Omega
Psi Phi
Initiation
Ritual
Formal
Meetings of the Fraternity
No
date
At the annual or other emergency meeting of the
Fraternity in Grand Conclave assembled the Grand Basileus shall be seated in the
center of the platform occupying his desk. All Ex-Grand Basilel
shall be seated immediately behind the Grand Basileus, while on his right shall
be seated the Grand Keeper of Records and Seal and on his left shall be seated
the Vice Grand Basileus and the Grand Keeper of Finances. The Grand Marshal
shall occupy a seat
near the
Grand Basileus and shall carry out his requests quietly . The members shall be
seated in the assembly hall, facing the Grand Basileus, and shall listen
attentively to and take a part in, all questions that may arise and call for
discussion.
They shall be expected to move about as little as possible, and quietness shall prevail during
all deliberations of the Grand Conclave. The Custodian of the Peace who shall be
appointed by the Grand Basileus at the beginning of the Conclave, shall be
stationed at the door and shall admit only those persons who are members of the
Fraternity and such other persons as have the permission of
the Grand Conclave through the Grand Basileus.
Formal
Meetings of the Chapters
At the regular or special meetings of the Chapters the
same dignity and quietness must be observed as in the meetings of the Grand
Conclave.
Seating arrangements shall, when possible, conform to
the seating arrangement of the Grand Conclave─the Basileus of the Chapter
occupying the seat and desk in the center, all ex-Basilel seated behind him,
while the Keeper of Records and Seal and
the Keeper of 'Finances occupy seats at his right and left, respectively. The
Keeper of the Peace shall be stationed at the door and shall admit only those
persons who are members of the Fraternity, and such other persons as have the permission of the
Chapter through the Basileus.
In all cases where persons other than those members of
the Fraternity are permitted to enter meetings of the Fraternity, the table
containing the lights of Omega and other ritualistic emblems shall be removed
from sight.
Election
to Membership
The names of the candidates having been proposed they
shall be .presented to the Committee on Membership, which shall ascertain their
moral and educational fitness, their ability to fraternize, and
such other things as may be
deemed advisable. Upon favorable recommendation of this committee the
candidate shall be voted upon as provided for in the Constitution and By-Laws of
the Fraternity.
The Candidate being duly elected and approved by the
District Representative or Grand Basileus, the
Basileus shall designate a brother and instruct him to approach the candidate
and ascertain whether or not the candidate desires to become a member of the
Fraternity. If the candidate expresses such a desire the Fraternity pledge shall
be given him for his signature and he shall be instructed to return the pledge duly executed and signed together with the initiation fee, not later than a certain hour of a day to be determined by the Chapter. This
procedure effected, the candidate' s name shall be formally recorded on the
records of the Chapter by
the Keeper of Records and Seal. The candidate now assumes the status of a
Neophyte and shall be referred to as such. Without previous knowledge of their
significance, he shall be given the twenty words corresponding to the twenty pearls on the Fraternity pin and commanded to commit them to
memory.
Each Neophyte shall memorize the names of our Founders who are: Edgar A. Love, Minister; Oscar
J. Cooper, Physician; Frank Coleman, Professor
of Physics at
The Neophyte is also required to know in detail the
life of two outstanding Negroes. He is not to know the significance of the
requirements until after his initiation. In concluding this phase of the
Neophyte's task he is to memorize the name of one outstanding Negro in each of
five fields.
Initiation
All initiations shall be held under the supervision,
and control of the District Representative or a brother designated by said
District Representative.
The initiatory ceremony shall he divided into an
outdoor or preliminary ceremony, and an indoor or formal ceremony. If the
conditions make it possible the outdoor ceremony, which should include the
Neophytes mentioning the names of the Founders of the Fraternity and the
detailed account of the lives of two eminent Negroes who may or may not he Omega
men, this part of the ceremony may be given inside as a preliminary ceremony.
An officer to be known as the Neophyte Commandant shall
he appointed by the Basileus to serve throughout the initiation for which he is
appointed.
The Neophyte Commandant shall have complete charge of
the arrangements and execution of the initiation, and shall be held to strict
accountability to the Chapter for the details of the initiation. He shall
appoint a competent number of members to assist in the successful performance of
his duty and these assistants shall he referred to as Chamberlains.
The Chamberlains shall be in complete charge of the
Neophyte during the initiation, at all times obeying the orders of the Neophyte
Commandant. There shall be a Chamberlain for each Neophyte wherever this is
possible. Each Chamberlain shall be inspected by the Neophyte Commandant to see
that he has nothing that will injure the Neophyte; he shall be charged to this
end, by the Neophyte Commandant before he assumes charge of his Neophyte.
