United Brotherhood or Fenian Brotherhood
Initiation Ritual
Opening
No date (1860s)
When the S.G. takes his place the S closes the door; officers assume their
positions. Vacancies are filled by appointment of the S.G.
S.G., *: W., examine those present.
W. gives S.G. the Password then takes it from R.S., and proceeds from the
right on his circuit of examination. As W. approaches a member, the latter will
rise, extend the right hand to W. and whisper the Password. Those found without
the Password will be directed by W. to retire to the ante-room. When the Camp is
examined, and all inside are found correct, the W. proceeds to centre table and
reports:
W.: S.G., all present are members of the United Brotherhood.
S.G., * *: This Camp of the United Brotherhood will come to order.
J.G., what are the duties of your position?
J.G.: To assist you in the duties of your office, take charge of
the Camp in your absence, and observe that none enter this Camp except in the
proper manner.
S.G.: S., what are your duties?
S.: To carefully guard the approaches of the Camp; to allow none
but worthy members of the Order to enter, and to warn the Camp against intrusion
and betrayal.
S.G.: Officers and Brothers: be mindful of the grave
responsibilities and duties imposed on each and every one of us, and let not the
cause of Ireland, or the interests of the United Brotherhood suffer through any
want of attention on our part, and God will bless our work and make the Camp
serviceable to the Cause and honorable to our race. *.
Religious and political discussions are strictly prohibited as being
injurious to the interests of the U.B.
Initiation
Perfect silence must prevail during Initiation. The Conductor having
previously ascertained that candidates are awaiting, and having so advised the
S.G., the latter shall say:
S.G.: Conductor, proceed to the ante-room and interrogate the
candidates.
The Conductor then retires, and he will ask the candidates the following
questions, in their proper order.
Conductor: What is your name, age, birthplace, residence and
occupation?
Replies to these questions shall be noted down, and reported to D. and R.S.
Conductor: Do you believe in a Supreme Being?
Answer Yes of No.
Conductor: Understanding, as you do, that the objects of this
organization is the freedom of Ireland, will you take our obligation without
mental reservation?
Answer Yes of No.
If satisfactory answers are received, the Conductor shall return and report
the names, etc., to the S.G., who shall say:
S.G.: Prepare the candidates and present them.
The Conductor shall then obtain his sword, retire to the ante-room, and
blindfold the candidates. He will then give three knocks at the door, as a
signal for his associates to retire, one assistant conductor being selected for
each candidate, who shall take position on his right. The Conductor shall direct
the march and station himself at the head of the escort. At the entrance-door he
shall give three distinct knocks with the sword. The door having been opened,
the escort shall pass inside, when the door shall be closed. When the escort has
advanced three paces, the S. halts the Conductor abruptly, thus:
S.: Halt! Who comes here?
Escort halts.
Conductor: Friends who desire to unite with us in the cause of
Ireland!
S. to S.G.: Friends of Irish freedom! Shall I permit them to
proceed?
S.G.: Advance, friends.
Conductor: Forward! March!
The Conductor will lead the escort and candidates to within three paces of
the P.G. and shall command: Halt! The
candidates shall be aligned by the assistants, facing the P.G.
Conductor: Sir, I present to you those friends for instruction.
The P.G. shall the address the candidates in these words: My
friends! Animated by love, duty and patriotism, you have sought affiliation with
us. We have deemed you worthy of our confidence and our friendship. You are now
within these secret walls. The men who surround you have all taken the
obligations of our Order, and are endeavouring to fulfil its duties. These
duties must be cheerfully complied with, or not at all undertaken. We are
Irishmen, banded together for the purpose of freeing Ireland and elevating the
position of the Irish race. The lamp of the bitter past plainly points our path,
and we believe that the first step on the road to freedom is Secrecy. Destitute
of secrecy, defeat will again cloud our brightest hopes; and, believing this, we
shall hesitate at no sacrifice to maintain it. Be prepared, then, to cast aside
with us every thought that may impede the growth of this holy feeling among
Irishmen; for, once a member of this Order, you must stand by its watchwords of
Secrecy, Obedience and Love. With this explanation, I ask you are you willing to
proceed?
If the answer is satisfactory, the P.G. will say: Conduct our
friends to the S.G.
The Conductor, having placed the
candidates before the S.G. shall say: Sir, I present these friends
for further instruction.
S.G.: My friends, by your own voluntary act you are now before us.
You have learned the nature of the cause in which we are engaged―a
cause honorable to our manhood and imposed upon us by every consideration of
duty and patriotism. We would not have an unwilling member amongst us, and we
give you, even now, the opportunity of withdrawing, if you so desire. Every man
has taken a solemn and binding oath to be faithful to the trust we repose
in him. This oath, I assure you, is one which does not conflict with any duty
which you owe to God, to your country, your neighbors or yourself. It must be
taken before you can be admitted to light and fellowship in our Order. With this
assurance, and understanding, as you do, that the object of this organization is
the freedom of Ireland, will you submit yourself to our rules and regulations
and take our obligation without mental reservation?
