Alpha Sigma Lambda
Initiation Ritual
1928
After
the brothers have assembled, the Grand Master rises, and says: Brothers, let us give the pledge.
Brothers
then rise and hold right band upraised with the voting sign (thumb and
forefinger bent. together) and repeat after the Grand. Master: Let us pledge eternal loyalty, all honor due our noble fraternity Alpha
Sigma Lambda, and to the perpetual existence of our chapter … 'Bonzai'.
Brothers
then sing the first verse of the Brotherhood Song: We are
gathered together now
As the
Alphas always do
United
forever, with a purpose strong and true
Intending
to do our best
To raise
our shield on high
We're
trying ever,
We
falter never,
For
we're true brothers in Old Bonzai.
The
business is then taken up in the following order:
1.
National correspondence, reports, etc.
2.
District business.
3.
Minutes of previous meeting by Scribe,
4.
Hospitaler's Report.
5.
Committee Reports.
6.
Old Business,
7.
New Busibess.
8.
Discussion and oral Vote on rushees.
Throughout
the meeting the brothers may obtain the floor by addressing the chair as
'Brother G. M.' The chair will recognize the brothers by calling them by name,
as 'Brother Smith'. Brothers end all speeches with 'Bonzai'.
Upon
adjournment, the Grand Master rises and says: Brothers,
let us form the Circle.
The
brothers then form in a circle, cross hands with right hand on top and sing to
the tune of '
Adagas,
Spouday Chi,
Lao
Agasia
Ideals
so high
Worthy
of man we cry
Bonds
that forever tie
Each
brother in dear Alpha Sig
And our
Old Bonzai,
Bonzai.
Bonzai
Night Ritual
The
Summons
A
week before the date set for Bonzai Night, each pledge is blindfolded and
separately brought before the chapter. Here the Grand Master addresses him as
follows: Kneel.
Pledge
kneels.
Grand
Master continues: You
have passed your written examination and we congratulate you. You have other
trials before you and we adjure yon not to fail.
Therefore,
listen well to this summons:
On … name
date appear at ... name
place with the following:
1.
One-half pint of real blood.
2. An
image of what you think Bonzai is.
3. Six
paddles.
Tell
these secret orders to no one, and obey Bonzai's command,
Arise,
and depart.
The
pledge is then led out of the chapter room.
Bonzai
Night
At
Bonzai Night, a week later, the pledges are stripped and are led blindfolded
before the chapter.
A
bowl is placed in the center of the room.
Grand
Master (who is usually Master of Ceremonies}, to pledges: Give
me your images and pour the blood into the bowl.
Pledges
are then led out, and dress.
After
all pledges have departed, the blood should be replaced by the following
solution, mixed in proportion to the number of men who are taking this ritual;
The
following amount will suffice for about three men:
10
or 15 c worth of asafelida.
10
c worth of vegetable coloring (red},
10c
worth of castor oil.
White
of one (1) egg.
After
stirring well, remove the scum from the top of mixture so that only deep red of
solution shows.
Pledges
are then all brought into room at same time, fully clothed, by Brother who
brought them in previously, and stand in front of table, in semi-circle faci1zg
Master of Ceremonies, Master of Ceremonies, to pledges, slowly and with
impressive awe: Thousands
of years ago, when a superior civilization existed, a traveler wandering in
distant lands was set upon and captured by a mysterious Bonzai, who held him in
captivity for a long time. While in this state of affairs this mysterious
monster told the traveller ()f wonderful results that would happen if he would
consent to do certain acts. If he refused he would remain forever in bondage
while if he succeeded he would be released. This ordeal was to drink of the
blood of this terrible monster. You, as pledges have thus far complied with this
monster's wishes during your pledgeship.
The
ordeal you have just successfully passed through is only one of the many to
come. To test your desire to learn more of this mysterious being you must drink
of the blood of this horrible monster. This hlood is held sacred in the eyes of
your yet distant Brothers here tonight and by all Alpha Sigs. Now, it is
commanded that you drink of this stenching, reeking, nauseous nerve-disembowling
blood of Bonzai.
You have
all withstood, thus far, the ordeals and trials of your pledgeship. You are
about to take and withstand, if possible, the worst of all. You have shown
courage throughout the tenure of your pledgeship and have lived up to all
requirements of men of our type. Are you ready to face this terrible ordeal
which will prove to the assembled brothers that you are strong in mind, strong
in body, strong in soul and strong in heart for all things Alpha Sig—By doing
so you will release the bonds of this terrible and vicious monster who is the
obstacle in your path of becoming much nearer to Alpha Sigma Lambda and all it
stands for.
Pledge
will answer Yes, if it be true in his case.