The following names are suggested from which the
Neophyte shall choose:
Otto L. Bonhanan of Omega─Poet, Baritone,
Composer.
Geoffrey Lislet─Member of the
Benjamin Banneker─Selected as a Surveyor to Help
Lay Out
Carl Diton─Pianist, Eminent American Composer,
Baritone, Organist, a Son of Omega.
Alexander Dumas─The Greatest Novelist of All
Times.
Antar─Epic Poet of
Moshoeshoe─A Nation Builder, who welded into one
nation in
Terrance─Roman Playwright. .
Amenemhat I and III─Pharoahs of
Simon the Canaanite─The Eleventh Disciple of
Jesus.
John B. Russworm─The First Negro to Graduate from
an
George Washington Carver─Agricultural and
Synthetic Chemist of Tusegee.
Alexander Pushkin─Epic Poet of
Paul Cuffee─Shipbuilder and Sea Trader; the First
Actual Colonizer.
Bishop Richard Allen─Founder of the
Bishop Daniel A.
Payne─The Champion of an Educated Ministry for the
Hiram R. Revells─Our First Senator, from
David Walker─Author of
"The Appeal," the most widely discussed book written by a Negro before
the Civil War.
Mohammed Askie─Emperor of Timbuctu who welded
together an empire more extensive than all
Preliminary or Outdoor Ceremony
It is expedient that the solemnity of the initiation
ceremony should begin with the preliminary ceremony. Each step taken, each act
done should be solemnly impressed upon the Neophyte. This is not meant to de
tract the least scintilla of amusement from the preliminary ceremony.
Each Neophyte shall be assigned a special place and time of meeting and shall he expected to report on time and
await the summons from his Chamberlain. Whenever it is practicable the procedure outlined in the following
paragraph shall be carried out at this point, otherwise as indicated below.
Neophytes must be absolutely quiet while being
assembled and when the Neophytes have all been accounted for,
at a signal from the Neophyte Commandant, each Neophyte shall be hoodwinked beyond recognition by his Chamberlain,
who shall at the same time securely bind the Neophyte’s hands behind his back
and place upon him a number by which he shall be known to the members of the
Chapter during the initiation ceremony. With great seriousness the Chamberlain
shall now give to his Neophyte one of the twenty words of the pin and caution
him that this is the sacred pass word. The Neophytes shall
now be cautioned under penalty of losing one of
the members of their body to preserve perfect silence,
and not by
word or sign or symbol or writing to disclose their identity one to another to communicate the sacred pass words which have been
given them.
Preparations completed, upon signal from the Neophyte
Commandant, each Chamberlain shall proceed with his Neophyte in a column or file
marching around and about aimlessly in order that the Neophyte blindfolded and
pinioned shall lose all sense of direction and location. During this procession
the Neophyte Commandant shall recite the 90th Psalm, which sets forth God's
providence, complain of human frailties, Divine chastisement, brevity of life,
and prays
for
knowledge and sensible experience of God's providence. The procession halted, the
Neophyte shall now be taken through the preliminary or outdoor ceremony which
shall be left to the discretion of the Neophyte Commandant of the Chapter.
Formal
or Indoor Ceremony
The room of the Chapter House used for meetings should
be set apart for the administering of the Oath
and the Charge of the District Representative. Therein
shall be placed a table covered with a white cloth, upon which table shall be
placed four candles arranged in quadrangular form; within this quadrangle of
light shall be placed the helmet, escutcheon, crossed swords, and glove of mail
as they appear on the seal of the
Fraternity.
All other furniture shall be removed, and this room kept in utter darkness
except for such light as may be ordered by the District Representative for the
performance of his duty. Absolute silence shall be observed within this room throughout any part of the ceremony carried out therein.
Whenever possible, the various tests of the indoor ceremony
shall be carried out in separate rooms,
and for these separate equipment shall be named as the tests are taken up. When
uncontrollable circumstances restrict as to space, the tests may be carried out
in one room─the brothers being on hand to assist in
the thorough exemplification of one test then in preparing the room for the
other tests in succession. Under no circumstances shall more than one test be
under taken in the same room at the same time.
Neophytes shall be taken through the
several test individually, and no Chamberlain shall leave his Neophyte unless excused by the Neophyte Commandant, who shall appoint
another brother to assume charge of the Neophyte until the excused Chamberlain
return to his post.
