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updated on 10-09-02
The Rose Ceremony Instructions:
(a.k.a. The Rose Degree)
a ceremony for the new initiate
To be given after the meeting is closed.
This ceremony is to be given toward the end of the term (meeting prior to farewell). Make this a special night. Keep your meeting short and invite parents. If parents are not able to attend the meeting, invite them to arrive at a designated time, after the closing of the meeting.
The lecture is to be given by a girl wearing a formal and holding, in her arms, enough red roses for each girl receiving the lecture to have a rose plus additional roses to place on the altar.
Worthy Advisor: "Sister of Faith, you will present the following sisters to receive the Rose Degree (or Rose Ceremony)." (give names)Faith presents the sisters behind the altar – entering the altar area from the South, by way of the marching lanes. Leave enough space for Rose Lecturer to pass between girls and the altar.
When the girls are in place, the Rose Lecturer takes her place three feet East of the altar, entering from the South, by way of the marching lanes. She stands in the center of the altar, facing the girls (West), and gives lecture as follows:
"My sisters, I now extend to you a heartfelt welcome into our Assembly. Rainbow teaches duty four-fold; duty to God, to country, to parents, and to each other. It also teaches harmony and friendship. The Rainbow grasp of friendship reaches beyond the door of this Assembly Room, across the vast lands of the United States, and then across the expanse of oceans to other girls in every other part of the world. You are now a link in this great undying chain of friendship. Ever remember: 'A chain is as strong as its weakest link.' And now I would like to give you a short verse entitled "My Hand in God’s".
Each morning when I wake I say,
"Tonight (or The night) you knelt at the White Altar of the Holy Promise, you pledged your life to Love and Service. You held the hand of God. So now each morning when you awake and look upon the pages of your open Bible, remember that you once held the hand of God. And then, place your hand in His and look forward to a new day with renewed courage and faith."
"I place my hand in God’s today."
I know He’ll walk close by my side,
My every wandering step to guide.
He leads me with the tenderest care,
When paths are dark and I despair.
No need for me to understand,
If I but hold fast to His hand.
My hand in His – no greater way
To go in safety through each day.
By His great bounty I am fed.
Warmed by His love, and comforted.
And when at day’s end I seek my rest,
And realize how much I’m blest,
My thanks pour out to Him, and then
I place my hand in God’s again.
The Rose Lecturer turns South, walks between the girls and altar, gives each girl a red rose and returns to her position East of the altar, leaving the altar from the North.
"On this occasion I have placed in your hand a rose. This small red rose of the Rainbow symbolizes a girl’s love and devotion to her mother who has made this day possible for her to enjoy, through sacrifices and prayer. So tonight, when you tell your mother, or someone who has taken her place, about this ceremony, give her your rose. And when you kiss her good night, remind her that you love her."
As the Rose Lecturer places remaining roses on the altar:
"And now, in the memory of every girl’s mother, and those who have passed into the Golden City Beyond, I place these remaining roses upon the altar, and bid you welcome into Rainbow, with the hope that the words Love and Service will lead you through a happy and successful life."
Faith seats sisters in Assembly room, leaving the altar from the North. Rose Lecturer returns to her seat, leaving altar from the North.
Information: Rose Ceremony
This is a ceremony that we use in Kentucky. I do it at various lodges about once a term. It's a short presentation that let Masons unfamiliar with Rainbow see someone perform memorized work. Whatever girls that happen to be present, that have never had it said to them, stand behind the altar. It's a tribute to mothers. I have no idea who wrote it.
The order of Rainbow teaches many beautiful lessons, but none more important then the honor and respect for womanhood, and especially for motherhood. I feel that it is fitting and proper to dedicate this occasion to our mothers, whose love never fails.
An angel was sent down upon the earth to bring back the most beautiful thing he saw. He hunted long and carefully. At last he saw a bed of full blown American Beauty roses, he gathered an arm full. Turning, he saw a baby's smile filled with rapture, he took it along too. By its side he discovered a mother's love. With all three in his arms he mounted to the sky. Just outside the pearly gates he paused for a moment. And lo, the baby's smile had vanished, the flowers withered and died, but the mother's love remained. He laid it at the Master's feet as the most loving and lasting thing upon the earth.
Our Savior, in the unutterable agony of his death upon the cross, was ever mindful of his mother, to teach us that his holy love should ever be in our worldly thoughts at all times, for:
It was a mother who loved you long before you were born
Who carried you months while your body took form
Close to her heart in the fullness of time
She took God's hand in hers this mother divine
She passed through the valley of shadows I'd say
To give life to you in a miraculous way
She nursed and watched over you as a babe at her breast
In the years of your childhood her council was best
As you've grown less dependent she has done countless things
To make your life full of what happiness brings
Perhaps you've been careless in a sort of way
And never fully appreciated the nice things she'd say
You just took for granted each deed and each act
And accepted her devotion as a matter of fact
But now you are approaching a time in your life
When one countless decision may mean sorrow or strife
So star counting your blessings wile you are still young and gay
Life's full of dark pitfalls choose carefully your way
For the tie that have bound you to your mother will wane
But deep in her hear you are her Baby just the same
(PAUSE)
Were I to draw you a picture portraying love divine
It would not be of an angel stately and sublime
It would be of a tired toiled worn other with a grave and tender face
God in His infinite wisdom found mother to take her place,
There roses are a symbol of that mother's love. I have one for each of you. When you go home tonight, give it to your mother, or the one that has taken her place. Tell her it is recognition of God's best gift... your mother's love. Take her in your arms, kiss her, and say, "Mother dear, I've learned a great lesson tonight. These ceremonies have helped me to realize more fully how much you mean to me, I'm going to try and show you daily how much I appreciate the sacrifices you have made and the love and care you have given me."Some day you will find the rose, I know not where, perhaps in her Bible or Prayer book, or some other sacred place, a silent witness to what this night has meant to the one whose love for you, her daughter, is beyond comprehension of any man. Rainbow can ask no more of you than to be worthy of that love.
Do you have a different version of this, or another ceremony called the Rose Degree? Then please take a few minutes and email it to me! Please identify the author, if known, with name, assembly name & number, jurisdiction, etc. If the author is an active Rainbow girl, her last name will not be used. Author's credit will be by their name and jurisdiction ONLY, unless otherwise specified.
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