Social Order of the Beauceant
Installation Ceremony

1991

During the intermission. the Preceptress places seventeen chairs around the altar, in the form of a cross.
If the Installing Officer is to be the Oracle, but sixteen chairs should be placed. The retiring Marshals, Chaplain, Standard and Color Bearers and Director of Music occupy their stations, and assist the Installing Officer. If any of these retiring officers are to be installed, others should be appointed to occupy their stations.
Chairs for the Oracle and Director of Music are placed between the Preceptress and Inner Guard.
INSTALLING OFFICER: My Sisters, "Again the shadow moveth o'er the dial-plate of time," and reminds us we are about to enter upon the work of a new year.
It is now my duty and pleasure to install the officers, who have been selected to direct the affairs of this Assembly for the coming year.
Sister Marshal, you will present the officers elect, around the altar, for the Ceremony of Installation.
The Marshal takes a position on the step, a little to the right of the Installing Officer.
MARSHAL: Officers elect, as your names are announced, you will cake your respective positions in the cross and remain standing in front of your chairs.
Marshal reads the roll of officers slowly.
MARSHAL: Worthy President, the officers elect are assembled around the Templar Cross and await your pleasure.
INSTALLING OFFICER: My Sisters, before investing these officers with authority, we will unite with our Chaplain in seeking Divine guidance for them as "every good and perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father." * * *.
Chaplain stands at her station.
CHAPLAIN: Our Heavenly Father, we implore Thee to bestow upon these officers, Thy good and perfect gifts of wisdom, justice, charity and fidelity, so that their efforts shall result in lasting good to our Order and honor to themselves. Let Thy blessing rest upon this Assembly, and help us all to make it the dwelling place of peace and happiness, where we may renew our faith, loyalty and love. Amen
INSTALLING OFFICER: Officers elect, are you willing to assume the Vow of Office? If so, you will all face the altar, place and keep your hands in the same position as when you salute.
Installing Officer goes to the northeast corner of the altar and places her right hand on the Bible.
INSTALLING OFFICER: Officers elect, you will repeat after me: I, your name, do solemnly promise and vow, that I will obey the Constitution, By-laws and Regulations of the Supreme Assembly, and the By-laws and Rules of Order of this Assembly, and that I will endeavor constantly to advance its interests and welfare, and use my best efforts to promote friendship and sociability among my sisters; and I promise further, that I will faithfully, conscientiously, and to the best of my ability, discharge all the duties pertaining to the station, for which I have been selected.
Installing Officer returns to the East.
INSTALLING OFFICER, *: Sisters Marshal and Assistant Marshal, you will escort the President elect, to the East.
MARSHAL: Worthy President, we have the honor to present Mrs. … who has been elected President of this Assembly. We believe she is fully qualified to occupy this position of honor and trust, because of the high regard in which she is held by her sisters.
INSTALLING OFFICER: My Sister, the position of President is indeed one of honor and responsibility. It is your duty to preside over the Assembly, and see that all its affairs are properly conducted, and we confidently anticipate such a wise and equitable administration, as will redound to the interests of the Order and your own credit.
Previous to your investiture, you are required to give your assent to the following questions:
(1) Do you solemnly promise upon your honor, that you will serve this Assembly as President for the ensuing year, and perform all the duties assigned to you in our By-laws, so far as it is in your power to do so?
(2) Do you promise to obey and enforce the By-laws and Regulations of this Assembly?
(3) Do you promise to be careful and discreet in conducting its affairs and fair and impartial to all the sisters?
(4) Do you promise to be prompt and regular in attendance, and to convene the Assemblies at the appointed hour, if a quorum is present; also to see that the officers are proficient in their work?
INSTALLING OFFICER: Officers and Members, you are witnesses to the promises made by this sister, to conform to all our requirements.
Takes her by the hand and conducts her to the East.
INSTALLING OFFICER: My Sister, this cross now seals your right and might to the title and station of President, the most exalted in our power to bestow.