The outdoor or preliminary ceremony complete, the Neophytes
are again marched
around and about and finally taken to the Chapter House through a designated
entrance, at which entrance shall be placed a sentinel who shall be charged with
allowing none to pass or re-pass other than those who have permission of the
Basileus. When the Neophytes have all been assembled at this designated
entrance, the Neophyte Commandant shall approach the door and give four distinct
and audible raps; these shall be answered by a like number of raps from within;
this shall be followed by an additional rap from the Neophyte
Commandant and a similar rap from the sentinel within, after he has given notice
of the alarm at the door to the Basileus and brothers and the Basileus has
summoned the
brothers to
accompany him in ascertaining the cause of the alarm. The Basileus and brothers
having reached the entrance, the sentinel shall partially open the door and the
following dialogue shall be carried on in low but nevertheless audible
tone:
Sentinel: Who be ye that dareth to intrude upon the
sanctity, peace, and quietude of Omega!
Neophyte Commandant:
… number
of sincere admirers and friends of Omega who have long
hoped for and sought for an opportunity of aligning themselves with the forces
of Omega.
Sentinel: Is this of their own desire and uninfluenced by
mercenary and ulterior motives!
Neophyte Commandant:
It is.
Sentinel: Are they of good report?
Neophyte Commandant:
They are.
Sentinel: Do they believe in the Negro!
Neophyte Commandant:
They do.
Sentinel: What further token have you of their sincerity?
Neophyte Commandant: Their
implicit confidence in Omega as evidenced in the trust they have reposed in us,
they having placed themselves in our hands this night as we
wended our way an our mission for Omega.
Sentinel: Have you made clear to them the awful penalties
awaiting those who enter the sacred fold of Omega and dare to look behind?
Neophyte Commandant: I have, they with one accord are ready and willing to prove by further tests
their unwavering faith and belief in the tenets of Omega.
Sentinel: You will not await the pleasure of Omega before
whom I shall lay your petition.
After a moment's pause the Basileus shall distinctly
say:
Swing ye open, O wondrous Gates of Omega: Admit
these, our friends, but let them take heed upon what they enter; let them give
listening ears, to all that may be said and done, and seal within their bosoms
the sacredness of the Temple of Omega.
The Neophytes shall now be admitted and assembled,
still blindfolded and pinioned, into one room, the Preamble of the Fraternity
Constitution shall be read to them and the list of
members of the Chapter with whom they are to fraternize. The Basileus shall now
ascertain from each Neophyte by number whether or not he is still desirous of becoming a member of the Fraternity. Upon
receiving an answer in the affirmative, the Basileus shall thereupon summon the
Chaplain to his side to lead in prayer to Elohim.
The office of prayer affected, the Basileus shall order
the indoor ceremony begun, saying to the Chamberlains:
Brothers, take these friends, and in a manner peculiar to Omega find out beyond
reasonable doubt whether they measure up to the ideals of our beloved
Fraternity. When you are satisfied with their proficiency, and have sufficient
proof of their fidelity you will bring them to me as pure gold from the crucible
of trials that sorely beset their path. Friends, I commend to you courage and
commit you to the trust and care of my brothers. Pass on ….
The members shall now proceed to exemplify the tests,
administering them to the Neophytes individually.
They are as follows:
1. Discretion. 2. Faith. 3. Obedience. 4. Endurance. 5.
Courage.
First
Test
Discretion: The Chamber lain shall now escort his
Neophyte into a room with due solemnity and dignity (The brothers in this room
shall be furnished wit h a paper containing the pass words furnished each
Neophyte by number.) On reaching the room the Neophyte shall be seated at a
table and spoken to encouragingly by the members; he shall be asked to write his
name and other things the Neophyte Commandant might suggest. Having done this,
the Neophyte shall be asked to write the fictitious pass word which was
communicated to him. If he obeys, the moment .he finishes writing the last
letter of the word the Chamberlain shall throw him to the floor, denouncing him,
and expressing great surprise and indignation that the Neophyte has broken this,
his very first obligation.
Threats of the actual bodily harm shall now come from
the members while above all voices shall be heard that of the Neophyte
Commandant who shall say ill harsh tones:
Brothers, we shall brand him so that every loyal Son of Omega
may know him as a man bereft of honor!
A rush is now made for the Neophyte while one of the
members shall make an earnest, prayful and sincere plea for forgiveness of the
Neophyte, whereupon the Neophyte Commandant shall give the following talk on the
meaning of discretion and the Neophyte shall be forgiven and with caution passed
on to the next test. Heat a piece of iron; hold it close to candidate's body,
then slap on a piece of ice.
My
friend, you have been guilty of lack of discretion. To the uninitiated and to
those who spend but superficial thought upon the significance of the meaning of
the term "Discretion," it might imply something of timidity or lack of
decision; it might seem a sign of lack of courage. To the expressions it implies
nothing of timidity and denotes true courage and common sense.
The
crux of the whole matter is that life itself should be a series of attempts to
accomplish specific projects. If these projects are honorable, and no true Omega
man will engage in any but all honourable project, the none may well devote the
best that is in him of mind, soul and body to its final accomplishment.
