1955
Opening
Officers, please note.
This Ritual is to be spoken, or
declaimed, before an Aerie—not read. It has been written with this thought
constantly in mind. The words and the sentences, if properly emphasized when
spoken, will receive attention and carry an impressiveness that reading will not
insure.
Every officer of a local Aerie
shall, within sixty days after his installation as such officer, commit to
memory that part of the Orders Ritual applying to his station.
It is very important that the
Ritual be memorized and studied by the officers. Only in this way can you
impress the candidate of the solemnity and dignity of his induction into this
fraternity which is dedicated to Service to Humanity.
The Worthy President shall stand
from the time he opens the Aerie until he has officially declared the Aerie
ready to consider all matters that might rightfully come before it.
Worthy President: Let us have order. Officers, take your places. Inside Guard, ask all
members to come into the Aerie room.
The Inside Guard, acting under
this order of the Worthy President, which is mandatory, shall insist that all,
except visiting Brothers and candidates for initiation, must leave the anteroom;
and at no time, while the Aerie is in session, shall he permit members to remain
in the anteroom longer than is necessary to work their way into the Aerie room.
Inside Guard: Worthy President, I have obeyed your orders.
Worthy President: Worthy Conductor, with the aid of the Worthy Chaplain, Both
the Worthy Conductor and the Worthy Chaplain shall rise as their stations are
named, and give the salutation sign. you will examine the official
receipts and ascertain if each one present is in good standing.
The Worthy Conductor and the
Worthy Chaplain shall go to the Altar, and, facing the Worthy President, give
the salutation sign. After being recognized, the Worthy Conductor shall go alone
to the station of the Worthy President and pre. sent for inspection his official
receipt and give the Worthy President the semiannual password Returning to the
Altar where the Worthy Chaplain is standing, the Worthy Conductor shall, in
turn, inspect his off icial receipt and receive from him the semiannual
password.
At this time the Worthy President
shall call the Aerie to its feet.
The Worthy Conductor, beginning
with the nearest member on the right of the Worthy President, and the Worthy
Chaplain, beginning with the nearest member on the left of the Worthy President,
shall examine the official receipts and receive the semiannual password. Each
member, after satisfying the examining officer, shall take his seat.
If a Brother is without his
official receipt, or is not in possession of the semiannual password, he shall
advance to the Altar, face the Worthy President, give the salutation sign, and
await the pleasure of the Worthy President.
After the official receipts have
been examined, the Worthy Conductor and the Worthy Chaplain shall go to the
Altar, give the salutation sign, and, after being recognized by the Worthy
President, the Worthy Conductor shall say:
Worthy Conductor: Worthy President, we find all present are in good standing,
In case any member has been
challenged because he is without his official receipt or the semiannual
password, the Worthy Conductor shall add: except the Brothers before the
Altar.
Instead of the plural, the
singular form of verbs, or nouns, and of pronouns shall be used throughout the
entire text of the Ritual wherever such grammatical changes are necessary.
Worthy President: Thank you; you may return to your places.
The Worthy Conductor and the
Worthy Chaplain shall return to their places and be seated.
If any Brother has been
challenged, the Worthy President shall say: Brother,
you may approach this station.
The member spoken to shall
approach the Worthy President on the side nearest the Secretary’s desk.
Worthy President: Brother Secretary, is this Brother in good standing?
The Secretary may ask such
questions as he considers necessary in order to give the Worthy President the
information asked for.
If the Secretary declares the
Brother in good standing, the Worthy President shall give him the semiannual
password, or excuse him for his negligence in failing to have his official
receipt with him.
If he is not in good standing,
the Worthy President must, unless the Brother declares his willingness
immediately to comply with the constitutional requirements, rec1uest
him to withdraw from the Aerie room.
Worthy President: To all visitors seated in the
Aerie room, I bid you welcome.
Worthy Conductor, go to the anteroom, find if there
are any visiting Brothers in waiting and, if they can qualify, present them at
the Altar.
It is not necessary for any
officer, or his attendants, to give any sign when leaving the Aerie room on
official business, but each must always work his way back to his station, or
place.
During the time the Worthy
Conductor is carrying out the instructions of the Worthy President, the members
of the Aerie shall remain quietly in their seats.
