Order of Allied Masonic Degrees
Installation of Master in the Degree of St. Lawrence the Martyr

 
2004

A Lodge of the Degree of St. Lawrence the Martyr must have been opened.
The Installing Master will invite a Past Master to act as Inner Guard. He should also invite Past Masters, if available, to take the two Wardens’ Chairs.
He then invites Chaplain (if available) and Director of Ceremonies to Continue in Office.
Director of Ceremonies, from the middle of Lodge. salutes the Installing Master and presents the Master Elect: Worshipful Master, I present Brother …, who has been elected by the Brethren to rule over this the … Council of the Order of the Allied Masonic Degrees, to receive at your hands the benefit of installation as Master of this Lodge of St. Lawrence the Martyr, and thereby Master of this Council, the better to qualify him for his high Office. We know him to be of great skill, true and trusty, and held in high esteem by his Brethren and Fellows.
Installing Master: I will attend to your presentation with pleasure, but will first ask our Brother certain questions, to which I trust that he will give unequivocal replies.
Director of Ceremonies resumes his seat.
Installing Master: Bro. have you been regularly elected to rule over this Council, having served for a full year as one of the Wardens of a regular Council?
Master Elect: I have.
If a dispensation has been granted by the Grand Master, it must be read now.
Installing Master: Do you agree to hold yourself in submission to the Grand Master and his Deputy, cheerfully to uphold the Constitutions and Regulations of the Order of the Allied Masonic Degrees, and to conform with the awards and resolutions of the Grand Council.
Master Elect: I do.
Installing Master: Do you agree to promote the good of the Order in general, and of this Council in particular, in so far as lies in your power and to the best of your ability?
Master Elect: I do
Installing Master: Do you admit that a new Council of this Order cannot be formed without a Warrant from the Grand Master?
Master Elect: I do
Director of Ceremonies conducts Master Elect to a seat.
Installing Master: I must now ask the Brethren below the rank of Installed Master in the Degree of St Lawrence the Martyr to retire from the Lodge.
The Brethren do not salute on withdrawal. Director of Ceremonies places kneeling stool in middle of Lodge.
Installing Master: By virtue of the power in me vested, I declare this to be a duly opened Board of Installed Masters in the Degree of St. Lawrence the Martyr.
One knock, not repeated.
Director of Ceremonies conducts Master Elect to kneeling stool
Installing Master: The Brethren will rise, turn to the East and assume an attitude of prayer.
All rise and turn to the East. Master Elect kneels.
Chaplain: Almighty Father and Great Disposer of All, vouchsafe Thy blessing on this our solemn rite, and grant that this Brother, who is about to be numbered among the Rulers of the Order of the Allied Masonic Degrees, may be endued with wisdom to comprehend, judgment to define and ability to enforce obedience to Thy most holy law Sanctify him with Thy grace, strengthen him with Thy mighty power, and enrich his mind with genuine knowledge, that he may the better be enabled to enlighten the minds of his Brethren and to promote the honour and glory of Thy most holy Name.
All: So mote it be.
Installing Master: You will now rise and advance to the pedestal
Director of Ceremonies removes kneeling stool.
Director of Ceremonies: Brethren you will face inwards.
Master Elect advances to pedestal.
Installing Master: Stand erect, place your right hand on the Volume of the Sacred Law, state your names at length and repeat after me the solemn Obligation of an Installed Master in the Degree of St. Lawrence the Martyr.
I, …, in the presence of the Great Disposer of All, do hereby agree to accept the Office of Master of this Lodge of St. Lawrence the Martyr, and thereby Master of this the ... Council of the Order of the Allied Masonic Degrees, and do engage myself to a faithful performance of the duties thereof to the best of my skill and ability.
I further promise never to divulge the secrets restricted to this Chair to anyone who is not duly qualified to receive them, either as an Installed Master of a Lodge of St. Lawrence the Martyr, or as a candidate duly elected to rule over a Council of the Order and obligated in a Board of Installed Masters in the Degree of St. Lawrence the Martyr. To all these points I pledge my honour as a man and a Mason.
Installing Master: As a pledge of your fidelity you will salute the Volume of the Sacred Law once
Master Elect does so.
Director of Ceremonies places two chairs in middle of Lodge, facing each other East and West. Installing Master leaves his chair takes Master Elect by both hands, conducts him via South and seats him in chair facing East. Installing Master sits opposite him facing West.
