Vasa Order of
America
Initiation Ritual
1952
Opening a meeting
Chairman,
*: We are about to open this
meeting. Persons present who are not members of the Vasa Order of America are
requested to withdraw from the lodge room. Officers and members will invest in
their proper regalia and be seated.
If
any of the officers are found absent, their places should be filled by
appointing substitutes.
Vice Chairman!
Ascertain if the Guards are in their respective stations. If either is absent,
appoint some other member to fill the vacancy and provide instructions for
fulfilling duties.
Vice
Chairman: Chairman! The Guards
have taken their stations.
Receiving pass-word
Chairman,
***: If visiting members are
present they should give pass-word to Master of Ceremonies. Also name and number
of lodge to which they belong and where located.
Master of Ceremonies!
Ascertain if all persons present are in possession of the pass-word for the
current term.
After
the pass-word has been received, the Master of Ceremonies shall salute and
report to the Chairman before the altar.
Master
of Ceremonies:
Chairman:
May we unite in singing our opening song.
Chairman:
We shall now hear the Chaplain's message.
Chaplain:
Fellow Members! 'Let us now and always remember our obligations to the Order,
and let us strive to strengthen our friendship and have full confidence in each
other, that we may work together in unity for the common interest of all members
of our Order. May we take an active part in this meeting, and let us always show
a spirit of Friendship, Tolerance, Truth and Unity, bearing in mind that in
Unity there is strength.
Chairman:
Members of the Vasa Order of
I now declare this
meeting duly opened. *.
Initiation
Chairman:
Master of Ceremonies and Past Chairman! Retire to the ante-room with the
applications. Note the name (s) of the waiting candidate(s) and prepare them for
initiation.
The
Financial Secretary shall before initiation collect any remaining initiation
fees.
Preparation in the
ante-room.
Past
Chairman: Honored Candidate(s)!
It gives me great pleasure to bring you a cordial greeting from Lodge in which
you have been granted membership. It is my duty to assure you of the integrity
of our order and to prepare you for initiation. Before you can become a member
of this lodge, you must make a sincere and binding promise, which, after it has
been made, is never broken by a good Vasa member. This promise does not conflict
with religious belief or common law. Are you willing to make such a promise ? If
so, answer "I am."
The
Past Chairman gives the usual signal on the door. The Inner Guard opens the
door. The Past Chairman and Master of Ceremonies re-enter the hall, walk up to
the altar and salute the Chairman.
Master
of Ceremonies:
Past
Chairman:
The
Past Chairman and Master of Ceremonies return to their stations.
Initiation Ceremonies
Chairman:
Master of Ceremonies! Make the necessary preparations for initiation.
Master
of Ceremonies covers the altar with a cloth on which he places a candelabra with
lighted candles — the candles facing Chaplain.
Master
of Ceremonies:
Chairman:
Master of Ceremonies! Retire to the ante-room and escort the candidate(s) into
this room and present him (her) (them) to the Vice Chairman.
Master
of Ceremonies turns about, facing the Vice Chairman, and the Banner Bearers take
stations, one on each side in such a manner that the Banner with cross will be
on the right of Master of Ceremonies. Salute is given the Vice Chairman, after
which the Master of Ceremonies is escorted to the door by the Banner Bearers and
retires to the ante-room. When ready to enter with candidates, he (she) will
give signal on the door to the Inner Guard.
Inner
Guard, answering signal: Who
comes there ?
Master
of Ceremonies: The Master of
Ceremonies accompanied by candidate(s) seeks admission.
Inner
Guard: Vice Chairman! The
Master of Ceremonies accompanied by candidate(s) seeks admission.
Vice
Chairman: Inner Guard! Admit
them.
The
Inner Guard opens the door, and the Master of Ceremonies enters followed by
candidates. The Banner Bearer carrying banner with cross steps in front and
leads the procession. The Standard Bearer carrying banner with sheaf falls in
line at the end of the procession. While music is played and members sing the
first of the initiation odes, the procession marches around the lodge room and
stops, facing the Vice Chairman with the altar between the candidate(s) and said
officer.
Master
of Ceremonies: Vice Chairman! I
present to you this (these) candidate(s) who is (are) prepared to take the
obligation required by our Order.
Vice
Chairman: My Friends! In the
presence of here assembled members of the Vasa Order of America, I call upon you
to sincerely assume the obligation of our Order. Raise your right hand and give
your consent to the following obligation: You promise to abide by the
Constitution and Regulations of the Vasa Order of America, and the by-laws and
decisions of this lodge. You promise to promote by word and deed the advancement
of the Order; to strive to preserve and perpetuate the noble qualities that are
so typical of our people; to discourage envy, slander, and everything that tends
to degrade and humiliate. You promise, to the best of your ability to assist
your fellow members in sickness and distress, to visit the sick when so
requested, and whenever possible, follow departed members to their graves. You
promise to keep secret for all times our signs and ceremonies, even though you
should become separated from our Order. Do you solemnly agree to keep this
obligation? If so, answer 'I do'.
For the faithful
performance of this obligation you pledge your word of honor.
Master of Ceremonies!
Escort the candidate(s) to our Chaplain.
The
Master of Ceremonies will escort candidate(s) around the hall, until they face
the Chaplain, the altar standing between candidate(s) and said officer. An
appropriate march is played.
Master
of Ceremonies: Worthy Chaplain!