The Worthy Conductor shall work
his way into the Aerie room; that is, he shall give the proper rap on the inner
door, enter the Aerie room, advance to the Altar, and give the salutation sign
to the Worthy President. If there are no visiting Brothers in waiting, he shall
then say: Worthy President, there are no visitors.
The Worthy Conductor shall return
to his place and remain standing.
If there is a visiting. Brother
in waiting, the Worthy Conductor and the visitor shall work their way into the
Aerie room, advance to the Altar, then, together, give the salutation sign to
the Worthy President. The Worthy Conductor shall then read from the visitor’s
official receipt, and say: Worthy President, I have the
pleasure of presenting Brother ... of Aerie Number ... He is in good standing in
his Aerie, as shown by his official receipt and his possession of the semiannual
password.
Worthy President: I welcome you on behalf of ... Aerie. Please visit us as often as you can.
Worthy Conductor, escort the Brother to a seat.
The Worthy Conductor shall escort
the visiting Brother to a seat and then, returning to his own place, give the
Worthy President the salutation sign.
The Worthy Conductor shall remain
upon his feet until he has discharged the various duties prescribed in the
opening ceremonies, after which he shall be seated when the Worthy President
seats the Aerie.
Worthy President: Junior Past Worthy President, The Junior Past
Worthy President rises and gives the salutation sign. what are your
duties during a business session of the Aerie?
Junior Past Worthy President: To sit at the station of Liberty; to urge the right of every Brother to be
heard, if he is in order, and to give such advice and counsel to our members as
they have a right to expect of one who occupies this exalted station.
The Junior Past Worthy President
shall remain standing until the Worthy President seats the Aerie.
Worthy President: Worthy Vice-President, The Worthy
Vice-President rises and gives the salutation sign. what are your
duties?
Worthy Vice-President: To sit at the station of Truth and to use my voice and influence in
urging that all matters of interest to this Aerie be discussed only in the Aerie
room. During your absence or disability, Worthy President, I am authorized to
preside over the Aerie.
The Worthy Vice-President shall
remain standing until the Worthy President seats the Aerie.
Worthy President: Worthy Chaplain, The Worthy Chaplain rises and
gives the salutation sign. what are your duties?
Worthy Chaplain: To ask in the name of all, the guidance of God, to urge that wisdom mark
all our deliberations, and to insist that Justice be measured out impartially.
The Worthy Chaplain shall remain
standing until the Worthy President seats the Aerie.
Worthy President: Worthy Conductor, The Worthy Conductor gives
the salutation sign. what does my station symbolize?
Worthy Conductor: Equality.
Worthy President: Brothers, I shall try earnestly to hold at even balance the scales of
Justice and to encourage at all times the speaking of the Truth. I shall grant
the utmost Liberty of act and word to each Brother as long as he respects the
rights of every other Brother. In this way I can best exemplify the spirit of
Equality, and to this end you owe me your aid and good will.
At this point in the ceremony no
one shall enter or leave the Aerie hall until the Worthy President has declared
the meeting open.
The Worthy President shall call
the Aerie to its feet.
Worthy President: Worthy Conductor, The Worthy Conductor gives
the salutation sign. attend the Flag!
The Worthy Conductor shall go to
the station of the Junior Past Worthy President, receive from him the Flag, and
place it on the pedestal or other device prepared to receive it.
The Flag and the pedestal or
device shall be placed on the side of the Altar on which members enter the Aerie
room when the Aerie is in session, and in such position that those who enter the
room will face the Flag.
The Flag shall be attached to a
suitable staff and shall be of such size and proportions as shall be prescribed
by the Grand Aerie The pedestal or device shall be such as not to detract from
the dignity of the Flag.
After the Flag is placed on the
pedestal or device by the Worthy Conductor, the Worthy President shall say: The Aerie will salute the Flag.
The Aerie shall thereupon give
the salutation sign of the Order.
During this part of the ceremony,
a patriotic air should be played, and the drill team may execute appropriate
formations or resent some
historical tableau. The greatest freedom may be exercised in the selections, so
long as they are instructive, and
Worthy Conductor: This is our Flag. Above it, during the busy day and in the silence of the
night, is a sentinel—the Spirit of Liberty—always on duty, guarding the
honor of the Nation and the happiness of the home.
As each member, on entering the
Aerie room, comes before the Flag, he shall stop and salute it, with the
salutation sign of the Order; he shall then step in front of the Altar and give
the salutation sign to the Worthy President, then quietly take a seat.
