International Association of Railway Employees
Ritual
Opening Unions
1935
Instructions to Presidents: The President and Vice President shall occupy
seats on platform representing the presiding end of labor hail, side by each.
The Secretaries will sit to right, in front of the President, and the Treasurer
to the left. The three Trustees shall occupy seats on platform, opposite end of
the Hall occupied by the President, the Conductor shall sit to front of Trustee’s
platform, the Inside Guard at the inside door, and the Outside Guard at the
outward door.
President, gives one tap of gavel, and says: Officers and members
will be in order please, Conductor examine the Union.
Conductor examines each member’s financial card or takes up code word if
used, those not in possession of finance or other identification cards including
the standard code words if used, will be reported to the President, who will
make proper investigation as to their standing and reasons for visiting the
Union.
President, after finding that all persons present are worthy to remain, gives
two taps of gavel, calling up the Union; and all officers and members will
repeat the following prayer, which shall be lead by the President.
Opening Prayer
Supreme Ruler of the Universe, the Creator of Earth; and all the things
therein. We pray Thy choice blessings upon this Union, its officers and members.
Imbue us with faith, and endow us with Wisdom and Strength, that our work may be
acceptable in Thy sight * ** and redound to the credit of all Humanity and this
Association. These blessings we ask in the name of our Sacred Redeemer. Amen.
At the close of prayer, President says: Officers and members, we
must meet again for the purpose of interchanging greetings of fraternal
friendship, and for advancement of the International Association of Railway
Employees. I do now, therefore, declare this Union opened for the transaction of
any business lawfully presented. Three taps of gavel,
all persons shall be seated.
Formal Admission of New Member
Note: A Committee of three, shall be appointed by the President, to examine
the candidate in reception room.
Examination
A candidate, having been balloted for and elected, will on the day of his
admission, be conducted to the reception room (not into the Union), and be
examined by a committee, at which time he will make answers to the following
questions:
Question: What is your name?
Answer:
Question: Where is your residence?
Answer:
Question: Are you married or single?
Answer:
Question: Have you children?
Answer: (State how many.)
Question: Are you m good health?
Answer:
Question: When were you last attended by a physician?
Answer:
Question: Are you in the employ of a railroad?
Answer:
Question: Where employed, and how long in the service?
Answer:
Question: Are you a member of any other railroad union, if so, is
such union affiliated with the International Association of Railway Employees?
Answer:
Question: If accepted in this Union, will you obey its laws, rules
and regulations?
Answer:
Question: Will you pay homage to our civil Government, the
International Association o! Railway Employees, and give due recognition to
both; considering the General Organization as the highest authority to which you
wilt direct appeal?
Answer:
Question: Will you pay regularly, your per-capita tax, dues and
assessments?
Answer:
Question: Will you familiarize yourself with provisions of the
Constitution of the International Association of Railway Employees, and strictly
obey the same?
Answer:
Chairman of Committee says: You, sir, having answered these
questions, will wait until we shall have made our report to the President of
this Union.
Committee returns to the Union and reports to the President its finding.
President says, if report is favorable: Conductor, conduct the
candidate, or candidates, into this Union for obligation.
Conductor retires to the reception room and together with candidate, or
candidates, enters the Union, requiring each candidate to stand erect before the
President and repeat the following obligation, which shall be lead by the
President.
Obligation
President to candidate, or candidates says: Say I, repeat your
full name and say after me, do solemnly and sincerely pledge my word of honor as
a man, that I will obey the rules, laws and regulations of this Union, and, as a
member thereof, will perform to the best of my ability, all duties required by
its laws or those of the International Association of Railway Employees. I
further agree to pay all lawful assessments, having been properly made by this
Union, or the International Association of Railway Employees. I further pledge
my attendance at all meetings of this Union when possible to do so, without loss
of time from my usual railroad employment, and further, that I will not discuss
the business of this Union, nor the International Association under which
jurisdiction it is holden, with any person or persons whomsoever; except that
such person, or persons be members of the International Association of Railway
Employees, and in good standing. I further pledge my loyalty and support to all
system or local grievance committees having jurisdiction over the railroad upon
which I am employed, provided, however, that such committee has authority to
represent the class of employees my service applies to. I faithfully promise,
that I will avoid giving aid or succor to enemies of the International
Association of Railway Employees; that I will use all honorable means to procure
employment for members of the International Association of Railway Employees in
preference to others. Now, in the presence of the Supreme Architect of the
Un[verse, and the members of this brotherhood assembled; I pledge to the
foregoing obligation, my most sacred honor.
