Antioch Shrine Short Form Ceremonial Script Kevin Sweeney, Potentate Antioch Shrine 2015 SHORT FORM CEREMONIAL SCRIPT POTENTATE: WE ARE PLEASED TO WELCOME YOU TO THIS OPEN SHORT FORM CEREMONIAL. IT IS CALLED A SHORT FORM BECAUSE IT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE PAGEANTRY, SCENERY, CASTING AND OTHER ACTIVITIES THAT MAKE UP OUR FULL FORM CEREMONY. WE URGE YOU TO ATTEND A FULL FORM CEREMONIAL IN ORDER TO BETTER APPRECIATE THE WORK WE WILL PERFORM HERE TODAY RECORDER: I WILL INTRODUCE THE CANDIDATES AT THIS TIME. WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE STAND AND A DIVAN MEMBER WILL ESCORT YOU TO THE ALTAR. Candidates Names POTENTATE: I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE THE DIVAN AT THIS TIME. (OPTIONAL) OUR CHAPLIN (HP&P OPTIONAL) WILL NOW LEAD US IN PRAYER. (OPTIONAL) CHAPLIN (HP&P): PRAYER 2 of 12 SHORT FORM CEREMONIAL SCRIPT POTENTATE: SHRINERS INTERNATIONAL IS A FRATERNITY THAT GREW OUT OF FREE MASONRY OVER A CENTURY AGO. IT OFFERS MEN, THEIR LADIES, AND THEIR FAMILIES AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET NEW FRIENDS AND SHARE IN A WIDE VARIETY OF FUN-FILLED ACTIVITIES. SHRINERS ARE DEDICATED TO FUN AND FELLOWSHIP, BUT WITH A SERIOUS PURPOSE. THE HEART AND SOUL OF THE SHRINE IS A NETWORK OF 18 ORTHOPEDIC & SPINAL CORD HOSPITALS AND 4 BURNS HOSPITALS WHICH TREAT THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN EACH YEAR FOR BONE, JOINT, SPINAL CORD DISABILITIES OR FOR SEVERE BURNS. TO DATE, OVER ONE (1) MILLION CHILDREN HAVE BEEN TREATED AT THE 22 SHRINERS HOSPITALS -- REGARDLESS OF THEIR ABILITY TO PAY. OUR HOSPITALS ARE SUPPORTED BY SHRINERS LIKE YOU. WE DO ACCEPT INSURANCE AS A WAY TO SUBSIDIZE OUR MISSION AND KEEP OUR HOSPITALS OPEN, BUT NOT REQUIRED TO RECEIVE THE CARE OUR HOSPITALS PROVIDE. SHRINERS HOSPITALS HAVE A HUGE RESEARCH AND DEVLOPEMENT PROGRAM THAT IS NOT RESTRICTED BY OUTSIDE INFLUENCES WHICH ALLOWS US TO PROVIDE INDUSTRY DEFINING CARE TO NOT ONLY OUR PATIENTS, BUT TO INDUSTRY PATIENTS THROUGH KNOWLEDGE SHARING AND INTERN TRAINING AND EDUCATION. IN ORDER TO BECOME A MASON AND A SHRINER, YOU MUST BELIEVE IN THE EXISTENCE OF A SUPREME BEING. THEREFORE, WE PLACE BEFORE YOU THREE GREAT RELIGIOUS WORKS - THE BIBLE:, THE KORAN, AND THE VEDA. THIS PROVIDES THE OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO TAKE VOWS ON THE HOLY BOOK YOU HOLD MOST SACRED. 