the burdened heart may pour out its sorrows, to whom distress may prefer its suit, whose hand is guided by justice, and whose heart is expanded by benevolence. In short, by a diligent observance of the by-laws of your Lodge, the Const.i.tution of Masonry, and above all, the Holy Scriptures, which are given as a rule and guide to your faith, you will be enabled to acquit yourself with honor and reputation.

Charge to the Wardens.

Brothers Senior and Junior Wardens: (Who are called up by one knock.) You are too well acquainted with the principles of Masonry to warrant any distrust that you will be found wanting in the discharge of your respective duties. What you have seen praiseworthy in others you should carefully imitate, and what in them may have appeared defective, you should in yourselves amend. You should be examples of good order and regularity, for it is only by a due regard to the laws, in your own conduct, that you can expect obedience to them from others. You are a.s.siduously to a.s.sist the Master in the discharge of his trust, diffusing light and imparting knowledge to all whom he shall place under your care. In the absence of the Master you will succeed to higher duties; your acquirements must therefore be such that the Craft may never suffer for want of proper instruction. From the spirit which you have hitherto evinced, I entertain no doubt that your future conduct will be such as to merit the applause of your brethren, and the testimony of a good conscience.

Charge to the Brethren of the Lodge.

Brethren of ...... Lodge, such is the nature of our Const.i.tution, that as some must of necessity rule and teach, so others must, of course, learn to submit and obey. Humility in both is an essential duty. The officers who are appointed to govern the Lodge are sufficiently conversant with the rules of propriety and the laws of the Inst.i.tution to avoid exceeding the powers with which they are intrusted, and you are of too generous dispositions to envy their preferment. I therefore trust that you will have but one aim, to please each other and to unite in the grand design of being happy and communicating happiness.

Finally, my brethren, as this a.s.sociation has been formed and perfected in so much unity and concord, in which we greatly rejoice, so may it long continue. May you enjoy every satisfaction and delight, which disinterested friends.h.i.+p can afford. May kindness and brotherly affection distinguish your conduct as men and Masons. Within your peaceful walls, may your children, and your children's children celebrate, with joy and grat.i.tude, the annual recurrence of this auspicious solemnity. And may the tenets of our profession be transmitted through your Lodge, pure and unimpaired, from generation to generation.

Proclamation.

Inst.i.tuting Officer: (Calls up Lodge.) In the name and by the authority of the Most Wors.h.i.+pful* Grand Master of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of Arkansas, I now declare this Lodge duly inst.i.tuted and properly prepared for the transaction of such business as may lawfully come before it.

* If Grand Master Inst.i.tutes the Lodge, in person, he will omit what precedes the * and insert "as."

Inst.i.tuting Officer: (Addressing Master.) I now deliver to you the Dispensation empowering you and your brethren to work as a Regular Lodge. You are its custodian and must see to it that it is present at all Communications of the Lodge. You must also, as required by law, safely transmit it to the Grand Secretary just prior to the next Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge, and when this is done, Masonic work in this Lodge must cease until the Dispensation is continued by the Grand Lodge, or until the Lodge is const.i.tuted. I now deliver to you the gavel of authority; wield it, my brother, with prudence and discretion. You will now a.s.sume your station.

Const.i.tuting a Newly Chartered Lodge.

After the grant of a charter the new Lodge thus created should be const.i.tuted, and its officers installed, by the Grand Master or his Deputy or some past or present Master. The Lodge is opened on the Third Degree. The Marshal forms the officers of the new Lodge in front of the Installing Officer, whereupon the Deputy G. M. addresses the G. M. as follows:

Most Wors.h.i.+pful, a number of brethren, duly instructed in the mysteries of Masonry, having a.s.sembled together for some time past by virtue of a dispensation granted them for that purpose, do now desire to be regularly const.i.tuted as a lodge agreeably to the ancient usages and customs of the fraternity.

The charter is presented by the D. G. M. to the Grand Master, who examines it and, if correct, proclaims:

G. M.--The charter appears to be correct and is approved. Upon due deliberation the Grand Lodge has granted the brethren of this new Lodge a charter establis.h.i.+ng and confirming them in the rights and privileges of a regularly const.i.tuted Lodge. We shall now proceed according to the ancient usage to const.i.tute these brethren into a regular Lodge.

The officers of the new Lodge deliver up their jewels and badges to their Master, who presents them, with his own, to the D. G. M. and he to the G. M.

The D. G. M. then presents the Master-elect to the G. M., saying:

D. G. M.--Most Wors.h.i.+pful, I present to you Brother ----, whom the members of the Lodge now to be const.i.tuted have chosen for their Master.

The G. M. asks the brethren if they remain satisfied with their choice.

(They bow in token of a.s.sent.)

The Master-elect then presents, severally, his Wardens and other officers, naming them and their respective offices. The G. M. asks the brethren if they remain satisfied with each and all of them. (They bow as before.)

The officers and members of the new Lodge form in front of the G. M. and the business of consecration commences.

The G. M. and grand officers form around the Lodge, all kneeling.

A piece of solemn music is performed while the Lodge is being uncovered, after which the first clause of the consecration prayer is rehea.r.s.ed by the Grand Chaplain, as follows:

Great Architect of the Universe; Maker and Ruler of all worlds. Deign from Thy Celestial Temple, from the realms of light and glory, to bless us in all the purposes of our present a.s.sembly. We humbly invoke Thee to give us at this, and at all times, Wisdom in all our doings, Strength of mind in all our difficulties, and the Beauty of harmony in all our communications. Permit us, O Thou author of life and light, great source of love and happiness, solemnly to consecrate this Lodge to Thy honor and glory. Amen.

Response by the Officers of the Grand Lodge:

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

The Grand Officers will then rise.

Consecration.

The Deputy Grand Master will step forward and present the Vessel of Corn (wheat) to the Grand Master, who sprinkles a portion of it upon the symbol of the Lodge, saying:

May the Giver of every good and perfect gift strengthen this Lodge in all its philanthropic undertakings.

The following may then be sung:

When once of old, in Israel, Our brethren wrought with toil, Jehovah's blessings on them fell, In showers of Corn and Wine and Oil.

In like manner, the Senior Grand Warden presents the Vessel of Wine, which is sprinkled on the Lodge by the Grand Master, saying:

May this Lodge be continually refreshed at the pure fountain of Masonic virtue.

The following may then be sung:

When then a shrine to him above They built, with wors.h.i.+p sin to foil, On threshold and on corner-stone They poured out Corn and Wine and Oil.

The Junior Grand Warden then presents the Vessel of Oil, which is used in the same manner, the Grand Master saying:

May the Supreme Ruler of the Universe preserve this Lodge in peace, and vouchsafe to it every blessing.

The following may then be sung:

And we have come, fraternal bands, With joy and pride and prosperous spoil, To honor him by votive hands, With streams of Corn and Wine and Oil.

Each vessel after use is placed upon the table.

The Grand Master then orders the Officers of the Grand Lodge to kneel as before, when the Grand Chaplain will rehea.r.s.e the remaining portion of the consecration prayer: