Southern Woodmen
Ritual of the Adoption Degree
Opening Ceremony
1915
Royal Consul, giving four raps: The
Guests will please be seated and the Officers and Patrol will occupy their
respective stations.
Royal Vice Consul: Royal Guide, you will ascertain if aH present
are in possession of the semi-annual pass word.
Royal Guide takes up the word.
Royal Guide: Royal Vice Consul, I find all qualified to remain
except ….
Royal Consul: Royal Prelate, sanctify the Altar.
Royal Prelate places the Bible upon the Altar and opens it at the First Psalm
and says: The Holy Bible shall be the guide of all Guests.
Royal Past Consul: Royal Escort, you will advance to the Altar and
read the First Psalm.
Royal Escort reads the Psalm.
Royal Consul gives three raps with the gavel and says: The King is
in his Holy Temple let all the earth keep silent before Him while our Royal
Prelate invokes divine blessing.
Royal Prelate advances to the Altar and says: King of Heaven and
Father of the Earth, make our services acceptable to Thee. Let our hunger be for
righteousness and our thirst for everlasting life. Let our
labors be for others and make the heart of each Royal Guest thy Holy Temple.
Amen. The Guests will now sing our opening ode.
All brethren of our order dear
Strive for the greatest good;
We'll carry forth the Woodmen's Cross
And keepon sawing wood,
And keep on sawing wood, my friend,
And keep on sawing wood;
We'll carry forth the Woodmen's Cross
And keep on sawing wood.
With arms of strength and saws of steel
We've worked the best we could;
We'll write our brother's faults in sand
And keep on sawing wood,
And keep on sawing wood, my friend,
And keep on sawing wood;
We'll write our brother's faults in sand
And keep on sawing wood.
The Southern Woodmen shall be known
An order great and good;
We'll stand the toil and do the work
And keep on sawing wood,
And keep on sawing wood, my friend,
And keep on sawing wood;
We'll stand the toil and do the work
And keep on sawing wood.
We'll reason, beg and plead with men
And do what e're we should;
We'll sharpen upour saws again
And keep on sawing wood,
And keep on sawing wood, my friend,
And keep on sawing wood;
We'll sharpen up our saws again
And keep on sawing wood.
Royal Consul: Guests, give the Recognition Sign. The
answer to the same. Give the Distress Sign. The answer
to the same. Give the Cry of Distress. The answer to the same. Give
the Grand Honors. The answer to the same. Give the Working Sign. The answer.
Royal Consul: Royal Household No. …
Southern Woodmen is now assembled in regular session and we are now ready for
the order of business.
Adoption Degree
Royal Consul, gives one rap: Royal
Escort, you will retire to the outer chamber and ascertain if there is anyone in
waiting who wishes to be adopted as a member of this Household.
Royal Escort: Royal Consul, I will obey your instructions.
Royal Escort retires to the outer chamber andascertains the name of the party
or the names of the parties in waiting, returns to the hall and reports to the
Royal Consul.
Royal Consul: Royal Escort, pleaseconvey to the Royal Vice Consul
my compliments and inform him that it is my desire that he instruct the Royal
Guide to, at once, present the stranger at this station.
Royal Escort: Royal Vice Consul, I am instructed by the Royal
Consulto convey to you his compliments and request that you instruct the Royal
Guide to present a stranger, that is now in waiting in the outer chamber, at his
station.
Royal Vice Consul: Royal Guide, please retire to the outer
chamber, take charge of the stranger in waiting, properly work your way into the
hall and conduct him to the Royal Consul's station.
Royal Guide: Royal Vice Consul, I will obey your instructions.
Royal Guide retires to the outer chamber, secures the stranger and gives the
proper alarm on the inner door.
Royal Inside Sentinel, opens the wicket: Who comes there?
Royal Guide: The Royal Guide of this Household with a stranger who
wishes to become one of us.
Royal Inside Sentinel: Royal Guide, have you examined the stranger
and found him of good moral character, exemplary and a believer in the Supreme
Being?
Royal Guide: I have and am prepared to vouch for him.
Royal lnside Sentinel: Advance, convey to me the regular pass word
and I will admit you.
Royal Consul gives three raps, Royal Guide enters and marches the stranger
three times around the hall; at this time if there are others in waiting and it
is not the desire of the members to conduct more than one through the entire
ceremony they may be admitted, while the members sing:
It's a long way to your destination,
It'sa long way to go;
It's a long way to your destination,
But you'll get there now we know.
