Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia

A Guide to Ceremonial

Revised 1996
 ‘2
PREFACE
CONTENTS This Guide originally arose out of questions put to
General Points 4 visiting Officers about details of Temple layout
Equipment 13 and of movements during the various ceremonies.
A second edition was prepared in 1983. It is hoped
Grade I 19 that this latest revision will be in the hands of all
Other First-Order Grades 23 Fratres, and some few changes have, accordingly,
Adept Grades 25 been made.
Installation of Celebrant 29 As rituals have required to be reprinted an at-
33 tempt has been made to make the rubrics and
Official Visits and Similar Ceremonial explanation sheets more helpful. There is no wish
Founding a New College to impose a rigid pattern in matters of detail, but
this Guide is intended to assist any Frater who has
to prepare the Temple or to take part in a cere-
mony at short notice to make more sense of the
work both for the Aspirant and for himself. Cele-
brants, Directors of Ceremonies and Secretaries
should find it particularly useful in providing
smooth and dignified ceremonies.

-j
 GENERAL POiNTS Altar are in their correct places (diagrams will be
found on pp 14—16), and to ensure that the Torch-
Opening —The Temple should be opened at the bearer is given instructions for lighting them.
time stated on the Summons, and any preliminary
Few Colleges have large numbers of members,
meeting (such as Adept Grade or College Com-
so that any Frater may expect to be called on at
mittee) should be called for a time sufficiently early short notice to take office in the ceremony of any -
to permit the College to start punctually. Ideally,
grade through which he has passed. Every Frater
the D C should arrange for all Officers to report to
should, therefore, read and understand the rituals
him fifteen minutes beFore the opening of the
for those grades, so that, even if he has to read the
College, to enable him to rehearse the Ancients in ritual, he can do so with meaning and under-
their movements, and to find replacements should
standing.
any Officers be absent. ‘Where a rehearsal is to be Acolyte —This Officer’s place is immediately out-
held, it is desirable that a note to this effect be
side the door of the Temple, and he should be
placed on the Summons. instructed that he is not to wander away while the
All Officers will remember that, in the obligation Temple is open. Be should be familiar with the
to which they assented at the installation of the
knocks of all Grades, and for seeing that reports of
Celebrant, they undertook to give ‘timely notice’
latecomers are given as necessary. He should in-
to the Celebrant and Secretary if ‘necessarily ab-
form such latecomers of the Grade in which the
sent’. Except in emergency at least one week’s
College is open, and satisfy himself that nobody
notice should be given, so that appropriate replace- below that Grade enters. For the Opening of the
ments may be arranged. The Secretary should College, as this is in Grade I, all Fratres should be
ensure that the D C and Assistant D C are advised allowed to enter, even if the College work is to be
of any expected absentees among the Officers, and in a higher Grade; those below the Grade to be
of any arrangements already made by the Cele- worked will be asked by the Celebrant to leave at
brant to co-opt stand-in Officers. The D C himself
the appropriate time. The Acolyte should be re-
should be present in the Temple in good time
minded of his responsibility for lighting the Censer
before such ‘rehearsal time’, to check that all re-
quired equipment is ready, that the lights on the
4 5
in good time, where this is required for the Grade while a higher Grade is worked, and to avoid the
to be worked. risk of a breach of Ordinance 1.3, final paragraph,
Titles —A member is ‘Frater’ (not Fratre), and in by inadvertently conferring two Grades on any
the plural ‘Fratres’ (not Fraters). ‘The prefixes W, Candidate on the same day. In each case, after
VW, RW and MW refer to ‘Worthy’ (not Worship- closing the College in a higher Grade, the furniture
ful) Fratres and the D C should do all in his power and lights are altered to those applicable to the
to ensure that only the correct prefixes are used at lower Grade, and then the Guardian is instructed
all times (including by the Secretary in reading the to admit any eligible Fratres, before the College is
Minutes). If considered necessary, a general re- opened in such lower Grade or resumed in the
minder may be given to all Fratres immediately Grade of Zelator, as appropriate. The D C should
before the College is opened. When a member of ensure that any equipment peculiar to the higher
the Third Order is occupying the Chair, it is par- Grade is removed from view before Fratres of a
ticularly important to remember to address him as lower Grade are admitted.
‘Right Worthy Celebrant’. In all cases (other than where the Ritual requires
Candidates to salute in their existing Grade), the
Grades II, III & IV If any of these Grades are to
—
sign of the Grade in which the College is open
be worked, the College must be adjourned in the should be used when a sign is required; in particu-
Grade ofZelator with the words ‘Fratres, I adjourn lar, the sign of a Zelator should not be used by an
the College in the Grade of Zelator’, followed by Officer in Grades II—IV. Once the Grade of Zelator
the knocks XXX XX, and the Celebrant then calls has been adjourned, NO signs should be given
on all below the Grade to be worked, including the until the College has been opened in a higher
candidates for that Grade, to retire. Any altera- Grade.
tions to the furniture and lights will then be made, Signs Masonic signs are inappropriate in SRIA
—

