Order of Bees
Ritual of the Third Degree - Co-operation
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.
1912
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.