I stand before you at this sacred DeMolay altar, upon which we have placed the mighty bulwarks of our faith: the Holy Bible and the school books. Not far away rests the banner of our beloved country. Standing as sentries are these seven burning candles, beacons in the darkness, lights to illuminate our pathway as we journey ever onward down the road of life. They are symbols of all that is good and right with the world. They are the standards upon which we as DeMolays have pledged to base our lives.

The first candle symbolizes the love between parent and child, that love which existed before we were born, has remained with us all our life through and will follow us even beyond the grave. The sages named this love "agapé", love for no other reason than the sake of being.

The second candle is emblematic of reverence for all that is sacred. A young man crossing the threshold of DeMolay for the first time professes a deep and abiding faith in one living and true God. Without this steadfast faith and the grace of our Heavenly Father, our toil would be for nothing.

The third candle stands for courtesy, a courtesy that transcends friendships, a courtesy which reaches to the stranger, to the aged, to all men. It is this courtesy that brings a warm feeling and a smile and makes this life more pleasant for others as it lights the pathway before us.

The fourth candle, the candle in the center of our seven, stands symbolically for comradeship. Millions of young men such as ourselves have knelt as this symbolic altar and dedicated themselves to the same high principles of good sonship and good citizenship. As long as we remain faithful to these pledges, as long as there is an Order of DeMolay, we are one.

The fifth candle stands simply for fidelity. A DeMolay can never justly be false to his vows, his promises, his friends, his God. He is called upon daily to defend the bulwarks and precepts of the Order that he might never fail as a leader or as a man.

The sixth candle is symbolic of cleanness. Not only the bodily cleanness which we all practice, but the cleanness of every thought, word and deed. Only in cleanness can a DeMolay rightly be representative of the pureness of our teachings.

The last candle is emblematic of patriotism. Perhaps we shall never be called upon to defend our country on the field of battle, but each day affords new opportunities to stand as good and upright citizens on behalf of that beloved banner and our hallowed land.

Yet we live in troubled times when the bulwarks of the Bible, flag and school books are in danger of sinking into the waste of doubt and uncertainty; when these seven glorious precepts may not be the most coveted standards upon which to base one's life; when trust and justice and brotherhood may not be considered the most virtuous of qualities.

And if we as DeMolays do not stand unswervingly in defense of the teachings of our Order, if we do not seek to perpetuate them in our daily lives, then perhaps these flames will be extinguished, muted in the shadows and darkness shall inherit the land.

Yet each of you, as a DeMolay, holds within your heart a flame, a beacon to guide you through the darkness. If you can make this light shine upon another, if you can reach into the innermost depths of his soul and set his flame afire, then therein lies the purpose of the Order of DeMolay, and therein lies your purpose for living.

Dad Land Talk

In DeMolay history, November the 8th marks the anniversary of the Death of the founder of our order:Frank S. Land. DeMolay began with nine boys and a man; tonight I would like to look back on that beginning, our beginning.

Frank Land was a Mason who was asked by a fellow member to find a job for young Louis Lower, whose father had died the year before. Although Louie's mother had taken a job, the family was still having a tough time of it, so Louie had decided to do his part in helping his family get by. Frank said he would be glad to help and hired Louie to work with him. Frank wasn't just an employer to Louie though he became a friend and a confidante, he took time to listen to Louie, to learn about his hopes and problems to find out his dreams and help him to achieve them. It was clear to Land that Louie needed more than just a job, and Louie with many other young men might need the same things.

It was February of 1919, and Louie Lower arranged for himself and eight of his friends to meet with Frank Land to discuss the formation of a club. The boys were all eager to do so but first they wanted a name. Frank Land told them of the heroic figures from the past and the one that stuck in their minds was Jacques DeMolay who had given up his life in the spirit of Comradeship. Less than a month later the Order of DeMolay held its first meeting. It wasn't long after that, that perhaps the biggest milestone in DeMolay was passed, the membership of DeMolay had grown from its initial nine members to over sixty. And one of the young members put forward a motion to limit the club to seventy-five members, there was only a short discussion and the motion was passed unanimously.

Frank Land, or Dad, as he had simply come to be known as by the boys, stepped forward to speak. The members where silent, for Frank had always told them that it was their organization and he had not spoken except at the end of meetings since he first met. But "Dad" did indeed have something to say that night. He told the boys that they were making a mistake that they where being selfish. He pointed out that all their members were from a single school in Kansas City had gained from there membership, and that there was no reason that other boys from other schools should not be allowed to gain from and contribute to DeMolay. He reminded them that "To become big, we must be big." The motion to limit membership was reconsidered and defeated.

Dad Land was right when he said that many boys could gain from and contribute to DeMolay, but he probably had no idea just how many boys. By January of 1921, DeMolay had grown to 52 Chapters across the United States with membership over 2200 members. A year later there was over 165 Chapters with membership in excess of 28000, by 1924 the membership had surged to well over 100,000 young men and Frank Land was known as "Dad" to all of them.