before the College is opened in the Higher Grade. working. A great variety of ‘signs of prayer’ may be
Grade IV should be worked before Grade III, seen in Colleges. The only such sign specified in
Grade III before Grade II, and Grade II beforc the Society’s Ritual is that given in the Consecra-
Grade I, to avoid having to send out of the Tempic tion of a new College, and this should be used at
a Candidate who has just taken a lower Grade
6 7
all times during prayers, except in the Opening and the Conductor and the Ancients should know their
Closing ofthe Temple. This sign is given by cross- portions of the Ritual; reading by these Officers is
ing the arms on the chest, left over right. Except in not acceptable. Otherwise no Ritual books should
the Opening and Closing Fratres do not kneel for be in evidence; Fratres not ii~ office should NOT
prayers; Aspirants (and the Celebrant-Elect) kneel be permitted to follow the ceremony from their
where required by the Ritual. All Fratres should books, as this can be distracting to the Officers.
stand for the last verse of the Exponent’s reading Number of Candidates Whenever possible, there
—

from the Revelation of St John the Divine in the should be only a single candidate for a Zelator
Zelator ceremony, but give no sign of prayer. No ceremony, and never more than three, except to
sign is to be given during the various Pledges. allow for the rapid build-up of a new 9ollege; not
Use of Rituals Prayers should be read, but this is
—
more than three for Grades II to IV, two for Grades
not very convenient in the Opening and Closing, V and VI, or one for Grade VII.
where both hands are occupied; these prayers Should circumstances render it necessary to
should, therefore, be committed to memory. For have more than the stated number of candidates
the other prayers, the Celebrant or Chaplain in the Adept Grades, the ceremony should be
should have studied these in advance, so that they worked twice up to the Lecture, the candidate(s)
can be read sensibly and with meaning. Extracts from the first working being allowed to stay in for
from scripture should similarly be read (from the the second working, after which the Lecture is
Holy Bible, not from the Ritual), as may Lectures given to all. (This should be taken into account in
(always subject to the foregoing point that the the timing of the ceremonies.) In Grade V, if the
reader should have studied them first), but a Lec- Prologue is to be given, this will be done once only,
turer may, if able, recite the Lecture from memory. for all candidates, before the first two are brought
Apart from these items, the Ritual should have into the Temple for the first working of the cere-
been committed to memory, but Officers may have mony.
their Ritual books conveniently to hand to prompt In Grade II, if there have to be more than two
themselves if necessary, to avoid awkward pauses candidates, one should be ‘Representative’, and he
and oral prompts. It is especially important that alone will be blindfolded. All will enter together,
S 9
 robes, and all other PCs should should wear PC
but when the time comes (after the prayer) for the
robes.
perambulation, those other than the Repre-
sentative should be told to be seated (in the North- Ritual Books for Candidates In all Grades, C andi-
—

West), and to participate mentally in the dates should be presented with a copy of the Ritual
perambulation, which is made by the Conductor (in Grade I also the Ordinances) at the end of the
and Representative only. All candidates should be ceremony, and the D C should ensure that the
called on to rise to join in the responses to the necessary booklets are placed within easy reach of
Exponent’s questions, and should then follow the the Celebrant before the College is opened in the
Representative to the East, where the blindfold is Grade concerned. Each College will need to have
removed from the Representative, and will remain a small working stock of the Zelator booklets (Rit-
together thereafter. (This procedure is to avoid the ual, Entrance to the M... C... and Ordinances),
difficulty of leading a string of blindfolded candi- which, with the Rituals for Grades Il—IV, will be
dates around the Temple.) In Grades I and II, no replenished on receipt of the Form B for the con-
matter how many candidates there are, all must ferment of the Zelator Grade. (Under the present
undergo the Tests ofthe Elements by the Ancients; regulations the First-Order fee covers all the
the Conductor must so group them at the An- Grades and Rituals.)
cients’ pedestals that the Ancient can in each case Progress ofFratres to Grade IV This must take into
—

reach all the candidates. For that part of the Zela- account the ability, attendance record and work of
tor ceremony where the candidates are blind- each individual, but the aim should be to get all
folded, it may be found helpful for the Conductor who deserve it as far as Grade IV within four years
to lead two candidates, followed by the D C with of admission, to facilitate which it should be
the next two, and if necessary the ADC or a planned to work each of Grades II, III, and IV at
Cellanus with the remainder. least once a year.
Robes All High Council Officers, Chief Adepts
— It is suggested that the Celebrant-Elect, as soon
and Suifragans should at all times wear the robes as possible after election, should draw up an out-
of their Offices. All other members of 90, and all line programme for the ensuing year, and that all
High Council Representatives should wear HC Fratres of the College should have the information.
11
10
Presentation of Grade Certificates It is usual to ask
— familiarwith the work of the Ancients, so that they
the Chief Adept, if present, to present Grade Cer- can step in to fill vacancies at short notice.
tificates, and, in particular, the Zelator Certificate Summonses: Deaths ofFratres Where it is the cus-
—

