TALL CEDAR OPEN MEETING WITH COLOR GUARD OR RANGERS RITUAL Tall Cedars of Lebanon of North America November 2016
NOTE: A recording (CD) of the National Anthem is available from the Supreme Office at a nominal charge for shipping. There should be no smoking or consumption of alcoholic beverages during a meeting of the Forest. 1
OPENING OPEN MEETING WITH COLOR GUARD OR RANGERS FOR CONSTITUENT FORESTS (Before the meeting is scheduled to begin, The Grand Tall Cedar and other Officers and Supreme Line Officers shall be outside the meeting room. At the appointed time, the Preceptor will step to the lectern and rap the gavel for order.) Officers should memorize their work. Preceptor: (1 Rap) Brethren, Ladies and Guests welcome to Forest No Tall Cedars of Lebanon of North America. At this time, I request that you turn off or silence all electronic devices so that we have no interruptions. It is the custom of our order to use the gavel to operate our meetings. A single rap of the gavel calls for attention, two raps call the Officers to rise and three raps calls everyone to rise. A single rap of the gavel seats all who are standing. I respectfully request your participation, as you are able. Thank you for your attendance and I hope you find your visit a meaningful experience. The Brethren will come to order. The Officers of Forest No Tall Cedars of Lebanon of North America are waiting, ready to take their stations, prepared to open a session of the Forest. You will govern yourselves accordingly. Brother Sentinel, you will inform the Grand Tall Cedar that we are ready to receive him and his Officers. (3 Raps) Sentinel: (After approaching the assembled officers) Grand Tall 2
Cedar the Forest is ready to receive you and your officers. (The Rangers will march in; form two lines representing a guard of honor and stand at attention. The Forest Officers with the Chaplain (optional) in center, will march through the Ranger Honor Guard and approach the Altar and form as shown below.) Scribe (Chaplain) Treasurer JDGTC SDGTC GTC Altar (Front of Room) Preceptor: Grand Tall Cedar the lectern. _, you will approach (The GTC proceeds to the lectern. Preceptor gives the gavel to GTC. The SDGTC and JDGTC, Scribe, Treasurer and Chaplain remain standing.) GTC: The Officers will assume your stations. (Remaining Officers move to their respective stations.) GTC: (1 Rap) I am about to open Forest No. Tall Cedars of Lebanon of North America. This being an open meeting there will be no password or signs given. Brother Sentinel you will allow all to enter and welcome them to 3
join the Forest members in fun frolic and fellowship. GTC: (3 Raps remove pyramids) Brother Preceptor, attend to the Altar. Cedars, remove your pyramid. (Preceptor advances and wears Pyramid while he opens the Bible on the Altar to First Kings, Chapter 5 and returns to his place. No signs are given since the Forest has not been opened.) GTC: Color Guard (or Bearers), Present the Colors. (Color Bearers advances to the front of the Altar and holds Flags with the Forest Flag dipped). GTC: Brother Chaplain, you will offer the invocation. Chaplain: (From his place) God of our Fathers, as we assemble in our Brotherhood, we realize that nothing of any merit can be accomplished without Thee and so we invoke Thy Holy presence to be with us in our discussions, our decisions, our Fun, our Frolic, and our Fellowship. Let Thy love be with the afflicted ones whom we strive to help through our charitable objective and give power to those who continue their quest for a cure. In Thy blessed name, we pray. Amen. All: May it ever be thus. GTC: Veterans may have pyramids on and give hand salute during the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of our Country and the National Anthem. GTC: You will join me in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of 4
our Country and remain standing for one stanza of our National Anthem. GTC: Color Guard (or Bearers), Post the Colors. GTC: (Replace Pyramid) By virtue of the power and authority in me vested by the Supreme Forest Tall Cedars of Lebanon of North America, I hereby declare Forest No open and ready for transaction of business. (1 Rap - Membership replaces pyramids and are seated) INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS GTC: There are several visitors with us tonight. I will introduce the visiting Forest Officers and guests. As your name is called, please rise and remain standing until all have been recognized. Please receive them. (When finished, 1 Rap seats them.) GTC: Brother Guide, whom have you there? (Visitors are introduced and welcomed in proper order. If there are no visitors to be introduced the Guide skips to the introduction of the DDSTC) Guide: Grand Tall Cedar, I would like to present the following Visitors from the Cedar Kingdom: 5
