National Council: - Ritual Instructions

Ritual

For Lodges of the International Organization of Good Templars
Used with permission of the National Council of IOGT-USA
(***Not currently used - for historical significance only.***)
Edited for the Internet by Brent B.

Instructions As To Ritual And Work

THE INTERNATIONAL SUPREME LODGE, in furnishing Rituals for the use of the Lodges under its jurisdiction, does not sell them, and any sum charged is to be regarded as paid for the use only and not for the actual ownership of the books. Where lodges are under a Grand Lodge, they can obtain new Rituals only through the Grand Lodge, which can supply them only on the conditions specified above; and the Lodges requiring new copies for use must return the old ones with the order. No Lodge can lawfully possess more Rituals than are necessary for regular use. No Officer or member can lawfully hold any Ceremonial Works apart from those appertaining to his office; and no Officer or member can possess any such material as personal property. The International Supreme Lodge, which is duly incorporated, makes all Grand Lodges its agents for the recovery of Rituals in their respective areas.

One black disk " • " indicates one rap with the gavel to call to order or to seat the Lodge. Three discs " • • • " indicate three to call up the Lodge.

Grand Lodges may publish song books and decide what songs are to be used for the different occasions.

In Using The Ritual Observe:

That the bracketed paragraphs in small type are not to be read aloud as they only contain directions.
That all bracketed parts of the charges may be omitted according to the circumstances.
That the Chaplain, instead of using the prayer or address given, may use some other prayer or suitable address or may invite all to silent prayer or meditation.
That the use of the singular or the plural and the use of the personal pronouns must be adapted to the circumstances. They are therefore in italics or spaced.
That nothing should be added to or taken away from the charges of the ritual, but that in Grand Lodge jurisdiction, additions or deletions may be made by the Grand Lodge but not by the subordinate Lodge or Lodge Officers.
That all officers must read through beforehand the charge that they are to give at Initiation or other such ceremony.

General Instructions

PRESIDING OFFICER.- In the absence of C.T. and V.T. the chair is taken by the Junior P.C.T. of the Lodge who is present. In the absence of C.T., V.T. and all P.C.T.'s of the Lodge, the Sec, or some member calls the meeting to order, and those present choose by sign vote a pro tem Presiding Officer. The Presiding Officer cannot propose any motion or address the Lodge on any question before it while occupying the chair. He cannot give a sign vote, but, if a member of the Lodge, he may give a casting vote in case of a tie. In balloting, if a member of the Lodge, he votes with the others and has no casting vote. The Presiding Officer may, if the Lodge does not object, invite any visiting or other member to preside. A visitor presiding has no vote, and in case of a tie declares the motion lost because it lacks a majority of votes.

PAST CHIEF TEMPLAR.- The P.C. Templars entitled to rank as such are those who have been installed as C.T.'s and have served to the end of the term in any lodge. The Senior P.C.T. is the Officer who thus completed a term at the most remote date. The Junior P.C.T. is the one whose term was completed at the most recent. The P.C.T.'s chair is occupied by the Junior P.C.T. of that Lodge present. Transferred P.C.T.'s cannot claim the P.C.T.'s chair, although if the Lodge has no P.C.T. of its own, it may fitly designate such transferred Officer to occupy and install him into it.

ABSENT OFFICERS.- The C.T. appoints members to fill the chairs of absent Officers, who, when they arrive, may be requested by the C.T. to take their positions. An acting Officer, desiring to leave, asks permission of the C.T., who fills the vacancy.

CANDIDATES.- All propositions for membership, whether for the acceptance of Juvenile Templars, for admission on Clearance Cards, or the re-admission of lapsed members, must be referred and reported upon as in the case of new applicants. Each candidate for initiation receives a Form of Application containing a copy of the Commitment, and must certify by his signature his willingness to take that Commitment.

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	Ritual For Lodges of the International Organization of Good Templars Used with permission of the National Council of IOGT-USA (*Not currently used - for historical significance only.*) Edited for the Internet by Brent B. Instructions As To Ritual And Work THE INTERNATIONAL SUPREME LODGE, in furnishing Rituals for the use of the Lodges under its jurisdiction, does not sell them, and any sum charged is to be regarded as paid for the use only and not for the actual ownership of the books. Where lodges are under a Grand Lodge, they can obtain new Rituals only through the Grand Lodge, which can supply them only on the conditions specified above; and the Lodges requiring new copies for use must return the old ones with the order. No Lodge can lawfully possess more Rituals than are necessary for regular use. No Officer or member can lawfully hold any Ceremonial Works apart from those appertaining to his office; and no Officer or member can possess any such material as personal property. The International Supreme Lodge, which is duly incorporated, makes all Grand Lodges its agents for the recovery of Rituals in their respective areas. One black disk " • " indicates one rap with the gavel to call to order or to seat the Lodge. Three discs " • • • " indicate three to call up the Lodge. Grand Lodges may publish song books and decide what songs are to be used for the different occasions. In Using The Ritual Observe: That the bracketed paragraphs in small type are not to be read aloud as they only contain directions. That all bracketed parts of the charges may be omitted according to the circumstances. That the Chaplain, instead of using the prayer or address given, may use some other prayer or suitable address or may invite all to silent prayer or meditation. That the use of the singular or the plural and the use of the personal pronouns must be adapted to the circumstances. They are therefore in italics or spaced. That nothing should be added to or taken away from the charges of the ritual, but that in Grand Lodge jurisdiction, additions or deletions may be made by the Grand Lodge but not by the subordinate Lodge or Lodge Officers. That all officers must read through beforehand the charge that they are to give at Initiation or other such ceremony. General Instructions PRESIDING OFFICER.- In the absence of C.T. and V.T. the chair is taken by the Junior P.C.T. of the Lodge who is present. In the absence of C.T., V.T. and all P.C.T.'s of the Lodge, the Sec, or some member calls the meeting to order, and those present choose by sign vote a pro tem Presiding Officer. The Presiding Officer cannot propose any motion or address the Lodge on any question before it while occupying the chair. He cannot give a sign vote, but, if a member of the Lodge, he may give a casting vote in case of a tie. In balloting, if a member of the Lodge, he votes with the others and has no casting vote. The Presiding Officer may, if the Lodge does not object, invite any visiting or other member to preside. A visitor presiding has no vote, and in case of a tie declares the motion lost because it lacks a majority of votes. PAST CHIEF TEMPLAR.- The P.C. Templars entitled to rank as such are those who have been installed as C.T.'s and have served to the end of the term in any lodge. The Senior P.C.T. is the Officer who thus completed a term at the most remote date. The Junior P.C.T. is the one whose term was completed at the most recent. The P.C.T.'s chair is occupied by the Junior P.C.T. of that Lodge present. Transferred P.C.T.'s cannot claim the P.C.T.'s chair, although if the Lodge has no P.C.T. of its own, it may fitly designate such transferred Officer to occupy and install him into it. ABSENT OFFICERS.- The C.T. appoints members to fill the chairs of absent Officers, who, when they arrive, may be requested by the C.T. to take their positions. An acting Officer, desiring to leave, asks permission of the C.T., who fills the vacancy. CANDIDATES.- All propositions for membership, whether for the acceptance of Juvenile Templars, for admission on Clearance Cards, or the re-admission of lapsed members, must be referred and reported upon as in the case of new applicants. Each candidate for initiation receives a Form of Application containing a copy of the Commitment, and must certify by his signature his willingness to take that Commitment. [Top of Page] [List of Officers]