Worthy President: Worthy Conductor, you will lay the Bible upon the Altar.
The Worthy Conductor shall go to
the station of the Worthy Chaplain, receive from him the Bible, and place it,
opened, upon the Altar.
During this part of the ceremony,
a religious air should be played, and the drill team may execute appropriate
formations or p resent some Biblical tableau. The greatest form may be exercised
in the selections, so long as they are instructive and dignified.
Worthy Conductor: This is the Bible. Its pages contain the wisdom of the ages and its
teachings are founded on the everlasting laws of Truth.
Worthy President: Worthy Conductor, attend the Emblem!
The Worthy Conductor shall go to
the station of the Worthy Vice-President, receive from him the Eagle, the emblem
of our Order, and place the Eagle upon the pedestal or other device prepared for
it, at the side of the Altar farthest from the side where the Flag has been
placed. The head of the Eagle shall be toward the station of the Worthy
President. The Altar shall be flanked by the Flag on the one side and by the
Eagle on the other. The Flag should hang free. The Altar shall hold only the
Bible. The Eagle shall stand by itself. Thus the Flag, the open Bible, and the
Eagle will occupy separate places of dignity and honor in the order named.
During this part of the ceremony,
a patriotic air should be played, and the drill team may execute appropriate
formations or p resent some historical tableau. The greatest freedom may be
exercised in the selections, so long as they are instructive and dignified.
Worthy Conductor: This is the Eagle—the Emblem of our Order. From its beak, in balance,
hang the scales of Justice, ready to weigh impartially the merits of every
cause. The open sweep of these mighty wings shows strength of purpose to go
forth at any moment to the defense of the dearest principle of this
Fraternity—Equality.
Worthy President: Worthy Conductor, The Worthy Conductor gives
the salutation sign. what is the motto of this Order?
Worthy Conductor: “If I cannot speak well of an Eagle, I Conductor: will not speak ill of
him.”
The Worthy Conductor shall return
to his place, while the Worthy Chaplain makes his way before the Altar, facing
the Worthy President.
Worthy Chaplain: Let us pray.
Our Father: We ask Thy favor on the work that this
Aerie is trying to do. We ask Thy presence at the bedside of our sick and in the
hearts of those in trouble and in grief. The wish to assist one another; to
lessen suffering, whether of the mind or of the body; to encourage a broader
spirit of love and brotherhood among men—this wish we present as our offering
unto Thee.
If we are loyal and true unto ourselves, we shall
be loyal and true unto our Brothers. If we give Justice to all men, we ourselves
shall be the better for it. If we believe all men equal in Thy eyes, we shall be
the more worthy of Thy loving care.
Help us, Almighty God, to live toward the
betterment of our own lives and to be worthy of the ideals of this Order. Amen.
All Members: Amen.
The Worthy President shall seat
the Aerie.
The Worthy Chaplain shall return
to his place.
Worthy President: I now declare ... Aerie
Number ..., of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, ready to consider all matters that
may rightly come before it.
The Worthy President shall be
seated.
Order of Business
1. Opening Ceremony.
2. Calling Roll of Officers.
3. Reading of Minutes of Previous Meeting.
4. Propositions for Membership.
5. Report of Investigating Committee.
6. Balloting on Applications.
7. Initiation.
8. Report of Aerie Physician.
9. Report of Sick Visiting Committee.
10. Ordering Warrants for Benefits.
11. Reception and Disposition of Bills,
Communications, etc.
12. Reports of Standing Committees.
13. Reports of Special Committees.
14. Excuses of Absentees.
15. Unfinished Business.
16. New Business.
17. Reports of Officers Concerning the Finances of
the Aerie and the Status of Members.
18. Report of Aerie Auditor.
19. Reports of Membership Campaign and Membership
Security Committees.
20. Good of the Order.
21. Closing Ceremony.
Initiatory Ceremony
In the initiation of a large class of candidates, it is
permissible
to
have them brought into the Aerie room and all seated together—during the
regular opening ceremony. When this is done, no balloting on applications for
membership shall be
conducted.