The cross is used in the game manner as in the Initiation Ceremony.
INSTALLING OFFICER, * * *: Worthy President, behold your sisters; Sisters, behold your President, and remember that the prosperity and welfare of this Assembly will depend as much upon your attendance and helpfulness, as upon her efforts.
Standard Bearer and Color Bearer, you will form and lead the line, so that our sisters may salute the President, and thereby pledge to her their loyal support and assistance.
All march around the hall and when in front of the President in the East, salute her.
INSTALLING OFFICER, *: Sisters Marshal and Assistant Marshal, you will escort the First and Second Vice Presidents and the Preceptress elect, to the East.
The Marshal escorts the First Vice President and Preceptress, the Assistant Marshal escorts the Secord Vice President.
MARSHAL: Worthy President, we have the honor to present Mrs. … as First Vice President, Mrs. … as Second Vice President, and Mrs. … as Preceptress.
We believe they are fully qualified to occupy these positions of honor and trust because of the high regard in which they are held by their sisters.
INSTALLING OFFICER: My Sisters, you have been selected for your respective positions, to assist and strengthen the President in the performance of her duties, and during her absence, you are to assume, in the order of your rank, her station and prerogatives.
Do each of you promise a faithful performance of those duties?
You have heard the President assent to our requirements; do you also give your assent to them? It is now my pleasure to invest you with your respective offices, and I counsel you to remember, that one,
"Who does the best his circumstance allows,
Does well, acts nobly, angels could do no more."
Sister Marshal, you will conduct the First Vice President to her station.
INSTALLING OFFICER: Marshals, you will conduct the Second Vice President and Preceptress to their respective stations.
The Marshals always escort the officers who are stationed on their own aide of the hall and return to a position north and south of their respective stations.
INSTALLING OFFICER: Sisters Marshal and Assistant Marshal, you will escort the Recorder and Treasurer elect, to the East.
MARSHAL: Worthy President, we have the honor to present Mrs. … as Recorder, and Mrs. … as Treasurer.
INSTALLING OFFICER: My Sisters, your stations are responsible and important. All our records, accounts, and funds are in your care. A satisfactory performance of your duties, requires prompt and regular attendance, fidelity, accuracy and integrity. We firmly rely upon your knowledge, zeal and love for this Order, and your own honor, for a faithful discharge of the trust committed to your care.
Marshals, you will conduct the Recorder and Treasurer to their respective stations.
INSTALLING OFFICER: Marshals, you will escort the Marshal and Assistant Marshal elect, to the East.
MARSHAL: Worthy President, we have the honor to present Mrs. … as Marshal, and Mrs. … as Assistant Marshal.
INSTALLING OFFICER: My Sisters, it is your duty to assist the President, execute her orders, and guide the footsteps of candidates through the Ceremony of Initiation. May your services be so admirable, that you will command the approbation and respect of your sisters.
Marshals, you will conduct these sisters to their respective stations.
INSTALLING OFFICER: Marshals, you will escort the Chaplain and Director of Music elect, to the East.
MARSHAL: Worthy President, we have the honor to present Mrs. … as Chaplain, and Mrs. … as Director of Music.
INSTALLING OFFICER: My Sisters, a faithful performance of the duties assigned to you, will add harmony, beauty and impressiveness to our ceremonies.
Sister Chaplain, it is your duty to officiate at the altar, inculcate a spirit of reverence and obedience to God and loving kindness to one another. I place in your care for your guidance, our Holy Bible, the Light of our Order. It should be our guide throughout the journey of life, and it will lead us finally to the Great Assembly above.
Director of Music, the measure of usefulness accomplished by any officer, is not gauged by rank or station, but by her own efforts. Your duties are indicated by the title you bear, and a faithful performance of them will greatly increase our pleasure.
"Our lives are songs, God writes the words,
We set them to music at pleasure,
And the song grows glad, or sweet, or sad,
As we choose to fashion the measure."
Marshals, you will conduct the Chaplain and Director of Music to their respective stations.