and to welcome the new Zelator to the Society. tom to show any death on the next Summons, this
When the SM, SSM, JSM or a Commissioner is should be done under the heading ‘Mors Janua
present he should be asked to present all the Grade Vitae’, and not ‘in memoriam’ or ‘Obituary’ or
Certificates. The College D C collects them from similar heading.
the Secretary, who calls out the names of the
Fratres to receive them, and hands them all to the EQUIPMENT
DGofC, who then hands them Grade by Grade to The Holy Bible should be provided for the Expo-
the SM etc. nent, and should be on a pedestal or lectern in
Papers Bearing in mind that in most Colleges
— front of him. It should have a ribbon marker with
there is a fairly steady stream of new entrants, one end through the Gospel according to St John,
many of whom may know little of such basic Chapter 1, and the other through the Revelation
subjects as the Qabala and the Fama, it is recom- of St John the Divine, Chapter 7, verse 9 (or two
mended that at one meeting a year in the College separate markers) so that the Exponent can easily
a short paper on a basic subject should be read. turn to the passages to be read. The readings
Where the College operates a Study Group, this should be from the Holy Bible, and not from Ritual
‘basic’ paper could be given at such Group, possi- books. The Holy Bible should be opened at StJohn
bly at the first meeting of the session. Papers on Chapter 1 before the Opening ceremony, and
more abstruse subjects would continue to be given should remain open until after the Closing of the
at other meetings, where this is the custom, and is Temple.
to be recommended, to comply with the aims of The Altar The Superaltar should be arranged in
—

the Society. accordance with the diagram on p 14, the candles

Understudies All Fratres, and particularly all Ad-
— being on three ‘steps’, with the Cross above. Can-
epts, should be encouraged to make themselves dles 4, 23 and 29 should be raised on blocks.

12 13
 19 8 I 7 18 ~

20 9 2 6 17 32

r~ ,
21 10 3 4 5 16 31

22 II 12 13 14 15 JU

Grade II: Arrangement of Candles on Superaltar

:23; 24 25 26 27 28 29
L~~J

Arrangement of Superaltar
19 1 3 CROSS S 18 33

All 33 candles should be lit immediately before

the College is opened, if the only ceremonial work 20 1 3 S 17 32

to be carried out is Grade I or Installation. If the r—~ ,

College is meeting purely to transact administra- 21 10 3 4
L.J
S 16 31

tive business andlor to hear a paper read, or if the

first ceremony to be worked is Grade II, III or IV, 22 E311 12 jj~J 14 30

it is acceptable for candles 4, 23 and 29 (only) to ri

be lit before the opening; all 33 must be lit before 23 24 1251 26 28 29
L —~
Grade I or Installation commences.
For the second part of the Zelator ceremony, Grade III: Arrangement of Candles on Superaltar
candles 4, 23 and 29 are lit, and the remainder
14 15
need not be relit after this ceremony if no other the earlier Grades must be replaced by a white one,
ceremonial work is to follow. The arrangements of bearing a red rose but no star or scroll. It is
acceptable to use a single cross, painted black on
one side and white on the other, with the appro-
19 8 1 CROSS 7 lB 33
priate emblems (provided that the star does not
protrude over the edges so as to be visible when
20 9 2 6 17 32
the Cross is reversed), reversing it before and after
Grade IV is worked.
21 10 3 S 16 31 Censer This is required in Grades I and IV. It
—
L. ~
should be lit by the Acolyte well before it is re-
22 ii:i Q~J 13 ~ E~1 30 quired, with the incense being added just before it
is brought into the Temple. It may be found
23: 24 25 26 27 28 ‘29’ convenient to place a tile (about 6 inches square)
L..J
on the floor in front of the Altar to give a firm base
Grade IV: Arrangement of Candles on Superaltar on which to place the Censer, particularly if there
is a thick carpet, and to protect the carpet. Far too
often there is virtually no smoke to be seen rising
the candles for Grades II, III & IV are shown in from the Censer, and it is desirable for the D C to
the appropriate diagrams on pp 15—16. instruct and rehearse the Acolyte in getting it
The Calvary Cross above the Altar is the same burning well; it is important, particularly in Grade
for Grades I, II & III: black, bearinga gold star and I, that smoke can be seen to be rising from the
a scroll inscribed ‘INRI’, with a wreath of roses, censer. The time to light the censer will depend on
ideally passing behind the upper arm of the Cross the type of charcoal used; with the circular cakes
and in front of the other three arms, so that it is of ‘self-igniting’ charcoal which are now in fairly
held in place by the two side arms. Care should be common use, 20 to 30 minutes should prove to be
taken to ensure that the wreath does not obscure about right, with the censer being swung several
the star or scroll. In Grade IV, the Cross used in
16 17
times during this period to ensure that it is well are the essential symbols of the Elements repre-
alight. sented by the Ancients. The Fourth Ancient’s
Blindfolds One is required for each candidate in
— lamp (for convenience this is sometimes a candle)
Grade I; and, subject to the earlier comments should be lit before the Temple is opened, and kept
about a Representative Candidate, for one or two lit until after the Temple has been finally closed.
candidates in Grade II. The expression ‘hoodwink’ Token —A Token is required for each Candidate
should be avoided, in view of its alternative mean- in Grade I and should be placed within convenient
ing of ‘deceive’ (as is used in another Grade). reach of the Celebrant before the ceremony com-
Crosses are required for Grades II, III & IV, and are mences. These tokens should be circular in shape,
described in the appropriate Ritual books; these and prepared from light tissue that burns easily
should have suitable ‘handholds’ on the back so with minimum ash; they are obtainable from the
that the candidate does not have to clutch one arm Secretary-General.
of the cross. (See also pp 39—40.)
GRADE I
Candle-Snuffer/Taper is required by the Torch-
bearer in all First-Order Grades for attending to M... C... On all occasions when this is formed,
—