Discretion
requires that in the accomplishment of our project no innocent man, be he
brother or not, shall be wronged by our activities.
Discretion
implies a knowledge of and recognition of limitations as well as capabilities.
Discretion demands that you keep constantly in mind those things which may help
you, that you may practice them, and those which may hurt you ill order that you
may with honor avoid them.
You
have failed to avoid that which would hurt you. You, in violation of
your promise and of the instructions given you, have written the mystic
word and deserve the penalty which our law provides.
But
we as Sons of Omega, have learned to temper justice with mercy, and on condition
that you commit no further indiscretion we forgive you.
Continue
on and be discreet.
If the Neophyte does not write as requested or demanded
the Neophyte Commandant shall say the following:
Friend, I must commend you, for in the midst of threats and bodily violence you
have been discreet, you have kept your word, you have shown that with you
promises are sacred and binding, you have passed the first test required of all
Omega men.
As
an example of a man of discretion, which means saying the right thing in the
right way, at the right time and place, I remind you of Booker Taliaferro
He
showed them their weaknesses, yet they gave him a helping hand. He won the North
and he won the South. As you may well know, Tuskegee Institute is the monument
erected to his honor and glory.
Discretion,
however, is but for the first step towards understanding the mysteries of Omega,
so I must prepare you for the next unfoldments. Cling to me, I will be your
guide.
Commandant leads the Neophyte out.
Second
Test
Faith: Neophyte Commandant:
Friend, having gone thru the first test, you come to the second, which is a test
of your faith.
The
Scriptures say, "Without faith it is impossible to please God."
Without faith it is also impossible to please man. Business is built upon faith;
schools are built upon faith; churches are built upon faith; homes are built
upon faith.
The
stories of David and Jonathan and of Damon and Pythias reveal the faith of
friend in friend.
I
shall now tell you a story of the Negro appearing in Brother Carter G. Woodson's
History of the Negro Church, which sets forth the kind of faith you must show
tonight and the kind of faith Omega expects of her sons to have ill another.
In
the year 1809 there lived in the South a Negro slave by the name of Burrows, who
believed that he was called to pr each. As he had the gift of eloquence and
great spiritual powers, many encouraged him to exercise his gifts. He never gave
his word unless he meant to keep it. In short, his word was his bond.
Two
of his friends, free Negroes, who lived in the South had so much faith in his
ability and in his promises that they went to Burrows' master and bound
themselves over to him for a period of six month s, in order that Burrows might
go north and preach, and in so doing obtain funds with which to purchase their
freedom.
Had
Burrows not returned within six months, the two free Negroes were to he slaves
forever or until they could by extra work accumulate funds with which to
purchase their freedom.
Burrows,
however, returned before the expiration of the six months the two friends never
were uneasy about Burrows' return. They believed that only death would keep him
from coming back.
This
is the kind of faith you are to have in your brothers and this is the kind of
faith you are to inspire them to have in you.
Faith: The room shall be darkened, superfluous
furniture removed, and the Neophyte conducted therein. Such questions are here
asked him and answers exacted as shall give theoretical proof of his faith in
those he calls friends. He shall hereup on be offered a pill (containing
Methylene Blue) and told to swallow it. If he disobeys, the pill shall be forced
down his throat under threat of severing his head from his body. This done, one
of the members within hearing of the Neophyte shall exclaim:
Alas brother, you have made a terrible mistake; the pill you gave our friend is
from the box which contains poison. By this pill his career is cut short, and he
is thereby ushered prematurely into eternity. Here
all members shall go into a panic calling for help, doctor, and sending word to
his relatives and arranging for details of his funeral and assuring him of their
friendship even to the grave. He shall then be made to swallow quinine, being
told that it is an antidote to the poison given him.
Third
Test
Obedience: Neophyte Commandant:
Friend, you have passed the test of Discretion and the test of Faith but before
you can become a brother, you must meet another test.
The
Negro who well exhibits how you must face this test is the late Colonel Charles
Young, of the United States Army and a Son of Omega.
Colonel
Young at the time of the World War was the best strategist in our army. For this
reason he should have been chosen to lend the Ninety-Second Division; but with
the South in the saddle, It seemed that
However,
he received orders to go to Africa, while Ballou, of
Colonel
Young knew that he could not .a second time stand the hard environment of
Africa; be could have lived in
Colonel
Young made no reply. He went to
The Neophyte
shall be conducted in to a darkened room into which there shall previously be
placed a couch, a dagger or knife, and a dummy breast.
The Neophyte is given the dagger to examine and hold in
his right hand in a position for stabbing. A member shall lie up on the couch
with his left breast bared of clothing, and the Neophyte shall be told to feel
and interpret what is felt. He shall be made to realize what is felt is human
flesh upon the region of the heart, and told to get his distance, for his is the
duty of driving to the hilt, the dagger in his hand, into the breast he has just
recognized.
