The Osmth Order of Convent Contents
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THE OSMTH ORDER OF CONVENT CONTENTS Appendix to the Rules & Regulations, Section 12 approved by the Grand Magistral Council on 2 October in 2015 in Cologne, Germany INTRODUCTION The following Order of Convent and associated Ceremonies are designed to provide a standard template for use at international meetings of the Grand Magistral Council and / or the Grand Chap- ter General of OSMTH. It is recognized that: The standard template may necessarily have to be modified by the responsible Grand Magistral Officers, depending on the venue, timing, particular attendees and other circumstances of each individual event; Liturgical wording (e.g. in the Psalms and Blessings) varies in the Eastern and Western Church Traditions, which may also require modification at individual events; On occasion it may be necessary to modify the format of the Processional Entry and the Reces- sional Departure, if required by the authorities in charge of the church, chapel or cathedral where an event is taking place; The text of the C&I ceremonies may need from time to time to be translated in the language of the host country to allow non-English speaking members, guests and visitors to follow the ceremonies; Not all sections will be required at every event (e.g. there might be promotions to only one of the three higher ranks; installations of the three elected Grand Magistral Officeholders normally only occur once in three years); Not all relevant Grand Magistral Officeholders or other participants may be present at every event, and therefore another Officeholder may need to substitute (e.g. the Grand Commander may need make the OSMTH International Awards if the Grand Master is unable to be present); Officeholders assisting the Marshal General (e.g. the Master of Postulants; the Sword Bearer) may be drawn from the Host Grand Priory or from other Grand Priories present at the event; The role of Presiding International Chaplain may be taken by the Chaplain General, the Vicar General or the Provost General, depending on who is present at an individual event. Chaplains assisting the Presiding International Chaplain may be drawn from the host Grand Priory or from other Grand Priories present at the event. This standard template may also provide guidance for, but is not binding on, Member Grand Pri- ories for their own events. In the tradition of the Rule of the Templars of the original Order, all Convent meetings are opened and closed with prayer. These OSMTH Ceremonies draw on the pattern and texts used by the medieval and modern Orders and bring them together in a dignified form appropriate for our Chris- tian ecumenical and chivalric Order today. The Order is not secret and its ceremonies may be conducted in the presence of guests. While the business of the Order is not secret, the discussions and debates which precede a decision are not discussed outside of the Chapter, Council or Convent meeting (i.e. only the decision of the whole body should be disclosed and no mention should be made of any dissenting position within a meeting). ORDER OF CONVENT - CONTENTS 1. Processional Entry 2. Opening Ceremony and Prayer 3. Reception Ceremony The Oath 4. Investiture Ceremony The Accolade 5. Promotions & Awards Ceremony a. Ranks of Commander and Grand Officer b. Rank of Grand Cross c. OSMTH International Awards 6. Installation Ceremony a. Grand Magistral Officeholders b. Grand Master 7. Closing Ceremony and Prayer 8. Recessional Departure 1. PROCESSIONAL ENTRY Before the Convent commences, the Marshal General or his designee places the Cross and Bible on the Altar and lights the Candles. The Marshal General (supported by Assistant Marshals, the Master of Postulants, the Ban- ner Bearer, the Beaucéant Bearer, the Sword Bearer, the Cross Bearer, the Knight or Dame Protector, and any other Assistants) gathers the Members of the Order together at a suitable location in the church or hall where the Convent is to take place. The Procession is formed in the following order: Section 1 a. Assistant Cross Bearer / Crucifer b. Banner Bearer (carrying the Banner of the Order) c. Assistant Sword Bearers (carrying their swords hilt up, unless otherwise allowed by local custom) Section 2 a. Master of Postulants b. Postulants (in alphabetical order by family name) c. Promotees to Commander (in alphabetical order by family name) d. Promotees to Grand Officer (in alphabetical order by family name) e. Promotees to Grand Cross (in alphabetical order by family name) f. Recipients of OSMTH Awards (in alphabetical order by family name) g. Grand Magistral Officeholders Elect (if any; in order of seniority) Section 3 a. Knight or Dame Protector b. Knights & Dames c. Knights & Dames Commander