In the initiation of a large class of candidates, the Worthy Conductor may
select and conduct two of the candidates, in lieu of the entire class, for
presentation to the respective stations. However, the entire class shall stand
during the obligation and during the instructions of the Worthy President. In
other respects, the candidates, other than the two being conducted to the
various stations, shall sit or stand in response to the gavel.
During the initiatory ceremony, no smoking shall be permitted in the Aerie
room.
Conversation or anything of a nature tending to distract the attention of
the candidates, or to annoy the officers, shall be rigorously prohibited; and it
is not only the right but it is the duty of the Worthy President to exact full
obedience to these instructions.
A fine, that shall not be remitted, may be the punishment meted out by the
Worthy President for flagrant violations.
The Worthy President shall stand until he has directed the Worthy
Conductor to take the candidates to the station of the Junior Past Worthy
President.
Worthy President: Worthy Conductor, The
Worthy Conductor rises and gives the
salutation sign. you will retire to the anteroom and learn if there
are any candidates seeking membership in our Order.
The Worthy Conductor shall go to the anteroom. On his return, he shall
work his way into the Aerie room; that is, he shall give the proper rap on the
inner door, enter the Aerie room, advance to the Altar, upon reaching the Flag,
stop and give the salutation sign, then step to the Altar and give the
salutation sign to the Worthy President and say:
Worthy President, I find in waiting candidates.
The Worthy Conductor shall announce the number of candidates in waiting.
If there is only one candidate, the singular form of verbs, nouns, and other
parts of speech shall be substituted for the plural
forms used in this Ritual.
Worthy President: Have the candidates been
properly elected?
The Secretary shall rise, give the salutation sign, and say: They have.
If charges, oral or written, have been filed with the Worthy President
against a legally elected applicant, that, in the opinion of the Worthy
President, should be investigated before the applicant is initiated, the Worthy
President shall direct the Worthy Conductor or some friend of the applicant to
tell the applicant, before he enters the Aerie room, that his initiation must be
delayed.
The Worthy President shall at the same session appoint a new Committee on
Investigation. This latter shall report to the Acne at its next meeting. If a
majority of the members present at such meeting favor a re-balloting for
electron, a ballot shall be taken at this session in the usual way. The legal
number of adverse votes, or blackballs, shall reject the petitioner.
Worthy President: Brother Secretary, have the
required fees been paid?
It is the duty of the Secretary to collect the dues before the initiatory
ceremony, but if the Secretary has failed to do so, and so advises the Worthy
President, the Worthy President shall say:
You will please retire and collect them.
When this has been done, the Secretary shall return to his place, give the
salutation sign, and say: Worthy President, the fees
have been
collected.
Worthy President: The Worthy Conductor will now
make such preparations as are necessary for the ceremony of initiation.
All members, except those assisting the Worthy Conductor, shall remain
seated while preparations for initiation are being made.
Worthy Conductor: Worthy President, giving
the salutation sign the Aerie is now ready to receive the candidates.
Worthy President: Then, Worthy Conductor, you may
bring them before the Altar.
No one—including the Worthy Conductor and his attendants—shall
converse with the candidates while they are being prepared for the ceremony and
being conducted to the Aerie room. An unbroken silence will add to the dignity
and the impressiveness of the ceremony, and the Worthy President has full
authority to enforce this rule. However, the Worthy Conductor shall have the
right to give an audible command to the drill team, candidates, or both, to
facilitate their proper presence at the Altar and at the several stations.
While the obligation, the lectures and the instructions to the candidates
are being given, no one shall be permitted to retire from the Aerie room unless
the need is urgent, in which event he shall quietly leave without approaching
the Altar.
Members entering the Aerie room during this time shall take seats near the
door, and make their proper approach to the Altar upon the conclusion of the
initiatory ceremony.
The Worthy Conductor with his attendants, if any, accompanied by the
candidates, shall make his way to the inner door and give a rap The Inside
Guard, after inspection, shall report: Worthy Vice-President, the Worthy Conductor, with
candidates, seeks admission.
The Worthy Vice-President shall rise, give the salutation sign, and say: Worthy President, the Worthy Conductor, with candidates, seeks admission.
Worthy President: In the name of Liberty, Truth,
Justice and Equality, admit them.
The Worthy President calls up the Aerie.
The Aerie room shall remain well lighted until after the Obligation has
been given.