The members shall then quietly step aside, and the
dummy breast substituted. The Neophyte shall now be commanded to stab. If he
fails to stab, the hand clutching the dagger shall be made to execute the
command. Piercing groans and cries of murder shall be made by the members, while
same shall improvise means of getting the murderer from the grasp of the law.
Under this guise the Neophyte shall be conducted to the next test.
Fourth
Test
Endurance Test: Let the Neophyte be stripped to the
waist. Then have him stand so that his legs and outstretched arms will tend to
form the letter X. While he holds this position, the brothers should tickle the
Neophyte with a brush or a feather. Use anything that will cause a strange
feeling. While this is going on the Neophyte must keep his hands and arms
elevated. He must not change his position. While the Neophyte holds this
position, paint on his breast with iodine the capital letters that begin the
name of our Fraternity.
Also while he holds this position, tell him the story
of Frederick Douglass as told by John W.
Cromwell in his "The Negro in American
History" or some other book that emphasizes the hardships of Douglass. Tell
him how his mother walked twelve miles back, doing this for many days. Tell of
his being beaten many times.
If the Neophyte lowers his hand, caution him to keep
them up or take the consequences. At the end of the story the Neophyte Commander
shall make the following statement:
Friend, the Apostle Paul said to the young man he was training, Timothy, endure
hardness as a good soldier. Several can
be given this fourth test at the same time.
Fifth
Test
Courage: Neophyte Commandant:
Every Son of Omega shall be courageous. Though you have passed the tests of
Discretion, Faith, Obedience, and Endurance, Omega cannot use you unless you are
brave.
Bravery
is characteristic of the Negro; the Negro has been a great soldier in all the
wars of history in ancient times, in the Middle Ages, and today. Who can
question the courage of Antar, the Epic Poet of Arabia, who won his bride saving
Neophyte Commandant:
Are you brave?
Neophyte: I am .
Neophyte Commandant:
Then we are ready for the test.
The Neophyte shall now be conducted in to a room in to
which the member s have previously arranged themselves, guarding every avenue of
escape, some carrying knives and conducting in apparent low tones, conservations
of threats to the Neophyte for the blunders made and for every outcry given. A
board eighteen inches by eleven inches shall be studded with six-penny nails so
arranged that the nails will forform to the Greek
letters, Omega Psi Phi, that shall be previously marked upon the board, the
blindfold shall' be removed from the Neophyte,
and he shall be given to feel and examine his clothing that
both of his knees may be exposed, kneel in prayer, audible or silent,
blind-folded again, and commanded to
keel upon the board studded with nails. No force is to be used but by gentle
persuasion he shall be encouraged to obey the command, this unavailing, he shall
be forced to kneel by two members placed, one to his right and one to his left
side while the Neophyte Commandant shall remove the board,
as he attempts to kneel. The two attendants shall restrain him before he injures
himself.
Each Neophyte having gone through the several tests,
the Neophyte Commandant shall assemble all Neophytes in
one room arrange them in order of their numbers, and shall, escort them in and
stand them before the Basileus, when the following dialogue shall be carried on:
Basileus: Whence
come ye, my friends clothed as ye be and accompanied by these my true and tried
brothers?
Neophyte Commandant:
From the outer chamber of darkness into the Shekinah of light of Omega.
Basileus: What come ye here to do?
Neophyte Commandant:
To seek further knowledge of
Omega, to learn traditions and to swear allegiance to her cause.
Basileus: Brothers,
have you satisfied Omega beyond reasonable doubt that these friends have met her
rigid requirements?
Neophyte Commandant:
We have.
Basileus: What further have they to offer for this
wonderful privilege now asked of Omega?
Neophyte Commandant:
Their lives which they hereby dedicate to the service of Omega.
Basileus: Do they offer this voluntarily, uninfluenced by
hope of self-aggrandizement or
gain of any sort?
Neophyte Commandant:
They do.
Basileus: Are they ready and willing to sacrifice time and
effort, and to share their means if needs be to further the cause of Omega?
Neophyte Commandant:
They are.
Basileus: Do they accept the Fatherhood of God, the
universal brotherhood of man, and the sole aristocracy
of the intellect?
Neophyte Commandant:
They do.
Bastieus: Are they willing to share the joys and sorrows of Omega, to defend her principles and to maintain her standards?
Neophyte Commandant:
They are.
Basileus: Seeing
now, my friends, that you have been faithful in the little things, that in your
state of darkness you have placed implicit confidence in these my brothers, that
you crave the further mysteries of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity let us together
invoke the
aid of the supreme Basileus of the Universe.
