Sigma Delta Tau
Initiation Ritual
Preparations
No date
The
Sisters of the Fountain have prepared for the ritual of initiation in a spirit
of deep religious solemnity. They are clothed in white initiation robes with the
ritual symbols worn on the left yoke of the robe. Their hair is done simply, and
they wear sandals or white stockings. No jewelry should be worn except the
Sorority Pin.
Drop
of the Stream should have spent the hours before the ritual in serious
consideration of the important step she is about to take. She is clothed like
the Sisters of the Fountain except that her robe is as yet unadorned by the
ritual symbols and the Sorority Pin. She is blindfolded. Each Neophyte should be
initiated individually when possible.
THE TEMPLE
(Room of Initiation):
The
Temple
is in total darkness except for a soft light near Lady of the Fountain. It is
as bare of furniture as feasible, and the walls and floor are draped in white.
At one end of the
Ritual
Lady
of the Fountain is seated on the dais with the open Bible in her hands, and Lips
of the Fountain guards the gate. One Sister of the Fountain is seated at the
table to tend the properties. The other Sisters stand around the
Seeker
beside the Stream knocks at the Gate nine times-in groups of three-softly and
quickly at first, then gradually more loudly and slowly.
Lady
of the Fountain: Lips of the
Fountain, faithful sentinel, inquire who sounds without the mystic greeting,
three on three on three.
Lips
of the Fountain: Lady of the
Fountain, I obey. To
those without:
Who beats with triple
three upon our solemn Gate?
Seeker
beside the Stream: Lips of the
Fountain, faithful sister, it is I, Seeker beside the Stream. Long have I
tarried beside the Stream regarding the drops that whirl therein, but only one
of them seemed fitted to our purpose, one of many, and she, Drop of the Stream,
waiteth with me now.
Lips
of the Fountain: What wouldst
with us, Drop of the Stream?
Seeker
beside the Stream: She cometh
from afar to join our sacred sisterhood, famed abroad through many lands.
Lips
of the Fountain: Cometh she
because we are famed? Then, sister, let her pass on.
Seeker
beside the Stream: Nay, she has
gazed upon our secret ornament and would wear it next her heart.
Lips
of the Fountain: Cometh she to
wear a jewel next her heart? Our treasure is hidden within our hearts. Seeker
beside the Stream, let her pass on.
Seeker
beside the Stream: Nay, she
cometh weary with long wandering, dizzy with traveling the skies, blinded with
the deserts and battered with the multitudinous waters of the seven seas, Drop
of the Stream longs not for baubles. Her soul crieth aloud for the fountain; she
thirsteth for the fountain.
Lips
of the Fountain: Lady of the
Fountain, revered, thou hast heard all. Let me know thy will.
Lady
of the Fountain: Lips of the
Fountain, faithful sentinel, make wide the Gate and let those who are without,
enter.
Lips
of the Fountain, opening the Gate:
Enter, Seeker beside the Stream, and with thee, Drop of the Stream.
Lady
of the Fountain: Advance,
Sisters with thy charge, that we may learn her worth.
Seeker
beside the Stream, on the left, and Lips of the Fountain, on the right, move
forward very slowly, with Drop of the Stream between them, As they advance, the
other Sisters rustle their robes and pronounce in unison a long
"Sh-hh-h!" followed by two stamps of the feet. This is in imitation of
the sound of the Fountain, and they continue doing this until Drop of the Stream
is standing before Lady of the Fountain.
Sisters of
the Fountain, meditate now for truth.
Seeker
beside the Stream and Lips of the Fountain turn Drop of the Stream rapidly round
and round, and then remove her blindfold. There is a profound silence.
Sisters of the
Fountain, what is our oath?
Sisters
of the Fountain, in unison: We
shall be pure, pure in heart, pure in thought, pure in word, pure in deed. Every
day of our lives we shall remember to set up our sign against evil and
beastliness.
Lady
of the Fountain: Drop of the
Stream, search well. Hast thou any secret blemish which would prevent thee from
taking our oath?
Drop
of the Stream: There is nothing.
Seeker
beside the Stream: Then fold
thine hands over thy bosom, bow thine head, and repeat after me: We shall be
pure . . . pure in heart . . . pure in thought . . . pure in word. . . pure in
deed . . . Every day of our lives . . . we shall remember ... to set up our sign
against evil and beastliness.
Pauses
after each phrose.
Drop
of the Stream folds her hands, bows her head and repeats the oath, phrase by
phrase.
Lady
of the Fountain: Drop of the
Stream, wilt thou keep holy these words?
Drop
of the Stream: I will.
Seeker
beside the Stream: Drop thine
hands.
Lady
of the Fountain: Sisters of the
Fountain, what is our symbol of purity?
Sisters,
in unison: The Fountain is our
symbol of purity, and every day of our lives we shall remember to set up our
sign against evil and beastliness.
During
the last words, Lips of the Fountain sprinkles Drop of the Stream lightly with
water from the fountain (or bowl) on the table.