the lights on the Altar. the Ancients take position next to the Exponent,
Lecture on Numbers A large book, or similar, with
—
in order, from North to South. 4th Ancient, 2nd
the diagrams for the Lecture on Numbers is re- Ancient, Exponent, 1st Ancient, 3rd Ancient. The
quired for the Zelator working. This lecture should Ancients should be rehearsed in taking up their
always be given. positions, 2nd and 4th leaving, and returning to,
their pedestals on the North side, 1st and 3rd on
Floorcioth A floorcloth or board, representing the
—
the South side.
symbolic centre of the Universe, is required for the
second part of the Zelator working. For the Opening and Closing prayers, remind all
Fratres to bow after first sentence of the prayer.
Ancients ‘Symbols (lamp, fan, bowl of earth, & bowl Censer The Torchbearer brings this into the
—

ofwater) are required for Grades I & II, and should Temple as indicated in the Ritual: he precedes the
also be on the pedestals in Grades III & IV, as they Conductor and candidate slowly, swinging the
18 19
censer backwards and forwards at his right side, at Part 2 of Zelator Working —After the Aspirant has
the full length of the chain. He places it on a tile in left the Temple at the end of Part 1, the Torch-
front of the Altar, or on a proper thurible stand, bearer, having disposed of the Censer, puts out
and returns to his seat. When the candidate retires all candles except Nos 4,23 and 29. The Ancients
at the end of Part I, the Torchbearer takes the move their pedestals (with symbols) and chairs to
censer out. their new positions (1 inNorth, 2 in East, 3 in West
Music If there is a proficient Precentor in the
— and 4 in South) all facing East. They should be
College, it is in order to have ‘All ye works of the arranged in the form of a Cosmic Cross (ie one
Lord...’ sung in the pause before the Aspirant is with equal arms), allowing sufficient space for the
taken round the four Ancients, with ‘0 let the D C to place the floorcloth, symbolizing the Cen-
Earth bless the Lord. ..‘,‘0 ye Winds of God bless tre of the Universe, in the centre of the square
ye the Lord...’ etc as each Ancient is approached, bounded by the Ancients. The Aspirant is readmit-
‘Glory be to God...’ before the Torchbearer deals ted, showing the Token.
with the Token in Part 2, and ‘Praise God...’ (The Before the seven steps are taken, the Aspirant is
Old Hundredth) when the Aspirant has taken his placed in front of Third Ancient’s pedestal; the
seat after the end of the ceremony. Any of these steps are seven completed steps (ie not ‘marching
may be sung by all the Fratres if desired. steps’), and are taken dueEastwards, the feet being
Token When this is presented to the Aspirant, he
— placed naturally at the completion of each step,
should be told in a whisper by D C or Conductor and not in any ritual position. Limitations of space
to put it in a convenient pocket, whence he can will probably mean that the steps must be very
readily produce it while outside the Temple. He short. The seventh step should bring the Candi-
should be similarly instructed to put it in his pocket date to the central circle of the floorcloth; if there
when he has re-entered the Temple, ready to pro- is more than one Candidate, all but the last should,
duce it to the Torchbearer at the proper time. The after a short pause on the central circle, be moved
Candidate should NOT have the token in his hand away from the centre to allow the next Candidate
during Part 2 of the ceremony, until the time when to take the steps. An alternative method of taking
he has to produce it to the Torchbearer. the seven steps, which allows longer steps, is to
20 21
begin them from outside the cosmic cross from — the Universe between the Ancients for the exhor-
the southwest or northwest, according to the loca- tation ‘Falter not...’, which should be given, by
tion of the Portal, and just within the Temple. The prior arrangement, by the Supreme Magus, Chief
Aspirant is making progress from the darkness Adept ofthe Province or any other Magus from his
outside the cross to the light within. The necessar- place in the North-East. The Celebrant, or by prior
ily curved path symbolizes that the journey to light arrangement a Past Celebrant, then explains the
is not easy or straightforward, but gentle and con- Jewel and then invests the Aspirant, all from the
trolled, not a headlong rush. floor in front of the Celebrant’s seat/pedestal.
The Secrets are communicated from a point
between the centre of the Altar and the Second OTHER FIRST-ORDER GRADES (I! -

