Scandinavian Brotherhood
Ritual
Opening of meetings
1905
President: Officers, take your respective places.
President: Brother Sentinel, see that the doors are closed.
President: Brother Secretary, call the names of the Offcers of the
Lodge.
President: Brother Marshal, receive the password from all present which
is given
in a low
whisper and report promptly any one not
having the same.
Marshal: All present have the current password.
President: We salute each other standing with the inside sign of
the Lodge.
Opening Ode.
President: As we again are gathered here to night for consultation
concerning such business as our constitution and By Laws dictate, it is my duty
to admonish you all to with conscientious interest take part in our work, in the
hope of which it is with pleasure I declare this our meeting opened.
President: Brother Recording Secretary is now requested to read
the minutes of preceeding meeting Secretary reads.
Are there any remarks or objections to the minutes, otherwise I declare the same
accepted.
Ceremonies of Initiation
President: Brother Financial Secretary, enter the ante room and
receive of the candidate the usual initiation fee after
the marshal has turned over the fee to the Financial Secretary.
President: Brother Marshal, conduct the candidate inside from ante
room signal at
door.
Sentinel: Who is there?
Marshal: A candidate seeking admission as member of the
Scandinavian Brotherhood.
Sentinel: What recommendation has he to present?
Marshal: He is well recommended by three Brothers, as well as the
Physician of the Lodge
President: Admit him.
The President calls the Lodge to their feet, when the Marshal with the
candidate enters the Lodge room the initiatory hymn is song, under which the
marshal conducts the Candidate around the Lodge room in slow marching order, and
lastly stops at the chair of the Vice-President.
Marshal: I have the honor to present our friend … name
who wishes to become a member of the Scandinavian Brotherhood.
Vice-President: My friend, are you of Scandinavian descent? Answer.
Is it of your own free will, you wish to become a member of the Scandinavian
Brotherhood? Answer.
We then require of you an obligation, which we all have assumed. With the
assurance that such obligation does not conflict with your duties to your
family, your Religion or your right as a citizen, are you willing to take such
an obligation? Answer. Brother Marshal,
conduct our friend to the President of the Lodge for taking said obligation.
Marshal: Brother President, I have the honor to present to you
according to order from our Vice President our friend … name
for taking the obligation of our order.
President: My friend, place your right hand on your left side of
the breast and repeat after me the following: I, …, (with your name) do most
sincerely promise, of my own free will and agreement, in the presence of God and
the brethren here assembled to conduct myself as a worthy brother, and never
under any circumstances to divulge the secret business of the Lodge. I promise
to show respect and affection for my Brothers and never purposely commit any
act, which will wound or wrong a brother. I further promise to abide by the
constitution and By Laws of the Lodge. Should I be deprived of membership or
voluntarily leave the order I shall consider tins promise as equally binding and
upon my honor do I promise before Cod and man to remain true to this my
obligation. The secret doings of this Lodge consist of: Greeting sign outside of
the Lodge given. Inside greeting sign of the
Lodge given. Gripe given.
Warning sign explained and
given, knocking at the door for entrance
after the opening of the Lodge given. The
Password which only is given within the Lodge to the marshal. President if
required or any in the absence of the marshal authorized brother. With this
instructions I greet you welcome as a member of the Scandinavian Brotherhood descends
and takes the candidate by the hand.
Brother Marshal, conduct our new brother to the Chaplain of our Lodge for
further instruction.
Marshal: I have the pleasure to introduce brother … name.
Chaplain: Dear brother, you have now assumed the obligation
requested of you for membership in the Scandinavian Brotherhood. May you never
forget the promises given. Nothing is more disgusting to all true members, than
seeing a brother openly or otherwise despise or ridicule the sacred rules of the
order. Hoping to find in you a good and true brother, you are cordially welcome takes
his hand.
Brother marshal, conduct our new brother to the past President.
Marshal: I again have the pleasure to conduct our new brother … name
farther, and hereby introduce him to you, as requested by our Chaplain.
Past-President: Brother, I congratulate you, for being accepted as
a member of our order. There are three principal duties, which a brother should
always bear in mind and to which I wish to call your attention. These are, to
God, ourselves, and our fellows beings which
should he first and foremost regarded and followed according to our
conscience.
Then, Rules of deportment:
Within the Lodge a brother should and must conduct himself with propriety, so
that the pleasant harmony is in no way disturbed or annoyance created.
Rules of Submission:
He must without protest show himself submissive to the President willingly
follow the rules and regulation of the order and with interest take part in the
work, in order to speedily prove a prominent and useful member. In the
recommendation for membership of any person, the utmost care should be taken,
and only such names be presented as to the best of knowledge are worthy of
acceptance. The Password given you, we can assure is the key to the fortress
within which we work. Never forget the promises now given, let them be a sacred
secret within yourself and remember that the name of a betrayer clings to one
who betrays his brother. Such we hope never will gain entrance and membership mm
the Scandinavian Brotherhood. Brother Marshal, present our new brother to the
Recording Secretary for signing of the constitution.
Marshal: Brother President our new brother has signed the
constitution of the Lodge.
President: We now take a short intermission, for forming the
acquaintance of our new brother after which we proceed to the usual business.
Then the Lodge proceeds to transaction of business for the evening, to be
governed by the business Routine. When a motion to adjourn is carried follows
the Closing Ode.
President: As we now are ready to part, and also add this our
meeting to memories past I hope and trust. that we are all aware of the
importance of earnest work for our Society’s interest in future, as well
outside as inside of the same, so that it may furthermore flourish and in coming
as well as departed days proceed forward. Lastly declaring my hope concerning
the welfare and prosperity of the Society and its members, I now request our
Chaplain to declare the meeting closed for the evening.
Chaplain: Now may the blessing of God omnipotent rest on all the
members of this Lodge, and may we be adorned with every moral and true virtue.
Amen.