INSTALLING OFFICER: Sisters Marshal and Assistant Marshal, you will escort the Standard Bearer and Color Bearer elect, to the East.
MARSHAL: Worthy President, we have the honor to present Mrs. … as Standard Bearer, and Mrs. … as Color Bearer.
INSTALLING OFFICER: My Sisters, it will be your duty to display and explain our banners, and to form and lead the lines.
Standard Bearer and Color Bearer, you will approach the East, and present your banners.
The officers seated at those stations go to the East and place their banners in their successors' hands, then retire to other seats.
Standard Bearer, we place in your hands the Beauceant, which you should keep ever before us, to remind us of our duty to God and each other.
Color Bearer, we commit to your care, our Colors; Red is our symbol of love, White represents the faith and purity of life our Order teaches, and Black represents the sins and sorrows of the world, which our love and faith may in a measure alleviate.
Marshals, you will conduct the Standard Bearer and Color Bearer to their respective stations.
INSTALLING OFFICER: Sisters Marshal and Assistant Marshal, you will escort the Mistress of the Wardrobe and the Daughter of the Household elect, to the East.
MARSHAL: Worthy President, we have the honor to present Mrs. … as Mistress of the Wardrobe, and Mrs. … as Daughter of the Household.
INSTALLING OFFICER: My Sisters, the various and important duties assigned to you in our By-laws, require a careful and prompt performance. Mistress of the Wardrobe, you will have in charge the robes, and impart their symbolic lesson of noble womanhood.
Daughter of the Household, we shall expert you to so direct us, that we can maintain our established reputation for hospitality and sociability. Remember, my Sisters, that nothing which is excellent is attained without labor and perseverance.
Marshals, you will conduct these sisters to their respective stations.
INSTALLING OFFICER: Sisters Marshal and Assistant Marshal, you will escort the Guards elect, to the East.
MARSHAL: Worthy President, we have the honor to present Mrs. … as Inner Guard, and Mrs. … as Outer Guard.
INSTALLING OFFICER: My Sisters, the usefulness and importance of your stations are obvious. It devolves upon you to protect us against intrusion and interruption. Be punctual and regular in attendance, watchful and cautious in the performance of your duties.
Marshals, you will conduct the Inner Guard and Outer Guard to their respective stations.
INSTALLING OFFICER: Worthy President, rise, your officers are installed in their various stations and ready to enter upon their service of love. I must remind you, however, that as in a splendid structure, stone rests upon stone, so the harmony and beauty of our ceremonies, will rest upon the perfection of every part.
I now commit to your care, the Charter of this Assembly; guard it carefully and transmit it to your successor. I place in your hands this Cross, the emblem of our faith, loyalty and love and admonish you to teach its lessons of charity and unselfishness, both by precept and example.
Also, I present you with the Constitution and By-laws of the Supreme Assembly, and the By-laws of this Assembly, with which you should become thoroughly familiar, so that you may ever use this Gavel hand it to her, the insignia of your authority, with wisdom and justice.
Officers, I now tender you my sincere wishes, for a happy, successful year, with the admonition that—
"Honor and shame from no condition rise,
Act well your part, there all the honor lies."
If the Installing Officer is to be the Oracle, the new President now taken her by the hand and addresses her. Should the Oracle be some other sister, the Marshals are directed by the new President to present the Oracle, in the usual manner.
NEW PRESIDENT: It is now my pleasure to install you the Most Worthy Oracle, to sit at my right hand and be my friend and counselor, to whom I can turn for advice and assistance.
NEW PRESIDENT, * * *: My Sisters, you will salute the Most Worthy Oracle.
INSTALLING OFFICER: Sister Marshal, you will proclaim the officers of this Assembly installed.
Marshal takes a position in front, and to the right of the Oracle with the right hand raised.
MARSHAL: By virtue of the power and authority in me vested, I do now declare the officers of … Assembly No. …, Social Order of the Beauceant, installed in their several stations and in possession of their prerogatives.
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