Fraternal Order of the Free
Ritual of the Male and Female Lodges
NOBLE PRESIDENT, calls Lodge to order with two raps of gavel: As I
am Noble President of this Lodge I now call it to order. Noble Vice President, I
authorize you to see that the doors are closed and the Noble Inner and Outer
Guardians are at their Stations.
No date
NOBLE VICE PRESIDENT: Noble President, I find that the doors are
closed and the Officers are at their Stations.
NOBLE PRESIDENT: Noble Marshal, see if all present have the
password which gives them the wisdom to remain in our Order.
Noble Marshal goes to the Noble President's station and gives the password to
the Noble President and then takes the same in a whisper, from each member in
the hall.
NOBLE MARSHAL: Noble President, I find all qualified to remain,
excepting these at altar.
NOBLE PRESIDENT: This Order is now ready for opening. We will
repeat the Lord's Prayer and sing our opening song, "America!"
NOBLE PRESIDENT: We are now ready for business.
Initiation
NOBLE PRESIDENT: Noble Marshal, will you please retire and find
who is in waiting.
NOBLE MARSHAL: Noble President. I find in waiting
names
who wish to become one of our members of this great Order Fraternal Order of the
Free.
NOBLE PRESIDENT: Noble Secretary, have these parties been balloted
on and paid all dues and fees?
NOBLE SECRETARY: Noble President, my records show that these
parties have filled all requirements to become a member of this Order.
NOBLE PRESIDENT: Noble Marshal, retire to the ante-room and
prepare the candidate for the Ritualistic work which will he given him in this
Order.
Noble Marshal retires, when candidate is well prepared Noble Marshal raps on
door twice.
NOBLE INNER GUARDIAN: Who raps at our door?
NOBLE MARSHAL: Noble Inner Guardian, inform the Noble President
that there are in waiting
names to
become a member of the Fraternal Order of the Free.
NOBLE INNER GUARDIAN: Noble President, the Noble Marshal has in
waiting, well prepared
names wishing
membership in our Order.
NOBLE PRESIDENT, gives three raps of gavel and calls members to their feet:
Noble Inner Guardian, direct the Noble Marshal to introduce the candidate to the
members here assembled of the Fraternal Order of the Free.
NOBLE PAST PRESIDENT: Halt! Who is approaching our secret Order?
NOBLE MARSHAL: A friend who is of good character and wishes to
become a member of the Fraternal Order of the Free.
NOBLE PAST PRESIDENT: Is he a friend or a traitor?
NOBLE MARSHAL: He is a friend.
NOBLE PAST PRESIDENT: Noble Marshal, you may take the Candidate to
the altar.
NOBLE MARSHAL: I have brought you to this altar in the presence of
these Noble Officers and members of the Fraternal Order of the Free.
Heed well what you hear. .
NOBLE PRESIDENT: Dear Candidate, you are at the Station that
stands for freedom, and love to all the members of this Order. As you stand we
welcome you in this great Order. The Book in front of you is the Holy Bible
which stands for truth, love, and righteousness to all men on earth.
The Flag before you is the Bag of our nation and you must always honor it as
such.
The Noble President then returns to his station and gives two raps of gavel
to seat members.
NOBLE PRESIDENT: Noble Marshal. you may conduct the candidates to
the altar facing the Noble Past President.
NOBLE MARSHAL: Noble Past President. I present to you under the
instructions of the Noble President these candidates for further instructions in
our Order.
NOBLE PAST PRESIDENT: Noble Marshal, what confidence have you in
these dear candidates to show that they wish to join hands with us in this order
of the Free.
NOBLE MARSHAL: They have truth, love, and friendship for our
Country and will have the same for our great Fraternal Order of the Free.
NOBLE PAST PRESIDENT: Dear candidate, we welcome you in our Order
providing you are willing to take our solemn obligation and keep it a secret as
long as life shall last.
Candidate answers yes or no.
NOBLE PAST PRESIDENT: Noble Marshal, place the candidate facing
the Noble Master of Ceremonies for the binding Obligation.
Noble President calls the members to feet with three raps.
NOBLE MARSHAL: Noble Master of Ceremonies. I have been authorized
by our Noble Past President to present these candidates to you for the binding
Obligation.
NOBLE MASTER OF CEREMONIES: My friends, you have been faithful on
your journey in making your way to this Station. Are you willing to take this
solemn obligation which is required of you before you can become a member of the
Fraternal Order of the Free and keep it a secret as long as life shall last.
Candidate answers yes or no.
You will then place your right hand on your left breast and your left hand on
the Holy Bible and repeat after me:
I swear in the presence of our Heavenly Father and these witnesses here
assembled that I will abide by and obey all laws and regulations of the
Fraternal Order of the Free.
I further swear and sincerely promise that I will never divulge the password
nor will I commit to writing any of the signs, grips, or other secrets,
excepting within the body of a duly and regularly chartered Subordinate Lodge or
Supreme Fraternal Order of the Free.
