Order of Bees
Ritual of the Third Degree - Co-operation


1912


Watchman proceeds to ante-room with small table, places it as far away from the Colony door as possible—placing upon the table two pennies. This must be done in the presence of the candidate or candidates. It is very important that they see these coins placed upon the table. Watchman then conducts candidate to Colony door, giving two raps. It will be opened. He then proceeds to the station of King Bee.
Watchman:
I present you a thrifty Bee, that he might; be now enlightened in the great principles of our Order.
King Bee:
Thrifty Bee, you are now to learn the principal teachings of our Order. It is the foundation on which we stand, and upon which we expect to build and thrive Heed and absorb it. Did you observe the coins placed on the table in the ante-room
Candidate:
Yes.
King Bee steps from station and places one penny on table near candidate.
King Bee:
This Colony presents you with what lies on either table. Make your choice. If your start to save has not been made, let this humble mite be the beginning. If it has been made, add it to the others, it will be welcome, though small it may be.
If the candidate takes coin from table in ante-room, King Bee addresses Watchman.
King Bee:
Bring the Thrifty Bee before me.
King Bee to Candidate:
I see you took the trouble to walk somewhat out of your way to procure the coins. This is the principal teaching of our order. You could have much easier secured the one coin, as it was almost within your reach, but by going out of your way, you received one cent more. Remember this, insignificant as that coin is it has been through the co-operation of others, the foundation of fortunes. Do not ignore it. If you can realize its importance, you have gained one of the greatest lessons in life.
If candidate takes coin near him, King Bee addresses him:
King Bee:
I see you took the coin near you. Did you realize that by going out of the way just a little, you could have secured one cent more. Insignificant, etc., as above.
King Bee delivers lesson of Co-operation.



Co-operation

King Bee:
In the home, in business, there must be a co-operation, a pulling together for success. Without co-operation for the good of all there can be nothing but failure, Let us ever bear in mind that no man liveth unto himself. We are made dependent on one another.
Co-operation teaches us brotherly love one for another, engenders a spirit of true helpfulness. By true cooperation we can more nearly reach an ideal state of living.
A body of men, educated and illiterate, rich and poor, bound together by the ties of brotherly love, a spirit of helping each other bear the burdens of life, and an honest effort to help lift it—aiding in a way that does not make any one an object of charity, but helps one to help himself, which is after all the best way to aid another, co-opera~ ting to show one another how he may save, be his earnings great or small.
All Bees in their hives are steady workers, gathering in the honey.
"Bear one another’s burdens." By co-operating we learn to overcome that supreme enemy of mankind, selfishness, which belittles the soul and shrivels it up.
Let us co-operate to build for ourselves better homes—co-operate to prevent any paupers among us—co-operate to practice constantly the teachings of our order—Benevolence, Thrift, Co-operation.
By going a little out of our way to help a Bee we will also be helping ourselves. It is more blessed to give than to receive. In giving we receive with interest many fold.
Even if our Order taught nothing more than the Brotherhood of man, our inability to live alone—nothing more than co-operation to one great end, to save something from our earnings, to save wherever and what we can in an honest and straight way—it would be a great and noble Order, worthy of a grand place in the upbuilding of the nation. An order for the great working, struggling masses of mankind who are burdened with the great cost of living.
It teaches each man that he is not the only one who has this problem to face, but there are many like him, with the same ambitions, struggles, hopes, desires and discouragements.
He learns that by co-operating one with another some of these problems can be solved We are willing to do if only we are shown how, and that is why you will always want to be a Bee. Many heads together can solve problems and make opportunities when one cannot do so alone.
Remember, ‘Together we stand, divided we fall’ Let us co-operate continually for the good of one and all.
You are now a Third Degree member of the Order of Bees. I congratulate you, sir, hoping you will always bear in mind the teaching of the noble principles of our Order—Benevolence, Thrift, Co-operation.
To gain admission after the lodge is open make two raps at the door, if member has current pass-word, he is admitted, then complies with the rules, and takes his seat.


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