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The Grand Masters' Oath of Office and Installation
The Grand Masters' Oath of Office and Installation
Reid Gardiner, Editor

Let’s take a brief look at “oaths”; there are oaths Everyone who attends the installation hears the
for naturalized citizens, nurses, lawyers, pharmacists, Oath of Offi ce for the Grand Master, yet many dont
military recruits, Scouts, and DeMolay, Freemasons really hear or give much thought to that oath and
and our leaders. We as Masons have and love our ritual elements and meaning of it. We will review the Grand
and ceremonies we know this by our abundant use of Masters Oath and accompaning ceremony from the
them; we obviously believe them to be important. Grand Lodge of Montana, Wisconsin and the one
Through our ceremonies and oaths there is an outward from the Ahiman Rezon which is used by Grand
demonstration of the common ideals, ethics, and Lodge of Pennsylvania and Grand Lodge of South
traditions that we uphold and value. Carolina. (At one time or another, eight American
Grand Jurisdictions have used the words Ahiman
An “Oath” identifi es the standards of ethical Rezon for their Books of Law; Georgia, Maryland,
behavior we hold to be essential, and of a standard New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South
of conduct and promises made, a level of integrity, Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.)
honor, and character that is expected. As Masons, we
have set standards to be followed, and of course, we Installation Ceremony and Oath of the
expect our elected offi cers our Worshipful Masters and Grand Master AF&AM of Montana
Grand Masters as a requirement of their offi ce to state
they will comply with them; their oath of offi ce is an The following can be found in the Montana Masonic
expression of their commitment to those standards. Manual, Section Three, 3.3.a.2.
Historically, an oath invokes God to bear witness to a
person's promise to behave ethically. The oath of offi ce Brethren of the Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and
establishes a moral commitment to the offi ce that goes Accepted Masons of Montana, we are now prepared
well beyond a contractual or managerial approach to to install your Grand Lodge Offi cers for the ensuing
Masonic authority. It signifi es the stewardship and year.
guardianship of its offi cers and connects them with
stated Masonic values and interests. As Masons we The Installing Offi cer directs the Worshipful Grand
expect our elected leaders to act professionally at all Marshal, to present the Grand Master elect. The
times while holding that offi ce. Installing Grand Master directs the Grand Marshal
to place the Brother at the Altar, there to receive the
The oath of offi ce brings with it expectations and benefi t of prayer and to take upon himself his offi cial
special responsibilities that warrant asking the obligation.
highest commitment a Mason can give. Within our
organization the offi ce of Worshipful Master and The Installing Grand Master recites the fhe
more specifi cally Grand Master receives supreme following "Most Worshipful Brother, we most
command, he has very special status, unlike any other cordially congratulate you upon your election to
offi ce in any organization and perhaps even is society; this, the most distinguished and important offi ce
we grant specifi c and signifi cant powers to which the within the gift of Masons. The confi dence displayed
Grand Master – elect promises to the best of his ability, by the Grand Lodge in electing you to the supreme
to faithfully and impartially, perform all of the duties command, is ample guarantee to the Masonic world
incumbent upon the offi ce; that he will conform to the of your wisdom and worth. You cannot, my Brother,
constitution, laws, rules, and regulations of this Grand but be aware of the deep and solemn importance of the
Lodge; and that he will enforce a strict obedience to station you are about to assume, nor of the many cares
the same, from all subject to his authority. and perplexities which attend its unequaled honors.
These perplexities however, will be greatly alleviated
As a leader, are you willing to put your hand on by the aff ectionate sympathy and active assistance of
the Bible, raise your right hand, and take an oath your brethren who have full confi dence that you will
of leadership? Do you take your Grand Masters discharge the important duties of your station with
obligation seriously and do you understand them and credit to yourself and honor to the Fraternity. I will
have you read it since being installed? This might well now proceed to administer to you, the obligation
be a question to ask our current Grand Master and any pertaining to your offi ce. You will kneel."
past and future Grand Master.
Page 16 Montana Freemason November December 2018