Grand Juvenile Department, L.U.P.
Working under the Jurisdiction of the Queen of Sheba Grand Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star of Texas, Inc.
Initiation Ritual

 
n.d.

Opening Ceremony
 
MOTHER MATRON (one rap with her gavel) says: Beloved Youths come to order and all officers go to your stations for active duty.
The hour specified in the By-Laws. The Juveniles will resume their several stations and prepare for the duties of the Circle.
The sentinel closes the door and sees that the outer doors are secure from intrusion, and then stands inside at the door.
M.M.: Sentinel, where is your station and what is your duty?
Sentinel: My station is with out the door. My duty is to guard the door against intruders and to keep off all cowards and eavesdroppers and see that none pass or repass without permission from the Mother Matron.
M.M.: Sentinel, you may retire to your station.
M.M.: Vice Mother Matron satisfy yourself that all present are Juveniles and entitled to be present.
Vice M.: Mother Matron, all members present, are members of the Order and entitled to be present. (Except those who are standing.)
M.M.: Vice Mother Matron, how many constitute a Circle when complete and what are their titles?
Vice M.: A complete Circle requires fourteen and their titles are: Mother Matron, Vice Mother Matron, Worthy Advisor, Master Page, Altar Boy, Junior Patron, Senior Flower Girl, Junior Flower Girl, Secretary, Treasurer, Drill Mistress, Associate Drill Mistress, Parade Marshal, Sentinel.
M.M.: Vice Mother, where is your station and what are your duties?
Vice M.: In the West, Mother Matron. My duty is to assist the Mother Matron in active duty of the Circle, and to preside during her absence.
M.M.: Junior Patron, where is your station and what is your duty?
J.P.: On the left hand side of the Mother Matron in the East: My duty is to instruct the Circle and initiate candidates.
M.M.: Secretary, where is your station and what is your duty?
Sec'y.: My station is at the left hand side of the Mother Matron in the East: My duty is to record that which is proper to be written and receive all monies and send all relief to the Grand Circle, and turn all local dues over to the Treasurer and taking her receipt therefor.
M.M.: Treasurer, where is your station and what is your duty?
Treas.: My station is on the right hand side of the Mother Matron in the East: My duty is to receive all money from the hands of the Secretary, giving her a receipt therefor, and pay out only by the orders of the Mother Matron and the consent of the Circle.
M.M.: Master Page, where is your station and what is your duty?
Master Page: My station is at the right of the Vice Mother Matron in the West, near the door.
My duty is to see that the Circle is duly guarded against intruders, and to receive and conduct candidates during initiation.
M.M.: Drill Mistress: Where is your station and what is your duty?
Drill Mistress: My station is in the South, my duty is to place all working tools at the proper stations for the opening of the Circle, and to see that all working tools are picked up after the meeting and placed in a locker.
M.M.: Associate Drill Mistress, where is your station and what is your duty?
Assoc. Drill Mistress: My station is in the north, my duty is to assist the Drill Mistress to place all working tools at the proper stations for the opening of the Circle and do whatever assigned for me to do by the Mother Matron.
M.M.: Senior Flower Girl: Where is your station and what is your duty?
Senior Flower Girl: My station is on the right of the Mother Matron in the East and in front of the Parade Marshal. My duty is to assist in taking up the pass in the opening of the Circle and assist in the initiation of candidates and serve in all banquets given by the Circle.
M.M.: Junior Flower Girl: Where is your station and what is your duty?
Junior Flower Girl: My station is on the left of the Mother Matron in the East in front of the Altar Boy. My duty is to assist the Senior Flower Girl in taking the pass in the opening of the Circle, assist in the initiation of candidates and do whatever is assigned for me to do by the Mother Matron.
M.M.: Altar Boy, where is your station and what is your duty?
Altar Boy: My station is on the left hand side of the Mother Matron in the East, in front of the Worthy Advisor. My duty is to conduct the prayer service of the Circle.
M.M.: Parade Marshal, where is your station and what is your duty?
P. Marshal: My station is on the right hand side of the Mother Matron in the East in front of the Treasurer. My duty is to drill the Circle in marching and to line the Circle up for parades when ordered afoot by the Lodge and Chapter.
M.M: It is well, Juveniles, I extend a hearty welcome to all, let us sing and have prayer.
Opening Song: "Jesus Keep Me Near The Cross"
Altar Boy: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for Thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever, Amen.
M.M.: What is our motto, children?
Love, Union and Peace.
M.M.: I, … Mother Matron of … Circle No … of …, now declare this Circle open for such business as may regularly come before it under the usual Juvenile restrictions. Take note and govern yourselves accordingly.
M.M.: Master Page, inform the Sentinel that this Circle is now open for such business as may regularly come before it under the usual Juvenile restrictions.
M. Page: Mother Matron, your orders have been obeyed.
M.M.: Drill Mistress, attend the Altar.
Drill Mistress: (Leaving her station and goes before the altar.) Opens the Holy Bible and reads (aloud) the 1st and 2nd Verses of the 2nd Chapter of St. Matthews.
 
