the members of this Grand Chapter to occupy the most exalted position in
their power to bestow upon a brother; a just compliment to your zeal and
worth, and for which I offer you my sincere congratulations. Your
intimate acquaintance with the rules and affairs of our Order justify me
in saying that the members have exercised a sound discretion in this
selection. You are elevated to a position from which the power and
prerogative may depart with the expiration of your term of service, but
the honor and dignity, except by your own act, _never_!
Your duties are to issue dispensations, organize and supervise new
Chapters, and assist the Grand Matron in the discharge of her duties.
Other duties appropriate to your high office might be named, which will
readily suggest themselves to a sensitive mind, imbued with a proper
zeal to promote the interests of our Order. The field is broad, and
whitening for the harvest; may you be the instrument of gathering many
sheaves to our garner, that it may be said of you, "Well done, thou good
and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will
make thee ruler over many things."
[Illustration: Grand Patron.]
You will now be invested with the insignia of office, and be conducted
to your station on the left of the Grand Matron in the East.
After he is in his station, the Installing Officer will call up the
Grand Chapter, and say:
_Grand ----._ Grand Patron, behold your sisters and brothers! Sisters
and brothers, behold your Grand Patron, and salute him with the Grand
Honors.
Seats the Grand Chapter.
_G. M._ Grand ----, with pleasure I present Sister ----, elected
Associate Grand Matron, for installation. I am persuaded she fully
appreciates the honor conferred, and will discharge the duties imposed
with credit to herself and satisfaction to the Order.
_Grand ----._ Sister ----, the duties of your honorable station are
embodied in the name of your office. You are to assist the Grand Matron,
and in case of her death, absence, or disability, you shall act for her
and discharge her duties. To you is especially intrusted the supervision
of your sister officers, that the paraphernalia of the Grand Chapter be
properly preserved, and its Ritual ceremonies performed intelligently.
Be ever ready to discharge these duties.
[Illustration: Asso. Grand Matron.]
You will now be invested with your badge of office, and conducted to
your station in the West.
_G. M._ Grand ----, I now have the pleasure of presenting to you, for
installation, Brother ----, who has been duly elected Associate Grand
Patron.
_Grand ----._ Brother ----, I congratulate you on being chosen to fill
so high a station. Your duties are to assist the Grand Patron, and in
case of his death, absence or disability, to assume his powers and
duties. Those who have reposed so much confidence in you have reason to
expect you to faithfully look after their interests, and zealously work
for the welfare of the Order. Let the laws, tenets and professions of
the Eastern Star be your constant study, that you may be ready to
enforce them by precept and example, and the better enabled to exercise
the higher and more exalted position to which you may be called at any
moment.
[Illustration: Associate Grand Patron.]
You will now be invested with the proper emblem of office, and conducted
to your station on the left of the Associate Grand Matron, in the West.
_G. M._ Grand ----, it is my pleasant duty to introduce ---- ----, duly
elected to serve us as Grand Secretary for the ensuing year.
_Grand ----._ ---- ----, the office to which you have been elected is by
far the most important, if not the most honorable, within the gift of
this Grand Chapter. Yours is an onerous and most responsible charge. But
few are competent to perform it in the thorough manner it demands.
Failure or neglect upon your part will complicate and embarrass all our
proceedings, and give us a disgraceful record before the world. To you,
also, is intrusted the collection of all funds due the Grand Chapter,
the custody of the seal, records, books, and papers. You are the
correspondent and financial agent of the Grand Chapter, the medium of
intercourse between the officers and members thereof, as well as between
them and Subordinate Chapters. The faithful discharge of all your
various duties requires constant and systematic work, a careful keeping
of records and accounts, prompt and discreet action, and the highest
integrity of character.
[Illustration: Grand Secretary.]
You will now receive your emblem of office, and be conducted to your
station in the South-East.
_G. M._ Grand ----, it is with confidence and pleasure I present to you,
for installation, Sister ----, duly elected to serve as Grand Treasurer
for the ensuing year.
