Alpha Epsilon Delta
Ritual of Initiation
The Ritual of Initiation formally symbolizes the honor of becoming a member
of Alpha Epsilon Delta and the traditions associated with being part of our
Society. This ritual can be adapted to individualize your expression of
recognizing the achievement of new members joining the Society. You may wish to
celebrate this occasion with a meal/food event and include a speaker(s).
2011
The ceremony can be effectively conducted in conjunction with the suggested
positioning below of officers—candidates, members and guests—in an
arrangement that represents the hexagonal symbol of the AED Society.
The ritual skit requires 9 persons in the following roles:
Warden—addresses candidates, introduces parts (wreath, skull, etc.), and
interacts with Sponsor
Sponsor—leads candidates into room, seats them, and interacts with Warden
President—addresses candidates
Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer
Historian
Reporter
Chapter Advisor
The Ceremony
The Sponsor presents the candidates for initiation at the door of the
initiation room. The warden stands in the room on the opposite side of the door.
When the candidates are ready, the Sponsor raps on the door, and the Warden
addresses them.
Warden: Who comes here?
Sponsor: … Specify Number
Neophytes seeking the guiding light for their future life.
Warden: Have they earned the honor they seek and have they been
duly elected to receive the guiding light?
Sponsor: They have.
Warden: Are they fully aware of the importance of the step they
are about to take?
Sponsor: They are.
Warden: Proceed then to lead them toward the light as revealed by
Alpha Epsilon Delta.
Sponsor then conducts the candidates to their seats. As soon as the
candidates are seated, the Warden addresses them, pointing out parts of the
crest.
Warden: Behold you Neophytes, the crest of Alpha Epsilon Delta!
Regard it as I indicate the symbols and their significance. The Skull—Symbol
of Death
The Book—Symbol of Knowledge
The Wreath—Symbol of Reward
The Esquire’s Helmet—Symbol of Arms
The Norman Shield—Symbol of Consecration
The Caduceus—Symbol of Medicine
Regard the Crest—Mark well its devices. Heed now the words of your
officers.
The ceremony proceeds with the President speaking.
PRESIDENT: I am stationed under the skull. The skull represents
our greatest enemy—death. More especially death is an enemy to us, because we
have chosen to fight death not only for ourselves, but also for others. Ours is
indeed a sacred trust, and as we advance through the years, we are enjoined by
that grim specter of the death’s head never to relax our vigilance, though it
means death itself for us.
Our vigilance teaches us respect for our enemy, and it is our intent to teach
those less familiar with death that same respect, for respect means caution, and
those who are cautious are wise, and those who are wise run the hazard more
safely. We teach by example, and expect no greater reward than that our final
fight with death shall be more meaningful.
I am stationed under the skull.
VICE PRESIDENT: I am stationed under the book. The book represents
our greatest temporal ally against our enemy, for it is by means of books that
knowledge is wrested from death and by our forebears’ fight is preserved for
us. Not only do we gain knowledge from books, but we also gain inspiration to
follow and glorify in our forebears’ example. Listen as the book speaks: ‘Behold,
I am diligence and character. Mark you well my words, O Neophytes! Without me
you are but little. All that you do is in vain. Your endeavor shall come to
naught, and whatever you say becomes as dust, scattered by the wind. Without me,
carelessness, idleness and disrepute shall follow you, for I am diligence and
character.’ Thus speaks the book.
Yet, while relying much on books, we realize that however wise our forebears
were, they were human and therefore possessed of the same weaknesses and subject
to the same human errors as we, so we do not totally rely upon books. Neither do
we rely too much upon our own writings, but attempt to instruct and guide our
followers, rather than blind them with doctrine and dogma.
I am stationed under the book.
SECRETARY:
I am stationed under the wreath. The wreath is our one temporal reward for
our ceaseless endeavors to ease the pain and still the cry of humankind. Those
who wear the wreath garner the respect of society.
Those who allow the wreath to fall from its rightful position above the
helmet shall be damned, for the wearer of the wreath labors under a grave
responsibility. Upon that wreath lies the respect and love of humankind, which
has accumulated for centuries. Those who disgrace the wreath are damned by
colleagues, society, and their God—for the respect of all rests upon each.
Take good heed to your character, O Neophytes, for it lies within the soul of
humanity. Character is the emblem of nature in its highest form—the mark of
disposition, force, and personality. These are qualities not obtained in a day,
but gathered through the years.
I am stationed under the wreath.