Guide: Grand Tall Cedar, I would like to present PGTC, District Deputy Supreme Tall Cedar. GTC: Tall Cedar DDSTC, District Number welcome to our meeting. DDSTC: Grand Tall Cedar, I have Supreme Officers waiting to be presented to you and your Forest. GTC: Introduce the Supreme Officers attending with you tonight. (3 Raps) (After the Supreme Forest Officers have been introduced, the Ranking Supreme Forest officer will be escorted to the station of the Grand Tall Cedar by the DDSTC.) Refer to Page 10 for Order of Introduction of Guests. GTC: Brother_, (Title) and other Supreme Forest Officers, it gives me the greatest pleasure to welcome you to Forest No.. We are honored by your presence among us. We trust that your visit will be a pleasure to you and we know it will be a profit to us. Cedars and guests you will join me and welcome all the Supreme Officers. (ALL APPLAUD) GTC: Welcome you are my Brothers. Our door is ever open and your presence is always an encouragement and inspiration. You will be seated in place of honor among us. (1 Rap) 6
BUSINESS OF THE FOREST (Grand Tall Cedar will complete the Business per his Agenda.) (REMARKS FROM FOREST OFFICERS: Treasurer, Scribe, Junior Deputy GTC, Senior Deputy GTC, Grand Tall Cedar) GTC: GUESTS REMARKS: (Only visiting Grand Tall Cedars) GTC: (GTC introduces the following at the end of the meeting: Midwinter Conference Chairman Convention Chairman the Ranking Foundation Officer the District Deputy STC, Supreme Directors, Past Supreme Tall Cedars Supreme Treasurer Supreme Scribe Junior Deputy STC Senior Deputy STC Supreme Tall Cedar and Present him with the Forest Gavel after his remarks, no one else will speak.) (When the Supreme Tall Cedar is not present, the highest ranking elected Supreme Forest Officer will be the last to speak before the Forest is closed) (Supreme Officer returns the gavel to the Grand Tall Cedar to Close the Forest.) GTC: (Proceeds to closing the Forest without further comments.) 7
CLOSE OPEN MEETING WITH COLOR GUARD OR RANGERS GTC: Brother Sentinel, inform the Chief Ranger that we are about ready to retire the colors. (3 raps - removes pyramid). Cedars remove your Pyramids. (The Sentinel approaches the Rangers and passes the message. The Color Guard advances to the front of the Altar, retrieves the Flags, and returns to their position and stands at attention holding flags with the Forest Flag dipped.) GTC: I am about to close Forest No._, Tall Cedars of Lebanon of North America. Brother Chaplain, you will pronounce the benediction. Chaplain (from his place) Our Father and our God, as we stand before Thee at the close of our Forest, we think of the great cedar trees standing in the Forest with all their beauty looking up to Heaven. So may we, as Tall Cedars, stand strong and upright among our Brother Cedars. May the lessons of love and fellowship taught in the Forest help us lift our hearts and minds toward Thee. Amen. All: May it ever be thus. GTC: Color Guard (or bearers), retire the Colors. (Color Guard marches out of the meeting room) GTC: Brother Preceptor, attend to the Altar. (Preceptor advances and closes the Bible on the Altar and returns to his place) 8
GTC: (Replace Pyramid) By virtue of the power and authority in me vested by the Supreme Forest, Tall Cedars of Lebanon of North America, I hereby declare Forest No _, Closed until called together by the Grand Tall Cedar. (1 Rap) 9
ORDER OF INTRODUCTION May be recognized at their seats by the Grand Tall Cedar May be introduced at the Altar by the Guide, if in proper attire (tux) Must be introduced at the Altar by the Guide, if in proper attire (tux) Must be introduced at the Altar by the District Deputy STC, if in proper attire (tux) Past Supreme Tall Cedar proper attire Past Officers of Host Forest Officer of Host Forest Visiting Forest Officers except Grand Tall Cedar Visiting GTC, SDGTC, JDGTC Supreme Forest Committeemen TCF Trustee TCF Directors Appointed SF Officers Visiting District Deputy STC Host District Deputy STC Past Supreme Directors Supreme Directors Past Supreme Treasurers Past Supreme Scribes Past Supreme Tall Cedar (if in proper attire) Supreme Treasurer Supreme Scribe Junior Deputy Supreme Tall Cedar Senior Deputy Supreme Tall Cedar Supreme Tall Cedar 10
INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS The proper order for Introduction of Guests is: Past Supreme Directors, Supreme Directors, Past Supreme Treasurers, Past Supreme Scribes, Past Supreme Tall Cedars, Supreme Treasurer, Supreme Scribe, Junior Deputy STC, Senior Deputy STC and Supreme Tall Cedar. Introductions shall be made in ascending order, with highest ranking elected Supreme Forest Officer last. The GTC shall rap-up the Forest upon the entrance of the ranking Supreme Forest Officer. The highest ranking elected Supreme Forest Officer in attendance will be escorted by the arm to the Grand Tall Cedar s station by the District Deputy and introduced to the Grand Tall Cedar. INTRODUCTION FORMAT The format of introduction is: Past Title, Forest Name, Forest Number, his Name, and Current Title. If the individual does not have a Past Title, then the title should be Tall Cedar. Past titles should only be used for individuals currently holding an active office. The format of introduction for Past Supreme Tall Cedars is: Forest Name, Forest Number and his Name, followed by Past Supreme Tall Cedar. Forest Visitor Cards should be formatted to assist in proper introductions. 11
SAMPLE VISITORS CARD 12