Ancient’s pedestal. When the Aspirant is seated for H’)

the Lecture on Numbers he should be in a chair General Change candles, and, where necessary
—

which has been reserved for him in the North-East, the positions ofthe Ancients, before opening in the
in the front row, or, ifspace permits, a little forward Higher Grade, and after closing therein. Ensure
of that row; the Conductor sits next to him in a that the Cross for the Candidate is ready, with the
chair similarly reserved. (This assumes that the Acolyte, before the College is opened, and ensure
lecturer on Numbers will stand in the South-East that it is removed from view in the Temple after
to deliver the Lecture, but if it is found more the ceremony, before Fratres of a lower Grade
convenient to have the number diagrams exhibited re-enter. The D C, Ancients, Torchbearer and
in the North-East, then the Lecturer will also be Acolyte should make themselves acquainted with
on that side, and the Aspirant and Conductor will their respective responsibilities.
be in the South-East.) The D C, or another senior The First-Order Jewel is common to Grades
Frater, should attend to turning the pages of the I-IV.
number diagrams at the appropnate times in the Ancients In Grades II and III the Ancients form
—

Lecture. a Cosmic Cross in the centre of the Temple, the

After the Lecture, the Aspirant must be taken backs of their chairs, almost touching, form the
back to his former place in the symbolic Centre of white square at the centre with the 1st Ancient
22 23
facing North, 2nd Ancient facing East, 3rd An- Lectures It is desirable that the Lecture of Grade
—

cient facing West and 4th Ancient facing South. In II should be given, but short forms of the Lectures
Grade IV the Ancients are in line as for the opening of Grades II—IV are being drafted, and should
of the College. always be read by the Exponent where time does
Cross on the Altar The black Cross must be re-
— not permit the full Lecture to be given. No Candi-
placed by the white one before opening in Grade date should be allowed to depart completely unin-
IV, and after closing the black one is replaced formed on the subjects ofstudy in each Grade, and
before Fratres of a lower Grade are readmitted. he should be told to read the full version as soon
Briefing the Candidate The D C or Acolyte
—
as possible, while the ceremony is still fresh in his
should ensure before the meeting opens that Can- mind.
didates know the words, signs and knocks of their Censer In Grade IV the Censer may be placed in
—

present Grades. Apart from giving these words, front of the Althr, as in the second part of the
and when repeating Pledges etc, candidates will be Zelator ceremony, or the Torchbearer may stand
prompted aloud by the Conductor when neces- in front of the 4th Ancient’s pedestal, facing East,
sary. swinging the censer from side to side across his
The knocks are of the Candidate’s present body at the full length of the chain, during the
Grade. ie a candidate for Grade II gives 3+2 of a ceremony.
Zelator, for Grade III 4+1 of a Theoricus, and for ADEPT GRADES
Grade IV 2+3 of a Practicus.
Standing Rituals are not always clear about
— General Progress into and within the Second Or-
—

standing. All stand for prayers, and are seated der rests with the ChiefAdept, who should receive
thereafter. The Celebrant stands to communicate the recommendation of the College through his
signs, and in Grade III for the Pledge. The An- Provincial Secretary. Colleges are not empowered
cients stand in Grades I and II when the Candidate in their warrants to confer Adept Grades.
is presented to them, and resume their seats when The Provincial Secretary is responsible for ob-
they have completed their part (which should be taining the approval of the Chief Adept for ad-
learnt and recited, not read). vancement to Grades V, VI and VII of all Fratres
24 25
4

in the Province, and for arranging the ceremonies

on the next occasion Adept Grades are worked in
(which will normally be held before the meeting of
a College), and for summoning the Candidate to the Province, even though this may be at some
attend. Summonses should be sent to all eligible other venue.
Fratres in the Province, but for convenience these Furniture The Provincial Secretary, or, if one has
—