Since that time DeMolay has prospered and fallen, and prospered again. All of our Advisors are known as Dad's just as Frank Land was and all of them try to live up to his commitment to our Order. Dad Land spent his entire life in service to DeMolay; he gave tirelessly of his time and energy because he believed in the order that he insisted was not created by him, but by nine young men.

One story about Frank Land that sticks in my mind, is how when the members of the mother Chapter traveled to New York City to institute a new Chapter. Frank Land gave them the run of the town telling them that they must be back in their hotel by 11:00pm. When they weren't back by midnight, he gathered up the other advisors to go look for them. Frank Land claimed that it was perhaps the saddest moment of his life when he saw a "Black Maria," a paddy wagon of the New York police go by on the road filled with each and every one of his DeMolay. His heart sank to think that these boys who he had spent so much time with, whom he had taken so much pride in could be in such trouble with the law that they had to be taken to jail in a Paddy Wagon. Then the Black Maria came around the corner and pulled up beside the startled advisors, 22 sets of arms stuck out of the bars to wave as 22 voices cried out "Hi Dad." The police then offered to give Dad Land and the other advisors the same tour of the City as they had offered the DeMolays.

When he passed away on Nov. 8th, 1959, his final words were, "It is the beginning". Dad Land was a deeply spiritual man and his final words expressed his hope of the hereafter, however I would like to think that he was also thinking of DeMolay when he uttered them. It is up to each of us, to carry on him to strive to make DeMolay a better organization, to help it grow to make it something that we and Dad Land could take pride in. Because Brethren, "It is the beginning."

Father Talk

The Order of DeMolay honors womanhood as one of its seven cardinal virtues. And we realize our more important duty to honor motherhood; but we as young men also need to recognize the other portion of Filial Love that shapes our growing years: Fatherhood. Tonight, my Brothers, we dedicate this evening to our fathers; men who desire to guide and mold their sons to emulate or better their manhood years. A son, to rear a son; that is one of the splendid things of life. A son is as good as an absolute assurance of immortality. To take your son by the hand when he is young, to lead him out into the spring, to show him the glories of God, the way he will go. Well, you should know how it is. A father wants to leave the best part of himself to someone else, his son. And we as sons may be aware of our father's desires to do so, or may seldom even appreciate the task that he tries to accomplish.

We, growing up in a confused world as an adolescent, find it unusually difficult to really communicate with our dad. He does not seem to understand us, our beliefs, our speech, our behavior, our wants. We think he and perhaps his beliefs are wrong, or he is unable to help us with our big problems. But later, we as grown men, will eventually see his side of the story and face the problems in raising our own sons, even though it is hard to believe now. It is the Order of DeMolay that enables us to grow up to be better men, better citizens for tomorrow's world. Our Chapter dads also try to aid us if we think our fathers unable to do so. Or perhaps we lost a father and then look to an advisor as a father substitute. Such as the founder of our Order when Dad Land saw fatherless Louis Lower groping for an adult guiding hand. DeMolay, based on such a foundation, has given three and a half million young men a helping and guiding hand along the path. We, therefore, wish to extend to our fathers and Chapter dads the most heartiest token of our appreciation as sons and as DeMolays'. Father, help us further to be good men.

Father, light our way the best you possibly can.

For when we reach the ripening years of manhood.

Teach us to live in the spirit of the universal Brotherhood.

My Brothers, when you go home tonight, you should give due thanks and tribute to your father. Flowers are inappropriate token material; but walk up to him tonight, smile and grip his hand firmly, saying: "Thank you, dad, for all you have given me so far. May I, with the help of the lessons of DeMolay, grow up to be worthy of your name." DeMolay asks you to do this small favor as an appreciation of your fathers and of the manhood you hope you will come to inherit.

Flower Talk

My brothers, you have just been permitted to take upon yourselves the name of one of the world's most heroic knightly figures. Now you can say, "I am a DeMolay." To be deemed worthy of the privilege of entering into the comradeship of that great army of youth both here and abroad who have dedicated themselves to the ideals of Jacques DeMolay, demonstrates our confidence that the fineness of your purposes will guide your development into the highest type of manhood. To be accepted as a DeMolay is, therefore, an honor of which any young man can be justly proud.

In being received into our ranks, you have been instructed in the seven cardinal virtues of this great Order. We hope you have been deeply impressed with the lessons they teach. There is no better foundation on which to build your character and future life than the practice of these virtues. The Order teaches many beautiful lessons, but none is more important than honor and true respect for womanhood, and more especially for motherhood. It is fitting, therefore, that you have been called upon to stand again before this altar in a few moments of special emphasis upon the virtue which has been given first place among the jewels adorning the Crown of Youth: Filial Love.

