CHAPTER XV.

THE CEREMONY OF INSTALLATION OF MASTER OF A LODGE.

“All preferment among Masons is grounded upon real worth and personal merit only; that so the Lord may be well served, the brethren not put to shame, nor the royal craft despised; therefore no Master or Warden is chosen by seniority, but for his merit."—ANCIENT Charges.

Ir is a prominent advantage of the popular form of government, that the grounds of distinction and advancement being chiefly personal qualities, men are classed according to their individual abilities and merit. This is strikingly illustrated in the system of Freemasonry, which to a certain extent inculcates the doctrine of equality; but although each brother has equal pretensions to power, yet to every Lodge there must of necessity be a head. This ruler is the Master, to whom is entrusted for one year the entire responsibility of government. On the completion of his year of office he falls into the ranks of the Past Masters, who may be considered a select council, assisting the Master in the general control of the affairs and accounts of the Lodge, and at all times exercising a vigilant care over its wellbeing. Thus, although the democratic principle is to a certain extent allowed, yet the most perfect equality of rights can never prevent the ascendancy of superior minds, displayed (according to the Masonic theory) in those members who have passed the ordeal of the chair.

The Book of Constitutions declares :

"The officers of a Lodge are the Master and his two Wardens, with their assistants the two Deacons, Inner Guard, and Tyler. There must also be a Treasurer and Secretary. A Chaplain, Master of the Ceremonies, and Stewards may be appointed.

"Every Lodge shall annually elect its Master and Treasurer by ballot, such Master having regularly served as Warden of a warranted Lodge for one year; and, at the next meeting after his election, when the minutes are confirmed, he shall be duly installed in the chair according to ancient usage, after which he shall appoint his Wardens and other officers, except the Treasurer; the Tyler is to be chosen by the members of the Lodge."

All Lodges have a fixed day for the installation, when more than ordinary exertions are made to do honour to the occasion; all the members generally endeavour to be present, and visitors from other Lodges are invited. There must be at least three Past Masters present at an installation; and the brother who undertakes the performance of the ceremony (not necessarily a member of the Lodge) ought to be well skilled in the craft, and possess a thorough acquaintance with all the ceremonies. The Lodge being opened in due form, the Master elect is presented by a Past Master of the Lodge (as duly elected) for installation, his merit and services being his recommendation for the high office of a ruler in the craft. The installing Master informs the Master elect that the choice of the brethren has been approved and confirmed, and imparts to him the necessary qualifications of a Master:-That he should be of good report, true and trusty, and be held in high estimation by the brethren. That he should be exemplary in conduct, easy in address, courteous in manner, but steady and firm in principle. That he must have been regularly initiated, passed, and raised in the several degrees of Freemasonry, and have served the office of Warden in a warranted Lodge for twelve months. That he should be well

skilled in the science, and able and willing to undertake the work. He should be well versed in the ancient charges and landmarks of the Order. He must have been duly elected by ballot of the brethren in open Lodge assembled, and presented before a board of installed Masters, by whom the choice of the brethren must be approved.

Brother Oliver says, "I am decidedly of opinion that much general knowledge is necessary, to expand the mind, and familiarize it with Masonic discussions and illustrations, before a brother can be pronounced competent to undertake the arduous duty of governing a Lodge. A master of the work ought to have nothing to learn. He should be fully qualified, not only to instruct the younger brethren, but to resolve the doubts of those who are more advanced in Masonic knowledge, to reconcile apparent contradictions,-to settle chronologies, and to elucidate obscure facts or mythic legends, as well as to answer the objections, and to render pointless the ridicule of our uninitiated adversaries."

The power of a Master in his Lodge is absolute; he is the supreme arbiter on all questions of order, so far as the meeting is concerned, nor can any appeal be made from his decision to that of the Lodge. He is amenable for his conduct to the Grand Lodge alone.

The Master elect having, in the presence of the Lodge, consented to undertake the office with all its responsibilities, the installing Master directs the Secretary to read the ancient charges and regulations from the Book of Constitutions, to each clause of which the future Master gives his assent :

"1. You agree to be a good man and true, and strictly to obey the moral law.

"2. You are to be a peaceable subject, and cheerfully to conform to the laws of the country in which you reside.

"3. You promise not to be concerned in plots or conspiracies

against government, but patiently to submit to the decisions of the supreme legislature.

66 "4. You agree to pay a proper respect to the civil magistrate, to work diligently, live creditably, and act honourably by all

men.

"5. You agree 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 general Lodge convened in every case consistent with the Constitutions of the Order.

"6. You agree to avoid private piques and quarrels, and to guard against intemperance and excess.

"7. You agree to be cautious in your carriage and behaviour, courteous to your brethren, and faithful to your Lodge.

"8. You promise to respect genuine and true brethren, and to discountenance impostors and all dissenters from the original plan of Freemasonry.

"9. You agree to promote the general good of society, to cultivate the social virtues, and to propagate the knowledge of the mystic art as far as your influence and ability can extend.

"10. 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.

"11. You admit that it is not in the power of any man or body of men to make innovation in the body of Masonry.

"12. You promise a regular attendance on the communications and committees of the Grand Lodge, upon receiving proper notice thereof; and to pay attention to all the duties of Freemasonry upon proper and convenient occasions.

"13. You admit that no new Lodge can be formed without permission of the Grand Master or his Deputy, and that no countenance ought to be given to any irregular Lodge, or to any person initiated therein; and that no public processions of

Masons clothed with the badges of the Order can take place without the special licence of the Grand Master or his Deputy.

"14. You admit that no person can regularly be made a Freemason or admitted a member of any Lodge without previous notice and due inquiry into his character; and that no brother can be advanced to a higher degree except in strict conformity with the laws of the Grand Lodge.

"15. You promise that no visitor shall be received into your Lodge without due examination, and producing proper vouchers of his having been initiated in a regular Lodge."

At the conclusion the Installing Officer addresses the Master elect as follows:-"Do you submit to and promise to support these charges and regulations as Masters have done in all ages ?" Upon his answering in the affirmative the ceremony of installation proceeds.

He is then required, by solemn obligation, to accept the office and to govern his Lodge according to the laws of the Grand Lodge of England, neither himself to introduce, nor to allow in others, any deviation from the ancient usages and landmarks of the Order, but, on the contrary, to preserve the same in their integrity; and in all respects faithfully to discharge his duties as a ruler. This obligation is undertaken for one year, or until a new Master shall have been duly elected and installed in his stead.

The Lodge is then opened in the superior degree, and all, except installed Masters, having retired, a board of installed Masters is declared, and the ceremony of installation proceeds, and on this solemn occasion the Divine aid is thus invoked :

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Almighty, Eternal, and Most High God, vouchsafe thine aid to this our solemn rite, and grant that the worthy and distinguished brother who is now about to be numbered amongst the rulers of the craft, may be endowed with wisdom to comprehend, judgment to define, and firmness to enforce obedience to thy law. Sanctify him with thy grace, strengthen