THE ARCANE SCHOOLS - Fort Myers Beach Masonic Lodge No. 362

investiture are now performed by the Grand Master. On the occasion of
subsequent installations, the retiring Master installs his successor;
and
the latter installs his subordinate officers.
The ceremony of installation is derived from the ancient custom of
inauguration, of which we find repeated instances in the sacred as well
as
profane writings. Aaron was inaugurated, or installed, by the unction
of
oil, and placing on him the vestments of the High Priest; and every
succeeding High Priest was in like manner installed, before he was
considered competent to discharge the duties of his office. Among the
Romans, augurs, priests, kings, and, in the times of the republic,
consuls
were always inaugurated or installed. And hence, Cicero, who was an
augur,
speaking of Hortensius, says, "it was he who installed me as a member
of
the college of augurs, so that I was bound by the constitution of the
order to respect and honour him as a parent."[32] The object and
intention
of the ancient inauguration and the Masonic installation are precisely
the
same, namely, that of setting apart and consecrating a person to the
duties of a certain office.
The ceremonies, thus briefly described, were not always necessary to
legalize a congregation of Masons. Until the year 1717, the custom of
confining the privileges of Masonry, by a warrant of constitution, to
certain individuals, was wholly unknown. Previous to that time, a
requisite number of Master Masons were authorized by the ancient
charges
to congregate together, temporarily, at their own discretion, and as
best
suited their convenience, and then and there to open and hold lodges
and
make Masons; making, however, their return, and paying their tribute to
the General Assembly, to which all the fraternity annually repaired,
and
by whose awards the craft were governed.
Preston, speaking of this ancient privilege, says: "A sufficient number
of
Masons met together within a certain district, with the consent of the
sheriff or chief magistrate of the place, were empowered at this time
to
make Masons and practice the rights of Masonry, without a warrant of
constitution." This privilege, Preston says, was inherent in them as
individuals, and continued to be enjoyed by the old lodges, which
formed
the Grand Lodge in 1717, as long as they were in existence.
But on the 24th June, 1717, the Grand Lodge of England adopted the
following regulation: "That the privilege of assembling as Masons,
which
had hitherto been unlimited, should be vested in certain lodges or