Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War
Initiation Ritual


1989


Opening Exercises

One Rap.
President:
The meeting will now come to order.
President:
Chaplain, you will open the Bible.
Three Raps.
All members stand at attention, with hands empty at sides. The Chaplain approaches the altar, reverently opens the Bible and returns to her station.
One Rap.
President:
Secretary, you will call the roll.
Secretary calls roll from her station, commencing with the highest in rank. Each officer rises as her name is called, responds Present, and remains standing until roll call is finished and vacancies filled.
Secretary:
Sister President, I find the following officers have not reported for duty.
A substitute chair officer, who is filling a station, shall remain seated during roll call.
When appointed, she shall rise, salute, respond Present, and remain standing.
One Rap.
President:
Assistant Guard, you will see that the doors are properly secured.
Assistant Guard secures the doors and returns to her station, unless there are transfer members in waiting, in which case she remains in the anteroom.
President:
Guide, you will make the rounds of the meeting and see that all present are entitled to remain.
Guide goes to President’s station. The President gives the password to the Guide who repeats it to the President and proceeds to take up the password, beginning with the first sister on the right of the President.
Members shall rise when giving the password.
Guide:
Sister President, I find on due inspection, that all are entitled to remain, except Sisters …, who have failed to give the proper password.
Guide returns to her station.
President:
If the sisters will advance to this station, I will give them the password.
Sisters advance to station of President and return via the side of the room on which they are seated. Member without the password, arriving late, will report to the Guard with her name.
Guard will report to the President. A visiting sister without the password must be vouched for by a known member of the order.
President:
Sisters, you will give strict attention while the Chaplain asks the Divine blessing.
Three Raps.
Color bearers left face, advance to the corners of the room, thence diagonally, each to a point three feet from the corner of the altar, reaching this point before the Chaplain leaves her station.
President:
Parade Rest!
Parade rest, for all except Color Bearers and Patriotic Instructor, is assumed by placing right foot back of left, with the heel of the left foot near the hollow of the right foot, hands clasped in front, the left over the right.

 
 
Prayer
 
Chaplain:
Dear Heavenly Father, we thank Thee for the freedom and unity of this glorious nation. We ask Thy blessing upon us at this time. Meet with us and may everything we do be done according to Thy most Holy will. Make us sisters in heart as well as in name. May charity and sisterly kindness be in all our work and actions, and may we do cheerfully all work given us to do in memory of those who so gallantly defended their country and flag and may we so live as to be an honor to THE FLAG OUR FATHERS SAVED. Prosper us and may we become a great power in this land for charity and loyalty. These favors we ask for Thy Son’s sake. Amen.
President:
Attention.
The Chaplain returns to her station. The Color Bearers remain at the altar for the Pledge of
Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and the National Anthem.
President:
Our Patriotic Instructor will now lead us in pledging allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.
The Patriotic Instructor steps directly in front of the Senior Vice-President’s station and advances to the altar.
Standing with right hand over the heart, hands empty, all repeat the Pledge of Allegiance, slowly.

 
 