Are you bound by any oath, obligation or agreement to expose any person,
persons or authority anything which you may know or learn relative to this Camp,
to which you now seek admission?
If the answers are correct, the S.G. will say: Conduct our friends
to the proper officer for obligation.
After marching to front of the J.G., the Conductor shall halt the escort and
say: Sir, I present these friends for obligation.
Obligation
I, …, do solemnly and sincerely swear, in the presence of Almighty God,
that I will labor, while life is left me, to establish and defend a Republican
form of government in Ireland. That I will never reveal the secrets of this
organization to any person or persons not entitled to know them. That I will
obey and comply with the Constitution and laws of the Universal Brotherhood, and
promptly and faithfully execute all Constitutional orders coming to me from the
proper authority, to the best of my ability. That I will foster a spirit of
Unity, Nationality and Brotherly Love among the people of Ireland.
I furthermore swear that I do not now belong to any other Irish revolutionary
society antagonistic to this organization, and that I will not become a member
of such society while connected with the United Brotherhood; and, finally, I
swear that I take this obligation without mental reservation, and that any
violation hereof is infamous and merits the severest punishment. So help me,
God.
Kiss the Book.
Admit the brothers to light and fraternity.
The assistants then retire, the Conductor faces candidates towards the S.G.
Brothers all raise their right hands and say: We are all witnesses
to the obligation you have taken.
The J.G. shall then address the candidates as follows: Brothers,
you have tonight, of your own free will, sworn to be true to Ireland, to the
Camp, to your race; that oath must be kept in letter and in spirit. While you
respect it, those around you will be your friends. Let your conduct then be such
that we shall have no reason to regret admitting you this night to our Camp.
Conduct the brothers to the S.G.
The S.G. greets the new brothers by shaking hands, and will address them as
follows: Brothers―for by that
sacred name I now greet you―I welcome you to our ranks in the name of our
beloved Ireland.
It is now my duty to call your attention to some of the regulations of this
organization, and also to state that I shall be very happy to make known to you,
from time to time, any other matters which may assist you to an intelligent
appreciation of our common purpose.
The name of this Order is the United Brotherhood. Its local sub-divisions are
styled Camps, and are known by numbers. This is Camp No. …. The leading object
of the United Brotherhood is to co-operate with the Irish Republican Brotherhood
is securing the independence of Ireland, and the special object is to secure the
union of all Irish nationalists. As it is essential; for the safe and efficient
working of our organization to preserve the strictest secrecy in reference to
it, you will never mention the name of the United Brotherhood, or anything
connected therewith, to anyone whom you do not know to be a member thereof in
good standing. And, that we may be more effectually guarded from exposure, as
well as to secure concentration of effort, you are prohibited by the supreme
authority from contributing money to, or otherwise aiding, any other Irish
revolutionary society.
Should you desire to secure some worthy person for membership, you will first
have him proposed here, and, if elected, you may then, indirectly and carefully,
ascertain his sentiments on the subject of secret Irish national organizations,
and, should his views be favorable, you might then intimate that you believe
there is a secret organization in existence working for Irish liberty; and, if
he appears inclined to join it, you may admit that you are a member of it, or
acquainted with a member of it, and that you think you can secure his admission
therein; but no further information must you convey, nor use the name of any
person connected with the Order.
Here the S.G. will describe the mode of recognition prescribed by the
Executive and give such other information as, in his judgment, is desirable;
such as the mode of entering a Camp when in session; how voting is performed;
the use of the gavel; the use of a number instead of a name and further add:
The Pass Word you will receive tonight is never to be spoken above breath,
nor given to anyone under any circumstances whatever, except to the S. at the
door; and the W. at the opening of the Camp (the complete Pass to be given to
W.). If a brother should forget the Pass, let him secure it from the S.G. alone.
Finally, my brothers, be careful that you do not make an improper use of the
instructions, and let not the cause of Ireland, or the interest of the United
Brotherhood, suffer through any want of prudence, perseverance and courage on
your part, while traveling onward on the path of Freedom. Gives
two raps.
Brothers, it affords me great pleasure to introduce to you our new brothers. Gives
one rap.
Closing
When the order of business is passed through, the S.G. gives two raps and
says: Brothers! Our work for this night
is performed. We part as we met in a spirit of unity and brotherly love―principles
that should actuate us continually as Irish revolutionists. We again
separate to mingle with the outside world. Let us bear with us a vivid
recollection of our mission―to heal the wounds of the past, and open the
prospects of a glorious future, by counseling and practicing love and fraternity
among the exiled children of our land. Until we meet again, secrecy, as
silent as that of the tomb, must guard the knowledge we possess; and, amid the
vicissitudes and toils of life, never forget that Ireland has entrusted her
safety to us and expects a faithful fulfillment of our pledges. This Camp stand
adjourned, to assemble again on next … evening.
*.