For my purpose now, this altar is dedicated to our mothers, whose love never fails. You may rise to positions of great influence in commercial, political, or professional life, but you can never reach the heights of your mother's secret hopes for you. You may sink into the lowest depths of infamy and degradation, but never below the reach of her love. The memory of it will always stir your heart. There is no man so entirely base, so completely vile, so utterly low, that he does not hold in his heart a shrine sacred and apart for the memory of his mother's love.

Were I to draw you a picture of love divine, it would not be that of
A stately Angel,
With a form that is full of grace.
But a tired and toilworn mother
With a grave and tender face.

It was your mother who loved you before you were born--who carried you for long months close to her heart and in the fullness of time took God's hand in hers and passed through the valley of shadows to give you life. It was she who cared for you during the helpless years of infancy and the scarcely less dependent years of childhood. As you have grown less dependent, she has done the countless, thoughtful, trouble-healing, helpful and encouraging things which somehow only mothers seem to know how to do. You may have accepted these attentions more or less as matters of course, and perhaps without conscious gratitude or any expression of your appreciation. You are rapidly approaching the time in life when you will be entirely independent of your mother. The ties with which dependency has bound you to her may be severed as you grow older, but the tie of mother-love can never be broken.

Thinking back upon the years of your life when you have reached the threshold of manhood, your mother might well say in the words of the poet:

My body fed your body, son,
But birth's a swift thing
Compared to one and twenty years
Of feeding you with spirit's tears.
I could not make your mind and soul,
But my glad hands have kept you whole.
Your groping hands
Bound me to life with ruthless bands.

And all my living became a prayer,
While all my days built up a stair
For your young feet that trod behind
That you an aspiring way should find.
Think you that life can give you pain
Which does not stab in me again?
Think you that life can give you shame
Which does not make my pride go lame?
And you can do no evil thing
Which sears not me with poisoned sting.
Because of all that I have done,
Remember me in life, O son.
Keep that proud body fine and fair.
My life is monumented there.
For my life make no woman weep,
For my life hold no woman cheap.
And see you give no woman scorn
For that dark night when you were born.

These flowers which you see on our altar are symbols of that mother-love. The white, the love of the mother who is gone. And the red, the mother who still lives to bless your life.

Far in the dim recesses of her heart
Where all is hushed and still,
She keeps a shrine.
'Tis here she kneels in prayer
While from above long shafts of light upon her shine.
Her heart is flower fragrant as she prays.
Aquiver like a candle flame,
Each prayer takes wing
To bless the world she works among,
To leave the radiance of the candles there.

We want each of you to take a flower from the altar. If your mother has passed over to the other shore, you will choose a white flower and keep it always sacred to her memory. May the sight of it always quicken every tender memory of her and strengthen you anew in your efforts to be worthy of her hopes and aspirations for you. If your mother is living, you will choose a red flower. When you go home tonight, give it to your mother. Tell her it is our recognition of God's best gift to a man: his mother's love. Take her in your arms and say, "Mother, I've learned a great lesson tonight. The ceremonies have helped me realize more fully how much you really mean to me. I'm going to try to show you daily how much I appreciate the sacrifices you have made and the love and care you give me."

Someday you'll find that flower, I know not where, perhaps in her Bible or prayer book or some other sacred place, a silent witness to what this night has meant to the one whose love for you, her son, is beyond the comprehension of any son. My brothers, each of you will please take a red or white flower from the altar.

DeMolay can ask no more of you than that you shall endeavor so to live as to be worthy of your mother's love.

INSTALLATION SERVICE

An open Installation Service may be exemplified with appropriate features, such as musical selections, addresses, and presentation of tokens suitable to the ceremony. It should be made as impressive as possible, since it is an opportunity for DeMolays to explain and exemplify the purposes of the Order to those who may never learn them otherwise. At the discretion of the Executive Officer, the Officers may be installed in the order shown or in the reverse order, only.

Required Parts: Installing Officer: I.O.; Installing Senior Councilor: I.S.C.; Installing Junior Councilor: I.J.C.; Installing Marshal: I.Mar.; Installing Chaplain: I.Ch.; Installing Senior Deacon: I.S.D.

Required Paraphernalia: Gavel on I.O.'s and I.S.C.'s pedestal; Holy Bible closed on Altar; school books on pedestal of I.O.; National Flag in a standard as indicated on Diagram One; seven candlesticks with candles arranged as indicated on Diagram One.

Optional Paraphernalia: Altar cloth; Chapter banner placed in standard situated as indicated on Diagram One; Altar flowers; pedestal covers; baton for I.Mar.; matches for I.S.D.; gavel on I.J.C.'s pedestal.

Installing team members occupies the station of the correspondingly-named Chapter Officer until that Officer is installed, at which time the installing team member will move to an extra chair which has been reserved for him.

Officers line up single file at door in this order I.O., I.S.C., I.J.C., I.Mar., I.Ch., I.S.D. I.O. leading moves from A to F G J forming triangle listed below:

They kneel for a moment of silent prayer.

I.O.: Amen.

Installing Officers rise and I.O. moves J K V U X, faces West.