Lecture
After the candidate is conveniently seated, the President proceeds with the
following lecture:
Brother workman, this Union is not constituted of several degrees, symbolic
of our ancient secret organizations, however, we endeavor to enlighten our
brotherhood in some principles of fraternalism, and admonish them to practice
the principles of WORK, FAITH and TRUTH. There are many features to be observed
in the making of fraternal government. The most outstanding features which
under-lie the foundation upon which fraternal government is established, must
prevail first of all, in the constituents thereof. To aid in the development of
these essential features, adequate education must be employed. The educational
feature is paramount, in all forms of government. There are many varieties of
human education, in the schools of learning we are usually taught reading,
writing and arithmetic. This course is highly essential, however, but there are
other courses of education which must prevail in the constituency prevalent in
the formation of, and proper administration of fraternal government. The
government of this Union, which is nothing less than a fraternal organization:
is very much like that of our Civil Government. The basis of political systems
in civil government, is the right of the people to make and alter their
constitutions. This condition carries in the International Association of
Railway Employees, and the methods for operation are almost the same. The
constitution of our civil government which at any time exists, till changed by
an explicit and authentic Act of the whole people, is sacredly obligatory upon
all. The very idea of power, and the right of the people to establish government
pre-supposes the duty of every individual to obey the established government. As
a matter of right, this same condition obtains in the International Association
of Railway Employees, when variations are observed, proper investigation will
reveal a fact that adequate education does not exist. Ignorance is the source
from which ill serious complications in government are derived. This condition
is brought on primarily, by an unqualified belief that we are free to follow our
own convictions without regard as to the provisions of law. In the absence of a
visible penalty, we sometimes ignorantly believe that no obligatory feature
obtains in the matter of doing right. In such a case an education in the art of
self-respect should be employed, or in other words, WE SHOULD NOT FORGET THE
GOLDEN RULE.
The ties of brotherhood are paramount, these should be observed supremely and
sacredly guarded by giving our strict obedience to laws, rules and regulations
of our Union. All obstructions to the execution of laws, all combinations and
associations, under whatever plausible character, with a real design to direct,
control, counteract, or awe the regular deliberation and action of the
constituted authorities, are destructive of fundamental principle, and of legal
tendency. The purpose of this organization is to exalt only broad-minded
members, to positions of trust and leadership. Those who are broad enough to
take counsel, and to contend for right, regardless of political influence, or
selfish motives. He that would rule, must first learn to obey.
This brief lecture is given to all who enter our brotherhood, with a view of
helping them to remember the little things in life which contribute so
abundantly to their peace, happiness and prosperity. In order that we shall know
our members wherever met in various fields of labor, we have universal
"Test", Signals, Grip and Word, which are now in use by all members
who come under the jurisdiction of the International Association of Railway
Employees. Believing in your sincerity, I shall now with the assistance of our
vice president, give you the authentic test, signals, grip and word of our
Union.
Test
President: What are the principles of our Union?
Vice President: Unity, Fraternity and Protection.
President: What are the words of our motto?
Vice President: Work, Faith and Truth.
President: Our Counter Words?
Vice President: The Injury of One, the Concern of All.
Recognizing Signals
Signal: Raise Right hand quickly, palm to front.
Answer: Raise left hand quickly, palm to front.
At night lanterns may be used in the same manner.
Grip
The universal grip is made by a common clasp of the right hands, letting the
index fingers extend in curved positions, so as to make a coupling as the hands
are drawn apart.
Universal Word
Commerce.
This word must be given by all who desire to enter a Union or Convention,
during period it is open for business.
Closing the Union
President gives one tap of gavel and says: Worthy Vice President,
what are the principles of our Union?
Vice President: Unity, Fraternity, and Protection.
President: What are the words of our motto?
Vice President: Work, Faith, and Truth.
President: What are our counter words?
Vice President: The injury of one, the concern of all.
President says: Let all officers and members repeat as follows:
Our Father, who art in Heaven, we supplicate a continuance of Thy divine mercy,
and approval of our work here, and grant that it may be our privilege to meet
those about us soon again, to perpetuate the objects of our Union. Amen.
President gives one tap of gavel and says: I declare this Union
closed.