Colonial Fraternal Order
Ritual for the Installation of Officers

 
1908

The Installing Officer must be a Past President or a Deputy President especially appointed.
President, **: Brother Officers, the time having arrived for us to lay down our badges of office and take our place among the brethren of the Chapter, you will advance before the altar, face the President's chair and deposit your badges and rituals. Done.
President, *: Brother Deputy President, I now present you my badge of office and all property vested in me as President and vacate my position in your favor. Done.
Deputy President: At my request, the officers who have just laid down their emblems of authority will continue to act by appointment until the ceremony of installation is over.
Brother Secretary, have the bonds of the Trustees-elect been filed with you?
Secretary, salutes: They have, Brother Deputy President.
Deputy President: You will then read them and await proper action on each.
The following is a guide for action upon bonds of Trustees which shall remain in the hands of the Secretary.
Deputy President: Brethren, what shall be done with the bonds of the Trustees.
A Member: Brother Deputy President salutes, I move that the bonds be accepted and that they be properly filed by the Secretary.
After the motion is "seconded."
Deputy President: Brethren, you have heard the motion. Are there any remarks? All who are in favor will respond by saying "aye"; contrary, "no." The bonds are accepted and the Secretary will so record.
After the bonds of the above named officers have been accepted.
Deputy President: The Marshal will present the President-elect before the altar. Done in a becoming manner.
Marshal, salutes: Brother Deputy President, I have the honor of presenting to you brother …, who has been regularly elected President of … Chapter No. …, of The Colonial Fraternal Order.
Deputy President: My Brother, I greet you. You have been honored by your brethren in being placed in the highest position among them.
With your election come grave responsibilities. You are to give of your time and ability, so much as you possibly can, to the good of the Order. Your duties are laid down in the Statutes. Attend to the reading of them. I herewith pre sent you the rituals, secret work and charter of this Chapter, which shall remain in your possession during your term of office. Look well to their safety. You will sign the receipt for the rituals and present it to the retiring President, who will, before leaving this hall, deliver such receipt to the Secretary of the Chapter, to be mailed to the National Secretary. Having heard your duties and responsibilities, are you now willing to accept the position of President, promising faithfully to discharge the duties of the office?
President-elect, salutes: I am, and so promise.
Deputy President: I then present you the badge of your office, which you are always to wear when on duty. Hands badge to Marshal who places it on President.
Takes up the gavel. One rap * seats the Chapter. Two raps * * call up the officers alone, and three raps * * * call up the members.
Brethren, I now have the pleasure of presenting to you Brother …, your regularly elected and installed President. Brother Marshal, conduct the President to his chair. *.
Deputy President: Brother Marshal, you will now present the Vice-President, Chaplain, and Ex-President-elect. Done by taking these three officers before the altar.
Marshal: Brother Deputy President, I have the honor to present Brothers …, … and … duly elected Vice-President, Chaplain and Past-President, respectively.
Deputy President: My brethren, you are the chief supporters of the President of the Chapter. Your election attests the confidence your fellow members have in your ability to perform the duties incumbent upon you. Do you accept the offices to which you have been elected, promising to discharge faithfully the duties thereof.
Officers: We do so promise.
Deputy President: Brother Marshal, you will conduct the brethren to their respective stations.
Done.
Deputy President: Brother Marshal, you will now present the Secretary and Treasurer. Done
in the same manner as before.
Marshal: Brother Deputy President, I have the honor to present Brothers … and …, who have been regularly appointed Secretary and Treasurer of this Chapter.
Deputy President: My brethren, you are the chief financial officers of this Chapter. While important duties rest upon the President and his three supporters, yet upon your shoulders rests the most important duty of meeting every financial obligation, to the honor of all concerned. In a great measure the insurance of every member of this Chapter is in your keeping. What a solemn trust it is! Do you severally promise honorably and faithfully to account for all moneys that may come into your hands?
Officers: We do so promise.
Deputy President: In your care I then place the books, accounts and moneys of this Chapter: all of which you will safely guard. You will obey all orders of the Chapter in the further performance of your duties. Brother Marshal conduct the brethren to their respective stations.
Done in the same manner as before.
Deputy President: Brother Marshal, you will now present the remaining officers-elect the Editor, Marshal, Custodian, Warden, Argus and Trustees, before the altar. Done as before.
Marshal: Brother Deputy President, I have the honor to present Brothers …, …, …, …, …, …, … and …, who have been elected Editor, Marshal, Custodian, Warder, Argus and Trustees, respectively.
Deputy President: My brethren, your fellow members have shown their confidence in you by electing you to your respective offices each one of which is so important that its neglect will much impair the workings of the Chapter. I trust you will fulfill your duty. Do you so promise?
Officers: We do so promise.
Deputy President: Brother Marshal, you will conduct these officers also to their respective stations. Done.
Deputy President, ***: Officers and members: I now have the honor to declare the officers of … Chapter No. …, of The Colonial Fraternal Order, duly installed, in accordance with the Constitution of the Order, and I will officially cause it to be so reported to the National Secretary.
I wish you success in the work of the ensuing term. *.
Mr. President, I shall now communicate the term password, and deliver to you the emblem of your office. Done.
President: Brethren, in assuming the duties of this office I trust that I shall have your support, and that none of us may ever forget the motto of the association – Liberty, Equality, Justice. So far as the duties of the office are concerned, you, my brethren, represent "all and I one''; and I promise you that I shall aim so to preside that it will be ''one for all.'' Brethren
I thank you for the honor.
President: Brother Custodian, I place in your charge the Rituals, and will look to you for their safe keeping. On no account allow them to leave this hall, except in case of extreme necessity and after conferring with me.
President: Brother Marshal, you will now receive the term pass-word and communicate it to the brethren, beginning with the Vice-President; then to the brothers on his right, and thus around the Chapter.
Note-The Deputy President shall furnish the Secretary a list of the installed officers duly attested, and the Secretary shall immediately forward the same to the National Secretary, after having placed the seal of the Chapter thereon.