International Association of Railway Employees
Ritual


1935


Opening Unions

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

Presiden
t:
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.


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