Installationofofficers

Grand Lodge of Massachusetts

Order Sons of Italy in America

INSTALLATION CEREMONY

(Whether the ceremony is part of a meeting or a special event,

the President will start the ceremony by saying):

Sit

One Rap of the gavel

PRESIDENT:

Brothers and Sisters, come to order the officers will put on their regalio. Worthy State

Deputy

please preside in my place for the Installation of

Officers

PRESIDENT:

Worthy State Deputy _______________, please preside in my place for the installation of

officers.

STATE DEPUTY: (Stands at the President's station)

Brother/Sister _______________, please act as Herald for the ceremony. Brother/Sister

_______________ and _______________, please act as Assistant Heralds for the

ceremony.

HERALD: (The Herald puts on the regalia, exchanges salutes with the State Deputy and

takes a position near the Recording Secretary. Any Assistant Heralds will

make a similar response and stand beside the altar.)

Worthy State Deputy, we are ready to act as requested.

STATE DEPUTY:

Brothers, Sisters and Guests, please sit in respectful silence and attention during the

Installation Ceremony. You are requested to turn off all electronic devices. Worthy

Herald, please place the outgoing officers in their proper positions as I call them to the

altar.

HERALD: (Before calling the names of the officers, the State Deputy will pause while you

make the statement below.)

Brothers, Sisters and Guests, please hold your applause until requested.

STATE DEPUTY:

In the first row, will the following officers please come forward:

President:

_______________________________________

Vice President:

_______________________________________

Immediate Past President: ______________________________________

Orator: _______________________________________

Recording Secretary: _______________________________________

Financial Secretary: _______________________________________

Treasurer: _______________________________________

Now in the second row, will the following officers please come forward:

Trustee:

Master/Mistress of Ceremonies:

Guard:

STATE DEPUTY:

Worthy Herald, please express the appreciation of the Lodge to these officers.

HERALD:

Worthy Officers, the Order Sons of Italy in America thanks each one of you for your

devotion and dedication as an officer of this Lodge. Your many hours of sacrifice away

from your families and employment on behalf of the Order are appreciated. You have

been our leaders. If you have ever wondered whether your efforts have been appreciated,

let us say clearly here and now to every one of you: “Yes, your efforts have been

appreciated; deeply so.” It is easy to stand aside and say, "Let someone else do it.” It

is not so easy to step forward and say, "I'll do it," as each of you has. We are proud to

proclaim that we have had the privilege to serve under your leadership.

STATE DEPUTY:

Will the outgoing officers please turn and face the assembly. I now ask the assembly to

join me in a round of applause for the members of the outgoing council.

(pause for the applause of the assembly)

Will the outgoing officers please face the altar. As I call your names, please come

forward, stand before the Herald and remove your regalia thus signifying the completion

of your service.

(The State Deputy should now call the outgoing officers from page 3 (in ascending

order of rank (beginning with the Guard) to the altar to stand before the Herald.

The Master/Mistress of Ceremonies and Trustees should be called in groups.)

(The Herald, as the outgoing officers are called to stand before them and remove

their regalia, takes the regalia and places them to be held on the arms of the

Assistant Heralds (if available) or places them on the altar in the order of rank so

that later, they can be quickly transferred to the incoming officers. The Herald, in a

low voice, will tell each officer to please take his/her seat with the general

assembly.)

STATE DEPUTY:

Worthy Herald, please place the incoming officers in their proper positions as I call them

to the altar.

HERALD: (Before calling the names of the officers, the State Deputy will pause while you

make the statement below.)

Brothers, Sisters and Guests, please hold your applause until requested.

STATE DEPUTY:

In the first row, will the following officers please come forward:

President:

Vice President:

Immediate Past President:

Orator:

Recording Secretary:

Financial Secretary:

Treasurer:

Now in the second row, will the following officers please come forward:

Trustee:

Master/Mistress of Ceremonies:

Guard:

STATE DEPUTY:

Worthy Herald, please greet these officers.

HERALD:

Worthy Officers, today you will become the new leaders of this lodge in our beloved

organization. Your task is a formidable one. We are the oldest, largest and most

geographically represented organization of Americans of Italian heritage in the United

States. Your challenge, today, is to ensure that we continue this success. Always

remember that the future of this lodge depends upon the manner in which you shall

perform your duties. We look forward to your dedicated leadership.

STATE DEPUTY:

Worthy President, are you and the members of your council ready to take the oath of

office?

INCOMING PRESIDENT:

Worthy State Deputy, we are ready.

STATE DEPUTY: (Stand - 3 raps of the gavel)

Worthy Officers, please place your right hand upon your heart. Worthy Herald, please

administer the oath.

HERALD:

"We, the Officers of the _________________________ Lodge # _______, elected by

the will of the assembly, before the worthy State Deputy and the emblem of our Order,

declare and promise to respect our officials and to obey and have obeyed, the laws

which govern us. In fulfillment of the duties of our respective offices, we promise to

uphold the interests of this Lodge and of its members.” Worthy Officers, do you so

promise?

OFFICERS:

We do.

HERALD:

Please lower your hands.

STATE DEPUTY:

Now that the newly elected officers of this lodge have taken the oath of office, I declare

them duly and lawfully installed.

(Sit - one rap of the gavel)

Worthy Herald, as I call them to the altar, please vest the officers with their regalia of

office and escort them to their stations.

(The State Deputy should now call the incoming officers from page 5 in ascending

order of rank (beginning with the Guard) to the altar to stand before the Herald.

The Master/Mistress of Ceremonies and Trustees should be called in groups.)

(The Herald, as the incoming officers are called to stand before them, should vest

the officers with their regalia and salute the installing officer by placing their right

hand over their heart and saying, “Worthy Installing Officer”. The Herald will then

escort the officers to their stations. If Assistant Heralds are available, they should

escort the officers instead of the Herald). The Master/Mistress of Ceremonies and

Trustees should be escorted in groups.)

STATE DEPUTY:

To express our congratulations and best wishes, I ask the assembly to join me in giving

the new officers a round of applause.

(pause for applause)

Worthy President, now that you and your officers have been duly installed, I hand you

this gavel, which is the symbol of authority. I trust you will use it with discretion, justice

and impartiality in the interest of the members of this lodge. Please take your place.

(The State Deputy relinquishes the chair and hands the gavel to the President)

PRESIDENT:

Before the assembly, I promise that I shall be worthy of your faith. Worthy Herald,

please inform the lodge that the Installation Ceremony is over.

HERALD:

Brother and Sisters, the installation of the new officers is now at an end. Please show

them respect.

PRESIDENT:

Worthy State Deputy and worthy Herald(s), in the name of the Lodge, I thank you for

your cooperation. (The Herald(s) remove their regalia, and places them on the Altar.)