summonses may, if time permits, be passed to been appointed, the Provincial D C, should see
College Secretaries to send out with the College that the following arrangements are complied
summonses. The Provincial Secretary, under the with, as far as is practicable, for each Adept cere-
direction of the Chief Adept, arranges the Officers mony. Seats to be arranged in the form of a seven-
for the Adept ceremonies, and ensures that the sided figure; in the cen~e the Pastos (failing which
are informed in advance. y a black cloth folded to shape and placed on the
The Provincial Secretary is responsible for sub- floor); on the Pastos, from West to East, the Holy
mitting the Return (Form A/C), which he must Bible (open at St John Chapter 1),~mall ‘In me-
sign to confirm that the Grade(s) have been con- moriam’ plate, circular altar plate (Grade VII
ferred, to the Secretary-General, immediately after only), sanctuary lamp or candle. Pedestals for the
Adept Grades have been conferred, so that Certifi- Inductor in the East and Expositor in the West,
cates can be made out; for administrative conven- each bearing a light enclosed by a transparency, so
ience he may arrange with the College Secretary to that the Illuminated Cross is seen by the Candi-
submit these returns with the College returns. The date, and the officer has the benefit of a dim light.
appropriate fee should be sent by the College NOTE: ensure that the Fratres do not move the
Secretary for the Second-Order Grades with the chairs from the sevensided shape, and that they
Form A/C, duly signed by the Provincial Secretary, understand the significance of the form of the V...
for the Candidate’s Grade V. The Form A/C must The Candidates should be veiled, and not blind-
show who officiated in each ceremony. folded in the Adept Grades. In Grade VII the
Minutes Minutes should be kept of all Adept
— Candidate must know the Grand Words ofGrades
Grades worked in the Province, and these should I —VI. (In this Grade, the Conductor moves to
be read and confirmed immediately after opening stand behind the candidate after he has completed
the examination.)
26 27
 —~ —

Prologue If the Prologue is to be given in Grade

—

V, it is necessary that there is a banner, or diagram, Provincial Secretary to read from Form A/C the
names of the Candidates for the Grade, and to
of the Tree of Life outside the Portal of the V...,
confirm that the form bears the signature of the
and that it can be illuminated during the explana-
tion; the anteroom should otherwise be in dark- Chief Adept (or Supreme Magus) approving the
ness. candidate for advancement.
Lighting In Grade VII, there should ifpossible be
— INSTALLATION OF CELEBRANT
a single light in the South, which can be switched
on at the appropriate mom~nt. If no such light is Ritual to be Known The outgoing Celebrant has
—

to know the wording for vacating the Chair and

available, then the general lighting will have to be
used. inviting the Installing Officer to preside, namely:
Right Worthy Chief Adept (or RW Installing
In Grade V, if it is the custom to show the Officer), the Fratres have chosen Frater—

Candidates a diagram of the Tetractys to enable to be the Celebrant of the College for the
them to follow the explanation in the Lecture, ensuing year, and in retiring from the Chair I
sufficient light should be given for them to see this request you to preside over us, and to install
diagram while this part of the lecture is given, or a my successor.
transparency of a Tetractys may be used. With
Likewise the First Ancient has to know his words
these exceptions (and the lights in the transparen-
cies on the two pedestals and the Sanctuary Lamp for presenting the Celebrant-Elect at the Altar;
on the Pastos) there should be no lights in evidence these are:
Right Worthy Chief Adept (or RW Installing
during the Adept ceremonies, but if available, a
very dim blue light may be used throughout, to Officer), by virtue of the powers of the Four
facilitate movements. Elements which we represent, and on behalf
Formalities Before opening the V... of A... the
—
of the Fratres of this College, we present Very
Inductor should satisfy himself, by enquiry, that Worthy Frater —, the Celebrant-Elect of
nobody is present who has not taken the Grade the— College of Rosicrucians, under
about to be worked. He should then call upon the whose rule and guidance we desire to prose-
cute our researches, and perform our duties
28
29
—7

during the ensuing year, in order that you

may confer upon him the secrets and dignity has been conferred upon the Celebrant-Elect. The
of a Celebrant and in due form instal him in D C conducts the acting Exponent to the West
the Chair of Christian Rosenkreuz. where he assumes the Robe of the Exponent. The
All the Ancients have to know how to bring the Four Ancients are meanwhile forming the Cosmic
Celebrant-Elect to the Altar for presentation. The Cross in the North-West. On return to their pillars
four Ancients form a Cosmic Cross (ie a Cross the Ancients (and all other Officers except the
with equal arms) in the North-West, with the Exponent) remove their Robes and resume their
Celebrant-Elect in the centre. The First Ancient is seats of Office.
in the East of this Cross, the Second Ancient in the Ifthe Celebrant-Elect is one ofthe Ancients, the
South, the Third in the North, and the Fourth in Exponent remains in his place and an acting An-
the West (ie at the rear). The D C gives the instruc- cient is conducted to the seat being vacated by the
tion for the five to move off to the East. They stop Celebrant-Elect; if the latter is the First Ancient,
in front of the Altar (not in front ofthe Chair), and the stand-in must have learnt the words of presen-
the First Ancient presents the Celebrant-Elect to tation. All Officers remain in their former seats of
the Installing Officer, in the words given above. Office until called forward for obligation to a new
The Ancients return to their pedestals when so Office or until their replacement Officer comes,
instructed The D C should rehearse the Ancients after obligation, to take up the Office.
and Celebrant-Elect in all this before the College Robe & Collarette When the outgoing Celebrant
—