Pledge of Allegiance
 
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
President:
We shall sing our National Anthem, ‘The Star-Spangled Banner.’
Oh! Say, can you see,
by the dawn’s early light,
What so proudly we hailed
at the twilight’s last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars,
through the perilous fight,
O’er the ramparts we watched were so
gallantly streaming?
And the rockets’ red glare,
the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night
that our flag was still there.
Oh! Say, does that Star-Spangled
Banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
After singing the National Anthem, Patriotic Instructor returns to her station via the Senior Vice-President’s station. The Color Bearers No. 2 and No. 3, and No. 1 and No. 4, wheel towards each other, at the altar, and return to their stations on same lines as when approaching the altar.
One Rap.
President:
Senior Vice-President, what is the object of the Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War?
Senior Vice-President:
To perpetuate the memories of our fathers, their loyalty to the Union, their unselfish sacrifices for the preservation of the same, and to keep alive the history of those who participated in that heroic struggle for the maintenance of our free government.
Senior Vice-President, Junior Vice-President and Patriotic Instructor shall remain standing after giving their charges.
President:
Junior Vice-President, what is our privilege?
Junior Vice-President:
To aid the widows and descendants of Union Veterans of the Civil War, to assist those in our Order who are worthy and needy, and to cooperate in movements relating to veterans, civic and welfare projects.
President:
Patriotic Instructor, what is our mission?
Patriotic Instructor rises and holds flag at attention.
Patriotic Instructor:
Our mission is to spread widely the teachings of patriotism, that those who dwell in this broad land of ours will so live that, in peace or in war, there shall be no stain on ‘The Flag Our Fathers Saved.’
Three Raps.
President:
Sisters, what is our duty?
Sisters:
To inculcate a love of country and patriotism and to promote equal rights and universal liberty.
President:
Sisters, we will now repeat the American’s Creed.
 
 
The American’s Creed
 
I believe in the United States of America as a government of the people, by the people, for the people; whose just powers are derived from the consent of the governed; a democracy in a republic; a sovereign nation of many sovereign states; a perfect union, one and inseparable; established upon those principles of freedom equality, justice, and humanity for which American patriots sacrificed their lives and fortunes.
I therefore believe it is my duty to my country to love it; to support its Constitution; to obey its laws; to respect its flag; and to defend it against all enemies.
President:
We will sing the Opening Ode.
 
 
Opening Ode
 
God bless our glorious Flag;
From vale to mountain crag
It floats in peace;
Proud banner of the free,
Ever triumphantly,
May each expectant see,
Thy power increase.
Out of the battle glare
See all the stars are there
Gleaming like gold;
Doubly its hues are blest
Thousands have gone to rest
Noblest, bravest and best
Under the Flag.
One Rap.
President:
I now declare this Tent regularly opened for the transaction of such business as shall legally come before it.
President:
Guard, you will admit all qualified to enter.
Guard obtains password from sisters waiting in the anteroom, admitting them one at a time.
Sisters shall wait at Guard’s station until all have entered, then advance to altar in single line, via Chaplain’s station, salute simultaneously and take seats. If entrance is at the left of the Senior Vice-President’s station, members advance to the altar via the Junior Vice-President’s station.

 
 
Initiation
 
President:
Assistant Guard, you may retire to the anteroom and remain, should there be candidates.
President:
Guard, are there candidates awaiting initiation?
Guard obtains information from the Assistant Guard who gives the Guard a written list of names.
Guard:
Sister President, I find reading from the list … awaiting initiation.
President:
Guide, with Color Bearers, you will retire and introduce the candidate(s) for initiation.
Color Bearers and Guide retire. When all is in readiness, Assistant Guard enters and resumes her station.
Guide and candidates enter, preceded by Color Bearers No. 1 and No. 2 with No. 3 and No. 4 in the rear, and proceed via the Senior Vice-President’s station to the station of the Junior Vice-President.
In halls where entrance is on the left of the Senior Vice-President’s station, Guide shall proceed directly to the Junior Vice-President’s station.
Guard:
Sister President, a daughter stands without and seeks admission to our Order.
President:
Guard, open wide the door and bid the daughter enter.
Three Raps.

 
 
