Independent Order of Odd Fellows - Manchester Unity Friendly Society
Ritual for Junior Lodges

 
1975

Notes on Ritual and Procedure
 
Members Addressing the Meeting: Unless otherwise stated in the ritual, every Officer and Member must rise and remain standing whilst addressing the meeting. On rising to address the meeting, they must at all times address their remarks to the President. Commencing with the words "Worthy President" but the Lodge Sign must not be given.
Crossing the Floor: When it is necessary for an officer or member to cross the floor, after Lodge has been declared open, he or she must advance to the centre of the Lodge, face the President's chair and give the Lodge Sign, without any words.
Lodge Sign: The Lodge Sign must not be given in the Lodge prior to the examination by the Warden.
Reception of Visitors: Should Officers of the Order, District, or Parent Adult Lodge pay an official visit, the President must request all present to stand upon their entry into the Lodge.
Senior Secretary: The Parent Lodge or Committee should appoint an adult member to attend each meeting to act as Senior Secretary.
Wherever the title Senior Secretary occurs in this ritual a Lodge may use the title "Superintendent".
Opening and Closing of the Lodge: When the officers do not enter in procession, at the time when the Lodge is about to be opened the President should sit at his/her table and the Vice-President, Junior Secretary and I.P. President should stand in front of their tables facing the centre. The Assistant Officers and Supporters should stand in front of their chairs. On the instruction "Officers please take your respective positions" the Vice-President, Junior Secretary and I.P, President should walk round their tables (moving to the right i.e. clock wise) and stand in front of their chairs until the instruction is given to be seated.
Where accommodation in the Lodge Room is suitable, the Lodge Officers should enter and leave in procession.
All members must stand when the Officers enter or leave in procession.
Knocks: One knock only shall be given by the Presiding Officer to call attention during the Ritual Ceremonies and general business.
 