Then good-bye to old companions,
Farewell to by-gone joys,
For it's a long, long way to your destination
But you'll get there with us boys.
If necessary repeat this song while the candidate is being conducted around
the hall.
After the conclusion of the song the Royal Guide will conduct the candidate
to the Royal Consul's station and halts.
Royal Guide: Royal Consul, by direction of the Royal Vice Consul I
present to you this stranger wh om I found in the outer chamber and who
indicated a desire to become one of us.
Royal Consul: Stranger, your name, please.
Stranger gives name.
Royal Consul: Royal Clerk, examine the records for one gives
the stranger's name and report your findings.
The Royal Clerk announces whether the stranger has been accepted and has made
the required payments, etc., etc., if so the ceremony proceeds.
Royal Consul: Stranger, I am in deed pleased to welcome you, but
before I can promise you the full confidence and respect of our membership, you
will be required to assume certain obligations; you will also be conducted
through certain ceremonies which will no doubt appear dark and mysterious.
During the entire processyour demeanor will be observed very closely and I take
this occasion to caution you against any desire to wax funny or conduct yourself
other than circumspectly even in the most trying moments.
At times you may feel called upon to express your private opinion, in no
uncertain terms, of not onlymyself but others here assembled, indeed you may
become so exasperated, not to say ruffied, that an overwhelming desire to
chastise someone may possess you. At other times you may just bubble with kindly
and exuberant exultation and your very being may cry out for an opportunity to
disseminate brotherly love. At other times you may, just for the passing moment,
become possessed with an intense desire to leave life's fitful and strenuous
scenes and just let this old world roll on without your assistance. You may also
just for a fleeting second wish for an opportunity to place a ton or so of
dynamite under this old shack, then retire to a safe distance and laugh yourself
into a few duck fits while we, your friends go up in smoke. As a matter of fact,
stranger, you are now among a people peculiar to themselves, a people that will
certainly take good care of you and doubtless afterso long a time you will learn
to love and honor us. But more anon.
Royal Consul: Royal Escort, you will please assist the Royal Guide
in conducting the stranger through the several scenes of Part One of the
Southern Woodmen Adoption Degree.
Royal Escort: Royal Consul, I will obey your instructions.
Royal Escort and Royal Guide conduct the strariger once around the hall,
approach the altar, cause the stranger to kneel upon both knees facing the Royal
Consul's station. While conducting the candidate from station to station in the
several scenes the Royal Escort and Royal Guide will each hold an arm of the
candidate, keep perfect step, holding bodies erect and always turn to right
angle.
Royal Consul gives three raps: Royal Counselor, you will please
advance to the altar and administer the obligation. Guests
will please form a circle around the altar.
At this time if there are other candidates in the hall the Royal Consul will
cause them to kneel around the altar with the candidate that is being conducted through
the entire degree.
Royal Counselor: Stranger, you have advanced thus far in the
mysteries of our Society, but before you proceed further it is necessary that
you be bound to us by an obligation. Therefore you will please place your left
hand upon the Holy Bible, palm down, raise your right hand and repeat after me
the following obligation:
I, …, in the presence of God and these memhers assembled do solemnly
promise that, whether accepted or rejected, in good ,standing or not in good
standing; I will never reveal the grip, signs, tokens or other secret work of
the Southern Woodmen to any person or persons, except to one I know to be
entitIed to receive the same.
I further promise that I will not betray the virtue, good name or honor of
any member, or that of his or her family, and that I will prevent others from
doing so if within my power to do so.
I furthermore promise that I will do all that I can to promote the interests
of the Southern Woodmen and that I will allow no immoral or disreputable
character to become a member thereof, if known to me to be such.
All, of these obligations I solemnly promise to keep and obey and should I
fail to keep or obey them, may I be detested and dishonored among my fellow men,
and become an outcast in the community in which I live.
Arise and remain here until further instructed.
Royal Consul gives one rap: Royal
Escortand Royal Guide, you will conduct the stranger to the Royal Clerk, who
will deliver to him the Beneficial Covenant.
If Covenant has previously been delivered this part may be dispensed with.
Royal Consul: Royal Escort and Royal Guide, if all legal matters
pertaining to the proper delivery of the Beneficial Covenant have been attended
to you will please conduct the stranger to the Royal Vice Consul for further
instructions.
