TALL CEDAR TILED MEETING 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 CLOSED/TILED MEETING FOR CONSTITUENT FORESTS (Before the meeting is scheduled to begin, the Sentinel will examine those entering and allow no one to enter without the Password and proper credentials; current Blue Lodge dues card and current Tall Cedars of Lebanon Dues card. The Preceptor makes sure the Flag is present and the top of Flag staff is facing West. 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 gavel for order.) Officers should memorize their work. Preceptor: (1 Rap) Brethren, 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. 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 of which the members have had due and timely notice. 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 Forest Officers with Chaplain (optional) will advance in front of 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. Those who are not Tall Cedars will retire. (Pause) Brother Sentinel, you will guard the outer door and allow no one to enter without the password and proper credentials. (Pause) Brother Sentinel, are you satisfied that all present are Tall Cedars in good standing. Sentinel: Grand Tall Cedar, I am satisfied. 3
GTC: All present being Tall Cedars in good standing; we are ready to open the Forest. Cedars, remove your pyramid. (3 Raps all remove pyramids) GTC: Brother Preceptor, attend to the Altar. (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: 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 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: Brother Preceptor, present the Flag of our Country in front of the Altar. (Preceptor takes Flag, when achievable, without removing 4
pyramid and advances in front of the Altar) GTC: You will join me in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of Our Country and remain standing for one stanza of our National Anthem. (After pledge and anthem, Preceptor returns Flag to standard and then back to his place) GTC: (Replaces 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 the transaction of business. (1 Rap - Membership replaces pyramids and are seated) 5
INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS GTC: There are several visitors with us tonight. I will introduce the visiting Forest Members and Officers. As your names are called, please rise and remain standing until all have been called. 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: 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.) 6
Refer to Page 11 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, you will join me in the Sign of Welcome to the Supreme Officers. (GTC shall lead the Forest in the sign of Welcome - made by giving the sign and exclaiming Welcome three times) All: Welcome! Welcome! Welcome! GTC: Thrice welcome you are my Brothers. Our door is ever open and your presence is always an encouragement and inspiration. You will now be seated in places of honor among us. (1 Rap) 7
BUSINESS OF THE FOREST GTC: Brother Scribe, (Scribe stands and faces GTC) read the minutes of our last Stated Meeting. Scribe: Grand Tall Cedar, (Scribe gives Sign and waits for response by GTC. Reads minutes) GTC: Brethren, you have just heard the reading of the Minutes of our last Stated Meeting. If there are no corrections or objections, they will stand approved as read. (Any corrections or objections must be properly recorded) Scribe: Grand Tall Cedar, (Sign and Response) I have Communications to read. (Reads communications with any required action done separately) Scribe: Grand Tall Cedar (Sign and Response) I have Bills to be paid. (Reads individual bills giving a total for Expenses) Grand Tall Cedar, (Sign and Response) I move that the bills be paid as read, GTC: Brethren, I will accept a second to that motion. (After a second) It has been properly moved and seconded that we pay the bills as read. All those in favor give your consent by saying aye. Those opposed; no. (After count) The ayes have it, so ordered Brother Scribe. GTC: Brother Treasurer, (Treasurer will stand and faces GTC) you will give your report. Treasurer: Grand Tall Cedar, (Treasurer will give Sign and waits for Response by GTC. Reads report. There is no action to approve the report.) 8
(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.) 9
CLOSE TILED MEETING (After all business has been conducted and all introductions have been completed, the Grand Tall Cedar will close the Forest meeting) GTC: (1 Rap) I am about to close Forest No._, Tall Cedars of Lebanon of North America. (3 raps - removes pyramid) Brother Chaplain, you will pronounce the benediction. Cedars remove your Pyramids. 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: Brother Preceptor, attend to the Altar. (Preceptor gives the sign and advances and closes the Bible on the Altar and then returns to his place.) 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 GTC. (1 Rap) 10
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 11
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. 12
SAMPLE VISITORS CARD 13