United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America
Ritual of Local Ladies’ Auxiliary Unions
Opening
1967
President: Sisters, we are about to open this Auxiliary for the
purpose of considering such measures as will tend to perpetuate our society,
help, aid and assist our fathers, brothers, husbands and sons in their daily
toil, elevate their trade, advance our interests, promote the sale of goods
bearing the union label, and to individually and collectively help each other.
All not members of the society will please retire.
Sister Conductor, you will communicate to me the current Semi-annual
Password, after which you will examine all present and report to me the name of
anyone who cannot give you the password.
Conductor: Sister President, I have examined the sisters present
and find them all qualified to remain.
President: Sister Warden, admit no one without the password and
allow none to retire without the permission of the Vice-President. I now declare
this Auxiliary duly organized for the transaction of such business as may
regularly come before it.
The President will then take the constitution and conduct the meeting
according to the rules contained therein.
Initiation Ceremony
President: Sister Conductor, you will ascertain if there are any
candidates awaiting initiation.
Conductor: Sister President, … is in the ante-room awaiting the
pleasure of this society.
President: Sister Financial Secretary-Treasurer, has … been duly
and regularly elected to become a member of this society?
Financial Secretary-Treasurer: Sister President, … has been duly
and regularly elected to become a member of this Society.
President: Sister Conductor, you will retire to the ante-room and
present … for initiation.
Warden: Sister President, I announce our Sister Conductor with the
candidate.
President: Admit them.
Conductor: Sister President, permit me to introduce to you … who
wishes to join our society.
President to Applicant: In this society you will be required to
take upon yourself an obligation such as we have all taken, but let me assure
you there is nothing in that obligation that will in any manner, shape or form
conflict with your religious belief, social duties or domestic relation. But at
this time it is also my duty to inform you that the United Brotherhood of
Carpenters and Joiners of America does not recognize the Communist Party as a
political organization. With this assurance, are you willing to take the
obligation?
Candidate answers.
President: You will now place your right hand over your heart and
your left hand on this constitution, while I recite the obligation.
Obligation
You, of your own free will and accord, in the presence of these members here
assembled, do solemnly and sincerely promise that you will never reveal any of
the business of this society unless authorized to do so, You further promise to
abide by the constitution, laws and rules and acquiesce in the will of the
society, and that you will use every honorable means to promote the use of the
union label and help, aid and assist our fathers, husbands, brothers and sons to
elevate the carpenter trade. You further pledge yourself to be obedient to
authority, orderly and decorous in meetings, respectful in word and action and
charitable in your judgment of your sister members.
And further, do you now affirm and declare that you are not now affiliated
with any Revolutionary Organization, or any organization that tries to disrupt
or cause dissention in the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of
America, or any Auxiliary thereof, nor will you at any time give aid and comfort
to any such organization?
To all this you promise and pledge your honor to observe and abide by.
President: Do you thus promise?
Candidate: I do.
Members, in Chorus: We bear witness.
President: You have now assumed the duties and honors of a member
of our society, and we bid you welcome. I will now give you the password …. To
gain admission you must knock twice at the inside wicket. When the Warden opens
the wicket you will give her the current Semi-annual Password, and you will then
be admitted.
President: Sister Conductor, you will now conduct our newly
initiated member to the desk of the Financial Secretary-Treasurer, where she
will hand in her correct street address. She will then obtain her card of
membership.
Closing
President: There being no further business before the Auxiliary,
we will proceed to close.
President raps three times and members rise.
President: Sisters, you will all bear in mind your obligation.
Help one another; strive to strengthen our society, promote the use of the union
label, assist our husbands, fathers, brothers and sons to elevate their trade,
and be careful not to divulge the business of our society to anyone. I now
declare the meeting duly adjourned, unless specially called, until next … at
… o’clock, when I hope to see you all present.