_Grand ----._ Sister ----, to you is intrusted the proper care,
preservation and disbursement of the funds of this Grand Chapter. This
is a trust of the utmost importance, for without money little good can
be accomplished. You will, therefore, attend carefully to the financial
interests of the Order, receiving the funds, through the Grand
Secretary, from the different sources of revenue, keep them safely
invested, render a just account thereof, and pay the same out only on
proper vouchers, with the consent of this Grand Chapter. Let it be your
constant care to be faithful to your trust, and not forfeit the
confidence reposed in you by this Grand Chapter.
[Illustration: Grand Treasurer.]
You will now receive your badge of office, and be conducted to your
station, in the North-East.
_G. M._ Grand ----, I have the honor to present ---- ----, chosen to
officiate as Grand Chaplain for the ensuing year.
_Grand ----._ My ----, our beautiful Order founded upon the moral
teachings of the Holy Scripture, everywhere, and on all occasions,
acknowledges the existence and providence of God. Except the Lord build
the house, they labor in vain that build it; except the Lord keep the
city, the watchman waketh in vain. You have been chosen Grand Chaplain,
and as such it will be your duty to conduct the devotional exercises of
this Grand Chapter, and superintend and promote its charitable and
benevolent objects. These will afford a wide field of usefulness, and
may you be so successful in pointing to the "Star in the East" that all
will be induced to follow it, until they meet in the Grand Chapter
above.
[Illustration: Grand Chaplain.]
You will now be invested with your badge of office, and take your
station on the right of the Grand Matron.
_G. M._ Grand ----, it is with pleasure I present ---- ----, appointed
Grand Lecturer.
_Grand ----._ ---- ----, to you is intrusted the work of the Order, its
rites, traditions, and ceremonies, and it will be your duty to exemplify
the same, whenever called upon by this Grand Chapter, and see that they
are intelligently performed by the subordinate Chapters of this
jurisdiction. To discharge these duties well, will require much time,
study and observation upon your part; but we trust that your attachment
to the principles of our Order, and zeal in promoting its interests,
will lead you to the faithful discharge of your duties.
Receive the jewel and emblem of your office, and take your station in
the South.
_G. M._ Grand ----, I now have the pleasure of presenting ---- ----, for
installation, as Grand Marshal.
_Grand ----._ ---- ----, the post assigned to you is one of honor and
responsibility. It is your duty to superintend and marshal all
processions of the Grand Chapter, assist in all its public and private
ceremonies, conduct and proclaim the officers at the time of
installation, and perform such other duties as pertain to your office.
[Illustration: Grand Marshal.]
You will now be invested with the badge of your office, and be conducted
to your station in the South-East.
_G. M._ Grand ----, I have the pleasure to introduce, for installation,
Sister ----, appointed Grand Conductress, and Sister ----, appointed
Associate Grand Conductress for the ensuing year.
_Grand ----._ My sisters, your duties are to attend upon your superior
officers, assist in the active duties of this Grand Chapter, introduce
and welcome visitors, and aid in exemplifying the rites and ceremonies
of our Order upon all proper occasions.
If you attend to these duties aright, throwing sisterly courtesy and
dignity around your official conduct, you will acquire the confidence
and respect of all and merit promotion to still higher honors and more
weighty responsibilities.
[Illustration: Grand Conductress.]
You will now receive your respective badges of office, and be conducted
to your proper stations in the South and North.
[Illustration: Assoc. Grand Conductress.]
_G. M._ Grand ----, it is with pleasure that I present to you, for
installation, these sisters who have been appointed to represent the
five distinguished heroines of our Order, Sister ----, as Grand Adah;
Sister ----, as Grand Ruth; Sister ----, as Grand Esther; Sister ----,
as Grand Martha; Sister ----, as Grand Electa.
_Grand ----._ My sisters, the most important lessons of our Order are
given from the five points of our emblematic Star. It should be your
study to most impressively render these lessons during the opening
ceremonies of this Grand Chapter, and whenever your services may be
needed.
You will now each be invested with the badge of your office, and
conducted to your stations.
[Illustration: Grand Officers.]
_G. M._ It is with pleasure that I present, for installation, Sister
----, appointed to be Grand Warder, and Brother ----, appointed to be
Grand Sentinel.
_Grand ----._ My sister and brother, you are, respectively, the inner
and outer guards of the Grand Chapter. Upon you, therefore, we rely to
preserve that secrecy which is essential to our proceedings, and to see
that our ceremonies are not interrupted by untimely alarms, and to
discharge such other duties as appertain to your office. A prompt and
faithful discharge of these responsibilities will afford the best
evidence of your attachment for the tenets and professions of our Order.
