April 2002 Dream Weavers Newsletter

HINTS FOR PREPARING FOR YOUR INSTALLATION

1. Date and time for Installation should be set and placed on your Temple calendar. Please get your date to Marian Mepham so the date can be added to our Grand Chapter Installation program.
2. Remember to have your chapter vote for Open Installation. This can be done right after election of officers.
3. A special dispensation must be obtained if the Installation is to be held after July 15th. A special dispensation can only be given if there is a good reason for not holding the installation before July 15th.
4. Installing Officers needed:
   • Installing Matron
   • Installing Patron
   • Installing Chaplain
   • Installing Marshal
   • Installing Organist
   The Installing Officer must have attained the rank of Past Matron and Past Patron. Visitors from another Jurisdiction are permitted if they meet the necessary requirements.
5. If you have extra invitations, you might ask your officers if they would like to have some to send to their friends and relatives.
6. Only Distinguished Guests are escorted. Honored Guests are introduced in a group.
7. Chapter registration book is not used for Open Installation.
8. Photographer: Be sure it is understood which pictures you want taken. Please let the photographer know (if not a member) where they should stand, and remind them that no one but the Installing Marshal is permitted to walk between the Altar and the East when the Bible is open.
9. Plans for a reception following the Installation should be made in accordance with the policy and traditions of your chapter. Remember we strive for peace and harmony in our chapter at all times. If you decide to make some changes, do make them gently, and please be aware of those things we cannot change.
10. Plan a practice date. Prior to the practice, please read about Installation in your Ritual and Pink Pages.
    1. Outgoing officers are responsible the chapter room being properly set up.
    1. Semicircle of chairs in the West may be placed before the meeting or at the recess.
    2. Chair for Installing Marshal is placed at the left of the Marshal's station.
    3. Chair for Installing Chaplain is placed at the right of the Chaplain's station.
    2. The Ballot Box is not placed in the East.
    3. Star Pedestals may be lighted and emblems used.
    4. The Flag is placed in the East when the chapter is set up.
    5. It is permissible to use pro-tem officers for those officers being Installed again.
11. The Minutes must be recorded in the Chapter Minute Book. You may appoint someone to take notes for the Secretary. Installation programs may be put into your minute book, however, this does not take the place of written Minutes. It is permissible to have an article written about the Installation and published in your local newspaper.
12. Items necessary for Installation:
    1. Chapter Charter
    2. Bible
    3. Gavel
    4. Secret Work
    5. Grand Chapter Bylaws and Chapter Bylaws
    6. Baton for Marshal.
13. PROGRAM
    • Musical Prelude
    • Entrance of the Bible
    • Entrance of retiring WM, WP, AP and Organist (if Organist is not already at the instrument)
    • WM and WP remain standing, AP is seated
    • WP sounds the gavel - music begins, retiring officers enter without invitation and assume their stations
    • WM "Sister Conductress, you will open the Bible" The Conductress opens the Bible without form (she does not bow or give sign). She then goes back to her station. Members do take the reverent sign while the Conductress is in the altar area.
    • WM asks everyone to join her in the Lord's Prayer specifying the word "debts" or "trespasses" (this should be in the program, too) and advises everyone to remain standing for the Flag ceremony. The sign of Reverence is not taken during the Lord's Prayer nor do we give the Ritualistic response. This is not a Ritualistic prayer.
    • When the prayer is finished and before the Pledge of Allegiance, the WM strikes one blow of the gavel and says "I now declare .......Chapter number........open for the Ceremony of Installation."
    • WM now leads the Pledge of Allegiance to our Flag and singing of the National Anthem.
    • WM strikes one blow of the gavel to seat the assembly.
    • WM gives a welcome.
    • Escort - Distinguished Guests only:
      WGM, WGP, General Grand Chapter Officers, General Grand Chapter Committee members, PGMs and PGPs, Grand Officers. WM asks Honored Guests to stand and be recognized as groups: Grand Committee members, Grand Representatives, WMs and WPs.
14. If the Installing Officer is in the East, WM introduces her. If not, she is escorted and introduced by the Conductress.
15. WM hands the Installing Officer the gavel and she, in turn introduces those assisting in the Installation.
16. The Installing Officer declares "a recess to prepare for the Ceremony of Installation". She then instructs the 2001-2002 officers to retire. The retiring officers are led out by the WM and WP going down the North and South marching lines. See Pink Pages.
17. The Bible remains open. If you have entertainment during the recess, remind them that the Bible is open and not to go between the Altar and the East.
18. The Installing Marshal gathers the jewels and places them on the Altar.
19. Installation proceeds according to Ritual. Remember, Ritual Diagram #19 was changed to conform to the wording on page 98: "....around the square of the Chapter room..." (Installing Marshal does not follow behind the curve of the chairs this first time around the room). Installing Marshal is to bow, turn, and then raise the Baton. Installing Marshal bows before Baton is raised and after it is lowered.
20. The Sign of Reverence is taken when the Installing Chaplain enters the Labyrinth and again when the Installing Patron enters the Labyrinth for the Obligation.
21. The Installing Marshal always stands at the head of the Semicircle of chairs and slightly to the South after each Officer has been installed.
22. Be sure to follow the Ritual on page 106 (the fine print) for proper procedure when the Installing Matron calls up the Chapter. The WM is in the East before the raps of the gavel. The same hold true for the WP.
23. The Installing Marshal may give the Proclamation at her/his station or behind the Altar. The Sign of Reverence is not taken if the Marshal goes behind the Altar.
24. Do not remove the semicircle of chairs until after the Proclamation is given.
25. Address of the WM and WP. WM may announce the members of the Standing Committees here or at the first meeting in September.
26. Good of the Order. Not everyone needs to be called on to speak. Keep it to a minimum - a General Grand Officer, PGM or PGP and a Grand Officer (nice, but not necessary)
    1. Remember to ask groups to stand: Dream Weavers, Sparklers, Victorian Jewels and new ACs.
    2. Presiding officers of other Masonic organizations should be seated in the East (providing there is room) and acknowledged at this time.
    3. Presentations: Remember to tell them to be brief. Remind your non-member family and friends not to walk between the Altar and the East.
27. WM- "Sister Conductress, you will close the Bible." WM gives three raps of the gavel to call up the assembled. Again, no sign is given by the Conductress.
28. WM- "We will now have the Bible signing Ceremony." WM takes the right arm of her escort and WP takes the left arm of his escort. They proceed down the North and South marching lines to the West. The WM and her escort enter the Labyrinth between Martha and Esther. The WP and his escort enter the Labyrinth between Ruth and Esther. All four back to the edge of the Labyrinth, turn and walk back to the East the way they came. Members and guests remain seated.
29. A Closing Ode is sung (not necessarily the one you will be using in chapter during your year, but something that is familiar to everyone).
30. The Mitzpah Benediction is repeated in unison.
31. The WM now declares the meeting closed with one rap of the gavel.
32. The newly installed officers may use a retiring march. Be sure this has been practiced.

NOTE:
When the WM is installed, she must be handed a current copy of the Constitution and Bylaws of the Grand Chapter and the Bylaws of your chapter. Be sure the Installing Matron has these copies.

When the Worthy Patron is installed, he is given the Secret Work.

Before the Installation, all the Secret Work should be turned in to the Secretary. Check with your secretary to see if this has been done and be sure the Installing Matron has one for presentation.