Installing Master: When it became necessary for our predecessors of old to change their place of abode in search of work, a knowledge of this Degree was of great importance to them, as it enabled them to claim the needful amount of hospitality to prosecute their journey from place to place. As the means of travel in those days were much restricted, they were obliged to go on foot, or, as they called it, "on tramp". At the close of day, when they were in need of rest after their exertions, they were accustomed to enter a roadside hostelry Anxious to discover if any of their Brethren were present, they clasping the right hand and struck the right knee with the right elbow. The reply to this was given by clenching the left hand and striking the left knee with the left elbow.
Both rise, Installing Master conducts Master Elect via North with both hands to a position in front of the pedestal, Installing Master facing South. Master Elect facing North
Installing Master: The Grip is given in this manner: place your clenched right hand (back of hand upwards) on my open right hand; I cover this with my open left hand; each then gives the Sign of Fidelity, and says: "hand and hear," signifying that your hand and heart are alike open to the relief of the wants of your Brethren.
The Salutation of an Installed Master is given in this manner: extend the right hand clenched (back of hand upwards), then strike the left breast with the open right hand, and then, slightly bending the right knee, strike the front of the right thigh with the right hand.
Installing Master takes off Muster’s Collar.
I now invest you with the Collar and Jewel of your Office, the highest honour which the Lodge can bestow on any of its Brethren.
Installing Master walking backwards with Grip leads Master Elect to Chair.
With the Grip and the Words "hand and heart", I now place you in the Chair of this Lodge of St. Lawrence the Martyr.
Installing Master adopts Sign of Reverence.
May the Great Disposer of All have you in His holy keeping now and for ever.
Installing Master discharges Sign of Reverence.
I salute you as an Installed Master.
Installed Master gives Salute, hand heart and thigh, once.
I present to you this gavel, the symbol of authority.
You will now be pleased to invest the Immediate Past Master.
Worshipful Master does so extempore.
Installing Master: Brethren, W. Bro. … has been installed into the Chair of this Lodge of St Lawrence the Martyr, and has thereby become the Master of this the Council of the Order of the Allied Masonic Degrees, and I call upon you to salute him as Installed Masters with five, taking the time with me.
The salute is hand, heart and thigh, five times.
Installing Master: Worshipful Master, will you now be pleased to declare this Board of Installed Masters closed?
Master: I declare this Board of Installed Masters closed.
One knock, not repeated.
Director of Ceremonies: Brethren, be seated.
All sit.
Director of Ceremonies removes chairs from middle of Lodge.
Installing Master: Bro. Inner Guard, admit the Brethren.
Inner Guard rises and salutes, opens door and admits the Brethren, who do not salute. Visitors enter first and are seated. Members of the Lodge line up in the North under the direction of the Director of Ceremonies.
Installing Master: Brethren, during your temporary absence W. Bro. … has been regularly installed as Master of this Lodge of St Lawrence the Martyr, and I call upon you to pass round the Lodge and salute him as Brothers of St. Lawrence.
Perambulation is led by Director of Ceremonies.
Installing Master: I now proclaim that W. Bro. … has been regularly installed as Master of this Lodge of St. Lawrence the Martyr, and thereby Master of this the … Council, No. … on the Register of the Grand Council of the Order of the Allied Masonic Degrees of England and
Wales and Districts and Councils Overseas, for the ensuing twelve months, and until a successor shall have been regularly elected and installed in his stead, and I call upon you to greet him three times as Brothers of St. Lawrence, taking the time with the Director of Ceremonies.
Director of Ceremonies conducts greeting, which is the knocks of the Degree three times.
Director of Ceremonies: Brethren, be seated.
Worshipful Master stands.
Installing Master: I present to you the Warrant of the Council. Worshipful Master sits. I also present copies of the Constitutions and Regulations of the Order of the Allied Masonic Degrees and the By-Laws of this Council.
Installing Master: Worshipful Master, you will now appoint and invest your Officers.
This is carried out in the usual manner.

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