Knights of Fidelity
Initiation Ritual of a Pilgrim

 
1901

Opening Ceremonies
 
Upon the Valiant Commander giving three raps with the gave1, the Knights assembled will come to order and rise to their feet and remain standing until rapped to their seats by the Valiant Commander.
V.C.: Attention, Sir Knights. The appointed time is here, and we must now direct our thoughts to the performance of our duties. Captain of the Guards, you will permit no one to enter our portals until so ordered.
V.C.:  Master of Ceremonies, you will satisfy yourself that all present are qualified Knights of Fidelity.
Master of Ceremonies will take up the password.
M.C.: Valiant Commander, I find that all present are qualified Knights of Fidelity.
V.C.:  Attention, Sir Knights.
Give me the sign of salutation.
Its answer.
Sign of warning.
Its answer.
Words of distress in the dark.
Its answer.
V.C.: Knights of Fidelity, at the call of duty we are gathered here for the welfare of our chosen Order that we may profit by the experience of each other and renew the obligation that binds us together, thus strengthening the fraternal tie that unites us in one grand Brotherhood.
We will now sing our Opening Ode.
C.O.: As we are assembled here for our mutual benefit, let us hope that the proceedings will impress upon our minds the importance of living up to our obligation, thereby protecting our loved ones and rendering assistance to our fraternal brothers in times of trial and misfortune.
Three raps of the gavel by the Valiant Commander, signal for members of the lodge to be seated.
V.C.: Master of Ceremonies, are our portals well guarded, and are all present qualified to remain?
M.C.: Valiant Commander, our portals are well guarded, and I find all present qualified to remain.
V.C.: 'Tis well. Captain of the Guards, I now declare this Lodge open for the transaction of business, and you will admit all persons who are qualified Knights.
C.G.: Valiant Commander, your order has been obeyed.
 