Come, magnify the Lord with me, with me exalt His name: Brother Chaplain, lead
us in prayer.
All shall devoutly kneel during the prayer. At the end
of the prayer the members shall say in unison:
Amen, Thy will be done in all things.
The District Representative, attired in cap and gown
shall now call upon the members: Brothers, draw nigh without fear and assist me to
stretch forth the strong arm of Omega in bringing these friends from the
darkness of selfish and self-centered lives in to the light and fulness of life
in Omega, whose standards are worthy of emulation, whose watchword is service
and whose implied motto is: 'Lifting as we climb'.
The members shall accompany the District Representative
into the room in which the oath is to be administered, the Neophytes and
Chamberlains remaining. The Oath Chamber reached, the District Representative
approaches the Altar (table); the four candles shall now be lighted and the
other emblems of the Fraternity so arranged as to be the immediate view.
Neophytes shall be escorted into t he Oath Chamber,
fully obligated and given fellowship in groups of convenient size. As they are
obligated they shall remain in the Oath Chamber until the ceremony is over.
The first Neophyte having been brought into the Oath
Chamber, the District Representative shall proceed to talk on the value,
sacredness and significance of the oath. The District Representative recites: My
friends, we are now about to go through the most sacred part of the entire
initiation; you are about to take upon yourself an oath which will bond you most
intimately to every brother of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, and enlist you in a
ca use with
which
you will at all times be expected to sympathize, whose principles you will
uphold and defend, whose name you will honor, and to which you will give your
full support, Think well of what you are doing; think of the responsibility you
are taking upon yourself, and of your obligation to the Fraternity.
The
taking of this oath is not a matter of mere formality, but a far more serious
transaction. It is the centralizing of all the higher forces within one upon a
great principle in the presence of Almighty God , the keeping of which
immediately decides the man.
Are
you willing to take upon yourself this obligation? Answer yes or no.
Now
inasmuch as you have complied with all the necessary requisites up to this
point, and inasmuch as you have concurred with the ideals upon which this
organization was founded and have evidenced no spirit other than the highest
manhood, I shall ask you to kneel upon both your knees, place your left hand
upon the Holy Bible which I here give you, raise your right hand toward the
heavens and repeat the oath after me.
I,
… full name,
uninfluenced by mercenary motives and imbued with a desire to serve mankind, in
the name and presence of Almighty God, and of all I hold sacred, and under the
sacred seal of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, do solemnly and sincerely promise
and swear absolute allegiance to the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity to uphold its
name, preserve its honor, and guard zealously all that tends to promote its
welfare. I further promise and swear that I shall always help a worthy
distressed brother protect and help his family, warn him and them of any
approaching danger, and hold his secrets when communicated to me as such, as
sacred and inviolable in my breast as they were in his before communicated.
I
further promise and swear that I will support the Constitution of the Omega Psi Phi
Fraternity, maintain its standards, and never prove traitor to any trust imposed
in me by the Omega Psi Fraternity; binding myself under no less a penalty if I
forsake thee, O Omega, than to have my right hand lose her cunning and my tongue
cleave to the roof of my mouth. So help me God, and keep me faithful and
steadfast to the end of life's journey.
District Representative recites: The
moving finger writes, and having writ
Moves
on. Nor all youth piety nor wit,
Shall
lure it back to cancel half a line,
Nor
all your tears wash out a word of it.
The District Representative shall proceed to explain
and. deliver the Fraternity grip to the obligated
brothers still kneeling. The Chamberlains shall assist whenever this is
necessary. When the District Representative is satisfied that the brothers have the
grip he shall command them to rise, saying: Arise,
my brother(s), I greet you in the name of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and on
behalf of … Chapter, through whose influence you have entered Omega's sacred
fold. The God of truth and love and peace go with you and sustain you through
your life's journey.
Each Neophyte shall be taken through this procedure and
after the last Neophyte has been obligated, the hoodwinks are removed, their clothing
adjusted,
and the Ritual on Friendship recited to them.
The District Representative shall recite:
Doubtless you have often wondered for what those three Greek letters, of which
we are so proud, stand. Those letters. Omega Psi Phi represent the Greek words,
OPHELEMA PHILIA PSURKIS, meaning 'Friendship is essential to the soul.' This friendship
of Omega would strive to unite us into a common bond. This friendship of Omega
would strive to lift us from the plane of self, and give us vision of the
fullness of joy there is in consecrated usefulness.
Workings
as a unit, it teaches us to labor together, and to die together, realizing that there is no Fraternal death; the sun goes down from our gaze, to
shine in but some fairer clime. This friendship of Omega would strive to remove
the barriers of selfconceit, wealth , station, and class. It would link king and
peasant, master and servant. It is likened to the love that existed between
David and Jonathan wherein the life of one became part of the life of the other.