The Inside Guard opens the door, and the Worthy Conductor, his attendants,
and the candidates enter, the candidates in columns of two. They shall march
slowly into the hall in such manner as the Worthy Conductor deems fitting, and
form at the Altar, Facing the Worthy President, the candidates being at the
Altar, the attendants one pace behind, and the Worthy Conductor at the extreme
right of the formation.
During the entrance into and the marching around the hall, there should be
appropriate music. When the candidates and attendants are properly grouped at
the Altar, the Worthy Conductor shall say to the Worthy President: Worthy President, the candidates are before the Altar.
Worthy President: Worthy Conductor, what do our
friends wish?
Worthy Conductor: They ask the protection and the
aid of the members of this Fraternity, and desire to be bound by the ties that
bind us.
The Worthy President shall advance to the Altar, and, taking a position
facing the candidates, say: My friends, are you willing to
take upon your conscience a solemn vow, which, while pledging you to devote your
best efforts to upholding the teachings of this Order, will in no way conflict
with any civic or religious duty? You will please answer.
The candidates
shall answer.
Worthy President: Do you believe in the existence of a Supreme Being?
You will please answer.
The candidates
shall answer.
Worthy President: You will raise your right hand, and keep it raised until I
have given you the Obligation. I shall recite the Obligation. After I have
concluded, if you are willing to accept the pledges, you will so affirm.
Should the Worthy President observe that any candidate has failed to raise
his right hand, or prematurely lowers it, he shall again advise the candidate to
keep his right hand raised.
Obligation
Before God, and on my honor, I promise that I will
never make known to anyone the passwords and Rituals of this Order, except to
Eagles in good standing, and then only if I am authorized to do so.
I promise never to aid or join an Aerie, or any
organization of alleged Eagles, that is not approved by the Grand Aerie.
I will abide by and obey the laws, rules and
regulations of the Grand Aerie.
I promise never to propose for admission into the
Order a man whom I know to be unworthy; never to use the blackball unless I have
conscientious reasons for so doing; and never to permit the religious opinions
of an applicant, his nationality, or his membership in any other organization to
influence my ballot.
I promise never to take unfair advantage of an
Eagle in business matters, and never to let him suffer loss of any kind if I can
prevent.
I promise to further, at all times, the patriotic,
the humanitarian and the fraternal teachings of this Order.
I promise to try, steadfastly, to make my home the
abiding place6f thoughts and acts that are wholesome and righteous.
I promise to give our Country the devoted loyalty
of a patriot.
Before this Altar my attention is particularly
directed to the following vows, and I give my pledge to observe them:
If I cannot speak well of an Eagle, I will not
speak ill of him.
I promise at all times to respect the sanctity of
his home and family.
I understand the meaning of these pledges and I ask
my God and my Brothers to help me keep them.
I acknowledge that the wilful violation of any of
them is just cause for expulsion from the Order
My friends if you accept these vows and are willing
to give your solemn pledge to observe them, you will now repeat after me:
I do accept them and I will observe them, so help
me God.
You may now lower your hand.
Each candidate must give this pledge or withdraw from the Aerie room.
The Worthy Chaplain shall leave his station and take the place of the
Worthy President before the Altar. The Worthy President shall, while the Worthy
Chaplain is approaching the Altar, return to his own station.
At this time, if possible, the lights shall be turned low, or dimmed.
Worthy Chaplain: Let us pray.
Our Father: We ask Thee to look with special favor
upon these men who, with Thy sacred name on their lips, havc promised these
things which will add to their own happiness. Let the solemn vows just taken be
worthily kept. Let each year strengthen their loyalty to this obligation, so
that they may ever become stronger links in the golden chain of a Brotherhood
that seeks to do unto others as we would that others should do unto us. Amen.
All Members: Amen.
The following Ode must be sung, at every
initiation, by the Aerie or by a soloist, drill team or whomsoever the Worthy
President shall designate. Or, in lieu thereof, it may be recited by the Worthy
President or some one or more persons by him designated.
Ode to the Candidates
Around you stand, hand touching hand,
Men who have come before
This Altar to be bound with you
In vows forevermore.
The man that’s stirred to speak a word
For an absent Brother’s name,
Will find that he can easily
Put the slanderer to shame.
In justice to yourself—be true
And help us in life’s fight,
Then if we do the same by you,
Life’s burdens will be light.
And if we try most earnestly
To do each other good,
We shall ring true from every view
Of this great Brotherhood.
