Manual of the Lodge/Ancient Ceremonies of the Order/Festivals of the Order
SECTION V.
FESTIVALS OF THE ORDER.
N every country where Freemasonry is encouraged, its festival days are celebrated with great ceremony. These are, the festival of St. John the Baptist, on the 24th of June, and that of St. John the Evangelist, on the 27th of December. They are days set apart by the fraternity to worship the Grand Architect of the Universe; to implore his blessings upon the great family of mankind; and to partake of the feast of brotherly affection. Hence the Grand Lodge has recommended to every Lodge, annually to celebrate one or both of these days in such way as will be most conducive to the advantage of the Lodge, and the honor and benefit of the Institution.
Whichever day may have been selected, the Lodge about to celebrate it should assemble at its usual place of meeting, and having been opened on the first degree, is called from labor, and a peocession is to be formed as follows:
Tiler, with his sword;
Two Stewards, with white staves;
Two Standards (Faith and Hope);
Entered Apprentices, two and two;
Fellow Crafts, two and two;
Master Masons, two and two;
Two Standards (Charity and Wisdom);
Masons of the higher degrees;
A Brother, carrying one of the Orders;
Four Bn thren carrying the other four Orders, two and two;
Two Standards (Strength and Beauty);
Secretary and Treasurer;
The oldest members of the Lodge carrying the Holy Bible,
Square, and Compasses;
Chaplain and Orator;
Past Wardens;
Past Masters;
Tho two Wardens, with their pillars;
Junior Deacon, Worshipful Master, Senior Deacon.
If any Grand officers be present, they must be placed in the rear of the procession, immediately in front of the two Wardens.
Every officer must wear the jewels of his office. The Marshal attends on horseback to regulate the procession. On arriving at the church gate, the brethren uncover and open their ranks to the right and left as far as the Master, who, followed by the brethren, passes between the lines, likewise uncovered, into the church. The same ceremony is observed on their return to the Freemasons' Hall.
Divine service must be" performed by the Chaplain, and an appropriate address delivered by some competent brother appointed for the occasion. Hymns and anthems adapted to the occasion shall be sung, and after service, a collection may be made at the church doors, in aid of the charity fund. After the return to the hall, the Master may deliver a charge from the chair, upon such subjects connected with the Order, and the honor and happiness of the craft, as he may think proper.
In all Masonic processions, no Freemason shall wear the insignia of any Order which is not recognized by the Grand Lodge, The proper dress of Freemasons in procession is, black clothes, with while gloves and stockings. When the day is celebrated by the Grand Lodge, the procession must be formed as follows:
Tiler, with his sword;
Two Deacons, with their staves;
Two Standards (Faith and Hope);
Twelve Fellow Crafts, two and two;
Tiler, with his sword;
Entered Apprentices, two and two;
Fellow Crafts, two and two;
Master Masons, two and two;
Tiler, with his sword;
Two Deacons, with their staves;
Two Deacons, with staves;
Two Standards (Strength and Beauty);
Music;
Grand Tiler, with flaming sword;
Grand Stewards, with white rods;
A Brother, carrying one of the Orders;
Four Brethren, carrying the other four Orders, two and two:
Grand Pursuivant, with sword of state;
Grand Secretary, with his bag;
Grand Treasurer, with his staff;
The Bible. Square, and Compasses, on a crimson velvet cushion, carried by an aged Master Mason, supported by two Deacons, with their staves;
Grand Chaplain and Orator;
Past Grand Wardens;
Past Deputy Grand Masters;
Past Grand Masters;
Junior Grand Deacons, with their staves;
Grand Wardens, with their pillars;
Deputy Grand Master:
The Book of Constitutions, on a crimson velvet cushion, carried
by the Master of the oldest Lodge;
Grand Master;
Senior Grand Deacons, with their staves;
Two Tilers, with drawn swords, close the procession.
These forms of procession may be used by the Grand or a Subordinate Lodge on all other public occasions where a particular form is not laid down in this work.