You will be invested with your respective badges of office, and
conducted to your stations within and without the door of the Grand
Chapter.
_G. M._ It is my pleasant duty to present for installation, Sister ----,
appointed to serve as Grand Organist for the ensuing year.
_Grand ----._ My sister, your duties are embodied in the name of your
office, admonishing you that by uniting music and harmony with our
mystic lessons the ceremonials of our Order will prove more lasting.
[Illustration: Grand Organist.]
You will be invested with your badge of office, and conducted to your
station.
_G. M._ Grand ----, my duties are ended. The several officers of this
Grand Chapter have been duly elected, installed, invested with their
badges of office, and conducted to their respective stations.
_Grand ----._ It is well. Officers and members of the Grand Chapter, all
things are now ready for you to enter upon the proceedings of a new
year. Harmony and good-will prevail, and we start under the most
auspicious circumstances. But no one can affirm that another year, or
even a single day, will be committed to our trust. Therefore, if we have
been faithful heretofore, let us redouble our exertions for the future.
Let us continue kindly affectionate, one toward another. Let us walk
circumspectly, sacredly preserving our lips from slander and evil
speaking, ever remembering our sacred obligations. And may we, each of
us, through the good providence of God, be brought, through a useful and
happy life, to a blissful close and a triumphant entrance upon the joys
of the Heavenly life.
Let us now look to God for his benediction.
Installing Officer calls up the Grand Chapter.
Prayer.
_Grand ----._ Grand Marshal, you will proclaim the Grand Officers,
regularly installed.
_G. M._ In the name of the Grand Chapter and by order of the Worthy
Grand ----, I proclaim the officers of the Grand Chapter of ----, Order
of the Eastern Star, duly installed.
Seats the Grand Chapter.
Funeral Ceremonies of the Order of the Eastern Star
At the burial of a sister, the badges of the members and officers
should be draped with crape. A floral five-pointed Star should be
provided, having flowers of the appropriate colors for the several
points. The Star officers should each have a small bouquet, or a few
loose flowers of the appropriate color. A few flowers should also be
provided for the Worthy Matron and Worthy Patron.
The floral Star may be deposited with the casket, or be retained by
the family of the deceased.
This service, although primarily designed for use at the Grave, can,
if it is thought best to do so, be performed within the Chapter
room, the Church, or other appropriate place. The members may meet
at the Chapter room, or at the place of service.
A member will be appointed to act as Marshal, who will see that the
badges are properly draped, and that the officers and members are in
their proper positions.
If a procession is formed, it will march in the following order:
Marshal and Sentinel, Members, Warder and Electa, Martha and Esther,
Ruth and Adah, Conductress and Associate Conductress, Secretary and
Treasurer, Matron and Associate Matron, Patron and Chaplain.
During the services, the officers and members will occupy the
following positions around the grave or casket:
[Illustration: Funeral Positions.]
When all is ready, the services should commence with a short strain
of solemn music, "The Lord is my Shepherd," etc. After which the
Worthy Patron will say:
_W. P._ Sisters and Brothers, we have gathered at this solemn hour to
perform those final rites which affection has prescribed for our
departed sister. She, who was with us but yesterday, has been summoned
hence by a messenger who cometh sooner or later for us all.
How appropriately may we gather around her remains, and together pay
love's tribute to her memory.
She has indeed passed beyond the reach of praise, or the touch of
censure. It is not, therefore, to her that we tender this our heart's
saddest offering.
We are here in acknowledgment of sacred ties now severed, of memories
tenderly cherished, and hearts touched with sympathy for loved ones
bereaved.
Our sister has finished her allotted task in the conflict of life. The
chapter of her earthly sojourn is closed, but her many virtues shall not
go unrecorded.
For a time we have walked with her in the pilgrimage of life, and around
the same altar we have learned the lessons of our Order.
As she was faithful to her convictions of right, as she was obedient to
the demands of honor and justice in her station; as she loved kindred
and friends, and in affliction evinced a trustful faith; and as she
lived in the spirit of charity and the love of truth, so shall be her
reward.