I.O.: * (rap)

I.S.C. moves J K E D X. Simultaneously I.J.C. moves J I L X. As I.S.C. and I.J.C. reach points K and I respectively, I.S.D. moves J K V Z X. I.Ch. moves J I T Z X and simultaneously I.Mar. moves J I T Z X.

I.O.: * (rap)

All except I.O. sit down.

I.O.: Friends, on behalf of ____________ Chapter, Order of DeMolay, we welcome you most cordially to this ceremony of installing the Officers who have been elected or appointed for the ensuing term. It may not out of place at this time to explain briefly the general purposes of our Order, to which only young men between the ages of 12 and 21 years are eligible. While we have secret signs, words and modes of recognition, we have no secrets from the world so far as our central purposes are concerned. We are banded together for mutual improvement, to help each other live clean, manly, upright, patriotic lives, which will be a credit to our parents and friends, and which will merit the commendation of all good men. In our meetings we inculcate only principles which are in harmony with this exalted purpose and in our daily lives we seek to carry them into effect. We feel we can rightly bespeak for our Order in general and for ourselves in particular the hearty assistance of all good men and women.

I.O.: Brother Installing Senior Deacon, you will attend the Altar.

I.S.D. moves X Z M Candle 1, lights it and then lights others in order crossing between the Altar and the East as he does so. I.O. begins following speech as I.S.D. begins to light Candle 1. I.O. and I.S.D. coordinate speech and actions so that Candle 7 is lighted just as I.O. concludes speech.

Our forefathers were well aware that religious liberty, represented by the Holy Bible, civil liberty, represented by the flag of our country, and intellectual liberty, represented by the school books, must go hand in hand in order to be effective. Around these bulwarks, the Order of DeMolay places seven candles which are symbolic of the seven cardinal virtues of a DeMolay - filial love, reverence for sacred things, courtesy, comradeship, fidelity, cleanness and patriotism. As the light from these candles permeates this Chapter room, let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father Who is in Heaven.

I.S.D. moves from Candle 7 J K Z X, faces West.

I.O.: * (rap)

I.S.D. sits down.

I.O.: Brother Installing Senior Councilor, you will open the Holy Bible on the Altar.

*** (3 raps)

All stand.

I.S.C. moves X J, faces East, kneels without touching the Altar, opens Bible reverently and slowly, rises without touching Altar.

I.S.C.: We open the Holy Bible, the foundation of our faith in everlasting days upon the Altar as a symbol of the religious liberty which is the birthright of all people. Upon that Altar it is not the emblem of any creed or the repository of any system of theology, but the word of one living and true God, Whose universal Fatherhood teaches the inescapable lesson of the brotherhood of all His sons. Without the opportunity to worship God, according to the dictates of our consciences, our freedom would be a mockery and therefore, as the foundation of all our liberties, we place the word of God upon our Altar and I solemnly enjoin the members of this Chapter ever to walk in the light of its teachings and never to meet save around its opened pages.

I.S.C. moves J X, faces East.

I.O.: Brother Installing Junior Councilor, you will see that the flag of our country is presented at the Altar.

I.J.C.: Brother Installing Senior Deacon, you will present the flag of our country at the Altar.

Brethren and friends, you will stand at attention and salute our flag.

Standing at attention means that a person stands with head and body erect facing the flag. As the flag moves, the head and body are moved so that the person always faces the flag. I.S.D. carries the flag with left hand high - right hand low-on the flag staff, with the staff extending past his right side.

In The United States of America, the salute is defined as follows: Placing the right hand over the heart with fingers joined. A person (other than one in military uniform) who is covered removes his headgear and holds it over his heart with his right hand.

As I.S.D. picks up flag, all persons salute. The salute is dropped when I.S.D. stops West of the Altar.

The same salute is made during the pledge to the flag. The same salute is again made when the I.S.D. starts to leave the Altar and is dropped when he has replaced the flag in its stand. I.S.D. does not salute the flag at any time.

I.S.D. moves from flag standard Z T F G, faces Altar and moves toward it until he is about 6 feet from point J. All except I.S.D. repeat in unison the pledge to the flag. It is strongly urged that the pledge be followed immediately with the singing of the National anthem or another appropriate patriotic song. I.S.D. does not sing.

I.J.C.: Brethren, join me in saluting and pledging allegiance to the flag.

ALL: I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

I.J.C. moves X L N O, faces West.

I.J.C.: We present the flag at the Altar as a symbol of the civil liberty without which there could be no religious freedom. It is especially appropriate that this flag should be committed to the custody of these young men, so soon to become the citizens by whose patriotism its honor must be defended, whether on the fields of battle or on the perpetual battlefields where good citizenship wages war with bad. In all the crises of the nation's history, we have called upon our young manhood and thank God it has never failed to respond. Young men have fought every war our country has ever waged and the red upon that glorious banner is dyed a richer hue with the precious blood the nation's youth has shed. We, therefore, present it at our Altar as a sentinel to guard us while we worship and I solemnly enjoin the members of this Chapter never to meet save beneath its protecting folds, and outside the Chapter walls, ever to live worthy of that sacred banner.