Master
of Ceremonies continuing: You
have signified your wish by your answer. Once more: Are you ready to withstand
the ordeal
Pledges
will answer in the affirmative Yes.
Master
of Ceremonies:
Very well. Now in turn, as directed, drink of the vessel before you, taking one
swallow.
As
each pledge in turn. takes the bowl in his hands the assembled Brothers chant in
chorus: Now you drink
of the Bonzai's Blood,
Drink, Drink, Drink.
Master
of Ceremonies, after all have drunk: Pledges,
you have shown by drinking of this blood that you are the type of men Alpha
Sigma Lambda is looking for to carryon the work of your predecessors, You have
proven your strength.
You
shall now be known, until your formal initiation, as Neophytes. You are not
required to perform any duties of a pledge but bear in mind that you are not to
ask any Brother to do anything for you, because it is not yet too late to revoke
your standing as a Neophyte.
Heed
well this information for it is your only hope of initiation.
Now, Neophytes—name
each individually—I
command you to appear at … name
exact location
at ... specify exact time on ... state
date
without fail, Should you be absent on this occasion at the time specified, your
initiation is doubtful. Be sure to wear your pledge button on this occasion as
you have done at an times.
You are
commanded further to absolute secrecy regarding all that has elapsed this
evening and at all other times. Impart none of the happenings to any Pledge
Brother or outsider. Remember your actions from now until your initiation be
strictly watched and any misstep may cause your failure to receive the ever
longed for Triangle.
Depart.
The
Neophytes are then led from the room.
Master
of Ceremonies:
Brothers let us form the Circle.
Brothers
form circle, cross hands, right hand on top and sing to the tune of
Adagas
Spouday Chi,
Lao
Agasia, Ideals so high
Worthy
of man we cry,
Bonds
that forever tie
Each
brother in dear Alpha Sig,
And our
old Bonzai,
BONZAI
Formal
Initiation Ritual
The
Chapter Warder, dressed in a White Rube and White Mask, and carrying a plain
white candle, blindfolds each Neophyte's eyes and lines them up in order of
pledging, the oldest pledge first in line. Then be leads them to the closed door
of the Initiation Chamber. He knocks three times (the 3 ideals) and waits for
answering four knocks (by Chapter Hospitaler) dressed likewise, without candle
(four knocks representing the 3 ideals and Bonzai).
HOSPITALER:
Who is it that
comes to the Inner Shrine of Alpha Sigma Lambda?
WARDER:
A Brother and his
Neophytes … names
of Neophytes
in full
who have passed through the trials and ordeals with valor. They seek the Sacred
Triangle.
GRAND
MASTER: Is
it the desire of the
assembled Brothers that these Neophytes be permitted to enter the Inner Shrine
of Bonzai?
ASSEMBLED
BROTHERS IN CHORUS: So
say we all of us, Bonzai.
GRAND
MASTER: Enter.
As
Neophytes are entering the assembled Brothers rise and sing in chorus, to the
air of How Can I Leave Thee:
Welcome oh Neophytes to Bonzai's Inner Shrine,
Take
from this hall tonight, secrets divine,
Alpha
and Sigma too, Lambda, Ideals most high,
All made
for men like you, by old Bonzai.
Warder
leads the Neophytes to the table whereon are three (3) candles placed to form a
Triangle, point down, with a red candle toward the Neophytes and two blue
candles forming the upper points of the triangle. The candles are burning. In
front of each candle is a black triangular block or transparency illustrating
with a gold letter each of the three Greek letters of our fraternity, placed in
the same order as they appear in our official Membership Pin.
The
room should be heavily incensed.
The
Grand Master wears a red robe and mask; The Scribe and Vice Grand Master wear
blue robes and masks. The three remaining officers wear white robes and masks.
The assembled brothers wear black robes and masks.
The
Warder stations the Neophytes in a semi-circle in front of the table. He and the
Hospitaler then take chairs behind the other three, thereby completing a
Triangle. The Warder extinguishes his plain candle, The only lights are now the
three (3) candles on the table.
GRAND
MASTER: Neophytes,
remove your blindfolds and
after removal to each of the Neophytes in turn: … full
name,
are you desirous of becoming it Brother in Alpha Sigma Lambda?
Neophytes,
in order, as question is asked them: I
am.
GRAND
MASTER: Neophytes,
kneel at once before this table, place your left hand over your heart demonstrates
and raise your right hand demonstrates
and repeat in chorus after me, providing it be true in your case:
We do
solemnly swear / that we are not members / at the present time / of any national
academic Fraternity / of similar character / we do further bind ourselves / by
promising that we shall never / join or affiliate ourselves / with any other
fraternity / similar in school ranking / to Alpha Sigma Lambda. / We do further
bind ourselves / to absolute secrecy / concerning this initiation ritual /
except before legally constituted brothers / of this Fraternity.