Remembering her many virtues, we are indeed mourners at her grave, and
in the house of sorrow we would drop the tear of affectionate sympathy.
Sisters, brothers, and friends, as we stand in this solemn presence we
may hear the voice of this Providence speaking to us.
Not long shall we wait ere we obey the inexorable decree of Death, and
follow our sister.
How brief and full of mystery is human life! Who can fathom its purpose,
or disclose its issues. We entered life as it were but yesterday; to-day
we perform our allotted task, and to-morrow we go--who knows whither? We
strain our eyes in vain endeavor to scan with mortal vision the infinite
shore. But, thanks to our Heavenly Father, who gives fruition to His
children's hopes, He bids us look yet again.
Standing beside the Broken Column, we may, with Martha's trustful faith,
look beyond the shore of time, and know that our sister, though lost to
mortal vision, is only waiting beyond the river to welcome us to our
eternal home.
"In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have
told you, I go to prepare a place for you, that where I am there ye may
be also." O, let the comforting assurance come to us, "That if our
earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of
God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the Heavens."
Instructed by this Providence, may we go from this place of mourning,
and this hour of reflection, with the inspiration of a new hope, and
earnest purpose.
"So live, that when thy summons comes to join
The innumerable caravan that moves
To the pale realms of shade, where each shall take
His chamber in the silent halls of death,
Thou go not, like the quarry-slave at night,
Scourged to his dungeon, but, sustained and soothed
By an unfaltering trust, approach thy grave
Like one who wraps the drapery of his couch
About him, and lies down to pleasant dreams."
SINGING.
The following or some other appropriate hymn may be used:
Friend after friend departs;
Who hath not lost a friend?
There is no union here of hearts,
That finds not here an end.
Were this frail world our only rest,
Living or dying, none were blest.
There is a world above,
Where parting is unknown--
A whole eternity of love
And blessedness alone;
And faith beholds the dying here,
Translated to that happier sphere.
_W. P._ The examples and symbols of our Order are full of useful and
impressive lessons. They speak to us in this solemn hour with unwonted
significance.
These floral tributes, the offering of sisterly affection, echo voices
often heard from the several points of our Star; they symbolize, in the
ritual of our Order, virtues which should adorn our lives. How
appropriately, then, may they bear an important part in this solemn
ceremonial.
Sisters of our Star, you who represent the five distinguished heroines
of our Order, have you anything to offer ere we leave the grave of our
departed sister?
Sister Adah, what is the voice and tribute from the Blue point of our
emblematic Star?
_Adah._ Blue symbolizes fidelity, and is appropriate to Jephthah's
Daughter, who, in the morning of life, surrendered to the grave the
brightest of earthly hopes, that she might be faithful to her
convictions of right, and preserve her father's honor. As a token of
faithfulness to the memory of our sister, I deposit in her grave this
tribute of faithful love.
At the proper time each officer will drop into the grave, or place
upon the casket, the flowers provided for that purpose.
Adah deposits her tribute, and then, addressing Ruth, says:
Sister Ruth, what is the voice and tribute from the Yellow point of our
Star?
_Ruth._ Yellow symbolizes constancy, teaching faithful obedience to the
demands of honor and justice. Ruth exemplified these virtues in humble
station, and sought the society of the good and true. In token of
appreciation of these virtues, I deposit in the grave of our sister this
floral tribute.
Deposits her tribute, and then, addressing Esther, says:
Sister Esther, what is the voice and tribute from the White point of our
Star?
_Esther._ White symbolizes light and purity. The heroic Queen Esther
evinced the purity of her motive and love of kindred and friends, by her
willingness to risk the loss of crown and life, to save her people from
death. In token of sincere affection for our sister, I deposit in her
grave this emblem of light and purity.
Deposits her tribute, and then, addressing Martha, says:
Sister Martha, what is the voice and tribute from the Green point of our
Star?
_Martha._ Green is an emblem of Nature's life and beauty. The evergreen
is a symbol of immortal life, and teaches us, that in the economy of God
there is no death; forms change, but the spirit survives. Martha, beside
the grave of her beloved brother, avowed her trustful faith and hope of
immortal life. In the full assurance of our sister's entrance upon a
glorious immortality, I deposit in her grave this evergreen.
