Oswego District AGL article April 2012

The Investiture Ceremony

Brothers: As you read this our winter, such as it was, will be nothing but a fond memory, the songbirds will be back, things will be greening up and all the lodges in the district will be open for business. Degrees will be conferred, officers will be elected and installed and for the first time in a long time, the Investiture Ceremony for new Masters-Elect will take place at Callimachus Lodge in Phoenix. That being my home lodge it's a little exciting, we don't get a lot of District events way down here in the South!

With so many new brothers in the District I thought it might be helpful to explain the place of Investiture in our Masonic Year. The passing of the Secrets of The Chair from a Worshipful Master to the Master-Elect is required by our Constitutions. The Investiture Ceremony we use was created for us by the Custodians of the Work and presents a solemn and moving occasion for both the Masters-Elect and Past Masters in attendance. Should the Master-Elect have previously served as Worshipful Master it is not required that he attend but he will miss out on one of the more enjoyable and worthwhile Masonic rituals. Do keep in mind, however, that only Worshipful Masters and Masters-Elect may attend Investiture. The specific date and time will be forthcoming.

Grand Lodge is a little later than it has been the last few years. When scheduling your election and installation of officers, keep in mind that each new Master-Elect must be invested before he can be installed. A brother need only be invested once so in the case where he has served as Worshipful Master in the past, your installation of officers can take place before the District Investiture Ceremony.

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