Final answer:
The instrument used for maintaining order during a chapter meeting, such as in Congress, is a judge's gavel. It provides authority to the proceedings and ensures that order is maintained.
Step-by-step explanation:
The instrument for maintaining order during a chapter meeting or in legislative bodies like Congress is a judge's gavel. This tool is not just a symbol of the presiding officer's authority, but it is also used to call the meeting to order, to restore order when there is disruption, and to signify the approval or rejection of measures. Its sound is a clear signal that commands attention and compliance with the procedural rules of the body. The orderly conduct of meetings is further ensured by the publication and transparency of proceedings, as well as by the requirement for certain votes to be recorded if a sufficient number of members demand it.
For example, when Colonel Sellers tells young Washington Hawkins about the proceedings in Congress, he is referring to the rigorous and ceremonial aspects of how meetings are conducted, which includes documenting the processes and ensuring that votes can be demanded to be kept on record by at least one-fifth of the members.