3 of 12 SHORT FORM CEREMONIAL SCRIPT CHIEF RABBAN: FEZ LECTURE: THE FEZ, THE INSIGNIA OF A NOBEL OF SHRINERS INTERNATIONAL. (DISPLAY THE FEZ) YOU ARE ADMONISHED NEVER TO WEAR IT IN ANY COMPANY OR PLACE THAT YOU WOULD DECLINE TO INTRODUCE YOUR MOTHER, WIFE, SISTER, OR DAUGHTER. WHEN YOU PLACE THE RED FEZ OF A SHRINER UPON YOUR HEAD (DEMONSTRATE), YOU ARE SYMBIOTICALLY TYING ABOUT YOUR WAIST THE WHITE LAMBSKIN APRON OF A MASTER MASON. YOUR FIRST DUTY IS TO YOUR BLUE LODGE, FOR IT WAS THERE THAT YOU RECEIVED THE HIGHEST DEGREE THAT YOU WILL EVER RECEIVE THIS SIDE OF PARADISE---THE DEGREE OF MASTER MASON. YOUR QUEST FOR ADDITIONAL LIGHT FROM THE SCOTTISH OR YORK RITES, AND YOUR ACCEPTANCE OF' THE VOWS THAT YOU 'WILL RECEIVE IN THIS CEREMONY, MAKE YOU WORTHY OF THE TITLE OF SHRINE-MASON. THROUGH FELLOWSHIP AND PHILANTHROPY, SHRINEDOM STRENGTHENS THE SOUL AND ADDS INNER MEANING TO YOUR DAILY LIFE. WEAR WITH PRIDE THE RED FEZ OF A SHRINER. 4 of 12 SHORT FORM CEREMONIAL SCRIPT CHIEF RABBAN: FEZ PROTOCOL DURING ANY PRAYER, THE FEZ IS TO BE REMOVED AND SUPPORTED IN YOUR RIGHT HAND AND COVERING YOUR HEART (AS I WILL DEMONSTRATE) THE SHRINE IS AN INTERNATIONAL BODY. SHRINERS INTERNATIONAL RECOGNIZES ANY NATIONS FLAG. WHEN A NATIONS FLAG IS PRESENTED YOU WILL EXECUTE A MILITARY SALUTE. CHIEF RABBAN: SHRINE PLEDGE AS AN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION, THE SHRINE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG IS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT. THE PLEDGE BEGINS……I PLEDGE ALLIGENCE TO MY FLAG AND TO THE COUNTY FOR WHICH IT STANDS…. THE REMAINDER IS AS YOU KNOW IT. FOR THE PLEDGE YOU SHALL ALSO EXECUTE A MILITARY SALUTE. (AS I WILL DEMONSTRATE) 5 of 12 SHORT FORM CEREMONIAL SCRIPT POTENTATE: SHRINERS CREED SHRINERS BELIEVE IN GOD AND THAT HE CREATED MAN TO SERVE HIS PURPOSES, AMONG WHICH IS SERVICE TO OTHERS IN HIS NAME. WE BELIEVE THAT CARE FOR THE LESS FORTUNATE, ESPECIALLY CHILDREN WHO SUFFER FROM BURNS AND CRIPPLING DISEASES, IS OUR INSTITUTIONAL CALLING. WE ARE PATRIOTS, EACH WILLING TO SERVE HIS COUNTRY WITH FIDELITY AND COURAGE. WE CHERISH INDEPENDENCE UNDER LAW AND FREEDOM WITH RESPONSIBILITY. WE HONOR FAMILY. WE RESPECT OUR PARENTS, WIVES AND CHILDREN. WE SHOULD INSTILL IN OUR CHILDREN THE TENETS OF THIS CREED, AND THE HERITAGE FROM WHICH IT EMANATES. AS INDIVIDUALS, WE PLEDGE OURSELVES TO INTEGRITY, VIRTUE AND NOBILITY OF CHARACTER. OUR INTENTIONS WILL BE HONORABLE, OUR RELATIONS WILL BE TRUSTWORTHY AND OUR SPIRITS FORGIVING OF EACH OTHER. AS