Royal Vice Consul: Friend, I now take pleasure in ad dressing you
as such; from the hand of the Royal Clerk, you have received your Covenant of
Insurance with the Southern Woodmen. The Society has contracted to pay to you or
your beneficiary or beneficiaries a certain sum of money from what is known as
the Beneficiary Fund. The laws of the land do not permit of this fund, or any
part of it, being used for any purpose other than that of paying legal and just
claims to the members or the beneficiaries of members. To
this fund you have, on your part, contracted to contribute, and so long as you
do so the Society is legally bound to proteet you.
Upon the other hand, should you fail to fulfill your part of the contract,
your Beneficial
Covenant automatically becomes null and void and of no effect, therefore it
behooves you to be diligent and prompt in the payments of your premiums. You
have the privilege of paying your premiums either monthly, quarterly,
semi-annually, or annually. If convenient to do so, it is always best to pay
annually. However, this is a matter of your own concern.
The Royal Escort and Royal Guide will now conduct you to the Royal Prelate for
further instructions.
Royal Prelate: Friend, I am indeed
pleased to learn that you have taken thought of the future and provided for your
dependents through the medium of our Society, and I feel confident that you are
a happier and more contented man for so doing gives
three raps.
Let us pray. "Almighty God and Father of all Households, we earnestly
request that Thou wilt abundantly bless our Society in its great work of
providing in a material way, for those we will some day leave behind to fight
the battIes of this life alone. Especially bless this our
friend, and may he not falter in his determination to continue steadfastly as a
worthy member and when he shall have passed beyond the darkened gloom of death
may he be permitted to enter that great Household above and may his loved ones
wander through green pastures and beside still waters of peace and plenty. Amen!"
Gives one
rap.
Royal Prelate: Royal Escort and Royal Guide, you will now conduct
our friend to the Royal Banker and relieve him of all minerals and metals and
deposit same with the Royal Banker, then conduct him to the outer chamber and
properly prepare him for the several scenes of Part Two of the Adoption Degree.
Royal Escott and Royal Guide retire with the candidate, hoodwink him, place
his left arm in a sling, some sticking plaster on his face, place a very old and
dilapidated hat on his head, etc., etc., then return to the hall, march him
twice around the hall and then seat him in any corner where he will be most out
of the way, lift the hoodwink and then retire to their respective stations while
the
members sing:
We're here because we're here,
Because we're here, because we're here.
We're here because we're here,
Because we're here, because we' re here.
You're here because you're here,
Because you're here, because you're here,
You're here because you're here,
Because you're here, because you're here,
The Goat is here because it's here,
Because it's here, because
The Goat is here because it's here,
Because it's here, because
The Goat he bucks because he bricks,
Because he bucks because
The Goat he bucks because he bucks,
Because he bucks because.
Repeat if necessary.
Royal Vice Consul: Royal Consul, seated within the sacred precinct
of this our Household is a stranger who appears to be crippled. What
shall bedone with him?
Royal Consul: Captain of Patrol, the
Royal Vice Consul has just informed me that there is a stranger seated within
the portals of this Household, you will please assemble your band, search the
intruder out and present him at this station.
Captain of Patrol: Royal Consul, I will obey your instructions.
Captain of Patrol: Royal Consul, the stranger now stands before
you, and while he appears to be a little dilapidated, he is, I believe, still in
the ring.
Royal Consul, addressing candidate: Me thinks I have gazed upon
your noble visage before, although I confess that your appearance at that time
was much more in keeping with the high ideals of a peace-loving citizen. I judge
from your present appearance and battered condition that, you have been playing
with a buzz-saw, mu1e, or keg of gun-powder; however, this is no special concern
of mine. If men will insist upon doing foolish things in the face of the fact
that they are almost sure to regret their actions, I say for one "let 'em
flicker." But this in passing. Before you proceed further it becomes my
sacred duty to elicit certain information concerning your past and
presenthistary. The laws of our Society, like those of the
Medes and Persians, are unchangeable. That is, in so
far as they have to do with the proper conduct of my office and in compliance
with these rules and regulations, I shall now propound certain questions to you.
These questions are of such a serious nature th at I caution you to weigh well
your answers. As a matter of fact both my questions and your answers become a
part of the records of this Household and are filed away together with other
important documents, therefore let your answers be clear and distinct. Addressing
the Royal Clerk: Royal Clerk, please see that the following questions
and answers are properly recorded. My friend, do you believe that money is the
root of all evil? Answer.