Deposits her tribute, and then, addressing Electa, says:
Sister Electa, what is the voice and tribute from the Red point of our
Star?
_Electa._ Red symbolizes fervency and zeal. Electa represents those who
have been pre-eminent in charity, and heroic in endurance of the wrongs
of persecution. In token of the fervency of our affection for our
sister, I deposit in her grave this tribute of love.
Deposits her tribute, and then, addressing the Worthy Matron, says:
Worthy Matron, we have spoken from the five points of our emblematic
Star, but our departed sister hears us not. Is it in vain that we speak
to the living?
_W. M._ You have spoken well, my sisters. It is not in vain that we hear
the oft repeated lessons of our Star. It is true that our sister hears
not with mortal ear the lessons she was wont to learn from you; but is
it true that she listens not to our words of love, and sees not the
beautiful tributes strewn within her grave? May not her quickened
spirit, freed from its earthly tenement, yet hover around the loved ones
here assembled, listen to our words, and perceive with clearer vision
our every movement?
She needs not to be ministered unto; but may she not now minister to us?
"Are they not all ministering spirits?" saith the apostle.
Love is an attribute of the soul, and imperishable. Our sister's
affection ceases not; therefore may she not now be whispering to
grief-stricken hearts, "Peace be still," "Lo, I am with you always."
Think not that the spirit world is distant. Our loved ones, though lost
to mortal sight, may yet be with us in spiritual existence. Let their
loving presence be to us a perpetual inspiration, calling us to a higher
moral and spiritual life.
These beautiful flowers are the highest expression of Nature's
loveliness. We never tire of looking at their perfect and delicately
variegated tints. From time immemorial they have been endowed with
expressive language. They speak to us, "To whisper hope whene'er our
faith grows dim." But these floral emblems, with all their exquisite
loveliness, are but dim reflections of the glories that may be unfolded
to our spiritual vision. In token of our hope that such an unfolding of
spiritual life may come to us all, I scatter these flowers within the
grave of our departed sister. May we cherish her memory and emulate her
virtues.
Deposits her tribute, and then, addressing the Worthy Patron, says:
Worthy Patron, within the grave, hallowed by the tenderest ties of human
affection, we scatter these floral emblems of Nature's loveliness, and
spiritual life. May we not trust all else to the Father's loving care?
_W. P._ The Infinite Father's ever watchful care is nowhere more
impressively taught, than by His voice speaking to us through the floral
kingdom. Over the whole earth where life exists, flowers bloom in
endless variety and profusion, there is no place so obscure but that
they blossom there and give to the world their beauty and fragrance.
Some open with the rising sun, and close with his setting rays. Others
open to the full moon and starry firmament, and shrink before the
piercing gaze of the king of day.
So the Father's love goes forth by day and night, to the weakest, most
humble, and obscure of His children.
We are told to consider the lilies of the field, and learn the paternal
love of Him, beyond whose watchful care none can stray. Not a sparrow
falls without His notice. "Ye are of more value than many sparrows."
In token of our trust in the all-embracing love of the Infinite Father,
I deposit these emblems of His watchful care in the grave of our
departed sister.
Drops the flowers, and continues as follows:
Sisters and brothers, within the city of the dead, we consign to the
bosom of mother earth all that was mortal of our departed sister. The
body we leave in the grave is but the casket which held the precious
jewel of life. We bear it tenderly to its resting-place, because it is
the form by which we knew her in our Chapter. Peacefully let it rest in
the hallowed ground where we place it. Upon her grave flowerets will
bloom amid all the countless activities of Nature's life.
"The murmuring brook, the bird on airy wing,
And whispering pines, will here her requiem sing."
Over her the fleeting shadows will pass. The rising sun will scatter
over the chambers of the dead his gladsome rays, and tint the western
sky with the glories of departing day. In the hush of night the feeble
rays of countless stars, traveling centuries on their journey here, will
finally rest upon her grave.
We leave in this lowly bed the earthly form of our departed sister, and
may the hallowing influence of this providence go with us in the
remaining journey of our life, and when our earthly mission is over, and
we are "beyond the smiling and the weeping" of earth, may we gather with
the loved ones gone before.
Let us unite in prayer.
PRAYER.