THE EMPTY CHAIR CEREMONY
A Ceremony Of Remembrance
The Short Talk Bulletin Vol 26 May 1948 No 5
The Grand Lodge Of New Brunswick
The Empty or vacant Chair ceremony dates back to 1875, a decade after the
close of the American Civil War when it was used in Masonic lodges to pay
tribute to those who did not return from the war. Since then it has been used by
many lodges at Remembrance Day to pay homage to those Brother Masons who fell
during WWI, WWII, and other wars; or it may be adapted to remember Past Masters,
or Members
The version below is an amalgamation of some of these ceremonies, the Masonic
funeral service of Ontario and some material added on for our particular use.
What follows is a transcript of the ceremony as performed in Moira Lodge A.F. &
A.M. #11 G.R.C. on November 7th, 2001.
Please feel free to copy it and modify it to suit your own ceremony of
remembrance.
Set Up Of Tyled Lodge
- An empty chair is decorated with an officer's collar over the back. (Or
appropriate apron) It is placed outside the closed door of the Lodge
- A podium and wreath are placed in South East angle of the lodge.
The Ceremony
WM: Brother Deacons you will approach the altar.
Deacons approach altar (From the West)
WM: This evening we will be honoring the members of this lodge who fell
during times of war (or raised to the Celestial Lodge above, as the case may
be). As they have gone on to the Grand lodge above and can no longer attend
this lodge it will be your duty to escort their symbolic representation to us,
that we may pay them the respect they are due.
WM: Brother IG, you will permit the Brother Deacons to retire.
IG permits deacons to retire (Deacons Salute and retire by way of South)
ALARM caused by deacons returning with chair
WM: Brother IG acertain the cause of that alarm
IG responds, speaks to the Tyler through the portal then says:
Worshipful Master, Brothers who have fallen in service of their country seek
admission here, not in person, but through their spiritual presence. They seek
our continued remembrance. Through them they wish to honour the memory of our
fallen Brother, JJJ of the Canadian Infantry who fell at the Battle of Vimy
Ridge. (Or departed Brother(s) who answered the summons to the Grand Lodge
Above)
WM: You will admit them
WM raises Brethren
Deacons advance to altar. (salute)
WM: Brother Deacons you will advance to the east and place the symbolic
representation of our fallen (departed) Brethren next to the
podium.
Deacons advance to South East and place chair next to podium facing west
WM seats Brethren
WM: Brother Senior Warden, it is my order that in recognition of our fallen
(departed) Brother's presence, and his status as a Master Mason, that
the apron of a Master Mason be positioned as it would be were our Brother
present in body as well as spirit. You, (or a Brother), who has honorably
served his country in uniform, will approach the seat of our Brothers' memory,
and perform the honor.
SW approaches podium
SW: The Lambskin, or white apron, was the first gift of Masonry to our
departed Brother. It is an emblem of innocence and the badge of a Mason. As our
ritual tells us it is more ancient than the Golden Fleece or Roman Eagle, more
honorable than the Star and Garter. This emblem I place on the seat of our
deceased Brother, a symbol of recognition of his dedication to the highest
ideals of the Craft during times of war. (or his lifetime)
Apron Placed on chair by SW
SW: By this act we are reminded of the Masonic ideals of our fallen
(departed) Brother and his fellows. We see in clear vision the Noble
thoughts, generous impulses, words of truth, acts of love and deeds of mercy.
The Masonic Apron represents these highest aspirations of a Brother in all ways,
as each Brother knows they give to man his only genuine happiness, his lasting
satisfaction. To these precepts our Brother willingly and gladly subscribed.
SW salutes and returns to his chair
WM approaches the podium
WM: Our Brother JJJ gave himself freely not only to the obligations of the
Degrees of Masonry, but also to the obligations of service to his country in a
time of need. He garnered the honors of his peers, his superiors and those who
looked to him for leadership at home as well as on foreign shores. I now place
these medals of honor as decorations to his Masonic Apron. It is said a Man is
made a Mason first in his heart. The Mason may have earned honors before, or
after he is raised to the Sublime Degree. But as the world sees, those honors do
not decorate his Masonry, but rather highlight the spirit, which made both a
Mason and a man of service.
WM places medals on apron returns to East
WM: Brother Chaplain you will approach the altar.
Chaplain advances to altar.
WM: The Evergreen is an emblem of immortality. Beyond this world of shadows,
man has a glorious destiny, since, within this earthly tabernacle of clay, there
abides an imperishable immortal spirit, over which the grave has no power nor
death dominion. Brother Chaplain you will advance to the East, place the
evergreen on our Brother's apron, a symbol of the immortality of his soul and
recite for the Brethren the 23rd psalm.
Chaplain advances to chair and then to podium
Chaplain: The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
He leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul:
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name' sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: For thou art with me;
Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies;
Thou annointest my head with oil; My cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the House of the Lord forever.
Chaplain salutes and returns to his chair
WM: approaches podium
WM: The brother who we pay tribute to this evening was a member of this
lodge. He was also a member of the (Canadian infantry who fought valiantly
for control of Vimy Ridge during the First World War; or, substitute appropriate
event). It was here that our Brother (lost his life fighting for the
freedoms; or, substitute appropriate comment) we all can enjoy this evening
in this lodge because of him and men like him.
(This part may be used if the ceremony is in conjunction with Remembrance
Day; otherwise, go to next part)
Brethren at this time of year it is traditional to wear the poppy as a symbol
of remembrance, a tradition that was began as a result of the poem "In Flander's
Fields" by John McCrae. While it is also traditional to read that classic poem
at this time of year, I would like to break with that tradition and instead read
a poem written by Miss Moina Michael.
Miss Michael was an American lady who was so moved by Mccrae's poem that she
went out and bought 25 red poppies. She wore won herself and sold the other 24
thus starting the poppy fund as we know it today. She also wrote a poem of her
own in response to In Flanders Fields, which I would like to now read to you.
Oh You who sleep
In Flanders' fields
Sleep sweet to rise anew
We caught the torch you threw
And holding high we kept
The faith with those who died.
We cherish too, the poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies
But lends a luster to the red
Of the flower that blooms above the dead
In Flanders' fields.
And now the torch and poppy red
wear in the honour of the dead
Fear not that ye have died for nought:
We've learned the lesson that ye taught
In Flanders' fields
WM removes poppy and places on chair
WM returns to east
WM: Brethren we will now have two minutes silence for Brother JJJ and for all
Brethren who fell during foreign wars.
WM raises brethren
Moments silence signaled by 13 gongs of bell 10 seconds apart.
WM seats brethren
WM: Brethren this concludes our ceremony of remembrance I declare that order
of business closed.
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