BROTHERS, WE OFFER EACH OTHER FRATERNAL AFFECTION AND RESPECT. TOGETHER WE WILL SUPPORT EACH OTHER IN ADHERENCE TO THIS CREED, SO THAT WE AND OUR COMMUNITIES WILL BE THE BETTER BECAUSE OF OUR FRATERNITY AND ITS PRINCIPLES. AS SHRINERS, WE LOOK BEYOND OURSELVES TO SERVE THE NEEDS OF OTHERS, ESPECIALLY CHILDREN WHO CANNOT HELP THEMSELVES. WE BELIEVE SHRINERS HOSPITALS TO BE THE WORLD’S GREATEST PHILANTHROPY, AND WE COVENANT WITH EACH OTHER TO SUPPORT ITS “TEMPLES OF MERCY” WITH SPIRIT, TIME, TALENT AND MEANS. 6 of 12 SHORT FORM CEREMONIAL SCRIPT OG: BADGE OF A SHRINER BY THE SCIMITAR AND CRESCENT YOU WEAR UPON YOUR COAT, YOU PROCLAIM THAT YOU'RE A SHRINER. IT'S A SIGN FOR MEN TO NOTE. IT'S A SYMBOL THAT YOUR FELLOWS HAVE ABIDING FAITH IN YOU; THEY BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE WORTHY AND THEY TRUST IN ALL YOU DO. BUT I WONDER, FELLOW NOBLE, AS I MEET YOU HERE AND THERE, IF YOU'VE REALLY CAUGHT THE MEANING OF THE LITTLE BADGE YOU WEAR? ARE YOU MINDFUL OF ITS SPLENDOR? ARE YOU WATCHFUL OF ITS FAME? ARE YOU CAREFUL AS YOU TRAVEL NOT TO BRING IT INTO SHAME? YOU PROCLAIM THAT YOU'RE A SHRINER, EVERY PASSER-BY CAN SEE THAT YOU'VE PLEDGE TO DO THE RIGHT THING WHERESOEVER YOU MAY BE, BUT, WORLD-WIDE, YOUR BROTHERS SUFFER LOSS AND INJURY FROM YOU, IF YOU DO THE WRONG ACT WHICH A SHRINER WOULDN'T DO. BY THE TOKEN YOU'RE WEARING, YOU'RE EXPECTED TO BE FINE; WE HAVE TAUGHT THE WORLD IT'S SOMETHING TO BE CHOSEN BY THE SHRINE; AND THE MAN WHO WEARS ITS EMBLEM HAS HIS FELLOW GUARANTEE THAT A GENTLEMAN OF HONOR HE IS KNOWN AND PLEDGE TO BE; AND IF HE SHALL FAIL THAT STANDARD BY SOME THOUGHTLESS WORD OR WHIM, ALL SHRINERS, WIDE WORLD OVER, SHALL BE PUT TO SHAME BY HIM. BY THE SCIMITAR AND CRESCENT WHICH YOU SO PROUDLY DISPLAY, YOU ARE BOUND TO LIVE AND TRAVEL IN A BIGGER, BETTER WAY. YOU MUST DIGNIFY THE EMBLEM, SO NONE WHOM YOU MAY MEET, BE THE FRIEND OR FOE, MAY WHISPER THAT THE SHRINE IS BUT A CHEAT. YOU MUST PLAY THE MAN AT ALL THE TIMES, YOU MUST KEEP YOUR CONDUCT FAIR, AND BE WORTHY OF THE CRESCENT AND SCIMITAR YOU WEAR. 7 of 12 SHORT FORM CEREMONIAL SCRIPT POTENTATE: CANDIDATES PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND,*** SAY "I" AND PRONOUNCE YOUR NAME IN FULL, ***AND REPEAT AFTER ME: DO NOW CALL UPON THE GREAT ARCHITECT OF THE UNIVERSE *** AND THESE NOBLES ASSEMBLED HERE***TO WITNESS THAT I WILLINGLY AND SINCERELY*** ASSUME THE VOW OF A NOBLE *** OF SHRINERS INTERNATIONAL. *** DO NOW CONSENT TO