The Chevaliers
Ritual for the Installation of Officers

1902

Bugle call of Supreme Office answered by roll of drum.
Chevalier: Worthy Herald, a strange challenge has been sounded at our gate. Can you tell its meaning?
Herald: Noble Chevalier, the challenge is that of the Supreme President of this Order.
He comes in peace, but the purpose of his coming I cannot tell.
Chevalier: Worthy Keeper, our Supreme President challenges this Castle. You will give him greeting, and ascertain his purpose and his pleasure.
Keeper: Worthy Master-at-Arms, you will pass the inner gate to meet our Supreme President. Give him the greeting of this Castle and learn his will and pleasure.
Master-at-Arms retires, returns and reports.
Master-at-Arms: Worthy Keeper, the Supreme President and the members of the Supreme Council are in waiting to install the officers of this Castle.
Seated.
Keeper: Noble Chevalier, the members of the Supreme Council of this Order are in waiting to install the officers of this Castle.
Chevalier: Worthy King-at-Arms, you will summon the guard.
King-at-Arms: Guards, attention!
Guards stand at attention till further orders.
Alarm at inner door.
Warder: Noble Chevalier, there is an alarm at the inner gate.
Chevalier: You will attend the alarm.
Warder: It is the Supreme Marshal of this Order with a message for this Castle.
Chevalier: Admit him.
Marshal advances to altar and salutes.
Marshal: Noble Chevalier, the Supreme Council is in readiness to install the officers of this Castle. But before the ceremony can proceed I am directed to secure certain information. Have your officers been constitutionally elected?
Chevalier: They have.
Marshal: Have the reports been properly made and the necessary bonds approved?
Chevalier: They have.
Marshal: Is this Castle in good standing in the Order, having paid all dues or assessments and having kept the laws?
Chevalier: It is.
Marshal: Then we await your pleasure.
Retires to anteroom.
Chevalier: Worthy King-at-Arms, you will prepare the guard as an escort to the Supreme Council.
March to inner gate.
Worthy Warder, you will throw open the inner gate and admit the Supreme Council of the Chevaliers.
Calls up. Guards conduct before altar.
Chevalier: Chevaliers, salute the Supreme Council.
All salute. Seats Castle.
Supreme President: Noble Chevalier, we return your greeting heartily. Your officers having been constitutionally elected, the proper returns made, and this Castle having paid all dues and assessments, it is my pleasure that the installation of its officers-elect be proceeded with at once.
Chevalier calls up officers: Worthy officers of … Castle, No…., you will retire from your stations that they may be filled by the Supreme Council.
Worthy King-at-Arms, you will seat the Supreme Officers.
Seat as at opening, and guards take places by the stations ae in opening.
Supreme President: Noble Chevalier, in recognition of your valuable services, I direct that on this occasion you occupy the post of honor upon my right as Junior Past Chevalier of this Castle.
If Noble Chevalier has been re-elected address this to the Junior Past Noble.
The Supreme Secretary will call the roll of officers to be installed and the Supreme Marshal will arrange them at the altar to receive the obligation.
Place Chevalier Keeper, Past Chevalier and Chaplain in a circle about the altar. The other officers form second and outer circle facing the Supreme President. When all are in place the guards will form a third circle facing outward with swords or spears at "order."
Marshal: Supreme President, the officers are in readiness to take the solemn obligation.
President: Each of the officers of the inner circle will place his right hand upon the open Bible the others will face me. Each will say '' I," pronounce his name, and repeat after me:
Calls up.
I, …, in the presence of God and this fellowship, do most solemnly promise upon my sacred honor, that I will faithfully strive to discharge the duties of my office according to the laws and usages of the Order.
I pledge myself that I will, in every legitimate way strive to promote the welfare of "The Chevaliers," that I will not in any way take advantage of, or abuse my official position; and that I will be kind, considerate and courteous to my fellow members.
Guards resume their places, officers elect are placed in seats of the guards. Supreme Marshal will present them before Supreme President in order named.
 
 
Sentinel and Warder
 
Supreme Marshal: Supreme President, I present to you the Sentinel and the Warder for the charge of office.
Supreme President: Sentinel and Warder, you will faithfully guard the portals of your Castle against the entrance of all strangers and allow no member to enter, except by benefit of the passwords and the permission of the Noble Chevalier; and in all things you will strive to promote the welfare and harmony of your Castle.
The Supreme Marshal will invest you with the badge of office, and conduct you to your respective posts where you will enter upon the discharge of your duties.
 
 
Herald and Master of the Robes
 
Marshal: Supreme President, the Herald and the Master of the Robes are before you for the charge of office.
President: Worthy Herald, you are the ambassador of this Castle. You will announce all proclamations, interpret all challenges and signs of Heraldry, and receive visiting ambassadors in the name of your Chief.
Worthy Master of the Robes, it is your duty to take charge of and carefully keep all property of the Castle; to see that officers and members are clothed with proper regalia during Council, and that the Altar is properly prepared.
The Supreme Marshal will now invest you with your badges of office and conduct you to your places in the Castle.
 