opens. has taken off his Robe and Collarette, these are
Vacating of Chairs by Officers If the Exponent is
—
placed at the foot of the Altar, and should NOT
Celebrant-Elect, his chair should not be left va- be placed on the Kneeling Stool, or directly be-
cant, but should be occupied by a Past Celebrant. tween the stool and the Altar, where they would
(It could well be found convenient for the outgoing be in the way during the ceremony.
Celebrant to fill this place.) The change takes place
Other Points All Fratres should be warned by the
—
immediately after the Installing Officer has said
D C or Chief Adept that they will be asked if they
that the Grade ofAdeptus Exemptus (or Magister) are satisfied with the answers given by the Cele-
30 brant-Elect, and that the reply is ‘We are content’
31
q

F
(the D C should give the lead in this response, so
Obligation of Absent Officers If any Officers are
—
that all speak together). The Celebrant-Elect
absent from the installation meeting, an item
should be reminded that he will have to pass the
should appear on subsequent summonses ‘To Ob-
Word at the appropriate point, when he and the
ligate the followingOfficers, who were not present
Installing Officer join the M... C.... The kneeling
at the Installation meeting’, with a list of names
stool should be removed by the D C as soon as the
and Offices. The Obligation may be administered
Celebrant-Elect has risen.
by the Chief Adept, the Suifragan or any Past
Music If desired, the Motet ‘God be in my head’
—
Celebrant nominated for the purpose by the Chief
may be sung before the Celebrant-Elect rises after Adept, and care must be taken to ensure that a
being constituted (sung by Precentor or by all the copy of the wording of the Obligation is available
Fratres, according to College custom). to such Obligating Officer. The ‘absent Officer’
Appointment of Officers It should be suggested to
— item will reappear on all summonses during the
the Celebrant-Elect that, since the new Officers all year, until all have been obligated, but NOT on
come forward to be Obligated together, he should the summons for the next Installation meeting. If
read out the full list of Officers with only a slight the Officer in question is then present, he will not
pause between each name. The D C or Installing be obligated in the Office he is about to vacate. (If
Officer should tell the Officers-Designate that, as he is then being appointed to the same, or any
their names are called, they should come forward other Office, he will of course be obligated with all
and line up across the Temple in the East in two the other new Officers in the ordinary way.)
or three lines according to the space available.
(Seniors should be on the right (South), ie the new OFFICIAL VISITS AND SIMILAR
Exponent stands in front ofthe Celebrant’s chair, CEREMONIAL
the next Officer on his left and so on, starting a It is not normal for the Celebrant or any of his
second line when the first line is full.) Sufficient Officers to enter or leave the Temple in procession.
space should be left in the East for the Installing The Celebrant is saluted only at his Installation.
Officer to come between the Altar and the front Visits On the occasion of visits by the Supreme
—

line. Magus, Senior or Junior Substitute Magus, or a

32
33
Commissioner from the SM, the procession, sa-
lute and recession will be directed by the Director-
r procession should not take place when the SM,
General of Ceremonies or his Deputy, and SSM, JSM, or a Commissioner is visiting.
members of the Third Order and Past-Celebrants, Suifragan In the absence of the Chief Adept, the
—

Suifragan takes his place. When the Chief Adept

will be called on to form an escort, as required. In is present, the Suffragan takes place according to
all processions, all officers taking part must wear
appropriate robes. The Director-General of Cere- his Grade and rank.
monies directs the salutes to the Visitor; thereafter Salutes The Salutes to be given in the Temple are
—

the College D C takes charge until the procession laid down in the Ordinances, Appendix IV. A
of the Visitor out of the College. Chief Adept is saluted only in his own Province,
ChiefAdept The Chief Adept (in his absence the
—
and a Suifragan is not usually saluted when the
Suffragan) will normally take his seat on the North Chief Adept is present. When salutes of 9, 8,7 or
side of the Altar before the College is opened, with 6 are given, no other salutes (other than as pre-
members of the Third Order (other than Officers scribed in the Ritual, for a newly installed Cele-
of the College who have official places to take in brant or Chief Adept, or a newly obligated
that capacity) on his right according to rank and Suifragan) are given while the Officer receivingthe
seniority. The Chief Adept will give place to the salute of 9, 8, 7 or 6 is present in the Temple. On
SM, SSM, ISM, or a Commissioner, when they such occasions the Chief Adept, or in his absence
visit a College; in his own Province he does not the Suffragan, may be saluted before the SM’s, or
give place to Officers of High Council, who take Visiting Officer’s, procession enters.
precedence immediately below him. When making Surrendering the Sceptre The Celebrant will offer
—