The Worthy President shall seat the Aerie.
Worthy President: Worthy Conductor, take the
candidates to the station of the Junior Past Worthy President.
The Worthy President shall be seated.
The Worthy Conductor, candidates, and attendants shall march slowly to
each station and form in front of, and facing, the officer who is to give the
lecture. The candidates in front, the attendants one pace behind the candidates,
and the Worthy Conductor shall stand at the left of the candidates.
Whenever possible and convenient, a slow march may be played as the
candidates are led from one station to another.
Worthy Conductor, stopping at the station of the Junior Past Worthy
President: This is the station of Liberty.
The Junior Past Worthy President shall rise The transparency representing
Liberty shall be illuminated and, at some time during the lecture, the attention
of the candidates especially directed to it by the Junior Past Worthy President.
Junior Past Worthy President: Liberty!
The history of mankind is written around this word. To its sacred cause the
master minds of ages have dedicated the loftiest gems of oratory, and in its
service men have reached the summit of human greatness. The battlefields where
vast armies fell, seeking to extend some tyrant’s power, may, in the fullness
of time, be unmarked, unheeded, and unknown; but the magic peal of Patrick
Henry’s eloquence—”Give me Liberty or give me death”—will reverberate
forever; and, filled with its inspiration, the humblest man finds, even in this
day, the dignity and the courage to die, if there be need, like Nathan Hale,
regretting that he had but one life to give for his country.
But the liberty of the nation is only the sum of
our individual liberties. And the liberty of the individual is only a bit less
sacred than is the liberty of the State. Liberty is not license! Liberty may be
likened to a flower that the tears of women and the blood of men have nourished
until its beauty is an inspiration and its fragrance a benediction. License is a
mould that tarnishes the splendor of the loftiest manhood and breeds suffering
and hatred. The spirit of liberty asks no more from a man than it would give to
that man. The spirit of license exacts from a man what it would not willingly
let him exact, in turn. You have no right to ask from me what you would not give
to me; and I have no right to impose ideas and conditions on you, which, were I
in the minority, I would not myself accept from you.
The courage to die in defense of one’s country is
no whit more praiseworthy than the courage to live worthily for one’s country.
And as you consecrate the fullness of the best that lies in you to our common
Land, give gladly, because you value your liberty, the same right to every other
man to think his thoughts, to live his life, to love his country, and to worship
his God, as you ask for yourself.
The light in the transparency representing Liberty shall be turned out.
Junior Past Worthy President: Worthy
Conductor, you will now take the candidates to the station of the Worthy
Vice-President.
The Junior Past Worthy President shall be seated.
Worthy Conductor, stopping at the station of the Worthy Vice President: This is the station of Truth.
The Worthy Vice-President shall rise. The transparency representing Truth
shall be illuminated, and at some time during the lecture the attention of the
candidates especially directed to it by the Worthy Vice-President.
Worthy Vice-President: The interest shown by you during
the charge delivered by our Junior Past Worthy President impresses me with the
belief that the motives that prompted you to join this Fraternity are
praiseworthy. He has told you of the sacred rights of liberty. But without
truth, liberty could not long endure; for a man’s honor—and a nation’s—
rests upon the integrity of a promise.
The chances of life may rob us of our possessions;
sickness may lay feeble the sturdiest frame; circumstances may lead us to
believe we are right in doing that which will bring on us the censure of our
fellow men; but the confidence of friends will vanish only when our reputation
for speaking the truth departs. In all dealings with your fellow men be careful
what you promise. Let your word be of the kind that, once given, each of us
shall have absolute confidence in its integrity. Think before you promise, and
promise only what you intend to do.
The light in the transparency representing Truth shall be turned out.
Worthy Vice-President: Worthy Conductor, you will now
take the candidates to the station of the Worthy Chaplain.
The Worthy Vice-President shall be seated.
Worthy Conductor, stopping at the station of the Worthy Chaplain: This is the station of Justice.
The Worthy Chaplain shall rise. The transparency representing Justice
shall be illuminated and, at some time during the lecture, the attention of the
candidates especially directed to it by the Worthy Chaplain.