THE CONDITIONS OF THIS VOW. *** WILL KEEP IN MY HEART ***ALL THE SECRETS OF SHRINERS INTERNATIONAL. ***WILL FOLLOW ITS LEAD IN ALL GOOD WORKS. ***WILL ABIDE BY ITS RULES AND REGULATIONS. ***WILL NOT OPPOSE ITS PURPOSE. *** AND NOW UPON THE BOOK I HOLD MOST SACRED ***I REGISTER MY SOLEMN VOW ***BINDING MYSELF THERETO ***AND TO THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE PREREQUISITES *** TO THIS MEMBERSHIP ***AS LONG AS MY LIFE SHALL LAST. ***MAY THE GREAT ARCHITECT OF THE UNIVERSE, ***SUPPORT ME IN THE ENTIRE FULFILLMENT OF THE SAME. NOW PLEASE REMAIN SILENT. POTENTATE: (RAISES RIGHT HAND) IN THE NAME AND UNDER THE AUSPICES OF ANTIOCH SHRINE TEMPLE, SHRINERS INTERNATIONAL, AND BY VIRTUE OF THE AUTHORITY UPON ME CONFURRED, I HEREBY DECLARE AND PROCLAIM YOU TO BE A MEMBER OF ANTIOCH SHRINE AND SHRINERS INTERNATIONAL. 8 of 12 SHORT FORM CEREMONIAL SCRIPT POTENTATE: EVERY NOBLE MUST BECOME FAMILIAR VVITH THE SALUTE, SIGN, GRIP, AND WORDS OF SHRINERS INTERNATIONAL. WE WILL NOW INSTRUCT YOU!------ PLEASE OBSERVE. NOBEL ORIENTAL GUIDE, SALUTE YOUR POTENTATE. ORIENTAL GUIDE or 1ST CERMONIAL MASTER: (SALUTES THE POTENTATE BY GIVING THE SALAAM) POTENTATE: THIS SALUTATION, CALLED THE SALAAM, IS GIVEN WHEN YOU ADDRESS THE ILLUSTRIOUS POTENTATE. NOBEL ORIENTAL GUIDE, GIVE ME THE SIGN OF OUR ORDER. ORIENTAL GUIDE or 1ST CERMONIAL MASTER: (MAKES THE SIGN OF THE "CRESCENT” OVER HIS HEART WITH THE POINTS UP USING THE RIGHT HAND) POTENTATE: YOU WILL OBSERVE THAT HE MAKES THE "CRESCENT" WITH THE POINTS UP USING THE RlGHT HAND. THE SIGN, AS WELL AS THE SALAAM SHOULD BE GIVEN AT THE ALTAR WHEN A NOBLE ENTERS OR RETIRES FROM THE TEMPLE. NOBLES ASSISTANT RABBAN AND HIGH PRIEST AND PROPHET, GIVE THE GRIP OF OUR ORDER. 9 of 12 SHORT FORM CEREMONIAL SCRIPT ASSISTANT RABBAN and/or HP&P and/or ORIENTAL GUIDE: (DEMONSTRATE GRIP) (WILL NOT EVER BE USED) POTENTATE: NOBLE TREASURER, GIVE THE FIRST PASSWORD OF THE SHRINE. TREASURER or ORIENTAL GUIDE: "MECCA" (PRONOUNCE, SPELL, PRONOUNCE) THE CANDIDATES WILL PLEASE REPEAT THE FIRST PASSWORD. SPELL & REPEAT AGAIN POTENTATE: THIS WILL INSURE YOUR PASSAGE THROUGH THE OUTERGATES OF ANY TEMPLE OF OUR ORDER OF SHRINERS INTERANTIONAL. NOBLE TREASURER, GIVE THE SECOND PASSWORD OF THE SHRINE. TREASURER or ORIENTAL GUIDE: "NEMESIS" (PRONOUNCE, SPELL, PRONOUNCE) THE CANDIDATES WILL PLEASE REPEAT THE SECOND PASSWORD. PRONOUNCE SPELL & PRONOUNCE 10 of 12
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