 
Initiation of Pilgrim
 
V.C.: Master of Ceremonies, you will now withdraw.
The pilgrim you will find in the ante-room. Administer to him the first obligation and further prepare him for initiation.
Ante-room obligation given to pilgrim.
M.C.: The ceremonies of initiation in which you are to take a part will be a test of true manhood, and teach lessons that will be of lasting benefit throughout your future life. Some of these tests may seem severe, but true courage does not flinch in the hour of danger, and only such men may become Knights of Fidelity. As a member of this Order, you will associate yourself with fraternal brothers who in times of trial and misfortune will be brothers indeed. If you are satisfied in your heart that you possess the qualifications to become such a brother and still desire to be one of us, you will pronounce your name and repeat the following obligation:
I, ..., hereby obligate myself upon my word of honor as a man, that I will never, by word or deed, reveal, or inscribe upon anything movable or immovable, any of the secrets or mysteries about to be revealed to me; that I will pay due obedience to the Valiant Commander and have confidence in my brother Knights. I further promise that I will willingly submit to the tests to be applied during the ceremonies in which I am to take a part, and will hold blameless the officers and members of this Order.
The M.C. will now put hoodwink on pilgrim and tell him to remain standing until he returns. M.C. will now return to the hall, closing the door after him, and will say:
M.C.: Valiant Commander, are you ready to receive the pilgrim?
Everything being in readiness, the V.C. will say:
V.C.: Master of Ceremonies, the lodge is ready to receive the pilgrim.
M.C. now returns to ante-room, closing the door, gets the pilgrim facing door to hall and in a loud voice: Open to me.
Getting no reply, he repeats: Open to me, at the same time knocking at the door. Getting no answer he repeats his request, kicking the door with his foot.
Captain of the Guards will open the door and admit Master of Ceremonies and pilgrim to the hall who will remain standing near the door.
C.G.: Who may you be who is daring enough to disturb this council of Knights?
M.C.: Captain of the Guards, I have here a pilgrim who, hearing of the glories of your exalted Order, has traveled from afar and humbly seeks to become one of your noble band.
C.G.: Your pilgrim must have journeyed from afar, else would he have known that his request is granted to but few, as only men of courage tried and true may join our noble band.
M.C.: He is ready to submit to any test your Order may decree and thereby stand or fall.
C.G.: As he speaks fair, and seems a man of honor, you will wait until his desires are reported to our Valiant Commander.
C.G.: Valiant Commander, a pilgrim from afar, hearing of the glories or our exalted Order, is at our portals and seeks to become one of us.
V.C.: Has he brought proofs of his courage and daring?
C.G.: He has this day pledged himself as a brave and true man never to reveal the strange and mysterious things that may be intrusted to his keeping or flinch at any ordeal under which he may be called upon to pass.
V.C.: Since he has so declared, let the tests of his courage and truth be applied.
Master of Ceremonies will walk him around the room twice, stopping in front of the Valiant Commander.
M.C.: Valiant Commander, I present to you a pilgrim from afar who has entered our portals and is willing to undergo any ordeal; that by so doing, he may convince us of his sincerity and fitness to become a member of our Order.
V.C.: Master of Ceremonies, why is this pilgrim brought before me devoid of sight? Remove the bandage that he may see and know all that is being done.
V.C.: Pilgrim, before entering our portals, you took an obligation that you would obey the orders of the Valiant Commander and have confidence in the Knights present.
The test you are about to undergo will be one that will---
C.O.: Valiant Commander, I object to this stranger being admitted into our Order, as I have just been informed that he is not engaged in our business, as he represents himself to be, and in order to protect this lodge, I move that his initiation be delayed until our next meeting in order to give us time to investigate his case.
L.C.: Valiant Commander, I do not agree with my brother Knight. The pilgrim looks a man of intelligence and veracity, and it would be an act of injustice to lay the initiation over until our next meeting. The question can be settled satisfactorily to-night, and I suggest, Valiant Commander, that you request the pilgrim to draw a glass of beer at the refreshment stand; that will demonstrate to us whether he knows anything about our business.
V.C.: The suggestion just offered is a very good one.
Pilgrim, in order to convince the Knights present that you are familiar with our business, the Master of Ceremonies will conduct you to the refreshment stand where you will draw a glass of beer and bring the same to me.
The Master of Ceremonies will conduct the pilgrim to the keg and have him stand in front of same and draw a glass of beer; when he has done it, bring him before the Valiant Commander.
C.O.: Valiant Commander, I am now convinced that he does not know anything about our business, and I move that further proceedings in the initiation cease, and that he be rejected as a member of this Order.
Four or five members will try and get the floor to speak on the subject when the Valiant Commander will recognize the Lieutenant Commander.
L.C.: Valiant Commander, I hope the lodge will not act in haste regarding this matter. In justice to this gentleman and for the honor of our Order, it is our duty to act in a calm and impassioned manner. I would be pleased to hear every member of this lodge, that so desires, express his opinion; then, if by a majority vote he is declared eligible, let us proceed with the initiation.
Valiant Commander raps the gavel once and says:
V.C.: I think it would be advisable for the candidate to retire to the ante-room until the matter is thoroughly discussed and acted upon. Master of Ceremonies, conduct the candidate to the ante-room and let him wait until further orders.
The Master of Ceremonies will escort pilgrim to the ante-room, leaving the door ajar so that pilgrim will overhear the argument which will be discussed in a very loud tone of voices, several speaking at once. The pilgrim, listening, will be impressed with the idea that the admitting of him as a member is being warmly contested.
V.C.: Master of Ceremonies, you will notify the candidate that he has been accepted, and prepare him to receive the obligation.
The M.C. will return to the ante-room and inform the pilgrim that it was a hot debate, but was decided in his favor by one vote. M.C. will then bring him in the lodge hall, stopping in front of the V.C. In the meantime, the Past Valiant Commander has brought in and put in place the tripod and pot of quicksilver to represent moulten lead with alcohol lamp burning under.
V.C.: Pilgrim, before the obligation can be administered, you must cleanse your hands in this moulten lead as a proof of your courage, obedience to the Valiant Commander and your purity of heart.
Master of Ceremonies will now conduct the pilgrim to the altar, facing the Valiant Commander's station. Master of Ceremonies standing on the left, and Captain of the Guard on the right of the pilgrim, chain encircling the altar and Chief Orator, ends being held by the candidate. Members of the lodge will form a circle around the altar and the Chief Orator, holding the chain.
C.O.: Pilgrim, the chain you now hold represents the chains of fidelity that bind the members of this Order together; the brother Knights around you represent the tried and true links in our chain. You know that the strength of any chain is designated by the weak link; should the weak link break then our chain is broken. I ask you as a man and brother to make a firm and lasting resolution that come or go what may, you will never be a weak link in our fraternal chain.
 
 
Obligation
 
I, ..., in the presence of these Knights and the Supreme Being, do solemnly pledge myself to support the constitution and by-laws of the Supreme Lodge, Grand Lodge or any subordinate lodge of the Knights of Fidelity, that I am now, or may hereafter become a member of.
Further, that I will keep sacred the secrets and mysteries of this Order, and will never divulge same only to a Brother Knight in good standing; that I will, at all times, deal fairly and honestly with any brother of this Order, and see that others do not work him harm, or any of his family; that at no time will my hand be raised against my brother Knight, but in times of danger or misfortune, I will give to him all the assistance that lies in my power to bestow; that I will never, under any circumstances, violate the chastity of a brother's member's home, but will do all in my power to keep the same sacred. Further, that should I violate this most solemn obligation, may I become bereft of the confidence, love and respect of my brother Knights, be branded as a renegade and traitor, and expelled from this Order.
C.O.: Master of Ceremonies, conduct the pilgrim to Valiant Commander for further instructions.
During instruction of how to enter the lodge, Master of Ceremonies will be seated in his chair.
 