Initiation Ode
 
Forward, march into our Order
With the Daughters true,
Keep in line and do your duty,
All life’s journey through.
By the Flag that waves above us
We’ll to you be true
Charity, Fraternity
And Loyalty to you.
The candidate(s) shall be placed directly in front of the officer giving charge at their station.
One Rap.
All respond to gavel except President, Senior Vice-President, Junior Vice-President, Chaplain and Patriotic Instructor, who remain standing. Patriotic Instructor steps back on a line with the Senior Vice-President, holding flag at attention.
All initiatory charges must be given. In Tents of fewer than thirty members, a chair officer may give more than one charge.
Junior Vice-President:
Why do you approach this station?
Guide:
That you may instruct this candidate(s) who seeks admission to our Order, in the duties she (or they) will be expected to perform.
Guide steps back one pace.
Junior Vice-President:
You are about to become one of our number and to take upon you the oath of our Order, a most solemn obligation. We are descendants of brave and noble sires, who, when their homes and country were threatened by the hand of treason, faltered not, but bravely, and without a thought of self, responded to their country’s call.
How they fought and what they endured and how many so bravely died has been told and will be told until the end of time. You, as a daughter of one of these heroes, are asked to pledge yourself to perpetuate the memory of their heroic struggles. You will now be conducted to the Senior Vice-President.
The Guide steps forward and conducts candidates, led by Color Bearers No. I and No. 2, with No.3 and No.4 in the rear, by the way of the stations of the President and Chaplain to the Senior Vice-President.
Senior Vice-President:
Whom have you in charge?
Guide:
The daughter(s) of a noble veteran who, having passed the Junior Vice-President, is by her orders conducted to your station for further instruction.
Senior Vice-President:
We extend a cordial welcome and hope you may spend with us many pleasant and profitable hours. We most earnestly commend to your notice a few of the duties which you are expected to perform. You must yield prompt obedience to those in authority and never betray a trust reposed in you by your associates. Cherish a friendly feeling for all members of our Order. Never speak unkindly of any organization that has for its end and aim the welfare of veterans. The members thereof are to be considered as brothers and sisters.
Especially are you requested to be careful of the manner in which you speak of a Sister member of the Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War. Always throw the mantle of charity over her words an deeds, making them appear in the best light possible. It matters not what your feelings may be toward a sister, while in the Tent room you are to be pleasant and sociable. Whatever arises in the meetings that may cause you to feel in the least way offended with a sister, although it is the duty of each one not to willfully give offense, yet, if such a thing occur, you are not to take it outside the Tent room. If you know of a sister sick, or in distress, you will notify the Visiting Committee, and, if possible, call upon her yourself.
If you will so promise, answer ‘I do.’
Senior Vice-President:
Sister Patriotic Instructor, this candidate(s) now awaits your instructions.
Patriotic Instructor:
From our Junior Vice-President, you have heard of Fraternity; from our Senior Vice-President, of Charity; and it is now my privilege to tell you of Loyalty. A patriot has been aptly described as one who is ‘loyal to God and country.’ Patriotism, however, means not only the shouldering of arms and marching forth to battle when danger threatens; but it demands the daily, the hourly, giving of the best that is within you in the service of God and country.
You, daughter of a noble father, will be expected to take your place as an American citizen, alive to the needs of the hour, endeavoring at all times to promulgate such teachings of honor and truth as shall make our country worthy of its emblem, ‘THE FLAG OUR FATHERS SAVED.’
I now present to you this flag presents small flag doubly dear to a daughter of a Union veteran of the Civil War-the flag of her country, and the flag of her father’s sacrifice and devotion.
‘The stars of morn on our banner borne
With the iris of Heaven are blended,
The hand of our sires first mingled those fires
And by us shall they be defended.’
You will now be conducted to the President for further instruction.
Guide and candidate, escorted by Color Bearers, march around the room in the same direction as before to the President’s station. At all stations the Color Bearers form an unbroken line behind the Guide and candidates.
Guide:
Sister President, by direction of the Patriotic Instructor, I present this candidate(s) who, having been properly instructed in the duties of our Order, now awaits your command.
President:
Miss (or Mrs.) …, having been instructed in the duties enjoined upon you by our Order, it becomes my duty, as the representative of this Tent, to ask of you a solemn obligation; one which I assure you, will in no way interfere with your duty to your God, to your country, or to yourself. If you are ready to take this obligation, answer ‘I am.
President:
Guide, you will conduct the candidate(s) to the altar.
Three Raps.
Color Bearers No. 1 and No. 4 advance one pace, turn facing the Senior Vice-President. Color Bearer No. 2 leads, followed by Guide with candidates, with Color Bearer No. 3 in the rear, proceed to the altar. President advances to the altar with Color Bearers No. 1 and No. 4.
President at the altar:
Parade Rest.
 