It would teach us to go out of ourselves in order that a brother may be served.
It would teach us
to be willing to risk our lives in the effort of saving that of our brother, for
it is the convenant made in the presence of Almighty God, whereby one brother
becomes the custodian of the other.
To
have a friend is to have one of the sweetest and dearest gifts that life can
bring. To be a friend is to have a solemn and tender education of soul from day
to day. A friend gives us confidence for life. A friend makes us go out of
ourselves. A friend takes heed of our health, our work, our aims, our plans. A
friend remembers us when we have forgotten ourselves. A friend may praise us,
and we are not embarrassed; may rebuke us,
and we are not angered. A friend may do that for us which we cannot gracefully
do for ourselves. A friend may be silent, yet we understand.
It
takes a great soul to be a friend, a large, steadfast, catholic and loving
spirit. One to be a friend must forgive much , forget much,
forbear much. It costs to be a friend. Nothing else in life costs so much except
motherhood. It costs not only time, affection, patience and love, but sometimes
a man must even lay down his life for his friend.
There
is no true friendship without self-abnegation, self-sacrifice. One of the
dearest thoughts of my life is this: That a real friend will never get away from
me, nor try to, nor want. to. It is a great and solemn thing to ally to other
human souls: ‘In this one life we have to live, let us share all things
temporal and spiritual. Your joys shall be my joys, your sorrows shall be my
sorrows. Whither thou goest there will I go, thy people shall be my people, thy
God shall be my God.’
The District Representative shall now give the history
of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, tell its
principles and aims, shall deliver his lecture on the
duty of brother to brother. He shall recite: On November
17, 1911, at Howard University, Washington, D.C., the Omega Psi Fraternity
was
founded by three men, Brother Edgar A. Love, Oscar J. Cooper , and Frank
Coleman, in company with Professor E. E. Just. These three men having thoroughly gone over
the situation, saw keenly the necessity of such a movement and decided to plant
the first ‘Mother' Chapter of a Greek letter Fraternity to be founded in a
Negro Institution, at Howard University.
The
principles upon which this Fraternity is based are set forth in the four words:
Manhood,
Scholarship,
Perseverance and Uplift. This Fraternity aims to emphasize Christian manhood and
scholarly attainments. There cannot be too much emphasis placed upon manhood,
for without this quality no organization can thrive; with it, every organization
has the germ to become a powerful influence. Scholarship, although second to
manhood, is still fundamental for with a good, string,
manly character , there is usually a tendency toward scholarship: that is to
say, there is a concommitant relationship between manhood and scholarship. With
these two qualities well developed there should be no fear of the other
two─Perseverance and Uplift─for they will fall in all naturally as
scholarship does to Manhood.
The District Representative shall now proceed to discuss the unwritten laws of the
Fraternity. These are:
The protection of
womanhood.
The sacredness of the Fraternity badge.
The duties of one brother to the other.
The proper uses of the Fraternity's grip and signals.
The District Representative shall now recite: You
have perhaps wondered at the significance of the several tests through which you
passed during your initiation in to the mysteries of Omega. These, my brother
were not idle ceremonies; they were significant of the essentials that must
characterize your usefulness in the rank of Omega. You were admitted into the
Sacred Temple of Omega on four raps. These allude to the four cardinal
principles of the Fraternity.
The
first test taught you Discretion, which should characterize your every effort.
Consider Omega as you pass, and talk and act with moderation and discretion.
The
second test exemplified your faith in your brothers and this faith will cause
you to receive from and entrust to your brothers such things as you yourself
hold inviolable, The third test was to teach the lesson of obedience to the
decree of Omega even though to obey would seem eminent death; for with the
discretion of Omega, and the faith of your brothers, there needs be no fear of
being led astray.
The
fourth test was to signify that with the honor and insignia of the Fraternity
goes the responsibility of sharing her hardships and misfortunes. The fifth test
was to show you that your path as a Son of Omega is often strewn with thorns and
your progress impeded by seemingly insurmountable barriers; that with courage
you are to undertake all things for Omega , for even as your brothers rallied to
you in this test, so that no harm came to you so shall you find the forces of
Omega rallying to your rescue from distant and unexpected sources in your hour
of trial and need.
On
bringing you from the darkness of selfish and self-centered lives in to the
fullness and light of life in Omega, you first beheld the escutcheon of Omega,
the crossed swords, the glove of mail and the helmet, by the aid of four burning
candles. The escutcheon of Omega, bearing thereon the three Greeks letters, the
significance of which has been communicated to you, the lamp, indicative of
knowledge and scholarship, and the star denoting high aspirations, should teach
you to combine scholarship and high aspiration with friendship, which is
essential to the soul. The crossed swords are to remind you of the protection to
be gained by associating ourselves together. The mailed glove indicates
fraternity and comradeship, the helmet, with its closed visor, shuts out all
that is inconsistent with the ideals of Omega.