Worthy Chaplain: One of the finest traits of a
manly character is a sense of justice. If you have wronged a man in any way, you
should remember that it is only a noble nature that frankly admits an error, and
that seeks the earliest opportunity to make amends. When we ask you to be
especially just in your treatment of your Brother Eagles, we mean to urge you to
remember that their acts and opinions may be as worthy of consideration as are
your own. If each one of us shows that spirit of fairness toward every other
Eagle, we shall be united by ties so far-reaching and powerful in their
influence that membership in this Fraternity will, more and more, be held a
privilege.
Let your mind rest again on this part of the
obligation that you have so lately taken: “If I cannot speak well of an Eagle,
I will not speak ill of him.” Hold steadfastly to this resolution. It does not
mean that we ask you to approve everything that a Brother may do; but, when you
feel there is just cause for censure, go to the man himself and tell him of his
failing—do not aid in exposing his weakness to the curiosity and contempt of
others. By your actions, urge him to better efforts; do not discourage and
embitter him by the attitude— “I am holier than thou”; for is there one
among us without fault?
Be just, and give as much to each of us as you
expect from each of us; do your part in adding to the sum of human happiness;
and, after a worthy act, say to yourself, “Not for charity, but justice.”
The light in the transparency representing Justice shall be turned out.
Worthy Chaplain: Worthy Conductor, you will now
take the candidates to the station of the Worthy President.
The Worthy Chaplain shall be seated.
Worthy Conductor, stopping at the station of the Worthy President: This is the station of Equality.
The Worthy President shall rise. The transparency representing Equality
shall be illuminated and, at some time during the lecture, the attention of the
candidates especially directed to it by the Worthy President.
Worthy President: In this Fraternity all men are
equal.
Not equal in wealth or in education or in bodily
strength, but equal in the right to state their opinions and have them treated
with consideration; equal in the right to vote upon any subject that may come
before the Aerie; equal in the right to receive aid from our common fund. Where
there is equality of this kind, and where it is conscientiously observed, there
will be discussions, there will be differences of opinion, but there will be no
dissensions; for each of us has the same right as every other one—no more, no
less—and the will of the majority, as shown by the ballot, must ever be
accepted. Such equality opens wide the doors of friendship and of true
fraternalism; for the ties that bind give equal rights and lay equal obligations
upon each of us.
The light in the first transparency representing Equality shall be turned
out.
Worthy President: Worthy Conductor, let us now
show our Brothers a scene in which some day each must take his part in the
exemplification of Equality.
The Worthy President or some member selected by him shall rise. The
transparency illustrating the following lecture shall be illuminated. This
transparency may be placed above, below, or at one side of the transparency
representing Equality If an Aerie so desires, it may provide a more elaborate
representation of the thoughts set forth in this lecture. The greatest freedom
may be exercised in this arrangement, so long as it is sacred, instructive, and
dignified.
Worthy President: The few years that you call life
pass swiftly as the shooting of a star across the midnight sky. Your earthly
hopes and strivings end at the grave. No matter with what honors life may clothe
you, you must go naked to the Throne of God. At times your lot seems hard and
the burden so heavy that you grow weary; but struggle on manfully, for, when you
reach this goal, you shall enjoy eternal rest. Above your grave the fragrant
winds of spring and the chill breath of winter will come and go. The warm glow
of June-time sky and the gray veil of bleak December days will fall and fall
again; and ever you will sleep in the restful quietness of the earth. Uncounted
years will change your body into dust. Your very name will pass from the memory
of man. But each of us must come to sleep with you. Wealth and poverty, pride
and humility, greed and charity, alike must pass this way—but beyond is God!
This equality at the grave is the lesson that Death
teaches, and the man who learns it early in life, early finds happiness in the
knowledge.
At this time the light illuminating the transparency shall be turned out
and the Aerie lights turned on.
All candidates shall stand during the following instructions.
Worthy President: My Brothers, for such you now
are, please follow my instructions carefully.
If you wish to enter any Aerie room while the Aerie
is in session, rap once on the inner door. The Inside Guard will raise the
wicket or open the door. To him you will give your name, the name and number of
your Aerie, the semi-annual password and present your official receipt. If you
are qualified, the Inside Guard will admit you to the Aerie room.
Advance immediately toward the Altar. When you
reach the Flag, stop, and give the salutation sign, then step to the Altar and
give the salutation sign to the Worthy President, then quietly take a seat.