d. Knights & Dames Grand Officer e. Knights & Dames Grand Cross Section 4 a. Principal Sword Bearer (carrying the sword hilt upwards as a processional cross, unless otherwise allowed by local custom) b. Grand Magistral Officeholders c. Emeritus Grand Priors d. Pro Merito Councillors e. Grand Priors (preceded by banners of office or, if none, national flags when available) Section 5 a. Marshal General b. Host Grand Prior c. Chancellor General d. Deputy Grand Commander e. Beaucéant Bearer f. Grand Commander's Personal Flag Bearer g. Grand Commander h. Grand Master's Personal Flag Bearer i. Grand Master j. Escort k. Visiting Royalty, Nobility, State and/or Civil Dignitaries (if any) l. Royal Patron Section 6 a. Principal Cross Bearer / Crucifer b. Chaplains c. Provost General d. Vicar General e. Chaplain General f. Escort g. Visiting Ecclesiastical Dignitaries (if any) h. Spiritual Protector The Sections of the Procession move from the back of the church (or hall) up the central aisle to the front of the church (or hall) where the Marshal General and his Assistants direct the Sections to their relevant places. Upon arrival at the front of the church (or hall), banners of office or national flags may then be retired to the back of the church (or hall). When retired to the back of the church (or hall), the banners of office or national flags will not be required for the Recessional Departure. 2. OPENING CEREMONY AND PRAYER The Presiding International Chaplain and the Grand Commander move to stand in front of the Altar facing the assembled Convent. The Principal Sword Bearer places his sword on the Altar, or presents his sword to the Presiding International Chaplain who places it on the Altar. The Banner Bearer, the Beaucéant Bearer and selected others place their banners in their stands, and then move with the Principal Sword Bearer to their places. Presiding International Chaplain: O God, you are the help and shield of all who trust in you. To you we bring these symbols of loyalty, honor and devotion. May all who look upon them be reminded of their duty to you and to our Order, through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Grand Commander: Our Master is God. Members of the Order: We are all brothers and sisters. Grand Commander: Non nobis, Domine, non nobis... Members of the Order: Sed nomini tuo, da gloriam Grand Commander: My Brothers and Sisters, please be seated as the Convent is about to begin. Grand Commander: Knights/Dames Sword-Bearers, please present the hilts of your swords to each Knight, Dame and Companion; and you, my Brothers and Sisters, touch the guard of the sword - whose hilt is the symbol of the cross, and also the symbol of chivalry - with the three central digits of your right hand. The Assistant Sword Bearers pass among the Members of the Order in the assembled Con- vent and then return to their places. When a large number of Members and Companions are present, Assistant Sword Bearers may present the hilt of their swords only to the first Member or Companion in each pew, or row of chairs, in order to save time needed for the remainder of the service. The Grand Commander turns to the Knight or Dame Protector. Grand Commander: Knight/Dame Protector, is this Convent protected? Knight/Dame Protector: It is so, Grand Commander. Grand Commander: In the name, and with the help, of God; I declare this Convent open in accordance with the ancient usages. [OPTIONAL] The Assisting Chaplain moves to the Lectern and reads the following, or an- other suitable, portion of scripture. Assisting Chaplain: "Finally then, find your strength in the Lord, in his mighty power. Therefore, take up God's armor; then you will be able to stand your ground when things are at their worst, to complete every task and still to stand. Stand firm, I say. Fasten on the belt of truth; for coat of mail put on integrity; let the shoes on your feet be the gospel of peace, to give you firm footing; and, with all these, take up the great shield of faith with which you will be able to withstand all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take salvation for helmet; for sword, take that which the Spirit gives you - the words that come from God." St Paul's Letter to the Ephesians, Chapter 6, Verses 10 & 11 and 13 to 16. [OPTIONAL] The Assisting Chaplain moves to the Lectern and says the Templar Office Psalm 115, verses 1 to 11. Assisting Chaplain: 1. Not unto us, O Lord, Not unto us, but to your name give glory, for your mercy, and for your truth’s sake. 2. Why should the heathen say, Where now is their God? 3. But our God is in the heavens: he has done whatsoever has pleased him. 4. Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. 5. They have mouths, but they do not speak: they have eyes, but they do not see; 6.