Iron Molders' Union of North America
Initiation Ritual
1. This Ritual shall under no consideration, be submitted or subjected to the
inspection of any person not a member in good standing of the Iron Molders'
Union of North America (one who has taken the obligation prescribed herein);
neither shall it, under any circumstances, be allowed to remain in the hands of
any person during the recess of the Union, except in those of the President; and
whenever practicable, it shall be locked up in a desk or drawer in the
meeting-room.
1902
2. Each Union shall make special efforts to have their meeting-room in such a
location as to prevent the possibility of other than members present hearing or
seeing what is transpiring therein. And it is strictly prohibited from holding
meetings, either regular or special, in a room immediately back or front of a
bar-room.
3. As much of the impressiveness and solemnity of the initiatory ceremony
depends upon the manner in which the charges are enunciated, those most capable
of discharging this duty should be selected. Should the President be deficient
in distinct articulation, some member better qualified in that particular
respect should occupy his place during the ceremony.
This rule is imperative. The Corresponding Representative is enjoined to see
that the initiatory ceremony is not performed in a limping, halting, farcical
manner.
4. It is earnestly recommended that, so far as practicable, the President, or
whoever may conduct the ceremonies, should commit the charges and obligation to
memory, and deliver them in a clear, emphatic, distinct and solemn manner.
5. During the opening and closing ceremonies, or during the initiation of a
candidate, the Door-keeper shall not permit any Brother to either enter or pass
out. And no member shall be allowed to enter or pass out of the meeting-room
during the reading of the minutes.
6. Members in bad standing, who have taken the obligation herein provided,
can not be debarred admission until suspended, and the Door-keeper shall be
responsible for the admission of any suspended member to the meeting-room while
the Union is in session. No member in bad standing is entitled to the pass-word.
7. Each Union will receive from the President of the Iron
Molders' Union of North America a pass-word every three months, which must be
taken up at the opening of each meeting from every member, without any
exception. Members unable to give the same shall be reported to the President,
who shall instruct the Inductor to give the pass-word to such member, provided
he is in good standing.
8. Members depositing cards can not be admitted in the meeting-room until a
committee has waited upon them in the ante-room, and said committee is
thoroughly convinced that they are members in good standing—the Union to take
action on the report of the committee.
Opening of the Union
The hour of meeting having arrived, and a quorum being present, the President
shall take the chair and give two raps with the gavel, upon which the officers
and members shall he seated.
The President shall then give one rap with the gavel, and general silence
shall be observed.
The President, rising in his place, shall say: Brother members, I
am about to open this
Union of fraternally united Iron Molders, for the purpose of taking into
consideration such measures as will tend to perpetuate our Union, spread its
principles and advance our own individual and collective interests. You will
therefore give me your attention.
The President will then address the Door-keeper as follows: Brother
Door-keeper, it is your duty to securely guard the door, and permit none to
enter this meeting-room but members who are entitled to meet with us.
The President will then address the Inductor: Brother Inductor,
you will now proceed to examine each and every officer and member present in the
pass-word, and report to me every member who can not give you the same.
After carefully examining every member present, the Inductor shall report to
the President as follows: Brother President, I have examined all the
Brothers, and find them all correct.
The President shall then arise and address the Union as follows: Officers
and Members: By virtue of my office I have charge over this Union. I am bound by
my obligation as an officer to see that the laws are strictly and impartially
enforced.
I am also bound to preserve proper order and decorum. It is your duty to
remain here and take an active part and interest in every question that may come
before the Union. The obligation you have taken should be ever present in your
mind, and I trust that on this occasion you will so conduct yourselves that the
painful duty of recalling to your minds those duties or that obligation will be
spared me. I now declare this Union open for the transaction of such business as
may legally come before it—nothing of a personal, religious or partisan nature
to be introduced, under the penalty of our laws.
Initiation
Upon the application of a journeyman molder for membership in this
organization, a committee of not less than three members in good standing shall
be appointed to investigate into his character and standing as a journeyman
molder and a citizen, and such committee must report in writing as to the result
of their investigation.
The Union should furnish blanks for this purpose, and the President should
invariably instruct such committee that they are expected to do their duty
fearlessly and impartially.
The candidate having been duly balloted for and elected, and being present in
the ante-room, the President shall instruct the Vice-President and Inductor to
proceed to the ante-room, one of whom shall take this Ritual, and address the
candidate(s) in waiting as follows: My friend(s), have you ever
before made application to become a member, or been initiated into the I. M. U.
of N. A.?
Candidate(s) will answer.
My friend(s), by a vote of our Union it has been decreed that you shall be
admitted to membership in our brotherhood. In consideration of worthiness of the
Brother who proposed you, and of the committee which investigated into your
character and standing, we have concluded to share with you our privileges, and
we sincerely trust you will never abuse the confidence we are about to repose in
you, and the honor about to be conferred upon you. We trust your motives are
pure and good, and spring from a sincere desire to better your own condition, as
well as that of your fellow-craftsmen, socially, morally, intellectually and
financially.
Before admitting you to full membership, we shall exact of you a most solemn
and binding obligation. We have all taken the same pledge, and are subject to
its binding influence by the eternal principles of justice, and by every
inspiration of spotless manhood.
This obligation will not in any manner conflict with your social or religious
duties; but it will bind you by every principle of honor, integrity and justice.