The
four burning candles, as did the four raps, represent the four cardinal
principles of the Fraternity. Again, I call your attention to these principles.
They shall teach, that a t no time in your natural life are they to be put out
or placed under a bushel; rather are they to so shine that their rays may
penetrate and enlighten some less fortunate life. The very effort on your part
to keep them trimmed and burning will serve as a standard of your life and
association among men.
The
pin is your only outward sign of your inward grace. By it you are known to the
members of the Fraternity as a brother, and to the world, as a man set apart for
the consecrated service of Omega.
This
my brother, you shall always wear with honor to yourself and credit to the
Fraternity.
The District Representative shall end this charge with
these words: Long live the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, and the principles upon which it
is founded.
God
save the organization and preserve her ideals.
Here endeth initiation into the mysteries of the Omega
Psi Phi Fraternity.
Record
Each
newly obligated member shall have a number, drawn by lot and corresponding to
the number of men initiated thus: If four men are initiated, the numbers shall
run from one to four, by which he shall be known in the Fraternity. With it
shall go his college numeral, together with his Chapter designation. Example:
3-22-A, 3 representing the number drawn by lot; 22 representing the year the member finished college or equivalent training; “A”
representing Alpha Chapter.
Pin
This
is the sacred symbol of Omega and the only evidence worn by the members to
signify their fraternal affiliation. It shall be worn on the left breast
immediately over t he heart and displayed in such manner as to herald the world
the wearer as a true and tried son of Omega. It shall be worn only by the
member, his mother, sister, or his fiancée when traveling for the protection it
accords. Under no circumstances or conditions shall a member deliver his pin to
the keeping or use of
any other person or persons than those prescribed, unless he has permission to
do so by the Supreme Council of the Fraternity.
Language
of the Pin
The
official pin of the organization shall contain twenty stones four of which must
be pearls and must be present on the pin when other stories are used. The four pearls shall be arranged
around the upper corners of the Pin. Across the center of the Pin shall be
inscribed the three Greek letters, Omega Psi Phi, above which there shall be a star and
below which there shall be a Greek lamp. This pin speaks in a language peculiar
to Omega the three Greek
letters bespeak the linking of souls a s evidenced by the friendship of David
and Jonathan, The star tells of
our high aspiration. The Greek lamp signifies
our endeavors in dark places ever illuminated by the mystical light of Omega.
The pearls reading from left to right make up the two sacred words, Fraternity
and Friendship, as follows:
1.
F-riendship
2.
R-ight
3.
A-spiration
4.
T-ruth
5.
E-ndeavor
6.
R-espect
7.
N-obility
8.
I-ntelligence
9.
T-hought
10.
Y-outh
11.
F-raternity
1::.
R-estraint
13.
I-ndustry
14.
E-nthusiasm
15.
N-erve
16.
D-uty
17.
S-cholarship
18.
H-elp
19.
I-ngenuity
20.
P-erseverance
Grip
This
is the means of recognition whereby we
may know a brother in the darkness of midnight, It must be uniform and as
simple, yet distinctive as possible. There should be no changes in the
grip by the individual Chapters. The Fraternity grip may be described as
follows: An ordinary grasp of the hand (right hand) in which all fingers are
included, with the forefinger pressing upon the wrist at the junction of the
hand and the wrist, two times.
Uses
of the Fraternity Grip
The
Fraternity Grip is used as a sign of recognition by members on meeting strange
brothers, or by brothers of the same Chapter on meeting after absence. It is not
to be used promiscuously at every meeting of two brothers. If used on a brother
in a gathering of any kind, the grip must be covered by the left hand of the one
giving the grip.
Interrogation
of Recognition
Upon
meeting a brother whose identity it is desired to establish, the
following dialogue shall be conducted:
Question:
Friend, are you a stranger?
Answer:
I am.
Question:
Have you friends with you?
Answer:
Yes, twenty.
Question:
Who is your third (any number up to twenty may be used here) friend?
Answer:
Aspiration (or the appropriate word for the number given in the question above
as given in the table of names of pearls in the Fraternity Ritual).
The
questioning brother shall now say: Count me as your twenty-first: I am … (the brother
should
here give his name, 3-16 Alpha or his proper Chapter
designation) .
Distress
Signal
The
distress sign is given by stroking the right eye-brow three times with the first
and second finger
of the right hand. The answer is given by pulling the lobe of the right ear with
the thumb and forefinger of the right hand.