The act by which an officer is put in possession of the place he is to fill. In Freemasonry it is, therefore, applied to the induction of one who has been elected into his office. The officers of a Lodge, before they can proceed to discharge their functions, must be installed. The officers of a new Lodge are installed by the Grand Master, or by some Past Master deputed by him to perform the ceremony. The ceremony is an old one, and does not pertain exclusively to Freemasonry. The ancient Romans installed their priests, their kings, and their magistrates; but the ceremony was called inauguration, because performed generally by the Augurs. The word installation is of comparatively modern origin, being medieval Latin, and is compounded of in and stallum, meaning a seat.
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This page is adapted from the Glossary at Phoenixmasonry — Used with permission.