 
Instructions to Enter Lodge Room
 
V.C.: To enter the ante-room of a lodge hall give 3 raps on door, which will be answered by the Tyler by 2 raps. He will open the wicket. To him you will give the outer door pass-word.
You will then be admitted to the ante-room. Advance to the inner door leading to lodge hall and give 2 raps. The Captain of the Guard will respond with 3 raps, open the wicket, and to him you will give your name, number of your lodge and the semi-annual pass-word. Ile will report same to the Valiant Commander. If Recorder finds that you are in good standing, Valiant Commander will order you admitted to the lodge hall. You will then proceed to the altar in the center of the room and salute the Valiant Commander with salutation sign. When answered you may be seated.
Wishing to leave the room you must proceed in the same manner by advancing to the altar and salute the Valiant Commander with the salutation sign. When answered, you can then retire.
Wishing to speak before the lodge, you will arise and say, "Valiant Commander," and when recognized, you then can address the lodge or make a motion.
If you wish to change your location in the lodge room always pass between the altar and Lieutenant Commander with bowed head.
I will now instruct you in the signs and tests of this fraternity. Pay strict attention, as you will have to go through an examination.
1. Salutation and its answer.
2. Sign of warning and its answer.
3. Words of distress and its answer.
4. How to test a Sir Knight.
5. Grip and pass-word, and how to give.
6. Voting sign.
The Valiant Commander will hand a blank to the candidate and order him to fill it out, at the same time ask the Master of Ceremonies to let the candidate have his seat. The Master of Ceremonies will watch the candidate and when he has filled out one of the secret words, he will pull the string.
V.C.: Pilgrim, here is an examination blank which you will fill out. Master of Ceremonies, you will let the candidate have that chair. While the candidate is filling out the examination blank we will proceed with our regular business.
Several members of the lodge will start making motions and call for recognition by the chair.
After the Master of Ceremonies pulls the string he will take position of the examination blank. Bring candidate before the Valiant Commander, and will say:
M.C.: Valiant Commander, the candidate has violated his first obligation.
C.O. will call for recognition by the chair, will prosecute the candidate, and finally move that he be suspended for one year.
After the Chief Orator has concluded his prosecution the Lieutenant Commander will call for recognition by the chair and defend the candidate and move that he be reprimanded.
V.C.: Brother Knight, you came among us secure in your confidence that you could undergo the tests of true manhood. You have been tried in the balance and found wanting. It is no part of our duty to revile you, but to extend to you the helping hand of fraternal friendship, thereby assisting you over the rugged paths that we all must encounter on our journey through life. The tests you have been put through were not done out of idle curiosity or to humiliate you before your brother Knights. They were done to impress upon your mind your first obligation to never divulge the secret work of our Order. The only evidence we have of your first indiscretion is this piece of paper. We will destroy it and cast it to the winds, and erase from our memory any recollections of this event.
The Valiant Commander tears paper and throws it away.
I hope the lesson you have received to-night will be impressed upon your memory and that in your journey through life you will never again violate your obligation. Master of Ceremonies, conduct the brother to the Past Valiant Commander for further instructions.
M.C.: Past Valiant Commander, by order of our worthy Valiant Commander, I present to you Brother ..., for further instructions.
P.V.C.: As a brother Knight, I extend to you our sympathy and support, and congratulate you, that, with the assistance of the brother Knights present, you have arrived safely at this stage of your journey. Let me impress upon your heart that it is your duty at all times to extend a helping hand to a brother Knight in distress, and so conduct yourself in your daily walk in life, that it may be a credit to your manhood and an honor to our exalted Order. By so conducting yourself, you will command the respect and confidence of every member of our fraternity. The Master of Ceremonies will now conduct you to the Recorder.
V.C.: The lodge will be at ease for a few moments to congratulate our new member.
 
 
Closing Ceremonies
 
V.C.: Does any brother desire to bring before this lodge any other matter for discussion pertaining to the good of our Order? If not, I shall proceed to close this lodge in proper form.
V.C.: Lieutenant Commander, are you aware of any reasons that will prevent this lodge being closed at this time?
L.C.: Valiant Commander, I am aware of no reason.
V.C.: Master of Ceremonies, you will notify the Captain of the Guards that this council of the Knights of Fidelity is about to close.
M.C.: Valiant Commander, your order has been obeyed.
V.C.: Brother Knights, as we have at this time performed our several duties to the best of our ability, let us now depart, determined to stand fast to our obligation and present a muted front to all our enemies, and may the Ruler of all vouchsafe us prosperity.
V.C. will give one rap of the gavel and the Knights will arise.
V.C.: We will now sing our Closing Ode.
Master of Ceremonies will now collect the Rituals, Jewels and other Paraphernalia, the organ playing softly in the meantime until such is done.
The Valiant Commander will say:
V.C.: I hereby declare this lodge duly closed.
Then gives one rap of the gavel.