an Official visit to one of his Colleges, the Chief his Sceptre to the SM, SSM, JSM, Commissioner
Adept may enter in procession, preceded by robed or Chief Adept immediately after the senior of
High Councillors and Past-Celebrants under the these who may be present has acknowledged the
direction of the Provincial Director of Ceremo- salutation ofthe Fratres. The Sceptre is not offered
nies, if one is appointed and present, or the DG of to a Suifragan or to an Officer of High Council,
C, if present, failing which the College D C. Such even when the latter is making an Official visit,
34 35
unless he carries a Commission from the Supreme r FOUNDING A NEW COLLEGE
Magus.
Minutes After the Minutes have been read, con-
—
The regulations for establishing a new College are
firmed and signed by the Celebrant, the senior laid down in Ordinance X.3, but before getting to
ranking Visitor present (SM, SSM,JSM, Commis- the stage of petitioning the MW Supreme Magus
sioner or Chief Adept) should be invited to sign Fratres may like to know the furniture and other
them also. equipment required by a College for the fourFirst-
Order Grades.
After-Proceedings When the SM, SSM, ISM or a
—
Altar & Superaltar 1. Where a College holds its
—
Commissioner is present, and has a Grand D C meetings in a masonic temple it is common to use
attending on him, the latter will control the after-
the WM’s pedestal (or a larger table) as the altar.
proceedings and the proposing of Toasts, etc. ]f This must have an altarcloth of white linen draped
the SM is present, permission to smoke should be over it; this may be adorned with a suitable em-
given before the Toast to the SM is proposed; on
broidered motif, eg the Paschal Lamb. The College
all other occasions smoking should be permitted will decide whether and what the emblem should
after the Toast of the SM has been honoured. The
be.
Commemoration, immediately after the closing 2. A superaltar with three steps is essential. It
Grace, will be proposed by the SM, SSM, ISM,
must be painted white, and must be large enough
Commissioner or Chief Adept, if present, failing to take the 33 candles (see diagrams onpp 14—16)
which by the Celebrant. This Commemoration
comfortably spaced. It should be designed to fit
must not be referred to as a Toast; the Loyal Toast,
safely on or over the altar and altar cloth.
which follows, is the first Toast to be so designated,
3. 33 candle-holders of suitable design are nec-
and care must be taken not to refer to it as ‘the next
essary to hold the
(or Second) Toast’. 4. 33 candles required (with spare sets).
5. Three small white-painted blocks are needed
to raise candles 4, 23 & 29.
6. A black Calvary Cross, as described on p 16.
36
37
9, 7. A white Calvary Cross is needed for Grade IV,
with red rose, but without scroll or star, as de-
r Details of all these are laid down in Appendix V of
scribed on p 16. the Ordinances.
i 8. It is useful, but not essential, to have a can-
dIe-snuffer with taper attachment for dealing with
Jewels 17. (a) Celebrant, (b) Secretary, and (c)
—

Treasurer.
the candles on the superaltar. Other Items 18. Pedestals for Celebrant and Ex-
—

Ancients —9. Four pedestals or pillars are needed ponent.

19. Sceptre (red wand) of correct design, sup-
for the Ancients. If these are to be specially made
plied by Secretary-General.
for the new College, it is appropriate to show the
20. Holy Bible for Exponent; this may be
symbols of the four Ancients painted on them in
blocked in gold on the front cover with the name
the proper colours. Where storage space in the
temple is short, folding ‘wine tables’ can conven- of the College.
21. Censer, preferably full-size brass Church
iently be used.
ecnser (and, if possible, thurible stand for it).
10. Four ‘holders’ are required for the elements:
22. Or a suitable tile to hold censer at foot of
(a) Fire a spirit or oil lamp, or red candle; (b) Water
a small bowl or chalice; (c) Air a large plain fan of Altar.
robust construction; and (d) Earth a small copper, 23. Incense, self-lighting charcoal and matches.
24. Black blindfolds, at least four.
brass or silver-plated bowl.
Robes 11. Celebrant
—
25. Floorcloth or board, representing the Centre
12. Exponent of the Universe, for the second part of the Zelator
1 3. Ancients ecremony.
14. Conductor 26. Numbers Lecture for Zelator ceremony. It
15. High Council Representative (Grade VII or is helpful if the large pages can be easily turned
over. There is an established design,’which may be
VIII, as appropriate)
16. Five white cloaks for Guardian, Torchbearer embellished with colour.
and Aspirants 27. Grade II Cross for the Aspirant with arms of
equal length, coloured for the four elements.

38 39
— w-.--—— —-

28. Fylfot Cross for the Aspirant in Grade III,

appropriately coloured.
29. Calvary Cross for the Aspirant in Grade IV,
with white squares and a single black square.
NOTES
It is suggested that Founders should closely in-
spect the equipment in an established College,
before commissioning furniture etc. If convenient
they should borrow this for copying.
While most Fratres will wish to have their new
furnishings ready for the Consecration, it must be
remembered that it is the College, not its furniture,
that is being consecrated. There can be no objec-
tion, therefore, to using some borrowed equip-
ment for that important occasion.

40