Order of Sleeping Car Employes
Ritual
Opening Ceremony
1918
PRESIDENT: Brother Conductors, it is the President’s duty to
open this Division for the proper transactions of all legal business which we
may have to perform. Brother Sentinels, see that our doors are closed.
SENTINELS: Brother President, your order has been obeyed. We await
your command.
PRESIDENT: Outer Sentinel, your duty is to guard the
outer door; permit no one to enter who has not the permanent pass and to keep
order in the ante-room. Inner Sentinel, your duty is to guard the inner door,
permit no one to enter who is not in possession of the inner pass, and I hold
each of you responsible for those who pass you during this meeting unless
directed to do so.
PRESIDENT: Brother Conductor, prove yourself and then prove all
present have a right to remain, reporting when so done.
CONDUCTOR: Brother President, all have proved themselves.
PRESIDENT: Officers and members, it is my duty to see that the
laws of this order are complied with, and therefore, vested with this power, ask
that each of you will help me to fulfill this duty. Brother Chaplain, we await
you.
CHAPLAIN: Oh God, our Heavenly Father, we ask that you be with us
in this meeting and direct us in the performance of our duty to all mankind, as
Thou hast promised. Be within us in all our undertakings, that we may do nothing
wrong. In Thy name we are meeting here and in Thy name we desire to proceed in
all our affairs. May Heaven grant that we will have your guidance so that we
will deal in a manner that will reflect to our credit, and when the voyage of
life is over, may we all meet a safe landing in the harbor of Heaven. Amen.
PRESIDENT: I now declare … Division No. … open for transacting
all business properly. Personalities must not be indulged in.
PRESIDENT: Sentinel, you may admit all in waiting with proper
proof.
Initiation
CONDUCTOR: Brother President, I find Mr. … waiting for
initiation.
PRESIDENT: Brother Treasurer and Conductor, you will prepare Mr.
… for initiation.
Conductor and Treasurer retire to the ante-room, where the proper fee will be
collected.
CONDUCTOR, to Candidate: Mr. …, you will be required to take an
obligation to join this order, and with the assurance on my part that nothing
required of you will conflict with your religions views or your obligations as a
man, will you agree to support and conform to the rules of the organization?
Candidate must answer in the affirmative. He should then be blindfolded and
prepared for the initiation. After blindfolding, led into the Division room and
placed in front of the altar, with the left hand on the Bible and the right hand
extended heavenward. When properly placed:
VICE-PRESIDENT: Brother President, initiation is now regular. All
members should join hands around the altar.
PRESIDENT, ** ** *: Brothers, attend the initiation.
PRESIDENT: Think seriously while I repeat this obligation. I,
(your name), before Almighty God and these men that surround me, solemnly swear
that I will keep the matters of this order secret and unto myself, unless
instructed by the Grand Division and that, if for any reason, I relinquish my
membership, this oath is still binding, even unto death, and that I will work at
all times in behalf of this beloved order and I further swear that if I should
betray my fellowmen in this order, I will become a despicable subject, not fit
to mingle with honorable men, a traitor, and a spy. I thus pass sentence upon
myself.
I now look upon this band of men and see ties that will last unto death and
become a part of you, so help me God.
PRESIDENT: Brother Conductor, you will now present the Candidate
and I will give him the secret work.
CONDUCTOR: Brother President, I have Mr. …, who has been
obligated, bust desires further information.
PRESIDENT: Mr. …, the secret work of this organization, I will
now acquaint you with. On approaching the outer door, give …, that will call
the Outer Sentinel, and when he presents himself, you will give in a whisper
this pass word, which is never changed. Then you will approach the inner door
and give this signal, …, and to him you will give this pass word in a whisper,
which is changed every three months or when deemed advisable by the President.
Then you will advance about eight feet, turn square, advance to the front of the
Vice-President’s station, salute that officer, turn around and advance to the
altar and give the sign, which is made like this, and signifies by your action
that …, and when properly given, will be answered by the President in this way…,
which also signifies …. Then you are at liberty to take a seat.
We have a challenging sign to be used when you want to know if some other
Conductor is a member of the order, and is given thus, …, and if he is a
member, he will reply by giving this sign …. After your sign has been
answered, then we have a question which should be used. You should say … and
he should answer …. But you should both have your receipts for the current
month before talking business.
The motto of this order is LIBERTY, JUSTICE and PROTECTION. LIBERTY is that
which our forefathers fought, bled and died for and that which our country is
now fighting for. JUSTICE, we demand from the hands of those with whom we deal
in all our transactions, especially our labor. PROTECTION, above all things we
must have, for be it known by all that time greatest struggle of the whole world
since the beginning of time has been for protection. Even the beasts and the
beards are, through instinct, taught first of all to protect their mates as well
as themselves, and we shall expect you to remember these thee words and comply
fully with their meaning.
PRESIDENT, ** ** *: Brothers Conductor, you will now introduce the
candidate to the Division.
CONDUCTOR: Brother President and brothers, it affords me great
pleasure to introduce to you Brother …, whose initiation has just been
concluded.
Ceremony of Closing
PRESIDENT: Brother Secretary, is there any further business
procedures at this meeting?
SECRETARY: Brother President there is none.
PRESIDENT: Then we will proceed with the closing.
PRESIDENT: Brother Vice-President, instruct the Inner Sentinel.
VICE-PRESIDENT: Brother Inner Sentinel, the President instructs
the lodge be closed, allowing no one to enter or retire until further orders.
Brother President, I have instructed the Sentinel.
PRESIDENT: Brother Secretary-Treasurer, instruct the members in
their financial business.
SECRETARY-TREASURER: Brother Conductors, the most important duty
you owe to your organization is to pay your dues and assessments to the
Treasurer before the first of each month, and by so doing, you will help to
maintain our order and fulfill its mission, which is to provide protection for
those we have banded ourselves together to assist, Obey the constitution and
general rules and to attend every meeting of this Division. There is now $ …
in the hands of your Treasurer.
PRESIDENT: Brother Chaplain, we now await your closing.
CHAPLAIN: My brothers, as we leave this lodge room, let us not
forget the obligation we have taken, and let us leave this Division room fully
determined that all our acts shall be such that they may be pointed to with
pride and that they may be confined within the beautiful words, Liberty, Justice
and Protection, and may our Heavenly Father watch over us in all our actions
through life and in such a way that the Great Ruler above will enclose us in the
portals of Heaven when the time approaches to leave this earth, and may He keep
us well and safe until our next meeting. Amen.
PRESIDENT: Brother Conductors, I thank you for attending today,
but I urge you to greater efforts in the cause of our order, remembering always
the motto under which we fight, and if you follow your best thoughts will always
be fraternalism and honesty. Remember that fair dealing always brings its
reward.
I now declare … Division closed until next meeting time. **.