In the short story "The Refusal," the ceremony seems to have the role of keeping people in their place, and we can tell the townspeople do not feel comfortable.
"The Refusal" is a short story. The ceremony to which the question refers is the gathering of the townspeople before the colonel, who is also the tax-collector of the town.
People are supposed to go to the colonel whenever they need something, especially when it is something important. The problem is the way the colonel behaves. He stays very quiet, maintaining an authoritative demeanor. That intimidates the townspeople. They do not feel comfortable around him.
The purpose of the ceremony seems to be to keep people in their place. In other words, the colonel shows people how powerless they are by intimidating them. The townspeople can only relax and breathe freely again once the ceremony is over:
"The colonel, still motionless save for his deep breathing, whispered something in his ear, whereupon the little man clapped his hands and everyone rose. "The petition has been refused," he announced. "You may go." An undeniable sense of relief passed through the crowd..."
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