INSTALLATION CEREMONY
The installation ceremony shall be conducted by the Chancellor of the council, assisted by the counselors, and shall take place on the first meeting of the Circle in September, following the election of the officers. If for good and sufficient reasons the Chancellor cannot be present on that occasion, the installation shall take place as soon thereafter as possible. If there are sufficient counselors, a different one should be assigned to each officer. Otherwise, one Counselor may impart the instruction to two or more officers. The parts must be thoroughly committed in order that they may be given effectively. Reading of the parts shall not be tolerated and should be reported to the Supreme Secretary.
The installation shall be as follows: The Chancellor of the council, accompanied by the two Captains, all properly robed shall under the head of "New Business" take charge of the meeting, the Chief Squire and all other offices retiring from their stations, and the Chancellor assuming the station of Chief Squire with a Captain seated on either side. The Chancellor shall then proceed as follows: Chancellor: "Captains, you will now arrange the newly elected officers in the order of their precedence and conduct them to the antechamber, and report to me when all is in readiness for their installation."
The captains will then arrange the offices in line in the center of the Circle with the Chief Squire at the head facing the Chancellor. The Pole Captain will then place himself at the head of the column and the Arm Captain at the rear. The Pole Captain will then command, "Attention, Forward March!"
The Pole Captain leading, the column will proceed to the antechamber, where the officers will be robed. When all is in readiness, the Arm Captain returns to the center of the Circle and salutes the Chancellor;
Arm Captain: "Esteemed Chancellor, the officers are prepared and ready for installation."
Chancellor: " Captain, conduct the officers to our presence." The Captain salutes, wheels about and retires to the door of the
antechamber, upon which he sounds loudly as many raps as there are officers to be installed, in response to which the Pole Captain raps the same number in a like manner, and opens the door. The Pole Captain then commands, "Officers, Attention; Forward March!" He then conducts the officers into the Circle chamber; the Arm Captain closing the antechamber door after the last has entered and takes his place at the rear of the column.
The Pole Captain proceeds to march the officers entirely about the right within the Circle, and until he arrives abreast of Station II, when he commands, "Left, March!" and then proceeds in a direct line towards station III, until the column reaches a position equidistant from said stations, when he shall command, "Halt, Left Face!"
This will bring the officers in a line facing the Chancellor, the Captain and officers then salute the Chancellor, after which he proceeds as follows: Chancellor: "Columbian Squires, it is now my privilege to install your newly-elected officers.
"Before proceeding further, I wish to congratulate the officers. Who have so well filled the respective stations during the past year and to thank them on the part of the Circle for their services so efficiently and generously performed. (If these are the first officers, this paragraph will be omitted.)
"To you, the new officers, who have been selected to direct the affairs of Columbian Circle No. ______ during the coming year, I bid a heartily welcome. Representing Council No. _______, Knights of Columbus, I bring you greetings from that body, and I extend to you in its name the sincere wishes for a successful, happy and helpful year. "As officers of this Circle, you have been chosen because of the special qualifications which you have manifested for the duties which you are to perform. Your activity, earnestness and devotion to the principles and progress of the Columbian Squires have commended you to the thoughtful consideration of your brothers, who have accordingly conferred upon you the high honor of being entrusted with the management and direction of this Circle during the coming year. While this mark of approbation is a great honor, it likewise carries with it grave responsibilities. From this time forward in performing the duties of your office you must each have in mind solely the best interests of the Circle as a whole. You represent no particular sector or part of this Circle, but all sectors and individuals which
make up the completed whole.
While the progress and accomplishments of the Circle during the coming year must depend upon the united efforts and support of all squires, yet by virtue of your office your duty shall be to direct and fashion these activities so that in the end, when your term of office shall have expired, it may be known to all that the Circle has progressed in its accomplishments, has benefited its members, and has brought much good to the community. "It is your duty as officers to work in unison for the furtherance of certain common ends benefiting the entire Circle, yet each has also his own specific duties to perform. These you shall endeavor to perform promptly, accurately and cheerfully, and we will now point out more specifically to each officer his respective duties.
"Learned Counselor, present to the Sentry his duties." Counselor: "Sentry, your duty shall be to guard the sanctity of our Circle, permitting no stranger to find a place therein who has not been properly selected, approved and qualified by the ceremony and pledge of our Order. None other shall sit among you; and in your vigilance of its membership the Circle has reposed all confidence. See that vigilance be not "found wanting." ( He then invests Sentry with official jewels.)
Chancellor: "Learned Counselor, advise the Marshal." Counselor: "Marshal, grave duties and responsibilities have been reposed in you. You are the general in command of the initiation ceremony. The symbols, paraphernalia and equipment have been placed in your charge. It is your solemn and sacred duty to guard them well. Let no stranger know them; let no thoughtless hand mar them. Make them your special charge, so that when they are presented their appearance shall be your commendation.
"As one skilled in directing others, you have been selected to direct the movements of all candidates who will be presented to the Circle for initiation. To a most marked degree the impression that will be left with the candidates depends upon you. Your conduct and manner shall at all times be dignified and commanding. You shall know your duties with the same exactness as does the successful general know the details of his plan of operation. Your captains shall be properly trained in their respective parts and by the unison, harmony and perfection of orders, drills and maneuvers you shall impress alike the candidates and your brother squires with the need of prompt, harmonious, concerted and coordinated action. Accompanying the great confidence reposed in you is a like great responsibility. We wish you success."
(He then invests Marshal with official jewel.)