I.J.C. moves O N L X, faces North. After I.J.C. is in station, I.S.D. does about face, moves G H V to flag standard, replaces flag, then moves X, faces West.

I.O.: * (rap)

All except I.O. sit down.

I.O. carrying school books, moves X U O, faces West, places school books on Northeast corner of Altar.

I.O.: From the station in the East, emblematic of the morning years of life, we place the school books on the Altar as a symbol of the intellectual liberty, without which there could be neither civil nor religious freedom. They are particularly emblematic of the great public school system of our country, the foundation of that universal enlightenment which is the crowning glory of our institutions. Devoted championship of our public schools is a cardinal teaching of the Order of DeMolay. We are unalterably opposed to the same building housing a school, a church and a seat of civil government. Civil, religious and intellectual liberty are the three sources of our country's greatness, but they must stand alone, upon separate foundations and under separate roofs. These books, representative of those being carried to and from the public schools by millions of boys and girls each day, are just as vital symbols of our liberties as the Holy Bible, which is the rule and guide of our faith, or the flag which protects the church, the school and the seat of civil power. We, therefore, place these books upon the Altar and I solemnly enjoin the members of this Chapter ever to stand unswervingly for the protection and perpetuity of the free public schools, the citadel of our safety and the source of the only real freedom possible in a government of the people, by the people and for the people.

I.O. moves O U X, faces West.

I.O.: As no great undertaking should ever begin without asking the blessing of Almighty God, let us give our attention to the Installing Chaplain as he leads us in prayer.

*** (3 raps)

All stand.

Brother Installing Chaplain, you will lead us in prayer.

All lights except the candles and Altar spot are dimmed. I.Ch. conducted by I.Mar. moves X Z I J. I.Ch. halts at point J. I.Mar. takes one step further, both face East. I.Ch. takes one step towards Altar, simultaneously I.Mar takes one step backward away from the Altar. As I.Ch. and I.Mar. leave their stations, all active DeMolays in the East and the I.S.C. and I.J.C. descend to the floor level.

Active DeMolays will kneel on left knee. All others will remain standing.

All Active DeMolays except I.Mar. kneel in unison as I.Ch. kneels.

I.Ch.: Almighty God, our Heavenly Father, we thank Thee for the many opportunities we have had to display Thy manifold gifts of grace. We thank Thee for the privilege of service and for the knowledge of Thine eternal love. We ask Thy special blessing upon these Officers who assume the responsibilities of leadership in this Chapter. Reassure them of Thy continued guidance and protecting care. Give them the will to understand, the courage to do that which is right, and the strength to carry out Thy teachings. Amen.

ALL: Amen.

Active DeMolays rise as I.Ch. rises. I.Ch. takes one step backward away from Altar, simultaneously I.Mar. takes one step forward. Both face North. I.Ch. takes one step forward to I.Mar.'s side. I.Ch. conducted by I.Mar. moves J K V Z, I.Ch. crosses in front of I.Mar. and moves X, stands facing his station. I.Mar. moves X and simultaneously both I.Ch. and I.Mar. face West. As I.Ch. and I.Mar lease Altar, all Active DeMolays who were in the East and I.S.C. and I.J.C. return to dais. Lights raised to full.

I.O.: I now declare this Chapter open for the purpose of installation.

* (rap)

All sit down.

I.O.: Brother Installing Marshal, you will read the names of the Officers who have been elected or appointed to serve this Chapter for the ensuing term.

Done.

If the Chapter so desires the Officers may already be seated within the Chapter room, either at the stations which they are about to assume, or in a predesignated area. If either of these methods is used, then the Officers will form the triangle as prescribed in Diagram 2 when their names are read. Or if space permits the Officers may be seated in the triangle show in Diagram 2 from the beginning of the ceremony.

I.O.: Brethren of the Chapter, you behold those who have been elected or appointed to serve you for the next term. Do you promise faithfully to cooperate with them in their efforts to advance the interests of our Order?

ALL: We do.

I.O.: Do you promise to lay aside all petty jealousies and ambitions and work loyally and earnestly with them in performing whatever part of our common task may be assigned to you?

ALL: We do.

I.O.: Brother Councilors, you have heard the assurance of your brethren and their promises of loyal support within and without the Chapter. Do you in turn promise to labor zealously with them toward the accomplishment of the purposes which animate us all?

Councilors: We do.

I.O.: Do you promise to lay aside all petty distinctions of official position yet labor all the more earnestly to show your appreciation of the honor bestowed upon you?

Councilors: We do.

I.O.: Brother Councilors and brethren of this Chapter, on behalf of our Order, I accept these pledges of cooperation as a happy augury of the success which such mutual harmony and zeal assure. The common burden can be borne by neither Officers nor members alone. The most efficient Officers who could be chosen would be ineffective without the loyal help of the members and the most enthusiastic members would be powerless without intelligent and consecrated leadership. Without this faithful and efficient cooperation you cannot hope for and you would not deserve success.

