Ladies Auxiliary of the Fleet Reserve Association
Initiation Ritual


n.d.


PRESIDENT shall seat members with one rap of the gavel saying: The meeting will come to order. The doors of the meeting hall shall be closed by the Sergeant-at-Arms.
The Sergeant-at-Arms shall proceed through the membership and return to the station of the President where she will report, giving the names of National Officers and visiting members. The President will then call upon the visiting members to be introduced by the Sergeant-at-Arms. National officers shall be invited to seats of prominence.
THE PRESIDENT will give three raps of the gavel and the members will stand at attention.
PRESIDENT:
Color Guards will parade the colors. Attention at Altar. The members will stand at attention, placing the right hand over the heart, while the colors are being advanced. Color Guards stand at attention at Altar during the opening prayer.
PRESIDENT:
The Chaplain will now invoke the blessing of God.
The Chaplain will proceed to the Altar, open the Bible and give the opening prayer.
CHAPLAIN:
Almighty God, creator of all things, we humbly beseech Thee to accept our devotions, have mercy on the souls of our departed. Guide us in all our undertakings that we may truly please Thee.—AMEN.
PRESIDENT:
Color Guards, post colors.
PRESIDENT:
The Americanisrn Chairman will lead us in a Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
AMERICANISM CHAIRMAN: (Members stand with right hand over heart—left hand free of any articles—members give pledge in unison with the chairman):
I pledge allegiance to the Flag & the United States of America, And to the Republic for which it stands, One nation under God, indivisible, With liberty and justice for all.
PRESIDENT:
We will all join in singing the Star Spangled Banner.
Oh say, can you see, by the dawn’s early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro’ the perilous fight,
O’er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming.
And the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof thro’ the night that our Flag was still there.
Oh, say, does that Star Spangled Banner yet wave,
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
Oh, thus be it ever, when free men shall stand.
Between their loved homes and the war’s desolation.
Blest with victory and peace, may the heaven rescued land.
Praise the pow’r that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause be it just,
And this be our motto; "In God is our trust."
And the Star-Spangled Banner in triumph shall wave,
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
PRESIDENT:
The members will repeat the preamble of the Constitution of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Fleet Reserve Association.
 
 
Preamble
 
Having a keen sense of responsibility, being true Americans, and bearing in mind the preamble of the Fleet Reserve Association, we, the members of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Fleet Reserve Association do band together to aid, assist and promote in all matters pertaining to welfare, social and patriotic work, for the benefit of the Fleet Reserve Association, its members and their families. Thus do we associate and declare these principles to be the foundation and the constitution of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Fleet Reserve Association.
PRESIDENT:
I now declare Unit No. … of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Fleet Reserve Association regularly convened. With one rap of the gavel seats all members.
 
 
Initiation Ceremony
 
PRESIDENT:
Sergeant-at-arms, you will present the candidates at the Altar. Sergeant will line the candidate(s) in front of Altar.
SERGEANT-at-ARMS:
Madam President, the candidate(s) await your orders.
PRESIDENT:
You have been elected to membership in Unit … of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Fleet Reserve Association. This Auxiliary is composed of the wives, mothers, sisters, and daughters of the members of the Fleet Reserve Association, and widows of Fleet Reservists, or Fleet Marine Corps Reservists. It has certain aims and principles, which distinguish it from other patriotic organizations. You will now hear these principles explained to you by the officers of the Auxiliary.
Two raps of the gavel calls up officers only.
PRESIDENT:
Sergeant-at-Arms, you will now conduct the candidate(s) to the station of the Junior Past President.
SERGEANT-AT-ARMS:
By direction of the President I present the candidate(s) for instruction in Loyalty.
JUNIOR PAST PRESIDENT:
The first principle of the Ladies Auxiliary is Loyalty. Your future happiness from this day on is our concern as our sister member. You must be loyal to your Flag and your Country, to the community in which you live and to your sister members in this Auxiliary. Let no word or deed of yours cause any injury to the person or family of any shipmate.
PRESIDENT:
Sergeant-at-Arms, you will now conduct the Candidate(s) to the station, of the Vice-President who will instruct the candidate(s) in Protection, the second principle of our Auxiliary.
VICE-PRESIDENT:
The second principle of our Auxiliary is Protection. As a member you have certain rights and privileges. It has been the experience of many that only by constant vigilance can we protect our rights. It is evident, then, that united we stand and united in organization thee is strength.
For this reason we have banded together into an Auxiliary for mutual protection.
PRESIDENT:
Sergeant-at-Arms, conduct the candidate(s) to the station of the Chaplain to be instructed in Service.
CHAPLAIN:
Service is the third principle of our Auxiliary. It is not only the aim of this Auxiliary to render service to its members, and their families, but also to the United States Navy. If a member is sick or in distress, render what service you can, then notify the officers of your Auxiliary. It is our duty to assist in good fortune and distress.
PRESIDENT:
Sergeant-at-Arms, you will conduct the candidate(s) to the Altar for obligation.
SERGEANT-at-Arms:
Madam President, I present the candidate(s) for obligation.
PRESIDENT:
You have heard the three principles of our Auxiliary. At the opening of each meeting you will hear the reciting of the preamble of our Constitution. Believing you worthy, we ask if you are willing to obligate yourself to these principles as a member.
CANDIDATE:
I am.
President gives three raps of the gavel to call up entire membership. President will proceed to Altar.
PRESIDENT:
You will raise your right hand and repeat after me using your name where I do mine.
I, ..., promise on my honor as a member that I will abide by the constitution, the rules and regulations of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Fleet Reserve Association, the By-Laws of this Unit, and all other authority by which I may be governed; that I will keep faith to my oath of allegiance; revere the Flag of my Country; be a loyal citizen and a true member. Hands down.
PRESIDENT:
By authority vested in me as President, I declare you to be regularly initiated as a member into this Unit No. … Ladies Auxiliary of the Fleet Reserve Association. President greets each member with a welcome handclasp, and returns to rostrum, gives one rap and seats all members. A recess is declared to greet the new members.
CHAPLAIN closes Bible. Chaplain opens Bible when meeting is again called to order.

 
 
Closing
 
PRESIDENT:
If there is no other business to come before the meeting we will proceed to adjourn. President gives three raps of the gavel and members will rise.
PRESIDENT:
We will now give the salutation to the dead. Members will stand with bowed heads for one minute.
PRESIDENT:
The Chaplain will recite the closing prayer. Chaplain will proceed to Altar.
CHAPLAIN:
Almighty God, who hast given us grace at this time to make our common supplications unto Thee, and dost promise that when two or more are gathered together in Thy name, Thou will grant their request; fulfil now, O Lord, the desires and petitions of Thy servants, as may be most expedient for them, grant us in this world knowledge of Thy truth, arid in the world to come life everlasting. AMEN.
Chaplain closes Bible.
PRESIDENT:
Color Guards will now retire the colors. Members will stand, at attention, placing the right hand over the heart, while the colors are being advanced.
Color Guards retire the colors.
PRESIDENT:
Let us leave this meeting place fully aware of the obligations we owe to our Country and to the Ladies Auxiliary of the Fleet Reserve Association, and until we meet again, let nothing swerve us from our principles.
I now declare this meeting of Unit No. … Ladies Auxiliary of the Fleet Reserve Association regularly adjourned.


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