Omega Gamma Delta
Initiation Ritual
1949
Ceremony of
Initiation
The
performance of the ritual of Initiation into the Fraternity composcs a veiy
important procedure. The significance of this presentation constitutes the first
serious impression that the candidate receives in his Fraternal experiences. It
should never be undertaken by any chapter without rehearsal.
Where
possible, and a few hours of practice will suffice, the entire procedure should
be committed to the memory of the officers who are to participate. In this way,
the performers will be able to look squarely into the eyes of the Candidate and
honestly convince the newcomer of the sincerity of Omega and its ritual. If
poorly done, the ritual of Initiation resolves itself into a mockery; and this
might easily provide a negative reaction in the new member.
Every
Omegaman owes to his Fraternity the service of a careful and planned ceremony of
initiation. If it should be that the Brothers who are performing the ceremony
are not well rehearsed in the ritual, then the candidates should be hoodwinked
or blindfolded. The hoodwinks or blindfolds should be removed only after the
Oath, at which time the Master-of-Ceremonies will explain the symbols of the
Fraternity. The hoodwinks should not be replaced, but the candidates should
remain unblinded until the end of the ritual, in this case.
Let
it be impressed, however, that the preferred method is to eliminate the hoodwink
or blindfold.
The
paraphernalia necessary for this ceremony are as follows:
Three
black gowns for Princeps, Master of Ceremonies and Escort
The
Fraternity Shield.
A
human skull.
Three
gold stars on black background.
A
tree (having three roots and several branches).
The
Holy Bible.
The
Official Badge.
When
the paraphernalia are assembled—
The
Candidate or his Escort (escort is needed for each candidate, preferably the
member who sponsors the newcomer) will rap three times on the door of the
meeting-room.
Master
of Ceremonies: Who comes here?'
Escort:
Mr. …, who has been regularly elected a member of our Order, and who now
desires to receive the full rights and benefits, who comes in the same manner as
all others who have passed before him.
Master
of Ceremonies to Candidates: Do
you truthfully state that your desire to join our Order was not prompted by
selfish motives, personal gain, nor an effort to seek membership in an exclusive
Body?
Candidate:
I do.
Master
of Ceremonies: Wait until the
Princeps has been informed of your request and his answer returned.
Master
of Ceremonies to Princeps: Mr.
…, who has been regularly elected a member of our Order, and who has answered
the required questions in a satisfactory way, now desires admission to our inner
chamber.
Princeps
to Master of Ceremonies: Admit
him and escort him before me.
Princeps
to Candidate: As you stand
before me, your first official appearance in this Body, you appear to be a
clean, upright man, and as such you are worthy to receive the mysteries of Omega
Gamma Delta. I therefore command you to stand before the four Preceptors of our
Fraternity and fear no danger.
Master
of Ceremonies conducts them before the four points who are standing together in
the following numerical order from right to left.
First
Point to Candidate: As one who
is seeking Brotherhood, let it be impressed upon you that the first point of our
Fraternity embraces the virtues of Comradeship and Fidelity.
Fraternal comradeship
requires that you regard your fellow-members with patient understanding of their
faults, with loyal assistance in time of need, and with persevering
determination to be helpful always.
Fidelity is that
quality of Brotherhood that charges you with the will to display hearty
allegiance to all persons, Omegamen and otherwise, to whom you are bound in
affection, in honor, or in voluntary obligation.
Remember that this
first point of Omega is the cardinal principle of our Fraternity. You will now
pass to the second point of our order.
Second
Point to Candidate: The second
point of our Fraternity symbolizes Reverence and Love of Parents.
Reverence embodies
that emotion of profound respect and veneration which every Omegaman must feel
towards God and Life. An Omegaman must be reverent towards himself by displaying
at all times that respect which a man must possess for his own body and mind, in
order that through the acts of his body and the thoughts of his mind, he will
pay homage to his creator, Almighty God.
Love of Parents
involves that circumspect behaviour with which all men are sacredly obliged to
conduct themselves, so that they will bring pride and joy to their Mothers and
Fathers. You will now pass to the third point of our order.