 
Initiation Ceremony
 
M.M.: Master Page, arc there any candidates who wish to unite with us?
The M.P. answers as the case may be.
M.M.: Master Page, you may retire to the anteroom and prepare the candidates for initiation.
On entering, after carefully preparing the candidates, that they may not see, they will give one rap.
M.M.: Who are you desiring to enter?
M.P.: A Juvenile, who wishes to journey with us.
M.M.: What promise has he (or she) made?
M.P.: A promise of strict obedience to the law, to walk in the path of virtue and right.
M.M.: The promise is sufficient to admit a friendly candidate.
Door opens.
M.M.: Let friendship's door fly wide; enter little Juvenile, and learn the secrets of this order.
Candidates are marched around the hall three times while all sing, standing around the altar: "God Is Calling the Prodigal Son"
God is calling the prodigal, come without delay,
Hear, O hear Him calling, calling now for thee.
Tho you've wandered, so far from His presence, come today,
Hear His loving voice calling still.
 
Chorus
Calling now for thee,
O weary prodigal come,
Calling now for thee,
O weary prodigal come.
M.M.: Juvenile, you have been faithful thus far, but before you can go farther, you must take the obligation the we all have taken. Kneel and place your hand (right hand) on the Bible, the Holy Book of God, call your own name, and repeat after me three raps and all rise:
 
 
Obligation
 
I, …, of my own free will and accord, in the presence of Almighty God and these witnesses, promise to obey the laws, as laid down in the Ritual of this Juvenile; that I will never reveal to any one the secrets of this Circle, I will obey my parents, the officers of my Circle, and do all in my power to be obedient to God's Holy Word, so help me God. Should I, knowingly, violate my obligation, may my throat be cut, heart plucked out and my eyes pierced with balls of fire. So help me Lord. Amen. One rap of gavel, all are seated.
M.M.: Rise, ye little people, and listen to the Bible lesson that will be given.
Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh. When thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them. So the waters were holed unto this day, according to the saying of Elisha, which he spake and he went up from thence unto Bethel; as he went up the way, there came forth little children out of the city and mocked him, saying unto him, "Go up thou baldhead." He turned back and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the Lord. There came forth two she bears out of the wood and tore forty and two children of them.
This is to teach you that you should never mock those older than yourselves, nor persons who are afflicted. You will now be taken to the J. Vice Matron.
Vice M.: We have formed a more favorable opinion of you than the children you have just been told about, and, inasmuch as Christ said, "Suffer, little children, to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of heaven," we welcome you into our Circle. Love, Union, Peace. You will now be taken to the Conductor and Junior Patron, who will instruct you in the signs.
V.M.: Since you have passed through your journey safely and have taken the required obligation, we will now instruct you in the secrets of our Circle signs.
M.M.: Remove the hoodwink that the candidate may see the light of day.
 