Question: Do you ever walk, talk or sing in
your sleep? Answer.
Question: Do you ever play baseball,
football, basketball, townball, or bawl yourself? Answer.
Question: Did you ever sit upon a red hot stove, pin, tack, bumble
bee's nest, and if so, give your experience? Answer.
Question: When a boy, did you ever rob a
bird's nest, steal a watermelon, tie a can to a dog's tail; shoot paper wads at
the teacher, play hookey from school, go a-swimming in the duck pond or fall in
love with a girl? Answer. Question: Do you
go a-fishing very often ; if so, for what purpose? Answer.
Question: Do you ever expect to be elected President of the United
States; if so, when? Answer. Question: Did
you ever have a carbuncle on yourneck, pimple on your nose, corn on your toe or
frog in your throat? Answer. Question: Were
you ever stung by a yellow jacket, hornet, bumble bee, honey bee or wasp, if so,
why, where and when? Answer. My friend,
youhave answered the questions propounded to you in such a remarkable and
intelligent manner and I am so well-pleased that I am determined to show my
appreciation by requesting the Royal Patrol to give you a free ride in our
aeroplane. This aeroplane is somewhat of an improvement over the design used by
our government and other countries. Its peculiar mechanism and almost
infinitesimal dimensions make it very convenient for indoor use. After you have
enjoyed a short ride the Captain of Patrol will take great pleasure in
explaining in the minutest detail, this wonderful little machine and doubtless
you will be gratified to learn that its simplicity is indeed remarkable.
Royal Consul: Captain of Patrol, hoodwink our friend and give him
a short and pleasant ride in our aerop1ane. Addressing
the officers and members: Officers and members, as a matter of
precaution, I suggest that we stand as close to the wall as possible while the
aeroplane is sailing around the hall.
Instructions
Captain of Patrol leads the candidate twice around the hall and then conducts
him to the aeroplane, which has heen placed in the center of the hall. All
except four memhers of Patrol retire to their regular stations. The four assist
the Captain with the aeroplane.
Aeroplane
A board five feet long and eighteen inches wide, resting ateach end upon
round sticks, broom sticks will do. Some kind of winding noise should be made;
an old clock or anything that will make such a noise will do.
Candidate stands in center of board. Captain stands immediately in front and
places the one hand of the candidate that is not in the sling upon his (the
Captain's) shoulder. Two of the Patrol station themselves at each end of the
board, roll it back and forth several times, then gently lift it an inch or two
and very carefully let it down again while the Captain gradually stoops, lifts
the hand from his shoulder, and lets the candidate stand. During this
performance general agitation, noise, excitement and hustle prevail in the hall.
The candidate should
be left about a minute and then commanded to jump. When
he attempts to jump great care should be taken so that he will not injure
himself. Hoodwink should then he removed, explanations made and general hilarity
prevail for a few minutes.
Royal Counselor: Officers and Guests
will now please be seated gives one rap.
Royal Prelate: Royal Escort, please hoodwink our friend and
conduct him to the Royal Vice Consul for further instructions.
Royal Escort: Royal Prelate, I will obey your instructions. Conducts
the candidate to the Royal Vice Consul's station.
Royal Escort: Royal Vice Consul, by direction of the Royal Prelate
I present our friend for further instructions.
Royal Vice Consul: Friend, We have almost learned to love you, in
deed, if called upon or invited to do so, I firmly believe that every member of
this Household would willingly borrow any amount of money that you would feel
disposed to lend for an indèfinite period of time, which goes to prove that the
oft-repeated assertion that "the moon is made of green cheese" is
unquestionably a myth. But more anon.
Royal Vice Consul: Royal Guide, you will
assist the Royal Escort to conduct our friend to the wood yard, where he will be
given an opportunity to do his share toward supplying this Household with next
winter's fuel.
Wood Yard
Saw-buck, log and rusty old saw, placed in the center of the hall. Captain
of Patrol assists the Royal Escort and Royal Guide and gives the candidate two
minutes to finish the job (do not remove the hoodwink) while the members of the
Patrol form circle around the candidate, join hands and dance around, while
singing:
The old man saws with a saw-saw-saw
The log that he must saw.
The poor old man he thinks he can
With a rusty, toothless saw.
He saws and he saws with the Esau saw
The battered old hand-saw,
The rusty, toothless seesaw saw,
The battered old hand-saw.
