n.d.

M.E.R.A.D.: Companion Director of Ceremonies, Companion -- having been examined and reported competent to undertake the duties of Most Excellent Royal Arch Druid for the ensuing session, I request you to conduct him to the Altar.
D.C.: Most Excellent Royal Arch Druid, I present our worthy Companion -- to be installed Most Excellent Royal Arch Druid.
M.E.R.A.D., with knock: Companions, please be upstanding.
The Tacitus advances with the Eubates and administers the following Obligation. The Candidate places his right hand upon the Volume of the Sacred Law.
Tacitus: Most Excellent Royal Arch Druid Elect, do you promise to be courteous to the Companions, and faithfully to discharge the duties of the Office?
Answer: I do.
Tacitus: Do you promise to support the Laws inviolate, and to promote the interests of the Chapter by the best means in your power?
Answer: I do.
Tacitus: Do you promise to preserve order and decorum, to promote harmony, and to inculcate --?
Answer: I do, upon my Sacred Word of Honour.
Chords by Organist.
The Most Excellent Royal Arch Druid Elect is presented at the right of the Most Excellent Royal Arch Druid, who invests him with the Sash, and, handing him the Sceptre, says: This Sceptre, the emblem of your authority, you are expected to sway with honour.
The light at the Altar represents O--, and must at all times be practised if we seek to profit by the experience of our leaders and teachers.
Should you be called upon to decide an offence or trespass against our Rules, it is expected that you will judge with candour, admonish with friendship, and reprehend with justice.
Companion --, I congratulate you on being elected to this office. Your zeal for the Institution, the progress you have made in our Mysteries, and your steadfast conformity to our useful regulations, have proved you fully qualified for the exalted rank to which you have now been called. Your past behaviour and regular deportment in the offices you have already filled leave no doubt that you will discharge the duties of your present office with fidelity, by supporting the dignity and preserving unsullied the reputation of this Royal Arch Degree, and by precept and example render yourself deserving the honour conferred, and worthy of the confidence we have reposed.
The Chair is then resigned to the new Most Excellent Royal Arch Druid.
The Eubates and Tacitus retire to their positions.
M.E.R.A.D., with knock: Companions, please be seated.
The Most Excellent Royal Arch Druid requests the Director of Ceremonies to present the elected Canidates in order of precedence, and invests each with the Sash of his Office.
M.E.R.A.D.: Companion --, having been elected Tacitus, you are now called to assist me in the administration of this Chapter, and I rely upon your knowledge in order that we may maintain the high traditions of our predecessors.
Your Robe of Office is White, a colour considered by the ancients the emblem of purity, chastity and virtue.
M.E.R.A.D.: Companion --, your duties as the Director of Ceremonies are to observe that all
signs are properly given, to control the performance of all ceremonies, and to assist me in maintaining the dignity of the Chapter.
This Wand is the emblem of authority, second only to that of the M.E.R.A.D. May it ever be regarded with honour and symbolise the integrity of the bearer.
The Most Excellent Royal Arch Druid hands him the Wand.
M.E.R.A.D.: Companion --, having been elected to the office of Senior Eubate for the ensuing session, your regular attendance is essential to assist me in the government of the Chapter. I rely firmly on your knowledge of, and attachment to, the Chapter for the faithful discharge of the duties of your office.
The light facing you represents Fidelity, and signifies our determination faithfully to carry out the sublime principles referred to, which we may better achieve by an earnest application to our study of celestial grandeur and desire for heavenly support.
The Senior Eubate remains before the Altar.
M.E.R.A.D.: Companion --, having been elected Junior Eubate, I entrust to you the introduction of the Candidates. Your regular and punctual attendance is particularly necessary, and I have no doubt that your zeal will incline you to execute faithfully the duties of your present appointment.
The light facing you represents Frienship, and signifies an expression of the finest of earthly attributes, and its symbol is rightly placed in your care. Friendship to all mankind is based on a desire to increase the happiness of our associates, even at the expense of our own comfort, and so as to be able to claim with justice, equal consideration on earth and suitable reward here after.
The Junior Eubate remains before the Altar.
M.E.R.A.D.: Companion Eubates, I have too high an opinion of your zeal and attachment to this Degree to consider much instruction necessary as to the duties of your respective offices. I need only remark that I expect you to observe and comply with the laws laid down for the government of the Chapter, so that by your example you may ensure a similar observance of our precepts by the Companions.
Companion Eubates, your Robes of Office are Green, the colour of the clothing of Nature, which was considered by our ancient predecessors a symbol of learning.
The Eubates retire to their positions,
M.E.R.A.D.: Companion --, you have been elected Treasurer.
Installation of Treasurer with appropriate remarks.
M.E.R.A.D.: Companion --, you have been elected Senior Guardian.
Your duty is to prepare the Chapter Room for the reception of the Companions, and assist in restoring the Robes and Regalia.
During the sitting of the Chapter you will attend to my commands, and announce the arrival of each Companion by name.
Your Robe of Office is Black, symbolical of power and mystery.
This Sword is intended for the purpose of protecting the Chapter from the intrusion of strangers. May it never be drawn without cause, nor sheathed without honour.
The Most Excellent Royal Arch Druid hands the Sword to the Senior Guardian.
M.E.R.A.D.: Companion --, you have been elected Junior Guardian.
It is your province to protect the Chapter from the intrusion of strangers, and to prevent impositions you will demand the Passwords and Token from all who desire to enter.
On the introduction of Candidates, and during all ceremonies, you will remain at the entrance.
I rely upon your strict attention to the duties of your office.
M.E.R.A.D.: Companion --, you have been elected Registrar.
Your duty is to register every Companion, and to assist the Tacitus when requested.
M.E.R.A.D.: Companions -- and --, you have been elected Bards.
Your regular attendance is necessary in order to qualify yourselves for further advancement in our Mysteries.
Your Robes of Office are Sky-Blue, that colour being emblematic of peace and truth.
M.E.R.A.D.: Companions -- and --, you have been elected Graduate Bards.
I trust that your promotion will be an incentive for your further progress in the Mysteries of this Degree.
Your Robes of Office are of the Bardic colour, emblematic of the Degree.
M.E.R.A.D.: Companion --, you have been elected Chaplain.
M.E.R.A.D.: Companion --, you have been elected Organist.
M.E.R.A.D.: Companion --, you have been elected Steward.
Appropriate remarks in each case.
M.E.R.A.D.: Companions, as members of this Degree we are pledged to -- to a ruling Power; we are also pledged to -- and --, which is the privilege of that Power to bestow.
Let us in all humility each perform his duty one to the other.
Those whom you have elected to assist me are, by virtue of their positions in your esteem, well worthy of the honour accorded them, and I trust that we may, in our efforts to act up to the harmonious teachings of the Degree, reflect happiness upon the world at large.
Takes Sceptre.
M.E.R.A.D.: I now and hereby declare this Chapter, No. --, duly and legally constituted.
Knocks.