I further swear that I will never cheat, wrong or defraud a Lodge or member
of a Lodge of this name or will I allow the same to be done if within my power
to prevent.
I will give a brother of this Order due and timely notice of any threatening
danger and will if able render him assistance.
I will keep the secret of a brother in this Order when communicated to me as
such.
I will at all times shield and protect the honor and chastity of a brother's
home as I would my own.
I will do all that is in my power to assist the upbuilding of this Order and
Brotherhood.
I will not join or recognize an order of this name unless recognized by the
Supreme Lodge and has a charter as such from the Supreme Lodge, Fraternal Order
of the Free.
I further swear that I will at all times be true to the oath and pledge I
have taken in this degree. Should I be expelled or voluntarily leave the Order,
I shall never commit any of the secret work in this obligation, and shall always
consider it as binding out of it as in it.
To all this I pledge my sacred word and honor,
May God keep me steadfast.
Lodge in concert: Amen.
NOBLE MASTER OF CEREMONIES: My dear brother you have pledged your
sacred word and honor to be true to all the members of the Fraternal Order of
the Free.
You may now continue on your journey to the Noble Vice President's Station to
learn the lesson of Safety and Fidelity.
NOBLE MARSHAL: Noble Vice President, I present a candidate under
the direction of the Noble Master of Ceremonies to be given further instructions
as to Safety and Fidelity.
NOBLE VICE PRESIDENT: My dear brother you have come to the Station
of Safety and Fidelity. I wish to assure you that you are among the members and
Noble Officers of this Fraternal Order. Eventually we all may look strange to
you just now, but when you come to know all of us you will find that our hearts
are kind and true to all our brothers. When you come to know us and have been
accepted as a member of the Fraternal Order of the Free you will fee I confident
that you are in a good Order and are in good hands. We will protect you in
sickness and help you in misfortune and, in case of death, we will be of great
aid to the ones left behind you.
I hope you will learn this lesson of Safety well and what I have to teach you
concerning that sterling Fidelity is this:
Before you can expect the world to keep faith with you, you must first be
faithful to your own fireside, to your family, to your aged parent, brother and
sister in blood, and by association and loyalty to your Country and yourself.
When you are faithful to all these the community will respect and protect you
and will reward you with its faith and you will be the gainer. When you took the
binding oath at the Noble Master of Ceremonies Station you vowed to be faithful
to all these lessons taught by our Order. Now you have the privilege to continue
on and become the master of all the mysteries of the Fraternal Order of the
Free, or you may retire from us for life.
What is your pleasure?
Candidate says yes or no.
NOBLE VICE PRESIDENT: Noble Marshal, you may conduct the candidate
to the Noble Past President's Station to learn the last lesson taught by our
Order, which is Truth.
NOBLE MARSHAL: Noble Past President, I present to you a candidate
under the directions of the Noble Vice President for the last Lesson of the
Fraternal Order of the Free.
NOBLE PAST PRESIDENT: My dear Brother, you are now at the Station
of Truth. The Truth we teach in the Fraternal Order of the Free is embodied in
just and short sentence: "Be true to yourself and you cannot be false to
any other."
Truthfulness is the cornerstone of Character. To be able to place absolute
confidence in what a man may say means that you must respect and honor him as a
friend. Covered enmity under the smile of truth wounds the world. Your place and
position will be lost if you are untrue to your parent or your brother or
sister. You must remember that a deceiver is hated but a truthful man is honored
and respected by all of God's men.
NOBLE PAST PRESIDENT: Noble Marshal, you may conduct the candidate
to the altar facing the Noble Vice President for the Secret work of this Order.
NOBLE MARSHAL: Noble Vice President, I have a candidate at the
altar for instructions in the secret work of our Order.
NOBLE VICE PRESIDENT: My Dear Brother, when you are desiring
admittance to a Subordinate Lodge of the Fraternal Order of the Free while in
session you will make your presence known at the outer door by giving four raps
on the door. The name Outer Guardian will open the wicket and you will
communicate to him the permanent password which will be given you later. He will
then admit you to the anteroom where you will put on a collar or badge
appropriate for your membership or office. You will then rap three times on the
inner door. The Noble Inner Guardian wilt then open the wicket and you will give
him the term password and the name and location of your Subordinate Lodge you
are a member.
In case you are unknown by the Noble Inner Guardian you will be requested to
present your card to prove your identity to the satisfaction of the Noble Inner
Guardian and in case he is in doubt then to the satisfaction of the acting Noble
Vice President or Noble President after doing so you will be admitted. When you
are admitted you will advance to the altar and make the Courtesy sign by
Illustrates.
The Noble President will answer you with the wave of the hand or gavel. You will
then take a seat. But never at any lime are you permitted to pass through
between the altar and the Noble President's Station if Lodge is in session. If
you desire to leave a Lodge which is in session you will advance to the altar
and make the Courtesy Sign. The Noble President will acknowledge it with the
wave of the gavel.
