Sovereigns of Industry
Ritual
Opening
1875
The President calls to order by a single rap. The Steward rises in his place
and says:
STEWARD: The President being about to open this Council, all
persons not qualified to remain will please retire.
PRESIDENT: The Steward and Assistant Steward will satisfy
themselves that all present are qualified to remain. Each member will rise in
giving the P. W.
The Steward and Assistant Steward, advancing to the President’s stand, will
receive the P. W. from members present, the Steward on the right, and the
Assistant Steward on the left. Meeting in front of the Vice-President, the
Steward says:
STEWARD: Mr. President, we are satisfied that all present are
qualified to remain.
The President calls up the Council with three raps, and says:
PRESIDENT: We have again met, for the transaction of such business
as may properly come before us; and to receive such communications and
suggestions as you may have to make for the benefit of the Order. Let our
proceedings be conducted with dignity and decorum.
The President with one rap calls the Council to their seats and says:
PRESIDENT: Our Council is now open, and prepared to proceed to
business.
Initiation of Candidates
The candidates being in the ante-room in waiting, the Inner Guard says:
INNER GUARD: Mr. President; … candidates are in waiting.
The President instructs the Steward to retire and report the names of
candidates.
The Steward, having obtained their names, returns and says:
STEWARD: Mr. President, I report to you the following list of
candidates: …
The President addresses time Secretary and says:
PRESIDENT: Brother Secretary, have the candidates been duly
elected, and the initiation fees paid to you?
The Secretary will answer in accordance with the facts, and if found correct,
the President will direct as follows:
PRESIDENT: The Steward and Assistant Steward will now please
retire and introduce the candidates.
The Steward will arrange the candidates in proper order; advance to the Inner
door and give four raps.
The Inner Guard will respond as follows:
INNER GUARD: Who comes?
STEWARD: Candidates for initiation.
INNER GUARD: Tarry while I report to the Council.
INNER GUARD: Mr. President, the Steward is at the door, with
candidates desiring admission.
PRESIDENT: You will please admit them.
They are admitted. The President calls the Council up, and the Steward brings
them before the President. It is desirable that music be introduced; at the
conclusion of which the Steward reports:
STEWARD: Mr. President the candidates are now ready to receive the
Obligation.
The President requests each candidate to place the right hand over the heart,
and administers the following Obligation:
Obligation
You do now, in the presence of this Council solemnly affirm that your only
motive in seeking to become a member of our Fraternity, is to aid in
establishing those principles and measures of reform proclaimed by the Order;
that you will never unlawfully reveal any of the secrets of the Order, nor any
of the business contracts made by the National, State, or Subordinate Councils
of this Order to any person not a member, under the penalty of being
reprimanded, suspended or expelled, at the discretion of the Council; and that
you will not print, write, or cause to be printed or written, any part of this
Ritual, or any of the unwritten work of the Order; and that you will, to the
best of your ability, fulfill all the obligations which membership in the Order
imposes upon you.
That you will conform to and abide by the Constitution, Rules and Regulations
of the National, State, and Subordinate Councels of the Order.
That you will never propose for membership in this Order, nor support the
admission of any one whom you have reason to believe an unsuitable person nor
will you oppose the admission of any one solely on the ground of any personal
prejudice or difficulty.
That you will answer all lawful signs given you by the Brothers and Sisters
of the Order, and render them such aid and assistance as duty may require.
That you will not knowingly wrong a Brother or Sister in word or deed, nor
permit it to be done by another if in your power to prevent it.
You also promise to use your utmost endeavor to discourage and prevent
litigation between members of the Order, and to encourage the settlement of all
difficulties by peaceful arbitration.
PRESIDENT: Each candidate will answer, "I do."
The Council is seated with one rap, and the President proceeds to instruct
the candidates in the secret work, viz:
P.P.W. S.A.P.W.
Alarm at O.D. P.W. at O.D.
Signal all. I.D. P.W. at I.D.
Salutation to V.P. Answer by V.P.
Gewneral Sign
Sign of C.
Grip
Test Q. and Ans.
Test Initial
One rap calls the Council to order.
Three raps calls the Council up.
One rap seats the Council.
The President then addresses the new members as follows:
President: I now greet you as Sovereigns of Industry, entitled to
all the privileges and benefits of the Order, and in behalf of this Council,
extend to you the right hand of fellowship. May you ever bear in mind the
obligations you have solemnly taken upon yourselves, and strive to the best of
your ability to conform to the laws, principles and purposes of our Order, and
to faithfully perform the duties they impose upon you.
The Steward will conduct you to the Secretary’s desk, where you will sign
the Constitution.
During the signing of the Constitution a recess may be declared, if
desirable; after which the following address, or some other remarks appropriate
to the occasion, should be delivered by the Lecturer or President, or some one
previously appointed by the Council.
Address
Brothers and Sisters: While extending to our newly initiated members a most
cordial welcome, and charging them to be faithful to the principles of our
Order, let us renew our pledge of friendship to each other.
May harmony prevail in our deliberations. In our intercourse with each other
let us be courteous, magnanimous, and charitable, and in our discussions and
co-operative work may we exhibit the spirit of genuine friendship. Our interests
are mutual; may we feel our responsibilities to be mutual also. In seeking to
alleviate common wants, and combining to oppose common foes, we should know
neither high nor low, rich nor poor, sect nor party. Let Justice and Equity be
our watchwords; they are the principles which lie at the foundation of this
Order. Individually, our influence is scarcely felt; but, united in heart, plan
and purpose, we immediately become a power. And, as organization and numbers
give us the guarantee of success, let us be active in adding to our Councils
true men and women.
Finally, let the spirit of Reform , which pervades and vitalizes this great
movement, receive a hearty and hospitable welcome at our hands; and may Justice,
Equity, Truth and Brotherly Love, like Guardian Angels, preside over and bless
us abundantly as we press steadily forward in the path upon which we have
catered.
Closing
The President calls the Council up and says:
PRESIDENT: Brothers and Sisters; having closed the labors of the
evening, we are about to return to our homes and accustomed pursuits. Let us
remember our obligations as Sovereigns of Industry, and endeavor to exemplify in
our intercourse with each other, and the world, the precepts of the Golden Rule.
Music.
PRESIDENT: I now declare this Council closed.