Part 9 (1/2)

The reception of visitors with the honor due to their rank is an ancient custom of the fraternity which should never be omitted. It is an act of great discourtesy to a visiting officer to omit his formal reception by the Lodge, and in an official visitation the visiting officer should ordinarily require it. On the occasion of visits not official it will be found to greatly increase a true fraternal feeling when courtesy is properly shown.

I.--Grand Lodge.

When a visit from the Grand Lodge is expected, the Master will see that a convenient apartment is provided for the use of the Grand Lodge, where the same can be opened in the proper form. On being notified that the Grand Lodge is opened and prepared for the visitation, the Master, the Lodge being opened on the third degree, will send a committee, headed, if possible, by a Past Master, with the Masters of Ceremony with their rods, the Deacons with their rods, and the Marshal, to escort the Grand Lodge. A procession is formed in the following order:

Marshal.

Masters of Ceremony.

Committee.

Deacons.

The Grand Lodge.

On arriving at the door, the Grand Marshal will announce:

”The Most Wors.h.i.+pful Grand Lodge of F. and A. M. of the State of Arkansas.”

The procession enters, the Masters of Ceremony and Deacons halt inside the door and cross their rods, the committee proceed, followed by the Grand Lodge in the inverse order of their rank. When the Grand Master arrives in front of the altar, he halts, and the Grand Lodge filing to the right and left form a line across the hall. The committee then introduce The Most Wors.h.i.+pful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Arkansas. The Grand Master then advances to the East, and the Master receives him according to ancient usages, with the private Grand Honors of Masonry, and resigns to him the chair and the gavel, each other Grand Officer taking his station in place of the corresponding officer of the Lodge, and the brethren are seated.

The Grand Master, at his pleasure, resigns the chair to the Master, whereupon the other Grand Officers resign their respective stations to the proper officers of the Lodge, and repair to the East, and take seats on the right of the Grand Master.

The Grand Lodge should retire before the Lodge is closed. When the Grand Master announces his intention to retire, the Lodge is called up, the Grand Honors are given, and the Masters of Ceremony and Deacons repair to the door and cross their rods, the Marshal conducts the procession of the Grand Lodge to the door, and salutes as the procession pa.s.ses him.

II.--The Grand Master.

When a visit from the Grand Master is expected, the Master will see that a convenient apartment is provided for his use and that of his suite.

When the Grand Master's visit is announced, the Master sends the Marshal, Deacons, Masters of Ceremony, and one of the oldest members (a Past Master, if practicable) bearing the Book of Const.i.tutions, to escort him to the Lodge Room. A procession is formed in the following order:

Marshal.

Masters of Ceremony.

Suite.

Brother with the Book of Const.i.tutions.

Grand Master.

Deacons.

The Marshal announces to Tyler, Tyler to J. D., and J. D.: ”The Most Wors.h.i.+pful Grand Master of Masons of Arkansas,” when the Master calls up the Lodge. The Masters of Ceremony stop inside, and cross their rods, while the others proceed towards the East. On arriving at the altar, the suite open inwards, the Grand Master pa.s.ses through, and the others, filing to the right and left, form a line across the hall. The private Grand Honors are then given. The Grand Master advances to the East, and the Master receives him, resigns to him the chair and the gavel. The suite take place on the right of the Master, and the Lodge is seated.

The Grand Master may decline to receive the chair and gavel, or at his pleasure may resign the same.

When the Grand Master announces his intention to retire, having previously resigned the chair and gavel to the Master, the Lodge is called up, the Private Grand Honors are given and the Master directs the proper officers to attend for the escort of the Grand Master. The Masters of Ceremony halt at the door, cross their rods, and the other officers escort the Grand Master to his apartment.

III.--The Deputy Grand Master, Grand Wardens, Etc.