TREASURER: I am stationed under the esquire’s helmet. The
esquire’s helmet indicates that we are not unarmed in our fight against the
skull. Our armor is the result of experimentation, often at great cost, and it
is constantly proving itself. The closed visor indicates not blindness, but
preparedness to do battle with the skull at all times.
You have already been shown the foundation of diligence and character. Now
you must build. The two builders of our profession are research and technique,
which are part of the armor. Research is that untiring devotion to detail in
problem solving. Remember research as one of the pillars of the profession.
Technique must go hand-in-hand with research. You must become master of your
habits; whether it be in the laboratory or examining room, your whole being must
be certain and reliable. With technique comes confidence and assurance, and with
those attributes come the privilege of serving humanity to the best of your
ability.
I am stationed under the esquire’s helmet.
HISTORIAN: I am stationed under the shield. This is a Norman
shield, and therefore consecrated. The holy shield is the bearer of the charge
and my duty is to see that no unsightly charge is blazoned thereon. The shield
bears one charge on the honor point—a holy Greek Cross. The shield bears
inspection by all who wear it through the ages. Blots upon the surface of the
shield must be vindicated and honorably erased.
I am stationed under the shield.
REPORTER: I am stationed under the caduceus. The caduceus extends
from the fess-point to the middle-base and is the staff of Mercury, messenger of
the gods. Like Mercury, it is my privilege to convey messages. The caduceus
expresses a yet more profound meaning. It signifies truth, speed, accuracy,
leadership, and service—unselfish and devoted—to humankind. Think not, O
Neophytes, that you may attain such a state so easily. Go and seek the way to
service and turn not aside for splendor or riches, but always remember our
mission in life—to better the human condition.
I am stationed under the caduceus.
CHAPTER ADVISOR: I am stationed under the Crest. This Crest
represents my office. I am the bonds of the ring and the lifeblood of the
organization. My mature opinion and experienced guidance are offered when
needed, but are not intended to interfere or oppose. I harmonize the components
of the Crest. I keep the motto of our society, ‘Truth I Pursue’, foremost in
the mind of each member, so that it can become part of the caregiver’s spirit.
I am stationed under the Crest.
The President rises and reads the following to the candidates: Fellow
students, it becomes my honor and pleasure to receive you as members in Alpha
Epsilon Delta. This Society attempts to inculcate in the mind of the prehealth
professional student those motives, attributes, and ideals, which make
healthcare a most honorable profession. It also provides recognition and reward
for meritorious accomplishment, worthy character, and desirable personality.
Your high scholastic standing has commended you to our consideration for
membership in this Society, but scholarship alone is only one of the important
qualifications essential to success in the field of healthcare. You should also
possess those qualities that collectively constitute the necessary character to
pursue the healthcare profession. Purity of life and thought and love of truth
are not only a moral responsibility, but a practical necessity.
We congratulate you on all of your accomplishments, and will expect an
equally commendable record for your future collegiate and professional career.
We are glad to have you as a member and we invite you to become involved in the
activities, the pleasure, and the responsibility that the Society offers.
Medicine, like science, had its beginning with primitive people. They gained
knowledge and applied it to the human body. Truth comes only through knowledge.
Many years of progress have afforded a partial appreciation and mastery of the
living universe. However, the goal has not been attained, for only in the God of
the Universe is the heart of truth. There remains—LIFE—the nature of which
has not been solved. As apostles of science, we can better appreciate the
beauties, ideals, principles, and mysteries associated with the study of the
human body. We must learn more. Knowledge is fundamental to understanding the
human body in health and disease. The application of this knowledge is essential
to the delivery of effective healthcare. If we are to succeed, we must
personally adopt the motto of the society—Truth I Pursue.
The Warden addresses the candidates.
Warden: Neophytes will please rise.
The President then addresses the candidates: Are you willing to
accept the responsibility of membership in this Society? If so, please signify
by responding, ‘yes’.
Upon receiving a favorable reply, the President responds: Please
repeat the following pledge after me, giving your name at the appropriate place:
‘I, (your name), pledge myself to support the principles of Alpha Epsilon
Delta and promise to conduct myself to the best of my ability in the pursuit of
truth’.
The President then instructs the candidates: Please come forward
as your name is called and sign the Chapter Roll Book. The officers and members
can now rise and form a line to welcome each new member after the initiate has
signed the roll.
The Secretary can call each name and after the new member has signed the
Chapter Roll Book, the initiate proceeds along the line to be greeted by
officers and other members.