Third
Point to Candidate: The third
point of the Fraternity comprises Patriotism and Cleanliving.
The quality of
Patriotism obligates one to place the welfare of the Country and fellowcitizen
above the selfish needs and wishes of one individual, and Clean-living is that
regimen of life that enables a man to keep himself at all times in the best and
most useful condition of physical, spiritual, and mental readiness and service.
You will now pass to
the fourth point of our order.
Fourth
Point to Candidate: The three
precepts of Omega. Gamma Delta have been presented to you, and you now stand
ready to be informed in the fourth point of the Order. This point is the Oath of
Obligation.
If you believe that
you are unreservedly willing to pledge your allegiance to the ideals of this
Organization, as you have just learned them, then make known your acceptance by
saying, "I am."
You will now kneel on
your left knee, place your left hand upon the Bible, raise your right hand to
God, and repeat the Oath of Omega Gamma Delta. If there be several candidates, only the first will
place his hand on the Bible, the others will kneel in a line behind and place
their
hands (left) on the shoulder of the one in front.
Master
of Ceremonies prepares candidate to take Oath.
Princeps
administers Oath: I, … Candidate
gives full name, / do solemnly swear to keep sacred / the Fraternity
of Omega Gamma Delta, / forwarding its purposes and its welfare, / and devoting
my energy to its advancement / and to the advancement of its individual members.
I promise that it
shall be my constant ambition / to find and persuade desirable candidates /
I covenant that in
all my acts in life / I shall strive to do credit to Omega Gamma Delta, / so
that all my deeds might procure / the respect of all men, / for my Fraternity as
for myself.
Furthermore, I do
promise and swear / that I will not permit / the misuse of the emblem of our
Order / by a Brother or by any other individual.
To all this I do
pledge myself willingly and unreservedly, / binding myself under no less penalty
/ than the sacrifice of the privileges of this Order, / so help me God.
Master
of Ceremonies to Candidate:
These are the symbols upon which this Fraternity began and upon which all its
ritual is based:
FIRST: The skull
represents Brotherhood unto Death.
SECOND: The three
stars symbolize the founders of the Fraternity—Brothers Percy Edrop, Arthur
Edrop, and Walter Dohm.
THIRD: The tree
embodies the entire organization—the three roots as the founders; the trunk as
the Grand Chapter; and the branches as the individual chapters spread over the
FOURTH: The Badge of
the Fraternity: This pin portrays, in the twenty pearls on its border, the
number of chapters which the designers hoped to establish, although the growth
of the Fraternity has far exceeded the expectations of the designers; the four
rubies depict Honesty (which is trustworthiness), Fortitude (which is
perseverance in spite of obstacles and discouragement), Faith (which is 'belief
in the righteousness of life), and Courage (which is mental, physical, and
spiritual power-to-perform).
All these insignia
are emblazoned upon the shield of Omega, which is the Escutcheon of the
Fraternity, and which portrays, also, the Grip of the Order.
Master
of Ceremonies reconducts candidate to Princeps.
Princeps
to Candidate: Since you have
met the requirements of the Fraternity, and since you have received its ritual,
I now extend to you my right hand, and with it you receive the Grip of the
Order, and the Passwords, which are …, and which are translated into the
slogan, "Now is the time to do good deeds."
Master
of Ceremonies recites the Omega Prayer: O
Lord, our heavenly Father, the high and mighty Princeps of the Universe, who
dost from Thy Throne behold all dwellers upon the earth, most heartily we
beseech Thee, with Thy favor to bless our Grand Officers and Chapters of Omega
Gamma Delta; and to replenish them with the grace of the Eternal Chapter, that
finally after this life they may enjoy everlasting life and felicity through
Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
Princeps
to Candidate: You are now fully
received into Omega Gamma Delta. Be seated, and thereby join into the fellowship
of your new Brothers.
Master
of Ceremonies conducts new Brother to a chair.
Princeps
should give some suitable address welcoming the new Brother (s) into the
Fraternity.