I present to you this (these) candidate(s).
Chaplain:
My Friends! Among the many virtues connected with the name of Vasa we have
placed highest in our motto, Generosity, Truth and Unity. It is our duty to
daily live up to these high and noble aims. As the great Gustav Vasa united his
people, so does the Vasa Order unite men and women in its purpose, to contribute
to happiness in life, and to assist each other in sickness and distress.
The banner of the
Vasa Order, with the golden cross on deep blue background, is a heritage from
our forefathers. We should keep this heritage in solemn memory by working for
understanding and knowledge of our ancestor's land and culture.
At the Vasa Altar you
have promised to remain steadfast to our ideals and to live up to your
obligations as members of the Vasa Order until the day, when your life's journey
is completed and fellow members carry you to your last resting place.
Master of'
Ceremonies! Escort the candidate(s) to our Past Chairman.
The
candidates are escorted around the hall until they face the Past Chairman with
the altar between candidates and said officer.
Master
of Ceremonies: Past Chairman! I
present to you this (these) candidate(s).
Past
Chairman: My Friends! The path
of Unity is easy to follow if we avoid discord and censure. It leads to
happiness, satisfaction and success in our endeavors. It is our duty as members
of this Order to have faith in each other and we should never hesitate to seek
or give assistance and advice. Unity is the outstanding Vasa Virtue that binds
and holds our organization together. The sheaf, which is the symbol of our
Order, reminds us of Unity. Just as the grain is bound into a sheaf, so that the
individual straws may not be lost to the wind, so should we be bound together in
the Vasa Order. May Generosity, Truth and Unity always guide your endeavors, for
your own welfare and for the progress of our Order.
Master of Ceremonies!
Escort the candidate(s) to our Chairman.
The
candidates are again escorted around the hall until they face the Chairman, with
the altar between the candidates and said officer.
Master
of Ceremonies:
Chairman:
My Friends! Before our Altar you have taken a solemn and binding obligation
which admits you to membership in our Order, with all the privileges as well as
duties and responsibilities connected with such membership.
The purpose of the
Vasa Order is to help its members in sickness and distress, to promote good
citizenhip, and to preserve the cultural heritage of our forefathers. Built on
these solid foundations, the Vasa Order has grown to a highly recognized
organization with lodges in
The Vasa Order has
adopted certain secret signs and pass-words which are alike for all lodges
within the Order. This is done to promote and strengthen the solidarity among
the members and to prevent those not affiliated with our Order from taking
advantage of the benefits which rightfully go with membership.
We use two pass-words.
The first is permanent; the second pass-word is changed every term.
The permanent
pass-word is Generosity. This pass-word is used at the outer door when you seek
admission. The pass-word for the current term is required at the inner door. It
is also communicated to the Master of Ceremonies during the opening ceremonies.
Only the Presiding Officer is authorized to give the pass-word.
This salute is used
during the meeting.
The
Chairman executes a military salute.
If you enter the
lodge room after the meeting has been opened, you proceed to the Altar and give
the salute to the Chairman. It is also given to the Vice Chairman should you
desire to leave the lodge room during the meeting.
We also have a
greeting, which is a handshake with a light pressure between the thumb and the
forefinger.
When, during the
meeting, the outer door is closed, you may gain admittance to the anteroom by
knocking twice on the door and then give the permanent pass-word to the Outer
Guard. To gain admittance into the lodge room, knock three times on the door,
wait a moment, and then knock twice. Give the pass-word for the current term to
the Inner Guard. You will then be admitted. Upon entering the lodge room, you
shall walk up to the Altar and salute the Chairman. After he has answered your
salute, you may be seated.
My Friends! You
should always remember our motto: Generosity, Truth and Unity. If you sincerely
live up to the promise you have given, our Order will be strengthened and its
reputation will gain.
You have now been
accepted as member of Lodge, No and I extend to you a most cordial fraternal
greeting.
The
Master of Ceremonies will at this time in vest the candidate(s) in regalia, if
such are used. ***.
Brother(s)
(Sister(s))! I now declare you duly accepted members of this lodge. Fellow
Members! Let us extend to our new members our Vasa greeting.
All
members present give the salute, at the same time saying in unison "Welcome."
*.
Master of Ceremonies!
Escort the new member(s) to this station to receive the pass-word and then seat
them among us.
The
Chairman gives the pass-word and greets the new members using- the Vasa
Handshake.
The
Master of Ceremonies removes the candelabra from the altar and the Banner
Bearers resume their stations.
Closing
Chairman:
We are about to close this meeting. Let us all join in singing the closing song.
***.
We shall now hear the
Chaplain's closing message.
Chaplain: Let us
always remember that Unity gives strength and as all of us desire to reach the
goal set before us, it becomes our duty to keep secret our pass-words and signs,
assist our fellow members in sickness and distress, visit the sick and whenever
possible follow departed members to their final resting place. It is also our
duty to aid, to the best of our ability, in the advancement of our Lodge, our
Order, and our fellowmen.
Chairman: Master of
Ceremonies! Collect rituals, song cards, regalia, and other material at the
close of the meeting. The next meeting of this lodge will be held … at …
o'clock. You are requested to be present to thereby give encouragement to your
Officers, strengthen our fraternal brotherhood, and make more secure the future
of our Order.
I now declare this
meeting closed. *.