Lady
of the Fountain: Lips of the
Fountain and Seeker beside the Stream, bring forward thy charge bring
neophyte
forward
that she may receive the kiss of purity. Kisses
her on
the
forehead and pins the ritual symbols (crest) on the left yoke of her robe. No
longer art thou Drop of the Stream, but Drop of the Fountain. Be pure, for here
shalt thou quench the thirst of the soul. Lips
of the Fountain and Seeker Beside the Stream guide the Neophyte backward a step
or two.
Lady
of the Fountain: Sisters of the
Fountain, what revealeth purity of heart, of thought, of word, and of deed?
Sisters,
in unison: As water sparkleth
in sunlight or moonlight or starlight or firelight, so are we glorified in the
Light of the Fountain.
Lady
of the Fountain: Sisters of the
Fountain, what is our oath?
Sisters,
in unison: We shall gather and
we shall give light. Every day of our lives we shall remember to set up our sign
against darkness and confusion, that order and obedience, inspiration and
leadership may attend us in all our ways.
Lady
of the Fountain: Drop of the
Fountain, search well. Is there any hidden weakness which would hinder thee from
following our oath?
Drop
of the Fountain: There is
nothing.
Seeker
beside the Stream: Then lift up
thine arms to heaven, and repeat after me: We shall gather. . . and we shall
give light ... Every day of our lives . . . we shall remember to set up our
sign. . . against darkness and confusion. . . that order and obedience . . .
inspiration and leadership. . . may attend us in all our ways. Pauses
after each phrase.
Drop
of the Fountain raises her arms us directed and repeats the oath, phrase by
phrase by phrase.
Seeker
beside the Stream: Drop thine
hands.
Drop
of the Fountain obeys.
Lady
of the Fountain: Drop of the
Fountain, wilt thou keep holy these words?
Drop
of the Fountain: I will.
Lady
of the Fountain: Sisters of the
Fountain, what is our symbol of light?
Sisters,
in unison: The Torch is our
symbol of light, and every day of our lives we shall remember to set up our sign
against darkness and confusion.
Lady
of the Fountain: Lips of the
Fountain, bestow light upon Drop of the Fountain.
At
this, torches (flashlights) are passed down the line from the table, and all are
lighted simultaneously and turned upon the Neophyte, while Lips of the Fountain
places an unlit Torch in her hand.
Lady
of the Fountain: Advance, Drop
of the Fountain, that I may consecrate thy light.
Drop
of the Fountain steps forward and Lady of the Fountain lights her Torch.
Lady
of the Fountain to the others:
Sisters of the Fountain, whence cometh the light for this Torch?
Sisters
in unison: From the Light
Eternal, burning in the
Lady
of the Fountain: Sisters of the
Fountain, how shall she go clothed who beareth the light?
Sisters
in unison: She who beareth the
light shall go clothed in Holiness and Law.
Lady
of the Fountain: Sisters of the
Fountain, what is our oath?
Sisters
in unison: Every day of our
lives we shall remember to go clothed in Holiness and Law.
Lady
of the Fountain: Drop of the
Fountain, promise likewise?
Drop
of the Fountain: I do.
Lady
of the Fountain: Sisters of the
Fountain, what is our symbol of Holiness and Law?
Sisters
in unison: The Sacred Scroll is
our symbol of Holiness and Law, the Word of God that encompasseth all things
that we are and strive to be. Every day of our lives we shall remember to go
clothed in Holiness and Law.
Lady
of the Fountain: Advance, Lips
of the Fountain and Seeker beside the Stream, and lead our youngest sister among
our sisters that they may counsel her, for this we rightly call the playing of
the Fountain, where sister intermingleth with sister.
Lips
and Seeker lead the Neophyte to the other Sisters in succession. Each Sister
embraces her and whispers some serious word of counsel in her ear. When the
circle is completed, the Neophyte stands once more before Lady of the Fountain.
Lady
of the Fountain. Advance,
Seeker beside the Stream, and take from her the Torch.
Seeker
beside the Stream takes the flashlight from the Neophyte's hand.
As
she pronounces the final word, the Sisters all extinguish their torches and
arrange themselves in two columns facing each other and extending from the Gate
to the dais. At the head of the two columns and facing the dais stands the
Sister bearing the Star of David. To her left stands the Sister bearing the
sword and to her right stands the Sister bearing the shovel.
Sisters of the
Fountain, what is our ensign?
Sisters
in unison: Or ensign is the
Star of David, and signifies to us love and patriotism for all people.
Lady
of the Fountain: Sisters of the
Fountain, what do we ask for all people?
Sisters
in unison: Freedom, Equality,
and Justice in all lands.
Lady
of the Fountain: Sisters of the
Fountain, how shall we call all the people together?
Sisters
in unison: We shall lift up the
ensign and sound the great horn.
Lady
of the Fountain: Behold the
sacred symbols of Sigma Delta Tau!
The
Sister holding the Star of David lifts it high. Lips of the Fountain and Seeker
beside the Stream turn the Neophyte around to face the Star of David.
Lady
of the Fountain, rises: Sisters
of the Fountain and Drop of the Fountain, repeat with me this prayer: Blessed
art thou, o Lord, Who givest us strength and gatherest from the foremost ends of
the earth the members of this sisterhood.