Chancellor:
"Learned Counselor, admonish the bursar as to his responsibilities."
Counselor: "Bursar, no organization can succeed which has not been builded upon business principles. No less skill, care ability is required in this office than in the others, though oftentimes its best performance will be unnoticed because not of a public nature. The finances of the Circle have been entrusted to your charge, and your records must at all times show that the duties of your office are being performed absolutely in accord with the letter and spirit of the laws. It is your duty to collect from candidates and members their initiatory fees and all dues. In this matter you have no discretion, and shall make no distinctions. The laws prescribe what shall be paid by each and when a without fear or favor you shall insist that the law in this respect be observed.
No less important is your duty in guarding well the finances of the Circle in the matter of its expenditures. No bill or account shall be paid except as and when duly authorized. Guard well your trust; perform well your duties, and therein shall be your just reward. Your selection by your Brother Squires assures you of their confidence in your ability and integrity, and may that confidence go with you through your term of office." (He then invests Bursar with official jewel.)
Chancellor:
"Learned Counselor, your advice is sought by the Notary."
Counselor: "Notary, the Columbian Squires is not an organization for the day, but it is to continue permanently. Its proceedings, though they may seem trivial at times, are being recorded for the centuries. Its roster of members, the parts they have played in the activities of the Circle, their duties performed as officers or on committees, the undertakings, accomplishments and purposes of the Circle as a whole all these shall be carefully noted and recorded by you, and shall constitute the permanent record of the Circle. The completeness of such record depends upon your energy, accuracy and fidelity to duty. May the chapter which you will write in the records of our circle be no less accurate, complete and orderly than those which have proceeded or which may follow. We repose our confidence in you." (He then invests Notary with official jewel.)
Chancellor:
" Learned Counselor, direct the Deputy Chief Squire in his
duties."
Counselor:
"Deputy Chief Squire, the chief executive in business or civil affairs, or the general in charge of an army, knows not when through fate or chance or circumstances over which he has no control he may be called upon to lay down the duties and responsibilities of his office. That the organization may not fail, it is fit and proper that another should be trained to assume that position of leadership. Your qualifications, your manifest interest in the doings and achievements of the Circle, have commended you to your fellow Squires as one qualified for such a place. That
you may never
be called upon to perform such duties shall be no reason or excuse for you not being prepared to do sat anytime. You also have a most important part in exemplifying the ceremonies of our Order. By you shall be pointed out to those who seek entrance to our ranks the sacred responsibility which they owe to the laws of God and of their country. Let your daily conduct, even more than your words, present this spirit, so that in you may be seen one who in devotion to God, Country and Church exemplifies the ideal Catholic youth." (He then invests Deputy Chief squire with official jewel.)
Chancellor:
Chief squire, you have been signally honored by your fellow Squires. By their selection they have said, we believe in you; we trust you; we will follow you. That confidence must not be betrayed; it should not be lost. To preserve it, you must continue to present the qualities of leadership. This requires study time, service and self-sacrifice. While others are at rest or play, you shall work. You will find your Brother Squires always willing to cooperate, but they will look to you for mature and perfected plans.
Before you can lead others to success, you must first by careful thought and study have satisfied your own mind as to a clear course of action. In this connection let this be your advice: Consult with many, listen patiently to the ideas of others, be not too hasty in arriving at conclusions, but when from these sources and your own best consideration a plan and program of action has been determined upon, then perfect yourself in all its details so that as the leader of this Circle you may be able without hesitancy or doubt to point the way clearly to others. You too shall know no particular sector or group of Squires, but you shall see the Circle only as one complete whole and every effort shall be directed solely for the benefit of all.
" As Chief Squire it shall also be your responsibility to know that the duties of every other officer are being properly performed for failure of any part of properly function must to that extent result in a failure of the whole. The office of Chief Squire should not be considered as a mere place of honor, but wholly as a position of trust and responsibility. I voice with pleasure the sentiment of the entire Circle in wishing you success and Godspeed in the performance of the duties of your office. (He then invests Chief Squire with official jewel.) "And now, to all squires of the Circle, mark this parting word. While the specific duties and responsibilities of each officer have been pointed out to him, nonetheless important are the duties of each individual Squires. You have selected the offices, but they cannot successfully function without your support. An army that would select its general, its colonels and its captains and then neglect to support them in every just requirement and to obey every proper command would
be traitors to the cause they represented. Give to your officers hearty, generous and sented. Give to your officers hearty, generous and unstinted support and you will never regret your choice and in the progress advancement and achievements of your Circle you will find ample recompense. May the year be successful to officers and members alike is the sincere and earnest wish of the Knights who sponsor you. "Captains, conduct the officers to their respective stations." Pole Captain then commands, "Officers, Right face; Forward March!" he then proceeds to Station III turns to the left, marches about slowly within the Circle and as the procession comes to the respective stations of the last officer in the line, the Pole Captain halts the column until the Arm Captain assigns such officer thereto and so continues with such officer, until coming at last to the station of the Chief Squire, when the Pole Captain commands, "Halt, Right Face!" and the captains and Chief Squire salutes the Chancellor. The Chancellor then steps down from the station and conducts the Chief Squire to the Chair thus made vacant,
takes his place between the captains and with the captains salutes the Chief Squire, then proceeds with the captains about the Circle to the respective stations, stopping and extending congratulations to each officer, ending with the Chief Squire. The three then return to the center of the Circle, salute the Chief Squire, and assume their respective stations in the Circle. The Chief Squire will then take up the duties of his office and proceed with remainder of the program for the evening.