 
Ceremony to be Observed in Conducting Junior Lodge Meetings
 
* indicates that the Lodge Sign must be given.
At the appointed time, the President, acting in conjunction with the Senior Secretary, shall proceed to open the Lodge by giving one knock which should be repeated by the Vice-President, as a request for order.
The President remains seated.
President: Officers, please take your respective positions pause — Members please be seated.
President — Guardian pause G. rises please close the door. Guardian does so and resumes seat.
President: Warden pause W. rises please examine all those present and obtain from them the password of a Junior Oddfellow.
If the Warden's examination is satisfactory he / she returns to seat, remains standing, gives the Lodge Sign and replies.
Warden: Worthy President, all present have given the password.
Warden resumes seat.
If any person is present without the password the Warden shall report accordingly and the person must be approved by the Senior Secretary to be allowed to remain in the meeting.
President: Members, we are about to open this Junior Lodge; please pay attention. The reason for our attendance at this Lodge is to learn, with the assistance of the Senior Secretary, the objects of Odd Fellowship and prepare us for admission in due time to an Adult Lodge of the Manchester Unity Independent Order of Odd Fellows. The lessons we now learn in the Lodge room will assist us to take our place in advancing the aims of the Order.
President, remains seated: Worthy Immediate Past President pause I.P.P. rises what is your duty as an Officer of this Lodge?
In responding to this question the I.P.P. will rise, give the Lodge Sign and after having explained his/her duties will resume his/her seat. All other Officers called upon will do likewise unless otherwise stated.
Immediate Past President, *: Worthy President, to assist you in the duties of your office.
I.P.President resumes his/her seat.
President: Worthy Vice President pause V.P. rises what are your duties as an Officer of this Lodge?
Vice-President, *: Worthy President, to see that all members pay due attention to the business being dealt with by the meeting and assist you in keeping order. Remains standing.
President: Worthy Vice-President, examine your supporters.
Vice-President: Right Supporter pause R.S. rises what is your duty? Salutes President, faces V.P.
Right Supporter to Vice-President: Worthy Vice-President, to see that members give the
Sign correctly and to assist you in the duties of your office Remains standing.
Vice-President: Left Supporter pause L.S. rises, what is your duty? Salutes President, faces V.P.
Left Supporter to Vice-President: Worthy Vice-President to assist your Right Supporter. Remains standing.
Vice-President: Worthy President, my Officers are correct.
Vice-President and Supporters resume their seats.
President: Right Supporter pause R.S. rises, faces President what is your duty?
Right Supporter to President, *: Worthy President, to assist you in the duties of your office and to see that all members are obedient to instruction.
Remains standing.
President: Left Supporter pause L.S. rises, faces President what is your duty?
Left Supporter to President, *: Worthy President, to assist your Right Supporter. Supporters to President resume their seats.
President: Junior Secretary pause J.S. rises what are your duties in this Lodge?
Junior Secretary, *: Worthy President, to keep a record of the business of in this Lodge and to read the minutes when requested by you.
J.S. resumes seat.
President: Warden pause W. rises, what are your duties in this Lodge?
Warden, *: Worthy President, to obtain the Password from all present before the opening of the Lodge, to keep the regalia in a careful manner and to assist the Officers in keeping order. W. resumes seat.
President: Guardian pause G. rises what are your duties in this Lodge?
Guardian, *: Worthy President, after the Lodge is opened to ask for the Password before admitting anyone in order to prevent persons who are not members entering the Lodge and assist the Officers to carry out your instructions. G. resumes seat.
President: Senior Conductor pause S.C. rises what is your duty in this Lodge?
Senior Conductor, *: Worthy President, to introduce all candidates for initiation and guide them during the ceremony. Remains standing.
President: Junior Conductor pause J.C. rises what is your duty in this Lodge?
Junior Conductor, *: Worthy President, to help the Senior Conductor.
Conductors resume their seats.
President, rises: Officers and Members please stand. Pause whilst all members rise.
President knocks and Vice-President repeats.
President: Worthy Vice-President, what is the duty of a Junior Odd Fellow.
Vice-President, *: Worthy President, to obey the rules of the Order and the Officers of this
Lodge and by our conduct show those who are not members that we are proud to be Junior Odd Fellows.
President: Please give me the Sign of a Junior Odd Fellow.
All members give the Sign and the President repeats it.
President: Members, I now declare this Lodge duly opened. Knocks.
Vice-President: So it is. Knocks.
The Opening Ode may be sung at this stage.
 
 
Opening Ode
 
God save our wide-spread band
Long may our Order stand,
Cov'ring the earth!
Its aims are glorious ;
Make it victorious ;
Send to rule over us,
True men of worth.
 
With us let virtue reign ;
Teach us how to remain
Steadfast and strong.
Our tongue let reason guide ;
Free us from every pride,
And everything beside
That's mean and wrong.
 
God save our world-spread band,
Firm may our Order stand,
Ne'er may it fall.
Its aims are glorious,
Make it victorious,
Ever watch over us,
And bless us all.
All members resume seats.
 
 
Business
 
President: Junior Secretary J.S. rises please read the minutes of our last meeting J.S. reads the minutes.
President: Members, you have heard the minutes read, if you agree that they are correct, will two members please propose and second that they be signed as a correct record.
One member should stand and say "Worthy President, I propose that the minutes be signed".
A second member should then stand and say "Worthy President, I second this proposition".
President: It has been proposed and seconded that the minutes be signed. If you agree with this proposition will you please raise your right hand.
Pause.
If you do not agree will you now please raise your right hand.
When the minutes have been agreed the Warden shall take the Minute Book to the President for signature and then return it to the Junior Secretary.
President: Are there any apologies.
President: Worthy Senior Secretary S.S. rises have we any applications for membership? S.S. replies Yes or No.
The Senior Secretary shall read the proposal form(s), if any, and report accordingly.
President: Worthy Senior Secretary, are the candidates present and ready for initiation?
S.S. answers.
If the candidates are waiting, the President shall say: Before they can become Junior Odd Fellows the members of the Lodge must agree to accept them. Will one member please propose and another second the proposition that we accept them.
After this is done, the President asks the Lodge members to vote for or against by a show of hands.
 
