Danish Brotherhood
Ritual
Opening of the Meeting
1956
President, * *: Officers and Brothers, take your respective
stations; Inner Guard, secure the doors.
Inner Guard: The doors are secure and no one will be admitted
until the meeting is open for business.
President: Brother Conductor, place the Constitution open upon the
Altar and take the password from all present, that we may know them to be
brothers.
The Conductor, having given the president the yearly password and carried out
his orders, stands before the Altar and reports:
Conductor: All present are members of the Danish Brotherhood.
President: Brother Secretary, call the roll of Officers; Brother
Conductor, answer present or absent.
The names of officers absent are entered in the minutes of the meeting, also
the names of the brothers substituting for them.
President, * * *: Brother Ex-President, what are your duties in
the lodge?
Ex-President: Brother President, my duties are to place our
symbols on the Constitution, to give and explain the signs of the Brotherhood,
and to assist at the initiation of new members.
President: Brother Vice-President, what are your duties in the
lodge?
Vice-President: Brother President, my duties are, during your
absence, to take over your functions in the lodge, to watch that the Inner Guard
performs his duties and to see that our signs are given correctly.
President: Brother Secretary, what are your duties in the lodge?
Secretary: Brother President, my duties are to keep an accurate
account of the status of the lodge, to keep accurate minutes of its proceedings,
and to carry on the correspondence of the lodge with the Supreme Lodge and
brother lodges. I am to perform these duties in such a manner that it will
strengthen and sustain the interest in our Brotherhood.
President: Brother Financial Secretary, what are your duties in
the lodge?
Financial Secretary: Brother President, my duties are to give a
receipt for all money received; to deliver all money received to the Treasurer
the same evening, get His receipt therefor, and to keep an accurate account of
receipts and disbursements.
President: Brother Treasurer, what are your duties in the lodge?
Treasurer: Brother President, my duties are to keep an accurate
account of all receipts and disbursements of the lodge; to be keeper of the
lodge funds as prescribed by the by-laws of the lodge, and be responsible for
same.
If the lodge has no Financial Secretary, the Treasurer may answer as follows:
Brother President, my duties are to keep an accurate account of all
receipts and disbursements of the lodge; pay all disbursement orders issued by
the President and Secretary in accordance with the by-laws of the Danish
Brotherhood and the lodge, and to be keeper of the lodge funds and be
responsible for same.
President: Brother Chairman of Trustees, what are your duties in
the lodge?
Chairman of Trustees: Brother President, the duties of the
Trustees are to render an accurate account of the properties and the financial
status of the lodge whenever the lodge demands it, and to assist at the
initiation of new members.
President: Brother Conductor, what are your duties in the lodge?
Conductor: Brother President, my duties are to receive the
password from the members, assist at the ballotation for and initiation of new
members, and to carry out the orders of the President.
President: Brother Inner Guard, what are your duties in the lodge?
Inner Guard: Brother President, my duties are to receive the
password from late-comers; if a person seeking admission to the meeting does not
have the password, then to report same to the Vice-President.
President: Brother Inner Guard, request the Outer Guard to enter
the lodge room.
President: Brother Outer Guard, what are your duties in the lodge?
Outer Guard: Brother President, my duties are to demand and
receive the yearly password from late-comers and see that no one but members are
admitted, also to see that the lodge has a registration book in which every
visiting brother writes his name and the number of the lodge to which he
belongs.
President, * * * *: Officers and Brothers, I hope and expect each
officer will do his duty, and that all brothers present shall, by a proper
conduct, help to make these hours of benefit and interest for the Danish
Brotherhood. It is the duty of the President to conduct our meeting in
accordance with established rules of order, and to judge impartially of every
transaction. I trust that all will act not only with integrity, but with zeal
tempered by prudence. I also remind you of the promise we have all made to keep
secret everything that takes place at the meetings.
The opening song is sung.
President: The Ex-President will place the symbols upon the
constitution and also give and explain the signs of the Danish Brotherhood.
The Ex-President carries out his instructions.
President: Brothers, in behalf of the Danish Brotherhood I demand
our sign. — I declare this meeting open for business during which time all
religious and political discussions are strictly prohibited. *
President: Brother Inner Guard, inform the Outer Guard that the
meeting is opened and that any waiting members may enter.
Initiation Ceremony
President: Brother Conductor, please retire to the outer room and
ascertain if the applicant is awaiting initiation, and report back to me.
The Conductor retires in form.
On completion of his mission the Conductor returns to lodge room
Conductor: Brother President, I am pleased to report to you that
we have Mr. … waiting in the outer room to be initiated into our Order.