The gavel in the hand of the Noble President or acting Noble President is the
emblem of official authority and control over the Subordinate Lodge. Give
cheerful obedience to its signals:
Two raps calls Lodge to Order. Three raps to its feet. And two raps seats it.
The corresponding mark is made by using just before your signature of your
letter the letters yours in F. O. O. F., signifying your in the Fraternal Order
of the Free.
We have a test sign to give a brother when you doubt his identity and it is
given thus:
Illustrates.
We also have an emblem of our Order and each member is requested to have one
on his person and is also supposed to be provided with a card signed by the
Noble Secretary' of the Subordinate Lodge showing his standing. When you receive
this card you will find on it a blank space for your name and address. This is
for the purpose of identification. A fellow member who doubts your identity has
a right to ask you to write your name to be compared with the signature on your
card. Our greeting sign is Freedom and the answer is freedom. This greeting sign
is not to be considered secret but may be used in public at pleasure whenever
you wish to greet or attract the attention of a brother member.
NOBLE VICE PRESIDENT: Noble Marshal, you will face the candidate
to the Noble Presidents Station for the last secret of our Order.
NOBLE MARSHAL: Noble President, I present to you this brother for
the last secret of our Order.
NOBLE PRESIDENT: My Dear Brother, you have come to me for the last
secret of our Order, the Fraternal Order of the Free. Do you honestly and
sincerely believe that you can live the lessons you have been taught here?
Candidate answers yes or no.
The Grip is given thus:
Illustrates.
Now, before giving you this, the last secret of our Order, I caution you that
you are never to give it to another, no matter how strong such persons claim may
be except when you are acting as or under the direction of the Noble President
or as an installing officer, authorized by the Supreme Noble President or his
First Deputy Noble President, Fraternal Order of the Free or in gaining
admittance to a lodge which is in session. The word which is changed every three
months for this term is
whispers password
and this one never changes
whispers password.
The distress sign is given thus:
illustrates.
Motto of the Fraternal Order of the Free:
What is this world without freedom,
What is freedom without friends,
What are friends without unity.
Today is life yesterday is but a dream, tomorrow is a vision. So let each day
be well lived and every yesterday will become a dream of happiness, and so will
every tomorrow become a dream of hope.
This Fraternal Order has no questions to ask you of what you are. All such
questions were asked and answered before you came here. We, as members of this
Fraternity, wish you to be a good and true citizen. But we know you as a brother
of this great Fraternity that stands for freedom and true brotherhood to all
mankind. When some Fraternal orders are admitting you they warn you not to use
your membership to promote your own selfish ends. But we tell you when you come
in this Lodge of the Fraternal Order of the Free that we give you permission to
do so, and in return we may use you. At any period in life, things other than
being equal is if you can lend a helping hand to a brother it is your duty to do
so. There are many ways that you may help a brother in this life and it is your
duty to preserve all these. In other words, you must say to yourself, if I have
a sick brother I will visit him today for tomorrow may be too late. In all cases
you must be true and loving to your brother and not only your brother but to
your Country, and this Fraternal Order so long as you are a member.
My dear brother, there is one exception to this obligation and that is if in
aiding a brother member would be injurious to the welfare of yourself or your
family. We teach faith and true love to all our brothers in this Fraternal
Organization of the Fraternal Order of the Free.
NOBLE PRESIDENT: Noble Marshal, you will place the new made
brother in front of the altar.
Noble President calls members to their feet with three raps.
NOBLE PRESIDENT: We will give our new pledged brother the welcome
hand of love and true friendship in our Order.
Noble President seats members with two raps of gavel.
Closing of Lodge
NOBLE PRESIDENT: There being no further business before us we will
now proceed to close, but before doing so let me urge you to bear in mind the
lessons taught by our Fraternal order of true love and friendship to all.
NOBLE PRESIDENT calls members to feet with three raps of gavel.
NOBLE PRESIDENT: Our Noble Master of Ceremonies will now recite
the closing creed.
NOBLE MASTER OF CEREMONES: Oh, Father in heaven we thank Thee for
giving us life and strength and health to be all united in this great Fraternal
Order here tonight. We also ask thee to help each and every one of us in this
united Order that stands for freedom. Give us strength to help each other in
sickness and distress as we all will and must make time to visit our sick
brothers of this great Fraternal Organization that stands for freedom and
brotherly love and peace to all mankind.
So may God watch over us until we meet again. Amen.
NOBLE PRESIDENT: Noble Marshal, you will collect the rituals and
all other regalia. Noble Inner Guardian, inform the Noble Outer Guardian we are
about to close.
NOBLE PRESIDENT: Attention, the Sign of the Order.
NOBLE PRESIDENT: This Lodge will stand adjourned until
at
o'clock