I.O.: Brother Installing Marshal, you will present the Master Councilor-elect for installation.

M.C. moves to point J. I.Mar. moves X Z I J, standing on the M.C.'s left, faces East.

I.Mar.: Brother Installing Officer, I take pleasure in presenting Brother _________________________, who has been elected Master Councilor of the Chapter for the ensuing term.

I.O.: Brother ____________________, you have been elected to the honorable office of Master Councilor of this Chapter, I need not remind you that, as your title suggests, you are the leader of the body. You are not to be arrogant or dictatorial. Rather, you are to lead those who follow you gladly because you have proved your willingness to listen to counsel as well as give it. It is your duty to preside at all meetings and to perform all duties which naturally pertain to such an office or which may devolve upon you from time to time. Before taking this office, however, we must hear from you a public declaration. Are you ready to make this declaration?

M.C.: I am.

I.O.: *** (3 raps)

All rise.

I.O.: Then you will kneel on both knees…

M.C. kneels…

I.O.: … and place both hands upon the Holy Bible.

…places hands as directed.

I.O.: Do you promise to follow in the footsteps of Jacques DeMolay should service and duty demand it?

M.C.: I do.

I.O.: Do you promise, upon your honor as a DeMolay, that you will demand of each member clean living, high respect for parents and deference to womanhood?

M.C.: I do.

I.O.: Do you promise that you will be just while deciding between one brother and another?

M.C.: I do.

I.O.: Do you promise that you will obey the laws of your city, state and country and always deserve the reputation and character of a good citizen?

M.C.: I do.

I.O.: Do you promise that you will endeavor to aid the members of this Chapter to a greater realization of their duties to our beloved country?

M.C.: I do.

I.O.: Do you promise to aid the distressed and weary and never permit a brother to go in need?

M.C.: I do.

I.O.: Do you promise that you will at all times obey the Statutes and orders of the Supreme Council?

M.C.: I do.

I.O.: Do you promise that you will never permit a meeting to close without a word of prayer for your mother, your father and your country's welfare?

M.C.: I do.

I.O.: Do you promise that you will see that both degrees of this Order are conferred at least once during your term of office?

M.C.: I do.

I.O.: Do you promise that you will, to the best of your ability, provide for the observance of any Obligatory Days falling within your term of office?

M.C.: I do.

I.O.: Do you now declare that you will uphold the public school system and hold it to be a bulwark of our citizenship?

M.C.: I do.

I.O.: Then you will seal your promises by kissing the Holy Bible.

Done.

You will arise.

M.C. rises.

Brother Installing Marshal, you will conduct our Master Councilor to his station.

I.Mar. conducts M.C., moves J K V U, faces East. M.C. ascends dais faces West and I.Mar. moves U Z X, faces West.

I.O.: Brother Master Councilor, before you and about you are your brethren. Brethren and friends, before you is the Master Councilor.

I.O. leads applause.

I.O.: * (rap)

All except I.O. and I.Mar. sit down.

I.O.: Brother Installing Marshal, you will present the Senior Councilor-elect for installation.

I.Mar moves X Z I J, faces East.

When I.O. names Officers I.Mar. is to present for installation, Officers named move to point J. When I.O. instructs I.Mar. to conduct Officers to station, I.Mar. moves J K V T C E K, with Officers accompanying him to Z X. I.Mar. returns to J standing always on the left of those being installed. When more than one Officer is being conducted: The Officers follow single file behind the first; they remain standing until all are at stations, then sit down in unison.

I.Mar.: Brother Installing Officer, I take pleasure in presenting Brother __________, who has been elected Senior Councilor for the ensuing term.

I.O.: Brother _____________, you have been elected by your brethren to the second highest office in their gift and it will be your duty to preside in the absence of the Master Councilor. It is necessary, therefore, that you be fully qualified to fill not only your own particular station, but also that of your immediate superior. Your station in the West is symbolic of the setting sun, and emblematic of the night which heralds the eternal day. Brother Installing Marshal, you will conduct the Senior Councilor to his station in the West, after which you will present the Junior Councilor-elect for installation.

Done.

S.C. sits down upon reaching his station.

I.Mar.: Brother Installing Officer, I take pleasure in presenting Brother _____________, who has been elected Junior Councilor for the ensuing term.

I.O.: Brother __________, the office of the Junior Councilor is one of dignity and honor. The members of this Chapter expressed their confidence in you when you were elected to this position. You are to cooperate heartily with the other two Councilors as prescribed by our ritual. Your capabilities and effectiveness will afford the best proof of your zeal and interest in this Chapter. Your station is in the South, symbolic of the meridian sun or the noon of life. Brother Installing Marshal, you will conduct the Junior Councilor to his station in the South, after which you will present the Deacons for installation.

Done.