President: Brothers, we have an applicant waiting to be initiated.
Brother Treasurer, has the applicant paid the required initiation fee?
Treasurer: Yes, Brother President, the required amount has been
received.
If not paid in advance, the Treasurer leaves the room and makes collection.
President: The Chairman of Trustees will retire to the outer room
where he will ask the applicant the question required by our laws.
Trustee Chairman retires in form.
Chairman of Trustees to applicant: Mr. …, we are pleased to
advise you that your application to become a member of this lodge No. … of the
Danish Brotherhood in America has been approved. However, there is a question I
must ask you before we can start our initiation ceremony. Are you willing to
comply with the rules and regulations required by our laws, if I, on my word of
honor, assure you that we do not request anything which can or will interfere
with your duties to your family, your method of living, or your political or
religious convictions?
Applicant answers: ….
Thank you, Mr. …. Kindly wait here for the Conductor who will present you
to the lodge.
Trustee returns to the lodge and reports.
Brother President, the applicant has declared his willingness to abide by our
rules and regulations.
President: Thank you. Brothers, we have heard the report by the
Chairman of Trustees. We know that the applicant within our gates is willing to
carry on as a Fraternal Brother. Therefore, we can proceed with our initiation.
May I remind you that the first impression obtained by this applicant for
membership is of the greatest importance. Therefore, let there be no disturbance
and please do not smoke during the ceremony. The Second and Third Trustees will
place the spears at their sides. Brother Conductor, you will please escort the
applicant to the lodge room.
The Conductor complies.
Raps on inner door in the usual manner.
Conductor: Mr. …, we will now proceed.
Inner Guard: Who is there?
Conductor: The Conductor, with an applicant who has been found
worthy to join our fraternal order.
Inner Guard: Just a moment. Turns
to President.
Brother President, our Conductor seeks admittance with an applicant found worthy
to join our Order
President: Thank you Brother. While the applicant is being
escorted in we will sing our initiation song. Let them enter.
* * * *.
While the applicant is being escorted completely around the hall, coming to a
stop at the President’s station the Second and Third Trustees stand at the
side of the vice-President’s station, with the spears resting on the floor.
Conductor: Brother President, it is with pleasure I present to you
Mr. … who seeks admittance into our Order.
*.
President: Welcome, Mr …. You have now entered the portals of a
lodge of the Danish Brotherhood, which means that we, as brothers, consider you
a ma we can trust and a man who will keep the secrets of our Order. First,
however, we must give you certain information pertaining to the Danish
Brotherhood in America. This information will be given to you by our
Vice-President.
Brother Conductor, you will please escort our friend to the Vice-President’s
station.
The Vice-President and the two Trustees arise. The Trustees will rest the
spears on the floor, holding them so that they are right in line with their
hearts.
Conductor: Brother Vice-President, I have been requested by the
President to present Mr. … to you for information pertaining to the Danish
Brotherhood.
Vice-President: Mr. …, the Danish Brotherhood in America was
organized in 1882. It consists of men of Danish birth or of Danish descent, or
citizens thereof. Also of men married to women with Danish ancestry. As
fraternal brothers, we have joined hands through a chain of lodges in the United
States of America, Denmark and Canada. Our effort is to gather all eligible men
into one great Brotherhood.
Our aim and purpose is to strengthen the friendship between our members and
the people of the United States and to support and abide by the laws of the land
in which we live. Further, to foster memories from the country of our origin,
and to assist our members during illness and distress. In the event of death, we
endeavor to lessen the sorrow of the family of our brother and his dear ones.
In addition to this, we aim most sincerely to live a clean and respectable
life and to take an active part and interest in the work of our Order.
Mr. …, after receiving this information, are you, in the presence of the
assembled members, willing to go on further and take the Oath required?
Applicant answers: ….
Brother Conductor, present our friend to the President in front of our Altar.
Conductor leads the applicant directly to the Altar and the two Trustees
follow the conductor.
Conductor: Brother President, I present to you Mr. …, for
further instructions.
President: Thank you brother.
The President approaches and stands before the Altar facing the applicant
Trustees cross spears.
President: … name, place
your right hand on the Constitution of our Order, your left hand on your breast
and repeat after me the following pledge:
In the presence of all the assembled members of this lodge and Order of my
own free will and accord I, … name, make
the pledge that, as a man of honor I will support the Constitution and By-laws
of this Order and I pledge myself to keep secret anything which I may hear or
see in this or any other lodge of this Order, even if I should withdraw from it
or should be expelled by my lodge brothers. I further pledge myself to attend
the lodge meetings as often as possible. I make these pledges at the Altar of
the Danish Brotherhood upon my word of honor.