They
all repeat the prayer in unison.
Sisters of the
Fountain, let us fight for our ideals.
The
left column advances one step, and the Sister at its head raises her sword.
Sisters
in unison: We will!
Lady
of the Fountain: Sisters of the
Fountain, let us work for our ideals.
The
right column advances one step, and the Sister at its head rises her shovel and
crosses it with the sword.
Sisters
in unison: We will!
Lady
of the Fountain steps down from the dais, takes the hand of the Neophyte, and
walks with her under the crossed sword and shovel. They are followed by Seeker
beside the Stream and Lips of the Fountain. The Sister bearing the Star of David
precedes the other Sisters, in twos, and they all march once around the
Lady
of the Fountain: Truly, Seeker
beside the Stream, God has brought us a new sister. And thou, youngest sister,
remember that we have brought thee from afar, and that now thou art a part of
the Fountain. Let thy light shine forth for thy sisters at all times; love us
and be loyal. Study our secret meanings and make them of thy life, not merely
thy lips.
There
are three long knocks at the Gate, then Torch enters. She wears a full-length
gold satin robe, with the pin of Sigma Delta Tau over her heart. She goes
directly to the Neophyte.
Torch,
addressing the Neophyte: I am
the Torch. Through timeless space I hurl, seeing nil, and this, my diamond, the
talisman whose alchemy transforms the eternal dews that drip from the stars; the
drops of truth that lighten heaven forever, into these pearls I bring you here.
Six are they in number, and six names have they.
Yet each is love, for
love I see in six manifestations:
Of companionship,
whether for man or for woman:
Of passion, which is
of man and woman for each other;
Of kinship, for one's
children, be they the offspring of the body or the soul; And of children for
their parents;
For one's self, to
express what is best in one's personality and life;
For mankind, which is
for the freedom of all individuals and all peoples;
For God, to bear ever
at heart His everlasting good and beauty.
And the names are:
Friendship, Love, Creation, Affection, Liberation, and Faith.
She
pins the Torch badge on the Neophyte.
There, fastened on
thy bosom, I stand revealed─the Torch with diamond flame and my six
pearls: and as, in a vineyard, when the fruit is ripe, the hand crushes out the
wine, so shall the hour come when this cluster of pearls will fuse into one
meaning for thee, and thou wilt quaff deeply of life and love.
Seeker
beside the Stream blindfolds the Neophyte and leads her to another room where
she waits in silence. After all have been initiated, they are all brought back
to the
Sister,
seated at table, tells: The
Story of Deborah.
Long, long ago,
beside Kishon, a river in
Deborah, musing on
the ignominy of her people, hold idly in her fingers a rose, from which she
pulled the petals, nor noticed where they fell. Suddenly, there came over her
the fear of the Lord, which is love and respect for Him, strength of the soul,
and, in Deborah, prophecy.
To her was revealed
that wherever a petal had fallen, there had sprung up a plant of roses, and she
knew that
And in Hebrew there
are three words which signify "Fear of the Lord is the rose of
Deborah," and the initials of these words are Sigma, Delta, Tau, words
which we have taken unto ourselves for a guide. "Sigma," that is
Shoshonah, a rose, and with us the rose of Deborah, and a sign to us that our
fraternity will increase and become manifold through the pursuit of our ideals.
"Delta," that is Deborah, the prophetess and deliverer of
Traditions
After
the reading of the Story of Deborah and before the signing of the Initiation
Scroll, the President or Pledge V.P. should explain the following traditions (do
not read them─tell them in your own words.
The Creation of our
Ritual
In 1917 at
SDT lost touch with
Brother Nat for many years. In 1958 the National Convention Chairman, wishing to
do something truly spectacular, decided to find our missing Ritualist. She
picked up the
The Secret Knock
Our initiation
ceremony began with three sets of knocks─3 on 3 on 3. This is the secret
knock known only to initiated members of SDT. It is used by the President before
she enters a formal active meeting as a reminder of the ritual which links all
SDT chapters. Should a member arrive late to a formal meeting she too must
identify herself with the secret knock. She will then be asked the secret
password before gaining admittance to the meeting.
The Secret Password
During the initiation
ceremony you heard the story of Deborah and received a yellow rose. SDT's secret
password commemorates this portion of the ceremony. Now and forever when you are
asked, "When did you last wear the golden tea rose," you will respond
quietly, "On the night of my initiation." This is the way SDT's
identify themselves to each other when they first meet or when they arrive late
to a meeting. Please wear your golden tea rose this evening so that the password
will always remind you of this very special occasion.
Continuing
traditions. . .
All formal meetings
are to begin with the Oath of Reaffirmation and an appropriate prayer, poem or
reading. All formal meetings should end with a special SDT song and your
university Alma Mater.
Only initiated
members may wear the crest. All members pledges as well as actives─are
encouraged to proudly wear their Greek letters.
Each
Neophyte in turn now signs the Sacred Scroll as a permanent record of her
initiation. The date of initiation should appear at the top of the Scroll. All
then form a circle, with each Neophyte between two Sisters, and sing the
Initiation Songs.