J.C. sits down upon reaching his station.

I.Mar.: Brother Installing Officer, I take pleasure in presenting Brother _________, who has been chosen Senior Deacon, and Brother _________, who has been chosen Junior Deacon for the ensuing term.

I.O.: Brother __________, the office of Senior Deacon is one of the most important in the official line. In the interpretation of the work of the Order you have been assigned a role which is both arduous and honorable. Your selection for this rank is a compliment to your efficiency, and I trust that you will labor zealously to vindicate the wisdom of your selection. Brother ______________, as Junior Deacon you will be the inner guard of the Chapter and will assist the Senior Deacon in the ceremony of initiation. I enjoin upon you the same devotion to the work of the Order which is the duty of all Officers of whatever rank or station. Brother Installing Marshal, you will conduct the Deacons to their respective stations, after which you will present the Stewards for Installation.

Done.

S.D. and J.D. sit down upon reaching their stations.

I.Mar.: Brother Installing Officer, I take pleasure in presenting Brother __________, who has been chosen Senior Steward, and Brother ___________, who has been chosen Junior Steward, for the ensuing term.

I.O.: Brethren, your duties are suggested by your titles and as integral parts of our work they have a definite place. You are to assist the Deacons in conducting candidates through the ceremony of initiation. You will have many opportunities for effective service and your very rank teaches us that all service is honorable and worthy of faithful performance. Brother Installing Marshal, you will conduct the Stewards to their respective stations, after which you will present the Marshal and Sentinel for installation.

Done.

S.S. and J.S. sit down upon reaching their stations.

I.Mar.: Brother Installing Officer, I take pleasure in presenting Brother ____________, who has been chosen Marshal and Brother ____________, who has been chosen Sentinel for the ensuing term.

I.O.: Brother _______________, it will be your duty to conduct such processions as our rites prescribe, and to perform such other duties as maybe enjoined upon you. Dignity and efficiency will lend effectiveness to the performance of your duties, which are by no means unimportant. Brother __________, you have been selected by the Master Councilor to act as Sentinel. Your station is at the outer door. Upon you devolves the duty of seeing that no one is admitted to the deliberations of the Chapter except such as are duly qualified. It is well to remember that you are the guardian of the temple. Brother Installing Marshal, you will conduct the Marshal and Sentinel to their respective stations, after which you will present the Chaplain for installation.

Done.

Mar. and Sen. Sit down upon reaching their stations.

I.Mar.: Brother Installing Officer, I take pleasure in presenting Brother ___________, who has been chosen Chaplain for the ensuing term.

I.O.: Brother ____________, you have been selected for a very sacred and honorable office. As your title implies, you are to lead the Chapter in its devotions and I need not remind you that your conduct at all times should be scrupulously consonant with the dignity, the solemnity and the sanctity of those duties. The strictest decorum is necessary in all official stations, but yours is one particularly demanding such qualities as will vindicate the wisdom of your selection. Our devotions are not unmeaning forms, but the practice of duties constantly inculcated in our teachings. Brother Installing Marshal, you will conduct the Chaplain to his station, after which you will present the Scribe and Standard Bearer for installation.

Done.

Ch. sits down upon reaching his station.

I.Mar.: Brother Installing Officer, I take pleasure in presenting Brother __________, who has been chosen Scribe and Brother ___________, who has been chosen Standard Bearer for the ensuing term.

I.O.: Brother ____________, you have been chosen to record the proceedings of the chapter and I enjoin upon you the care, neatness and efficiency which make a secretary's work valuable to any order. The duties of your office are many and varied and are not confined to the meetings of the Chapter. We rely upon your fidelity at all times, that no confusion or dispute may arise in connection with the Chapter's routine business. Brother _____________, as the title of you office implies you are to be the official custodian of the beloved emblem of our county's greatness. Patriotism is one of the cardinal virtues of our Order, and as the formal guardian of the flag you are to remind us of our duties as common sharers in the blessings won for us by all the sacrifices of those who have lived well and died gloriously in behalf of our country. The honor of that flag is soon to be committed to our hands and it is no light distinction which has been accorded you as its keeper. Brother Installing Marshal, you will conduct the Scribe and the Standard Bearer to their respective stations after which you will present the Treasurer, Almoner and Orator for installation.

Done.

Sc. and S.B. sit down upon reaching their stations.

I.Mar.: Brother Installing Officer, I take pleasure in presenting Brother ____________, who has been elected Treasurer, Brother _________, who has been chosen Almoner and Brother ________, who has been chosen Orator for the ensuing term.