The salutation sign is made by placing your right
hand over your heart, thumb and fingers joined. This sign is used when members
rise address the Worthy President; when they reach the Altar to ballot on
applications, and when crossing the room. The Worthy President acknowledges the
salutation sign by a wave of his right hand.
If you wish to retire while the Aerie is in
session, advance to the Altar and give the Worthy President the salutation sign.
Then quietly leave the room.
The voting sign is made by raising the right hand,
the palm outward, the thumb and fingers joined and extended. It is used on all
occasions except when a secret ballot is required.
The Grand Honor is given when the Grand Worthy
President, his representative, or some officer of the Grand Aerie visits the
Local Aerie on official business. It is the same as the salutation sign, and is
given by all officers and members.
When a Grand Aerie Officer is introduced to the
Aerie, the Worthy President shall call the Aerie to its feet and request the
Aerie to give the Grand Honor.
In response the Grand Officer takes one step
forward and gives the salutation sign.
The Worthy President shall then seat the Aerie and
direct the Worthy Conductor to escort the Grand Officer to a seat of prominence
in the Aerie.
We have a password. It is changed every six months.
The Worthy President communicates the word to all members in good standing. The
present password is
The password may be given in a whisper to each
candidate or given aloud.
If, at any time, you wish to make known your
membership to any other Eagle, present your official receipt showing that you
have paid as provided by law. No other evidence of membership in good standing
will be accepted.
I now declare you a member of ... Aerie Number ...,
of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, and as such, entitled equally with every other
member to share in its benefits and in its privileges. Above all else: Remember
your Obligation!
The gavel is the symbol of authority. Two raps call
the Aerie to order. (Give
two raps). One rap calls the Aerie to its feet, or seats it when
standing. (Give
one rap). Worthy Conductor, place the Brothers so that they face the
Aerie.
Officers and members of ... Aerie Number ...,
Fraternal Order of Eagles, I take pleasure in presenting our new Brothers. The
Aerie will greet them with
the salutation sign.
The members shall give the salutation sign.
The Worthy President shall seat the Aerie.
Closing Ceremony
The Worthy President shall remain standing throughout the closing
ceremony.
Worthy President: My Brothers, as we have completed the matters presented for
our consideration, I shall, with your help, close the Aerie in form.
Worthy President: Worthy Chaplain, The
Worthy Chaplain shall rise and give the salutation sign. you will
give our closing prayer.
The Worthy Chaplain shall leave his station,
advance to the Altar, and, facing the Worthy President, stand in front of the
Bible.
While he is doing this, the Worthy President shall call up the Aerie.
Worthy Chaplain: Our Father: We ask Thee to favor our Country; to guard our
homes; to strengthen our friendships; and to help us live lives worthy of the
principles of our Order. Amen.
All Members: Amen.
Worthy President: Junior Past Worthy President,
you may approach the Altar.
The Junior Past Worthy President shall advance to the Altar, and, facing
the Worthy President, shall stand in front of the Flag.
Worthy President: What is our closing precept?
Junior Past Worthy President: My
Brothers:
Although the world may scoff and jest,
A life of Service is the best;
And happiness will always be
To him who serves humanity.
Worthy President: Worthy Vice-President, you may
advance to the Altar.
The Worthy Vice-President shall advance to the Altar, and, facing the
Worthy President, shall stand in front of the Eagle.
Worthy President: My Brothers: What motto have we
made our own, to heed at all times among ourselves and, whenever possible, to
urge it on the world at large?
The Junior Past Worthy President, the Worthy Chaplain and the Worthy
Vice-President shall each stretch forth his right hand and touch the Bible with
the tips of his fingers.
The officers at the Altar and all members shall respond by saying: “If I cannot speak well of an Eagle, I will not speak ill of him.”
The Altar shall be dismantled in the
following manner. After
the motto has been given, the Worthy Vice-President shall take the Eagle, the
Worthy Chaplain shall take the Bible, and the Junior Past Worthy President
shall take the Flag Each shall then turn, face his station, and walk slowly to
it. When he reaches his station, he shall place that which he is carrying at his
station in the same position it was prior to the opening of the meeting, and
resume a standing position in his station. After this is done, the Worthy
President shall make the closing announcement:
Worthy President: I now declare ... Aerie Number
... closed until next ... at ... p.m., unless convened earlier by notice to the
members.
The Worthy President sounds the gavel.