In what order should the Altar candles be turned on and off?

The New York Ritual does not specify an order. Purely as a matter of practicality, it may be useful for the Senior Deacon to address the candles according to the order in which he encounters them, starting with the east for the opening and the south for the closing. The important thing is that the candles are always lit when the Bible is open, thus the Senior Deacon lights the candles before opening and extinguishes them after closing the Bible.