Conductor: We are all witnesses.
The Assembly: We are all witnesses.
President: Brother Conductor, please escort our new member to the
Secretary that he may sign our constitution and by-laws.
*.
Conductor: Brother Secretary, I present to you our new member that
he may sign our constitution and by-laws.
New member signs.
Secretary: Thank you. Here is a copy of our constitution and
by-laws. Brother Conductor, please present our friend to the President for his
final instructions.
President: Friend, you have just received a copy of our
constitution and by-laws. May I suggest you read them carefully so that you may
know your rights and privileges. Now for your final instructions. The symbols
you found displayed on the Altar embody our official emblem and the meaning of
each symbol is as follows:
The Anchor is a symbol of Hope—it denotes the hope we have that our
Brotherhood will always be able to withstand the storms of adversity. The Key
represents security and protection —it is indicative of our work and desire to
keep the secrets of our work within your heart as though it were under lock and
key. The Plumb signifies that the deeds of our organization as well as of each
member must always be true and correct. Whenever you approach the Altar and you
see the symbols thereon, you must salute first the President, next the Vice-P
resident with our sign which is thus …. When you are requested by the
Conductor of the lodge to give the annual password, you shall, in a whispering
voice, answer …. If you wish to enter the lodge hall after the meeting has
started you must, in order to gain admission, rap twice on the outer door, and
give the Outer Guard our annual password which I just gave you. At the inner
door rap three times. The Inner Guard will then request you to give our standing
password which is ….
After you have been admitted into the lodge hall, you step up before the
Altar facing the President, whom you salute with the sign I just gave you and
then turn and give the same sign to the Vice-President, after which you may be
seated. If you wish to visit another lodge, when traveling, you should present a
receipt from your own lodge, showing that you are a member in good standing.
We have a written sign consisting of …, which is derived from two Danish
words … meaning in English, think and be silent. It may be used in personal
and business correspondence to secretly indicate that you are a member of the
Danish Brotherhood.
The President has a gavel with which he conducts the meeting.
The assembly responds.
One rap (*) indicates the subject completed.
Two raps (* *) calls the members to order.
Three raps (* * *) is a request for the officers to arise.
Four raps (* * * *) request the entire assembly to arise, and
One rap (*) seats the audience.
While our meeting is in progress, you are not allowed to cross the floor
between the Altar and the President.
The officers have their respective stations as follows: Indicate
to the new member where each officer is seated.
Brother Conductor, please have our new member face his brothers.
President, * * * *: Brethren, I have the pleasure to present to
you our new member … name. I declare him
to be a lawful member of lodge No. … of the Danish Brotherhood in America. We
have added another link to our chain,—the chain of Danish men, and husbands of
Danish women, who have joined hands and promised to stand by each other when
illness and sorrow comes to our homes and dear ones. Members, let us, one and
all, in our daily lives strive to be good citizens. When we assemble in lodges
of the Danish Brotherhood, we will not forget to commemorate the principles upon
which our Brotherhood is founded, nor our purpose of aiding the sick and needy
members, their widows and their children.
Song.
Intermission to allow the members to greet the new brother.
*.
Closing of the Meeting
President: Officers and Brothers, I will thank you to rise and
assist me in closing the meeting.
* * * *.
President: Brother Ex-President, what is the purpose of the Danish
Brotherhood?
Ex -President: To unite in one great fraternal Organization all
men of Danish origin and husbands of Danish women.
President: Brother Vice-President, what must be done to maintain
the Danish Brotherhood?
Vice-President: Each Brother must keep his promise and work for
the advancement of the Danish Brotherhood.
President: Brother Conductor, what is the penalty a Brother must
pay who breaks the pledge he has made?
Conductor: The respect of the membership shall be denied him.
President: Brothers, as we take our leave, let us be mindful of
those grand principles, brotherly love and mutual aid, which are the foundation
stones upon which our society is built. Let our actions and deeds then be such
as seem fit and proper among brothers. I hope this meeting has served to bring
us in closer union as brothers and as friends.
The closing song is sung.
President: Brother Conductor, as soon as the meeting is closed you
will collect the symbols, regalia and other properties and see that they are
properly stored.
President: Brothers, I thank you for your attendance tonight and I
hope all of you can make it convenient to be present at our next regular meeting
the …. On behalf of the Danish Brotherhood, I demand our closing sign. I
declare this meeting closed. *.