Then ho-ho-ho andha-ha-ha,
Then ho-ho-ho-ha-ha,
All honor to the old hand saw,
The rusty, toothless saw.
Repeat if necessary.
After a few minutes the hoodwink is removed and hilarity prevails.
Royal Consul, gives one rap: Officers
and Guests, I think our friend is getting along very nicely, but it is getting
late, so let us continue.
Royal Vice Consul: Captain of Patrol, assemble your noble band,
hoodwink and conductour friend to the chair of a thousand needles and may the
gods of Bedlam have mercy upon him.
Royal Counselor: Royal Consul, I wish to register my protest
against this uncalled for proceeding. I think this affair has gone far enough
and I warn you to call a halt, otherwise I shall report the matter to the
Supreme Officers. I am just as fond of fun and amusement as anyone but this
thing of bringing into this lodge room as dangerous and villainous looking
contraption as that chair, I think shows very poor taste; as a matter of fact I
was informed that it was not to be used any more. I am sure of one thing; I will
certainly report you if you consent to its use.
Royal Consul: Royal Counselor, before you addressed this chair I was about to
suggest that we discontinue the use of the chair of a thousand needles, but
since you have felt called upon to deliver yourself of such unbecoming language,
also make certain sinister threats, I have concluded to shoulder the entire
responsibility and I shall ignore your protest entirely. Addressing
Captain of
Patrol: Captain of Patrol, do your duty.
Chair of a Thousand Needles
Just any ordinary chair placed in center of the hall.
Captain of Patrol leads candidate twice around the room while some of the
members offer protests, others insist that the business proceed; general
agitation and excitement prevails. Captain
conducts the candidate to chair.
Captain of Patrol: Friend, by order of
our Royal Consul, I command you to be seated in the chair of a thousand needles some
members strenuously kick and tell him not to sit down,
others call him a coward. If the candidate
is obstinate the members of the team will pick him up and place him in the
chair: Hoodwink is then removed and general hilarity prevails.
Royal Consul: Officers and members will please be seated gives
one rap.
I presume our friend has enjoyed a sufficient rest in the chair of a thousand
needles. The Royal Escort and Royal Guide will, therefore, please hoodwink him
and conduct him to the chamber of horrors, where he will be confronted by his
worst enemy, remove the hoodwink, leave him standing there and return to your
stations.
Chamber of Horrors
Large mirror placed against the wall near one of the corners of the hall,
where a light can be arranged to reflect well in the mirror.
Hoodwinks the candidate, marches twice around the room, then conducts him to
within about three feet of the mirror removes the hoodwink.
Royal Consul gives three raps: Guests, who is man's worst enemy?
ANSWER, all in unison: Man himself!
Royal Consul: Right gives one rap.
Royal Consul: Captain of Patrol, kindly remove the bandages from
our friend and conduct him to this station for further and final instructions in
Part Two of the Adoption Degree.
At this point if there are other candidates in the hall they will be
requested to join the candidate in front of the Royal Consul's station and the
Royal Consul may call upon the Royal Past Consul, Royal Vice Consul, Royal
Escort and Royal Guide to assist in instructing the candidates in the unwritten
work.
Royal Consul: Guest, you have now been adopted as a member of
Household No. … Southern
Woodmen and it now becomes my duty to instruct you in the unwritten work.
Should you wish to gain admission in this Household or any other regular
constituted Household you will give three *** raps on the outer door, the wicket
will be opened by the Royal Outer Sentinel and you will give to him, in a
whisper, the semi-annual word. The word for this semi-annual term is … gives
it in a whisper.
Remember that this word is changed twice a year, in January and July, and
should you forget it and wish to visit a Household, other than the one of which
you are a member, your receipt for the current month's premium is prima facie
evidence of your good standing, therefore by presenting it to the Royal Consul
of said Household he will communicate it to you.
Upon being admitted to the outer chamber you will advance to the inner door
and give five ***** quick raps; the wicket will be opened by the Royal lnside
Sentinel, and to him you will give your name, number of your Household and the
regular word which is … gives it to him in à
whisper.
This word is never changed and is only used to gain admittance to the hall,
nevèr at any other time or place or under any circumstances. If correct the
Royal Inside Sentinel will admit you. When admitted you will advance to the
altar, face this station, place your left hand upon the Holy Eible and salute by
raising your right hand, palm forward in this manner. The Royal Consul will
answer thus bow of
the head.