 
Master-at-Arms and Groom
 
Marshal: Supreme President, I present to you the Master at Arms and the Groom of this Castle for investiture.
President: Worthy Master at Arms, you are a military officer in this Castle. You will make the evening and the morning rounds and will place the sentinels at the gates. You will attend candidates, and escort visiting brethren, and perform such other duties as the Keeper of the Castle or the Noble Chevalier may direct.
Remember that much of the success of the meetings of your Castle will depend upon the skill and fidelity with which you perform your duties.
Worthy Groom, you will assist the Master at Arms in the evening and morning rounds, and perform such other duties as he or the Keeper of the Castle may direct.
Be faithful and earnest.
The Supreme 1Iarshal will now invest you with your badges of office and conduct you to your places in the Castle.
 
 
Bursar
 
Marshal: Supreme President, I now present the Bursar of this Castle for investiture.
President: Worthy Bursar, you have been chosen for a responsible position. Your duties are to keep the funds of this Castle in all safety, and to pay all legal orders drawn upon you out of such funds. The importance and responsibility of the office to which you have been elected will always admonish you to hold untarnished the honor you have this night pledged to your Castle.
The Supreme Marshal will invest you with your badge and conduct you to your place.
 
 
Clerk
 
Marshal: Supreme President, I present before you the Clerk of this Castle for the charge of office.
President: Worthy Clerk, you have arduous and important duties. You will keep accurate minutes of all meetings of this Castle, and an accurate account of the financial standing of each member of this Castle, and properly pay over to the Bursar all funds of the Castle coming into your hands. You will make true and correct returns and proper remittances to the Supreme Council. You will attend to all the correspondence of the Castle, and issue all notices that may be required by the Constitution and Laws, or be ordered by this Castle. You will sign all orders yoted by this Castle, and perform such other lawful duties as may be ordered by the Noble Chevalier or by the Castle. I believe that you fully appreciate the importance of the duties of your office, and that the pledges just given by you will be faithfully redeemed.
Supreme Marshal, you will now conduct the Clerk to his (or her) post to be invested with the badge of office.
Marshal: Worthy Supreme Secretary, by command of the Supreme President I present the Clerk of this Council to be invested with the badge of office.
Supreme Secretary: Worthy Clerk, I am pleased to present you with the badge of your office. Wear it with honor to yourself and credit to the Castle. I now resign to you this honorable station. Enter upon the discharge of your duties with the full assurance that you have the confidence, esteem and good wishes of this Castle.
 
 
Chaplain
 
Marshal: Supreme President, I have the honor to present the Chaplain of this Castle for investiture with the badge of office.
President: Worthy Chap;ain, your duty will be to conduct the devotional exercises of this Castle in all sessions, initiations and funeral services. 1Iay you do this in such manner that men may reverence your office and love your words of comfort. It should be your duty also to visit the sick and to be foremost in all the charitable work of this Castle.
The Supreme Marshal will now invest you with the badge of your office and conduct you to your station.
 
 
Keeper of the Castle
 
Marshal: Supreme President, I now have the honor to present to you Chevalier …, upon whom has been conferred the honor of Keeper of this Castle.
President: Worthy Keeper, to your fidelity is committed the care of this Castle. You are its keeper in times of peace and in times of war. You are to see that its officers are in place, that its gates are guarded, that none but friends are present and that they have the word and
the sign of a Chevalier. You will at all times be the helper of the Noble Chevalier, and in his absence you will to the best of your ability perform the duties of his high office. May you strive by all lawful means to preserve the harmony of this Castle and advance its welfare.
Supreme Marshal, you will conduct the Keeper of the Castle to his station to be invested with the badge of office.
Marshal: Supreme Vice President, by command of the Supreme President I present to you the Keeper of the Castle to be duly invested with the badge of office.
Supreme Vice President: Worthy Keeper of the Castle, I invest you with the badge of office, and welcome you to your post of honor. I present you with this Ritual and with this Gavel. You will now take your seat and enter upon the discharge of you duties.
Marshal: Supreme President, I now have the honor to present to you Brother …, who has been elected Noble Chevalier of this Castle.
President, calls up: Chevalier …, you have been elected to the highest office in the gift of the members of this Castle. As Noble Chevalier your duties will be complicated, and at times very exacting, requiring from you great patience and tact. As chief executive officer you will hold the interests of the Castle and its members of paramount importance.
Ever strive to promote harmony among your members. Above all, set an example of promptness and regularity in attendance upon meetings, and of loyal obedience to the constitution and laws of the Supreme Council.
I now invest you with the badge of your office, in the full confidence that it will be handed to your successor as unsullied as you now receive it. Welcome to your post of trust and honor. I give to you the constitution, by-laws and the ritual, which you will take as your guide and instructor, also this gavel, the emblem of your authority. Finally, I commit to your keeping the charter of this Castle. May you ever cherish and defend it; and may God, the searcher of all hearts, protect you in health, and give you wisdom to govern this Castle with honor to yourself and prosperity to our beloved Order.
You will now enter upon your duties by seating this Castle.
President, turning to Past Noble: Brother …, Junior Past Noble Chevalier, it affords me much pleasure to have the privilege of decorating you with this badge of office and of honor.
You will now be conducted by the Supreme Marshal to your post, and may this Castle and the Order long enjoy the benefit of your wise counsel and ripe experience.
President: Supreme Marshal, it is now my pleasure that you proclaim the officers of … Castle No. …, duly and legally installed.
Calls up. Marshal stands beside Herald who sounds the trumpet.
Marshal: By command of the Supreme President I hereby proclaim the officers of … Castle … of "The Chevaliers" duly and legally installed: and may peace, harmony and good will ever reign within these walls.
Roll of drum,