 
Signs
 
Jr. Patron: All rise. Should you have occasion to ascertain whether or not a person is a member of this department, you will do so with this, the recognition sign. Raise the left hand up, palm out. Answer with the right hand, palm out, straight up.
Distress Sign
Place the forth finger of the right hand under the right eye. Answer with the fourth finger of the left hand, under the left eye. Should you come to the Circle at any time and meeting is open, you will, on reaching the outer door, give two raps, then three raps, when the wicket is raised you will whisper the password, which is S-o-l-o-m-o-n.
You will then be admitted. Go before the Throne and give the salutation sign.
After giving salutation sign, the member will then say: Mother Matron, I have come to worship Him. Turning to face the Vice Mother Matron—always turning to the right.
Vice Mother Matron, I have come to worship Him. Turning again to face the Mother Matron.
Good evening (or good morning as the case may be) sisters and brothers.
M.M.: Why are you late?
Member: Give reason for lateness.
Salutation Sign
Place the right hand over the heart and left to the side and bow. Should you forget the password, do not ask anyone outside the door for it, but enter, send in your name and you will be admitted, provided you are financial. Should you wish to prove that you are a member, you will do so with the following questions:
Question: Are you a member of Rainbow Circle?
Answer: Yes, I am a member and represent the true Spirit of God.
Question: Have you ever traveled; if so, how far?
Answer: I traveled from East to the Western Hemisphere.
Question: Who did you meet on your journey?
Answer: I met Ruth and Boaz.
Question: What did you find at the end of your journey?
Answer: A Holy Bible opened on Matthews. I read the 1st and 2nd verse of the 2nd Chapter.
Question: How long were you to remain at the end of your journey?
Answer: I was instructed to remain there until my Change come.
Question: How long it that?
Answer: Girls—Until I reach the age of 18 years old.
Answer: Boys—Until I reach the age of 21 years old.
Question: Well, then follow me (Questioner gives sign of recognition, then both exclaim: You are all right, give me your hand.)
 
 
Questions And Answers
 
Q. Are you a Juvenile?
A. Yes, I am.
Q How do I know you are a member?
A. By a token.
Q. What is a Token?
A. Certain fraternal grip of the right hand.
Q. Have you traveled?
A. Yes, I have.
Q. From whence to where did you travel?
A. From the East to the West.
Q. Who did you meet?
A. Boaz and Ruth.
Q. Who is Boa/?
A. My father.
Q. Who is Ruth?
A. My mother.
Q. How many colors in the rainbow?
A. Five.
Q. Can you name them?
A. Yes—blue, yellow, white, green and red.
Q. Who was Boaz?
A. He was the cousin of Ehmelech, the husband of Naomi.
Q. What nationality was Ruth?
A. A Mobile.
Q. Who was Naomi?
A. The mother-in-law of Ruth.
Q. Was Ruth and Boaz related?
A. No, they were husband and wife. They married after the death of her first husband who was Naomi's son.
Q. What was said at the parting of Naomi and Ruth, after the death of her first husband?
A. Entreat me not to leave thee, where thou goeth. I go. Thy people shall be my people.
But Naomi insisted and Ruth left, and went to Bethlehem where she met Boaz, and they married.
Q. Friends, the blessedness of just friends, have you one that you love?
Q. A friend for whom you would sacrifice?
Q. A friend in whose company you love to linger, upon whose words you love to hang?
A. Cherish that friend, stand by that friend, be true to that friend, for every hour of your life, in times of distress they will come to you. In times of joy, they are with you. They are with you in times of woe. Their words comfort you. How much is wrapped in a hearty hand-shake of a friend, how much you get from a warm smile from a friend.
Do you want to succeed?
Be friendly, be gracious, be kind, appreciate your friends and their friendship. Be kindly affectioned one toward another, sorrow always comes to those who betray their friends.
By friendship—we enrich our days of old age, gathering here a little, and there a little, so that when we come to the last of our memories our hearts are made glad by reviewing the closeness of the love that had bound us together with our friends.
And so we have to leave some of our most cherished things in the way of thoughts and habits and actions to become a true friend.
 
 
Closing Ceremony
 
Mother Matron: Our business for this time is complete, is it not, Secretary?
Answer: Our work is finished for this time, Matron.
Vice M.: How shall we meet as Juveniles?
Answer: We should meet in love.
Vice M.: How should we live?
All: We should live in union.
M.M.: How should we depart?
All: We should depart in peace.
Worthy Advisor: So may we ever meet; if we do we are sure to live in union, always part in peace. Then let us shake hands and go our way rejoicing as children of the light.
All shake hands and sing "God Be With You 'Til We Meet Again."
God be with you 'til we meet again,
By His council guide uphold you,
With His Sheep securely fold you,
God be with you 'til we meet again.
 
Chorus
'Til we meet, 'til we meet,
'Til we meet at Jesus' feet,
'Til we meet, 'til we meet,
God be with you 'til we meet again.
M.M.: We are ready to retire from this Juvenile Circle to mingle again with the outer friends.
Let us remember the teaching of this Circle. L—U—P. Let us give the closing sign. Give Salutation Sign.
I now declare … Juvenile Circle No … closed for this evening.
One rap of gavel. All retire.

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