Should you wish to leave or cross the hall while the Household is in session you
will use the same sign.
The Working Sign is made thus regular military
salute. This sign is always used by the
ofticers when addressing each other during degree work and must always be used
by the guests when addressing this chair or voting.
The Grand Honors are given thus *** *** *** three times three claps of the
hands. These honors are used in opening and closing the
Household, as a mark of respect to visiting Supreme Officers and to newly
adopted members, also at the grave of a deceased member and during the ceremony
on the annual memorial day. The answer to the Grand
Honors is given thus placing right
hand over
left breast.
The Grip is given thus: ….
Recognition Sign is given thus: …. The answer is the same sign.
The Cry of Distress is: …. The answer ….
The Sign of Distress …. The answer, same sign.
The Colors of our Society are: Purple and Orange, and our Motto: "A Very
Present Help in Trouble."
I now hand you this envelope; within you will find a blank card. Take this
envelope and card with you and at your, earliest convenience inscribe upon the
card the title of the hymn or hymns you would wish sung at your burial, seal the
envelope carefully, write your name and date of your adoption in this Household
thereon and deliver it to our Roval Clerk at the next regular meeting, or before
if possible and by him it will be placed in the archives of this Household and
there it will be kept until the angel of death calls you from the fitful scenes
of this life. Then and not until then will the seal be
broken and it will be the sacred duty of this Household to comply with your
request if within its power to do so. Should you
transfer to some other Household this envelope will be transmitted to the Clerk
of the Household to which you transfer, should you so desire.
Now in conclusion: When you shall have remained in good and regular standing
in this Society for twelve consecutive months, you will beentitled to receive
the MASTER WOODMEN DEGREE OF SUBLIME PERFECTION. This Degree can only be
conferred upon you by a Supreme Officer, Director General, District Field
Marshal, or Past Royal Consul who has himself received the Degree.
When the MASTER WOODMEN DEGREE OF SUBLIME PERFECTION is conferred upon you
you will be presented with a beautiful Chart and Memorial done in the colors of
the Society. Inscribed, thereon will be your name, the date of your adoption and
the date of the confer ring of the MASTER WOODMEN DEGREE OF SUBLIME PERFECTION
upon you. The memorial space on this beautiful chart will
be for use when death shall call you to the great beyond.
As its name implies the MASTER WOODMEN DEGREE OF SUBLIME PERFECTION is indeed
sublime and the day that you receive it will mark an epoch in your life gives
three raps.
Officers and Guests, I take great pleasure in introducing to you our newly
adopted Guest. Requests the newly adopted members to
face the Royal Vice Consul's station. Please extend to the Guest the
Honors of the Fraternity. The Household will now be at ease.
Closing Ceremony
Royal Consul: Royal Guests, we are about to close this session of
the Household. Is there anything left undone th at cannot be deferred to our
next regular meeting?
Pauses a moment. If not, we will now proceed to close.
Royal Consu1: Officers and Guests will please form a circle around
the Altar and join me in singing the closing ode.
'Mid pleasures and palaces, though we may roam,
Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home;
A charm from the skies seems to hallow us there,
Which seek through the world, is ne'er met with elsewhere.
Chorus
Home! Home! Sweet, sweet home!
There's no place like home!
There's no place like home!
I gaze on the moon as I tread the drear wild,
And I feel that my mother now thinks of her child;
As she looks on that moon from our own cottage door,
Through the woodbine whose fragrance shall cheer me no more.
Chorus
An exile from home, splendor dazzles in vain;
Oh, give me my lowly thatched cottage again;
The birds singing gaily, that come at my call;
Give me them and that peace of mind, dearer than all.
Chorus.
Royal Consul: Officers and Guests will give the Working Sign. The
answér to the same. Give the Salutation Sign. Give the Grand Honors. The answer
to the same. Give the Grip.
Royal Consul: I now proclaim Royal Houshold No. … Southern Woodmen duly
closed in regular form. The Royal Prelate will now pronounee the benediction.
Royal Prelate advances to the Altar and gives twelve raps with the gavel and
says: We thank Thee, Oh Lord God, for any good that we may have done
here tonight and humbly beg Thee to forgive us for what we may have done amiss.
We pray and beseech Thee to go with us to our several abodes. Make us steadfast
and true to Thee and our fellow men, and when our days are done upon this earth
bring us together in that Heavenly Household. Amen!
All say: Amen.