Colored Farmers National Alliance and Co-operative Union
Ritual
Opening of the Alliance
n.d.
The President calls the house to order: The hour has come to open
this Alliance. If any one present is not a member in good standing he will
please retire.
Brother Doorkeeper; secure the door. Done.
Brother Conductor, take up the word and see that all are correct. Done.
* * *. All stand.
Brother Chaplain, offer prayer. Done.
All assist me to advance the signs. Done.
I now declare this Alliance open for business.
Brother Secretary, read the minutes. Done.
Brother Secretary, call the roll. Done.
Initiation
President: Brother Secretary, are there any candidates present for
initiation?
Secretary: Mr.
is present and desires to enter.
President: Brother Secretary, has he been elected, and is his fee
secure?
Secretary: Yes.
President: Brother Conductor, you will bring in the candidate and
present him to me.
The Conductor leads the candidate to the President and says: Mr.
President, I present to you Mr.
, who seeks initiation into our Order.
The President, addressing the candidate, says: Mr.
, do you
believe in a God who made and rules all things and will judge all men?
Candidate: I do.
President: Mr.
, you will have to take a solemn obligation
before you can be initiated; but it will in no way interfere with your political
or religious opinions.
With this assurance, are you willing to proceed?
Candidate: I am.
President: Then place your left hand upon this Bible, your right
hand on your breast, use your name where I use mine and say after me:
Obligation
I,
, in presence of Heavenly Father, and these witnesses, solemnly promise
that I never will reveal any of the secrets of this Alliance to any person in
the world, unless by strict test, or lawful evidence I know him to be a member
and entitled to receive them. I will obey the Constitution and Rules of the
Order. I will act in harmony with the members and do all in my power to secure
the unity of the Alliance. I never will willfully cheat or wrong a worthy
member, but will assist him and protect his interest when in my power to do so.
I will speak the truth when talking to a member, and counsel and help him in
temptation and danger.
I will not recommend for membership in the Alliance a person whom I know to
be unworthy. I will never vote against, or oppose admission of any one on
account of personal enmity. I will always recognize and answer all lawful signs
given me by a worthy member. I furthermore solemnly promise, that if I should
ever withdraw from the Alliance, or be suspended or expelled, for any cause
whatever, I will keep this obligation as sacred out of the Order as when a
member. So help me God.
Brother Conductor, you will lead Brother
to the Chaplain, who will
instruct him in the principles of our Order.
They advance to the Chaplain.
Conductor: Brother Chaplain, the President desires you to instruct
Brother
in the principles of our Order.
Chaplain: Brother
, it affords me much pleasure to meet you
here. In all ages men by union and organization have accomplished what was
impossible to individuals. Without the organizations of families, communities
and nations, civilization could not exist; and she can accomplish her higher
aims and nobler purposes only by higher and purer organization.
One of us alone can do but little; a hundred united can do much. Perfect
organization produces the harmony of Heaven; and perfect harmony on earth, which
must antedate the restoration of all things and the glory of the millennium, can
be brought about by no other method. Deception and fraud should perish. A dollars
worth shall be given for a dollar and then peace shall reign. Brotherly love
must harmonize all our indifference and make us a unit. You will contribute your
mite to the redemption of our race by laboring for perfect union. Let us hope
that these noble aims will be ever before your mind and in your heart.
Brother Conductor, you will lead Brother
to the President for final
instructions.
They return to the President.
Conductor: Mr. President, I present Brother
for final
instructions.
President: Brother
, you are now a member of our Alliance and
it becomes my duty to instruct you in the pass-words, grip and signs of the
Order.
When wishing to enter an Alliance when at work, you will come to the door and
give
raps. The Door-Keeper will open the door and you will give him the
door-word, which is
. You will then enter the room and salute the
Vice-President with our salutation signs, thus
. He will recognize you thus
, and you may then be seated.
The room-word is
.
The degree-word is
.
The grip is given thus
.
The distress sign is
. The answer is
.
We counsel a Brother in danger
.
We open Alliance
.
We close Alliance
.