GRAND
MASTER, to Neophytes: Drop
your hands.
GRAND
MASTER, to Brothers: It
is not yet too late to revoke your sacred ballot. Is it still the desire of all
the Brothers that these Neophytes be permitted to enter into the mysteries of
Bonzai?
BROTHERS,
in chorus: So say
we all of us, Bonzai.
GRAND
MASTER, to Scribe: These
Neophytes have come to learn our most cherished ideals.
Tell
them the mystery of the Alpha Candle.
SCRIBE:
The mystery of the
Alpha Candle is this:
It
shines through the mystic night,
A pure
and most brilliant light.-
The word
ADAGAS, the first ideal of our motto, meaning ADAMANT.
SCRIBE,
looking up: Neophytes
repeat in chorus the
word Adagas.
Neophytes
then repeat in chorus: Adagas.
SCRIBE
continuing: By
this ideal of adamant; Bonzai means that each Brother is made of the strongest
materials with which man can be built. Sons of Bonzai have as their zenith, an
everlastingly loyal spirit, a well trained brain, and a clean powerful body. In
all these respects, we aim to be unconquerable, to be adamant. Because of this
ideal, Alpha Sigma Lambda has risen far above her mediocre competitors and has
become a perpetual Fraternity, which no Brother will ever let fall in quality or
cease to exist. Remember that you Neophytes have been chosen as men of our type.
Heed well the lesson whose mystery the Alpha candle burns in the word Adagas.
As
Scribe extinguishes the flame of the Alpha Candle the Brothers stand and sing to
the tune of
Adagas
Candle Bright
Shines
through the mystic night
Ideals
most high;
Candle
of Adamant,
It is of
you we chant
Shine
now on each Neophyte
All your
power and light.
Brothers
sit down.
GRAND
MASTER, to Vice Grand Master: The
Neophytes are desirous of learning more of the cherished ideals of Bonzai.
Reveal to them the mystery of the Sigma Candle.
VICE
GRAND MASTER: The
mystery of the Sigma Candle is this:
It burns
with a heavenly fire
The
mystery of blessed desire.
The word
SPOUDAY, the second ideal of our motto, meaning DESIRE FOR KNOWLEDGE.
VICE
GRAND MASTER, looking up:
Neophytes repeat the word Spouday.
NEOPHYTES
then repeat in chorus: Spouday.
VICE
GRAND MASTER; continuing: By
the word SPOUDAY, the second ideal, is not only intended hook-lore and academic
training, but higher appreciation of all that raises man above the brute;
intelligence, thought and enlightenment. Each Brother in Alpha Sigma Lambda is
ever seeking knowledge,
whether it be in work
or play. Always does he try to teach, to learn, to absorb and to practice. Do
not be pedantic; be quiet, mildest and ever alert to live up to the lesson whose
mystery the Sigma Candle burns in the word SPOUDAY.
As
the Vice Grand Master extinguishes the flame of the Sigma Candle, the Brothers
stand and sing to the tune of
Spouday
with gleaming fire
'Tis
Bonzai's strong desire,
Seek
knowledge true.
Man
would be all in vain
Had he
not human brain.
Try ever
and you will acquire
As the
Bonzai's sire.
Brothers
sit down.
GRAND
MASTER: The
mystery of the Lambda Candle is this:
It burns
from the heavens on high
And
reflects from the mystic Bonzai.
The word
LAO AGASIA, the third ideal of our motto, meaning THE LEADING OF THE PEOPLE.
GRAND
MASTER, looking up: Neophytes,
repeat the word Lao Agasia,
NEOPHYTES,
then repeat in chorus: LAO
AGASIA.
GRAND
MASTER, continuing: This
ideal explains to you
the rapid and certain growth of the Fraternity. Wherever we have chosen to found
a Chapter we have done so successfully. We have always won because we were
unselfish, earnest, democratic, loyal, self-sacrificing and progressive. Never
has the Fraternity lost in any battle during the long run. We have, of course,
lost minor conflicts, but our indomitable spirit, with wholehearted
sportsmanship has won us friends and made us victors in the end. Follow well the
precedent of your older Brothers whose mystery the Lambda Candle burns in the
word LAO AGASIA.
As
the Grand. Master extinguishes the flame, the Brothers rise and sing to the tune
of
Will
lead the world.
Modest
and gleaming ray
Changing
night into day
Ideal
that will never die--
Dearest
to Bonzai.
