American Labor Union
Initiation Ritual
Opening
n.d.
At the time of opening the President will call the meeting to order with one
rap of the gavel and will say:
PRESIDENT: Those not entitled to remain will retire; the Guard
will close the door and will admit no person who is not in possession of the
quarterly password. The Guard will examine those present and will report whether
they are in possession of the password and entitled to remain.
During the opening the Guard will permit no person to enter or retire from
the hall. When the Guard has completed the examination he will advance to the
center of the room, salute the President and will say:
GUARD: Mr President. I have made examination as directed and find
all present entitled to sit with us.
The President will give three raps of the gavel. Officers and members will
rise to their feet, facing the President, who will say:
PRESIDENT: Past President, state the duties of the members of this
order.
PAST PRESIDENT: Members of the American Labor Union are pledged to
the service of humanity. Recognizing that labor is noble and holy, we have
pledged the best efforts of our lives for its advancement, and for the triumph
of justice and right principles among mankind. Members should be ever willing to
assist a brother or sister, and by daily acts of kindness exemplify to the world
our principles of human brotherhood.
PRESIDENT: Do you all promise to faithfully perform the duties
imposed by your membership in the order?
MEMBERS: We do.
PRESIDENT: If so, I now declare this meeting open for the
transaction of business. In the consideration of such matters as will come
before us, let us be observant of proper decorum, remembering the principles of
our organization and the laws for its guidance.
The President will then give one rap of the gavel, when the members will be
seated and the meeting will proceed to the regular order of business. In the
absence of the President the Vice-President will preside and will appoint a
Vice-President for the meeting. If other officers are absent the presiding
officer will appoint such officers as are necessary for the proper opening of
the meeting and for the conducting of its business.
Initiation
The President instructs the Guide to retire and obtain the names of those in
waiting. The initiation fee must be paid in advance. If all applicants have been
duly elected and have fully qualified the President says:
PRESIDENT: The Guide will retire and prepare the candidates for
initiation.
The Guide goes to the ante-room and asks the candidates the following
questions:
GUIDE: Are you now or have you ever been a member of the American
Labor Union?
CANDIDATE: …
GUIDE: Are you willing to bind yourself with a pledge of honor to
keep profoundly secret everything you may see or hear if admitted to the
presence of the members of this Union?
CANDIDATE: I am.
The Guide then enters with Candidate, and advancing to the President’s
chair, says:
GUIDE: Worthy President, I present you this Candidate for
initiation.
PRESIDENT: Friend, you have been elected to membership in this
Union. This is an honor of which you may indeed be proud. You have been admitted
to the friendship and comradeship of your fellow working people. But before you
can unite with us you must take an obligation such as will not interfere with
any religious belief you may have, which all of us have taken. Are you willing
to proceed?
CANDIDATE: I am.
PRESIDENT: You will raise your right hand and repeat after me,
giving your name after the word I:
I, …, hereby pledge my honor that I will not reveal any of the secret work
of any Union business to any person whatsoever.
That I will use all honourable means to procure employment for members of the
American labor Union in preference to others.
That I will not wrong any member of the Union or any member of his family, or
see them wronged, if within my power to prevent it, and I further promise that
mu conduct as a member of organized labor will never be such as to cast
discredit upon it. I do further solemnly promise that I will when purchasing
manufactured goods ask for those bearing the union label. That I will exert
myself in the utmost to induce the members of my family, my friends and
acquaintances to act in a like manner.
That I will strictly obey all laws and lawful summons that may come to me,
That it will always be my aim to promote the best interests of humanity. And
I further promise that should I be expelled or voluntarily leave this Union. I
will consider these pledges as binding out of it as in it; to the faithful
performance of all of which I pledge my sacred honor.
President seats Union, and advancing to the Candidate says: You
have taken a solemn obligation that binds you to us in ties of fraternal
interests. I will now give you the quarterly password, which you are only
entitled to receive from the President and only given by him, and never by one
member to another.
To gain admission to the Union when in session, give an alarm that will
attract the Guardian, and when the Guardian attends you will give him the
quarterly password and your working card, and if you are correct he will admit
you. You will advance to the center of the room, and facing the President you
will salute him with a sign of Fraternity. which is made thus: …. The
President will answer by giving the same sign. In retiring you will salute the
Vice-President in the same manner.
The sign of recognition is made … and the answer is made ….
After satisfying yourself that you have seen the sign and been recognized,
you may say: …. The challenged member will answer …. You will then say …,
and the challenged member will answer ….
The grip is made ….
The special meeting sign is made thus: ….
This sign is a lawful summons to attend the meeting, and nothing except
sickness, detention through employment or inability to attend by reason of
distance will excuse your absence.
This Union is known as No. … of the American Labor Union. Your monthly dues
are … and upon your prompt payment of the same will depend in a great measure
your good standing in the order.
On behalf of this great army of peace I salute you. Charged with the weapons
of intelligence and reason, you have pledged yourself the battle for industrial
freedom. The principles of this organization are broad and just and if you will
study them well, they will apply shield you from the shafts of criticism and the
unjust attacks of labor’s enemies. Advocate these principles fearlessly and
everywhere and you will fulfil the greatest obligation imposed by your
membership in the American Labor Union.
Facing the new member towards those present, the President will say:
Brothers and Sisters, I now present … name
as a member of our organization and as one worthy of your friendship and
protection.
The President then says: A recess of three minutes is declared for
congratulations.
Closing
In closing the President gives three raps with the gavel, when all members
rise to their feet. He then
says: If you are satisfied and willing, we will proceed to close.
The Guide will see that all property of the Union is securely bestowed.
Members, you will bear in mind your obligation. Be careful not to divulge the
private business or proceedings of this Union. As we are about to separate for
our respective homes, I would urge upon you activity and vigilance for the
purpose of advancing the interests of our Union and the objects for which we are
organized. Be ever mindful of the trust confided in you, and let no day pass
without rendering a kindness to a member, or in doing something to strengthen
our Union. Let us, ere we part, reaffirm all that we have been obligated to
perform.
And now, by virtue of my office, I declare this meeting adjourned until next
… at … o’clock, when I hope you will all be present.