 
Initiation
 
This Ceremony is written for the initiation of one candidate, where more than one is being initiated the appropriate wording should be substituted.
Before the ceremony is commenced the Senior Secretary will arrange for the necessary number of vacant chairs to be placed on the right hand-side of the Immediate Past President.
President: Worthy Conductors Conductors rise please introduce the candidate(s) to the Vice-President.
Conductors leave the Lodge and, before re-entering, give the knock on the door.
Guardian, rises: Worthy President, a knock.
President: Worthy Guardian, ask what is wanted.
The Guardian opens the door to enquire what is wanted, doses the door and returns to his/her place, remains standing.
Guardian: Worthy President, the Conductors are awaiting admission with a candidate (candidates).
President: Will all Members please stand. Pause. Worthy Guardian, please admit them.
The Guardian opens the door.
Conductors on entering the Lodge room with the candidate(s) and moving from Officer to Officer, proceed in single file, all turns to be to the right. Senior Conductor leads.
The Initiation Ode may be sung while Candidates are conducted from the door to the table of the Worthy Vice-President.
 
 
Initiation Ode
 
Welcome, young Odd Fellow,
To our happy band,
Here we offer truly
Friendship's open hand ;
Truth upon our banner,
Love in ev'ry heart,
May we through life's journey
Bravely do our part,
 
Welcome, young Odd Fellow.
To our happy band,
Here we offer truly
Friendship's open hand.
 
Let our lives be cheery,
Let our word be true,
Acting like Odd Fellows
In all we try to do ;
Lifting every sorrow,
Easing ev'ry pain,
Seeking acts of duty
In another's gain.
 
Welcome young Odd Fellow,
To our happy band,
Here we offer truly
Friendship's open hand
 
Pressing ever onward,
With a joyous song,
Praising our great Order
As we march along ;
Friendship is our watchword,
Fellowship our creed,
Truth upon our banner,
Love in heart and deed,
 