Brothers
sit down, amid absolute silence, and complete darkness. After no short silence,
turn on lights unobserved:
GRAND
MASTER:
Neophytes
arise. When you faced Bonzai before, you were but pledges. With the spirit that
marks the ideals of this Fraternity, you drank the blood of Bonzai and became
Neophytes. Now, Oh Neophytes, you as Brothers, are again to learn more of
Bonzai, and in a more pleasant way. It is true that Bonzai originated the
supreme ordeal and it is also true that Bonzai originated the guardianship of
all the secrets of Alpha Sigma Lambda, and that he guides us in all our work.
Shroud him always with the blackness of mystery, with which he is always so
appropriately clothed.
Bonzai
is the Patron Spirit of Alpha Sigma Lambda. He is the preserver of our Triangle
and the Shield. By many, he is pictured as an ideal Brother or father to us all.
Use his name in greetings between Brothers and at the end of speeches and talk-a-rounds.
Always bury him in
mystery and speak his name fondly and with mysterious awe. As a distinguished
password in this Fraternity we explain the following. If you are not sure that a
man is an Alpha Sig, during the conversation, say to him in an off-hand way but
looking him squarely in the eye—‘How's Bonzai?’ And if he be a true
Brother, he will answer—‘Dark as ever’ and give you the grip.
The grip
of the Fraternity is a strong pressure of the thumb, a shake sideways and down. Grand
Master should demonstrate grip to new Brothers.
The
signature at: the end of all letters between Brothers is ‘Yours in Alpha Sigma
Lambda’, using the Greek letters.
GRAND
MASTER, individually to each new Brother: Brother
... call by last
name raise your right hand, thumb and forefinger bent together, other
three being upright, thusly demonstrates
and repeat after me: I … name
in full
do pledge eternal loyalty / all honor due my noble Fraternity / Alpha Sigma
Lambda / and to the perpetual existence of my Chapter, Grand
Master should
name Chapter,
Bonzai.
After
each has repeated this separately, the Grand Master speaks to all: Remember
this, Brothers, to disgrace yourself is to disgrace your Fraternity; to honor
yourself is to honor her. Remember at all times that you are a gentleman and a
Brother bound to live up to the supreme ideals of Alpha Sigma Lambda, Behold the
Triangle which you have sought so much: the badge of Alpha Sigma Lambda. Show
the new Brothers
the pin or a larger representation on wood or as a transparency.
The
explanation of the pin is as follows: An equilateral triangle symbolizes that
all Brothers are equal. It is worn point downward to distinguish it from the
Greek letter Delta. The black enamel of the pin is to remind us of Bonzai, and
all his blackness of mystery. The gold stands for the standard value and purity
of the Fraternity, The red stones at each corner stand for the fire and strength
of Charter Brothers in forming a Chapter. Blue stones represent the loyalty and
spirit of the later Brothers in making perpetual, Alpha Sigma Lambda. On each
side of the Triangle are four pearls standing for the three ideals of our motto
and Bonzai. The letters, of course, represent the ideals. At all times wear your
pins. Remember that they are never to be worn by anyone whose name would bring
disgrace to yourself and Bonzai.
During
your active days in the Fraternity, and thereafter, if possible, never be
without your Triangle.
Behold
Bonzai's shield and receive your shingle.
At
this Point Grand Master presents each new Brother with his shingle. Shield
should be arranged on dark cloth, and letters, etc., should be painted on same,
so that light may shine through it.
The
explanation of the symbols on the Shield is as follows: The Wall represents the
first ideal ADAGAS, or Adamant. The Lamp or Urn represents the second ideal
SPOUDAY, or Desire for knowledge.
The
Torch or Sceptor represents the third ideal LAO AGASIA or the Leading of the
People.
The Star
represents BONZAI always watching over Alpha Sigma Lambda.
The
Triangle represents the equality of the Brothers.
The
Shield is completed by it scroll below with the words Alpha Sigma Lambda written
in the original Greek letters.
Always
be proud to bear the Shield of Alpha Sigma Lambda and never target the story it
tells.
Now, I
... state
name in
full as
Grand Master of … Chapter state
name of
Chapter
do place on the hearts of … name
each new Brother individually, pausing between each name the badge of
Alpha Sigma Lambda here
the Grand Master places pin or recognition pin on new brothers, and
proclaim by :my official word that you shall henceforth be known as Brother
number … stating
new consecutive number on the rolls of the ... Chapter of Alpha Sigma
Lambda.
Let us
form the Circle.
All
Brothers form circle, cross hands, right hand on top and sing to the tune of
Adagas
Spouday chi
Lao
Agasia, Ideals so high,
Worthy
of man: We cry,
Bonds
that forever tie
Each
Brother in dear Alpha Sig,
And our
old Bonzai,
BONZAI