THE SOUTH GATE
One of the things I have always enjoyed about our fraternity is the ceremonies and solemnity of the occasions. From The Laws of The Grand Lodge of Texas in Title I - Chapter 7, article 34, I found the following:
Art. 34. (34). Formalities Receiving Grand Master or His Representatives:
The private grand honors shall be given only upon an official visitation to the Lodge by the Grand Master, the Acting Grand Master, the duly commissioned Representatives of the Grand Master, or Acting Grand Master, or the District Deputy Grand Master. The procedure upon such official visitation shall be as follows: When the Grand Master (or other such official, as the case may be) shall arrive in the anteroom the Tiler shall give the alarm and announce that the Grand Master (or his representative) is in waiting, The Master shall then place the Deacons inside the door with their rods crossed. The Brethren shall be arranged on each side of the door and extending to the altar, with sufficient space between the lines for the Grand Master and his escort to pass. The Master shall then deputize two Past Masters (if available, otherwise two other Brethren) to escort and introduce the Grand Master. The escorting Brethren will open the door and announce to the Grand Master (giving its name and number) is ready to receive him. The Grand Master, with a member of the reception committee on each side and the Deacons on the extreme right and left, with their rods crossed above the head of the Grand Master, shall advance between the lines toward the East and stop at the altar. The Master Mason sign shall be given at the altar by the Grand Master
and the two escorting Brethren and it shall be returned by the Worshipful Master. The Brother on the Grand Masters left shall introduce him in substantially the following language:" Worshipful Master, it is my privilege to introduce to you and through you to the Brethren here assembled Most Worshipful _______________, Grand Master of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Texas." The Grand Master shall be recognized by the Worshipful Master, who shall instruct the Brethren to join him in extending to the Grand Master private Grand Honors, which shall then be accorded. The Grand Master shall then be escorted to the East by the Brother on his left (all other Brethren shall return to their usual places) and the Master will surrender the gavel to the Grand Master. If other Grand Lodge Officers are present, the corresponding officers of the Lodge shall surrender their seats to them. The Grand Master, if he desires, may appoint pro tem Grand Officers to assist him in the visitation and inspection. In such cases such pro tem Grand Officers shall enter the Lodge room immediately following him. All being seated, the Master shall deliver to the Grand Master such books and records or other things as he may desire to inspect. Representatives of the Grand Master or other Grand Lodge Officers, when being received shall be addressed as set out in Section 1, Article IV of the Constitution.
Brethren, will we be duly and truly prepared for a visit, or should we practice prior to an official visit?
George Hahn, Junior Warden
The Guiding Light / Feb. 2016 11