Welcome, young Odd Fellow,
To our happy band,
Here we offer truly
Friendship's open hand.
When the Conductors and candidates are standing in front of the Vice-President and the Initiation Ode is finished:
Senior Conductor: Worthy Vice-President, I have pleasure in introducing this candidate who wishes to join this Lodge.
President: Will all members except the Vice-President and his/her Supporters please be seated.
Vice-President: I am pleased to welcome you to our Lodge and trust you will be true to the promises you will make during this Ceremony.
Pause. Do you promise to obey the Officers and our rules and do your best for this Lodge and the Society?
Candidate: Yes.
Vice-President: Worthy Conductors, please introduce the candidate to the Worthy President.
Vice-President and Supporters resume their seats.
President and supporters shall stand.
Senior Conductor: Worthy President, I present to you this candidate who wishes to become a member of this Lodge.
President: Before you can be accepted as a member you have to make a promise.
Pause Will all members please stand and give the Lodge Sign.
President to candidate: You must now give this Sign shows the candidate and repeat the promise after me.
I promise that I will keep secret the Sign and Password of this Lodge and do all I can to assist its future progress and I will at all times be obedient to the Senior Secretary and the Officers.
President: Will all members please be seated.
Pause: I congratulate you upon joining this Lodge and Junior Odd Fellowship. I must impress upon you, however, the fact that we expect all members to attend the meetings as regularly as possible and to try to increase its membership by asking their friends to become active members with us. The success of this Lodge depends upon the conduct of its members, and I trust that you will honour the confidence we have in you. I have much pleasure therefore in admitting you as a Junior Member of the Order and welcoming you on behalf of the Lodge.
Here the President shall invest the new member(s) with prescribed regalia.
President: Worthy Conductors, please conduct the new member to the Immediate Past President for further instruction.
President and Supporters resume seats.
I.P.P. stands.
Immediate Past President: Worthy member, I congratulate you on becoming a member of the Manchester Unity Independent Order of Odd Fellows, a Society which has Lodges in many parts of the world. Our aim is to help one another at all times and show by our actions that we are proud to be Odd Fellows.
We have regular meetings like this where, with the assistance of the Senior Secretary, we learn about Odd Fellowship and also how to run meetings properly, so that later on, when we join an Adult Lodge we shall know how it should be done.
Our meetings are held on … and if you attend regularly you will make friends and have a good time together. We hope you will bring your friends to join the Lodge and enjoy themselves with us.
Pause. Worthy Conductors, please take the new member to the Worthy President.
I.P.P. resumes seat.
President and Supporters rise.
President to new member(s): Worthy Member(s), I will now give you the Knock, Password and Sign of this Lodge.
To gain admission you will give one distinct knock on the door like this gives it. The door will be opened by the Guardian to whom you will give the Password of a Junior Odd Fellow, which is …. Please repeat that Password.
Candidate(s) repeats Password.
When you are admitted you will walk to the centre of the room, face the President who sits in this chair and give the Sign gives the Sign, at the same time saying "Worthy President". Please repeat that Sign and the words. Pause.
You will then turn round by the right to face the Vice-President who sits opposite, repeat the Sign and say "Worthy Vice-President." You will then take your seat.
Should you wish to leave before the Lodge is closed, you must first obtain the permission of the President; then walk to the centre of the room, give the Sign at the same time saying "Worthy President" or "Worthy Vice-President". You will then leave the Lodge Room.
President and Supporters resume seats.
President: Worthy Conductors, please place the new member(s) between the chairs of the Immediate Past President and the President, facing the centre of the room.
Pause. Worthy Senior Conductor. Please demonstrate the manner of leaving and entering the Lodge Room.
The Senior Conductor will then leave the Lodge and re-enter in the usual manner and then take his/her place wit h the new member(s).
After this has been done the new member(s) are conducted to the centre of the room facing the President.
President to new member(s): You will now leave and re-enter the Lodge in the manner I have explained and the Conductor has shown.
The Senior Conductor and new member(s) must give the Sign in the manner instructed by the President both before leaving and on re-entering the Lodge.
After the new member(s) and Senior Conductor have retired the Junior Conductor will remain in the centre of the room and await the return of the new member(s). He/she will see that the new member(s) give the Sign correctly and stay with them in the centre of the Lodge Room until the Senior Conductor returns.
The Conductors will then place the new member(s) before the President.
President: You are now a Junior Odd Fellow and a member of this Lodge. I trust we will never have cause to regret having added your name to our roll of members.
Worthy Conductors, please conduct the new member to a seat on the right hand side of the Immediate Past President, you will then return to your seats.
Immediate Past President (rises): Members please rise. Pause whilst all members rise. Assist me to give the honours of the Order to our newly initiated member.
Friendship, Love and Truth.
The Initiation Ode may be sung here also.
Immediate Past President: Thank you, members be seated.
The President may here invite the Senior Secretary add any further advice and instruction.
 
 
Closing Ceremony
 
President, rises: Officers, please rise. Pause whilst all Officers rise. Members, please pay attention. It is now time to close this Lodge.
Pause. Worthy Immediate Past President, what is our parting duty?
I.P.P.: Worthy President It is our duty to remember the instructions we have received, as upon these depend the success of our Lodge.
Let us tell our friends about the friendship of our Lodge and show them that we are proud to be Odd Fellows.
President: Worthy Vice-President, what do you have to tell us before we leave?
Vice-President: I have to remind members that the next meeting will be held on President: Thank you all for attending and I hope that you will be able to attend the next meeting. Members please rise.
I declare this Lodge of the Manchester Unity Independent Order of Odd Fellows duly closed.
President knocks and Vice-President repeats the knock.
 
 
Closing Ode
 
Our thanks we give to all
For this your welcome call,
And help to-day.
If you with heart and hand
Support our little band,
Our Lodge shall surely stand
Secure alway.
 
O Thou, Who from on high
Can hear the weakest cry,
To Thee we call.
Unite us in our youth,
With Friendship, Love and Truth,
Our ailing Brothers soothe,
And bless us all.
Where the accommodation in the Lodge Room is suitable the Lodge Officers should leave in procession.

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