If you feel that you can not keep the obligation we shall impose on you, for
your benefit, protection and elevation, you had better retire; for it were
better to never take that obligation than to break it and stamp upon yourself
the infamy attached to those who have neither honor nor manhood.
The Inductor will then conduct the candidate(s) to the inner door, giving
three distinct raps thereon. The Door-keeper will demand to know who is there,
and the Inductor will answer as follows: A candidate(s) in whom we
have every confidence.
The door will then be opened and the candidate(s) admitted.
The candidate(s), with the several guides, will take their stand immediately
in front of the President, who shall address the candidate(s) as follows: My
friend(s), you have been duly proposed and elected by the good will and votes of
those whose truest interests and wish is the fullest success of our system of
unity and brotherhood, that by protection through combination we may assist each
other.
Before you proceed further, it becomes my duty to ask you a few questions.
Do you declare, without equivocation, that you have sought admission into
this Union for the purpose of guarding its interests, spreading its principles,
and ameliorating your own condition?
Candidate(s) will answer.
PRESIDENT: Have you come fully prepared to labor with all your
mind and all your strength for the social, moral, mental and financial elevation
of our members, for the promotion of true harmony and genuine brotherly feeling
among all worthy initiated members?
Candidate(s) will answer.
PRESIDENT: Brother members, you have heard our friend(s) answers.
Do you still think him worthy of being initiated?
Members answer.
The President will give three raps with the gavel and the members will rise
to their feet.
The candidate(s) will then place his right hand on his left breast, and place
his left hand upon a copy of the Constitution of the Iron Molder's Union of
North America.
PRESIDENT: You will now repeat after me the following obligation,
using your name(s) where
I use mine:
Obligation
I, …, do voluntarily become a member of this Union, and pledge myself, upon
my sacred honor as a man, before the members here present, to abide by the
Constitution, By-Laws, Rules and Regulations of this Union.
I further pledge myself, that I will do all in my power to advance the
interests of this Union and those of the Iron Molders' Union of North America. I
will do all in my power to assist a Brother in procuring employment, in
preference to any molder who is not a member. I will abide by the decision of
the majority, constitutionally expressed.
I also pledge my sacred honor, that I will not divulge any of the business
transactions of this Union, or of the Iron Molders' Union of North America.
Should I leave this Union, I will consider this pledge as binding out of it as
in it.
The President will then give one rap with the gavel, and the members will be
seated.
The President will then address the Brother(s) as follows: Brother(s)—by
that name I can now address you—you have of your own free will become one of
us; you have pledged your most sacred word of honor that you will be true
through life to the principles of this organization, and to abide by the
Constitution of the Iron Molders' Union of North America, and the By-Laws, Rules
and Regulations of this Union. The great aim and object of our Union is to give
to our members that position in society which is their undoubted right as
citizens and freemen. Let whatever you hear in this room remain closely locked
in your own mind; and as you value your manhood and your honor, avoid all talk
or controversy about the internal workings of this Union outside of this room. I
would remind you that strict adherence to all our laws as laid down in the
Constitution and other special acts of the Iron Molders' Union of North America,
is required of you by the obligation you have just taken. You are also to be
prompt and regular in your attendance at the meetings of the Union. You are to
regard every member as a Brother; and, finally, you are to do your utmost in
spreading the power and influence of this organization.
I will now make you acquainted with the signs and pass-word, by which you
will gain admittance to this meeting-room. The pass word is never to be used
except to enter this room.
You must never give this word to any member or other person except the
Inductor and Door-keeper. Upon arriving at the door, you will give three
distinct raps; the Door-keeper will then present himself, and you will give him
your name and the pass-word the Inductor will then give
the new member the pass-word, which will admit you to the room,
Upon entering the room, you will advance to the center thereof and salute the
President thus: place your right hand within a few inches of your left shoulder,
and then draw it back in the form of a salute. The President will return the
salute in a similar manner, when you will be seated.
Should you desire to withdraw from the room previous to the adjournment, you
will advance to the middle of the floor and salute the President as upon
entering, and when he returns the salute you will be permitted to retire; but no
member will be permitted to retire while any Brother is speaking.
Brother(s), I now extend to you the right hand of fellowship, and declare you
a member of Iron Molders' Union No. …, and entitled to enjoy all its rights
and privileges. We bid you a cordial welcome to this Union of Molders. We trust
and believe you will always, and under all circumstances, prove true and
faithful to the obligations you have this night taken upon yourself; that you
will labor untiringly to promote the interests of this Union and its members;
and prove yourself worthy of admission into any and every Union of Iron Molders,
as an honourable and faithful member.
Closing ceremonies
When the order of business has been gone through with, the President shall
arise and address the Union as follows: There being no further
business before the Union, I will proceed to close.
Brothers, before you leave the room and separate for your respective homes, I
would urge upon you activity and vigilance in the cause of our Union, and the
objects for which we are organized. Be ever watchful and mindful of the trust
confided in you; let no day pass without rendering a kindness to a Brother, or
something done to strengthen our Union; and, that we may not forget our duties,
let us again, ere we part, re-affirm all that we have heretofore been obligated
to perform.
The President will then give three raps with the gavel, which calls the
members to their feet, when the Union led by the President, will repeat as
follows: We hereby pledge ourselves to remember our obligation,
especially not to divulge any of the business transactions of this Union.
I now declare this Union adjourned for … weeks, when I hope to see you all
present. The Door-keeper will open the door and members to retire.