I.O.: Brother __________________, you have been elected to the stewardship of the finances of this chapter and I enjoin upon you rigid fidelity in the discharge of that important trust. With propriety I urge you to the strictest carefulness that this Chapter may at all times know its financial status. Brother ___________, it is your province to remind us, in the performance of your official duties as Almoner, that charity, not the ostentatious and unmeaning dolling out of alms, but the charity which has been translated "brotherly love" is a virtue which all should practice. The cry of need is ever sounding in our ears and to it our ears must never be closed. Brother _______________, you have been selected as the Orator of this Chapter. It is an office the importance of which cannot be overestimated. The interpretation of the lesson to be taught in the DeMolay Degree depends in a large measure on the manner in which the Orator makes his explanation of the fundamental significance of the teachings of our Order. No small measure of ability will be required to make your portion of the ritual impressive and your selection for this office is an automatic proof of the Master Councilor's confidence that you possess and will display that ability. Brother Installing Marshal, you will conduct the Treasurer, Almoner and Orator to their respective stations, after which you will present the Preceptors for installation.

Done.

Tr., Al. and O. sit down upon reaching their stations.

I.Mar.: Brother Installing Officer, I take pleasure in presenting Brothers _________, who have been chosen Preceptors for the ensuing term.

I.O.: My brothers, it is unnecessary for me to emphasize the importance of the duties you are to perform in exemplifying our ritual. Without entering into the details of your share of this work, I can consistently enjoin upon you the highest efficiency of which you are capable. Your very selection is an honor, for to you has been committed the most impressive feature of our ceremony of initiation. The impression you make upon the candidates who are presented to you will be an abiding one and in proportion to your effectiveness will that impression be what it is so earnestly desired to be. Brother Installing Marshal, you will conduct the Preceptors to their stations.

I.Mar conducts Precs. J K V T C E V Z X. 1P moves Z X at first pass by his station. Others then move Z X in sequence.

When all Precs. Have reached their stations they sit down simultaneously.

I.O.: Brother Installing Marshal, you will now proclaim the Officers of ___________ Chapter, Order of DeMolay, duly and regularly installed.

I.Mar. moves X Y Z I J, face East, without kneeling, lays right hand on Bible and raises left hand (and baton if one is used.)

I.Mar.: In the name and under the authority of The International Supreme Council of the Order of DeMolay, and by direction of the Installing Officer, I declare the Officers of _______________ Chapter, Order of DeMolay duly and regularly installed.

I.O.: * (rap)

I.Mar. moves J K V Z X, faces West and sits down.

I.O.: Brother Master Councilor, I now present you with the gavel of authority and enjoin you the duty of wielding it with dignity, impartiality and courtesy, never forgetting that, though you are temporarily the chief among your brethren, you have only emerged for a brief time from the ranks and to the ranks you will soon return.

I.O. hands gavel to new M.C. After M.C. has completed his acknowledgements, introductions, announcements, etc., he returns gavel to I.O.

I.O.: Brethren and friends, before concluding our ceremonies, let us unite in prayer.

*** (3 raps)

All stand.

All lights except the candles and Altar spot are dimmed.

A minister or other person designated may offer prayer or the Chaplain selected for the purpose may use the following prayer or the Nine o'clock Interpolation prayer, including the unison response by the brethren.

If I.Ch. is to give prayer, I.Ch., conducted by I.Mar., moves X Z I J. I.Ch. halts at point J. I.Mar. takes one step further, both face East. I Ch. takes one step towards Altar. As I.Ch. and I.Mar. leave their stations, all Active DeMolays in the East and I.S.C and I.J.C. descend to the floor level.

I.O.: Active DeMolays will kneel on left knee All others will remain standing.

All Active DeMolays except I.Mar will kneel in unison as I.Ch. kneels.

I.Ch.: Our Father in Heaven, wilt Thou bestow upon us, as we are about to leave this place, the benediction of Thy holy favor. Wilt Thou inspire in us all the high purposes we have heard here enjoined. Wilt Thou bless all who are dedicated to the cause of virtue, of clean and manly living, of lives that honor Thy great sacred name. Bless the cause in which we young men are laboring and may our Order become a power for good in this community and throughout our land. Amen.

ALL: Amen. (Unison response if Nine O'clock Interpolation Prayer is used.)

Active DeMolays rise as I.Ch. rises. I.Ch. takes one step backward away from the Altar; simultaneously I.Mar. takes one step forward. Both face North. I.Ch. takes one step forward to I.Mar.'s side. I.Ch. conducted by I.Mar. moves J K V Z, I.Ch., crosses in front of I.Mar. and moves X, stands facing his station. I.Mar. moves Z X and simultaneously I.Ch. and I.Mar. face West. As I.Ch. and I.Mar. leave Altar, all Active DeMolays who were in the East and I.S.C. and I.J.C. return to daises. Lights are raised to full.

I.O.: Brother Installing Senior Deacon, you will attend the Altar.

I.S.D. moves X Z T I J, faces East, kneels without touching the Altar, reverently and slowly loses the Bible, rises without touching the Altar, then proceeds to candle 1, extinguishes it, then extinguished the others in order crossing between the Altar and East as he does so, then without kneeling removes school books, then moves J K V U, places school books on I.O.'s pedestal, then moves U Z X, faces West.

I.O.: I now declare this Chapter closed.

* (rap)