 
Prayer by Chaplain
 
Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we, Thy servants, thank Thee for all Thy goodness and kindness toward us and all men. We ask Thy special blessing upon our organization and upon the one who is about to become one of our number.
Direct us in all our doings with Thy most gracious favor; granting us in this world knowledge of Thy truth, and in the world to come, life everlasting. Amen.
President:
Guide you will place the candidate(s) in proper position to assume the obligation.
Guide:
You will place your left hand upon the Bible and raise your right hand.
President:
You will repeat the obligation, pronouncing your name where I do mine.
I, …, do most faithfully promise in the presence of Almighty God and on my honor as a Daughter of a Union Veteran of the Civil War that I will not reveal anything that I may witness herein. I furthermore do solemnly promise that I will not disclose any of the passwords or secret work of this Order and that I will do all in my power to cooperate in striving to assist worthy widows and descendants of Union Veterans of the Civil War and will remain loyal to my country and flag.
All sing:
Blest be the tie that binds
Our hearts in Christian love;
The fellowship of kindred minds
Is like to that above.
President:
Attention.
President returns to her station escorted by Color Bearers No. 1 and No. 4.
President:
Guide, you will conduct the candidate(s) to the desk of the Secretary to sign the roll; after which you will present her at my station to receive the password and secret work of our Order.
One Rap seats all except the President, Guide, Color Bearers and candidates.
Color Bearer No. 2 followed by Guide and candidates, with Color Bearer No. 3 in the rear, pass to the desk of the Secretary. During the signing of the roll, Color Bearer No. 2 faces the Chaplain’s side of the room, Color Bearer No. 3 remains facing the Secretary’s desk until all have signed the roll. Then Color Bearer No. 2 leads Guide and candidates to the President’s station. Color Bearers No 2 and No. 3 close ranks behind the Guide and candidates; Color Bearers No. 1 and No. 4, who have been facing the rear of the room, wheel in line with No. 2 and No. 3, back of Guide and candidates, facing the President.
President:
Should you arrive at the Tent room before the meeting is opened, you will enter and take your seat; should you arrive after the meeting is opened you will advance to the inner door, give two loud raps and one softer. This signal will attract the attention of the Guard, who will open the door, when you will give in a whisper, your name and the password. If the password is correct, the Guard will admit you and you will advance to the altar, face the President and salute, which is done by placing the thumb close to the hand, thus; you will then bring the hand up to a line with the forehead, the forefinger touching the forehead just above the right eye, thus; then drop the hand to the side. The President will recognize you by returning the salute, when you may be seated.
Should you wish to cross or recross the room while the Tent is in session, you will advance to the altar and salute the President, not waiting for recognition if she is busy.
If you wish to leave the Tent room before the meeting has been closed, you will advance to the altar, salute, and if recognized by the President, you may retire. You are not to pass between the altar and the President, except as required by the floor work of the ritual.
When the Tent is called to order, the President will instruct the guide to see if all present are entitled to remain. When the Guide reaches you, you will rise and give in a whisper the password.
If you wish to take part in any debate, make or second a motion, you will rise, salute, and say ‘Sister President.’ The President will return the salute and speak your name, as Sister … when you may proceed.
When the President gives the command, ‘Parade Rest,’ you will place the right fool back of the left with the heel of the left foot near the hollow of the right; your hands clasped in front, the left over the right.
The voting sign is made by raising the right hand.
One rap calls the Tent to order one rap or seats the members when standing; two raps call up the officers two raps; three raps call up the entire membership three raps.
One Rap.
President:
I will now communicate to you the password of our Order.
President:
You are now a member of our Tent. We most heartily welcome you to our sisterhood. Heed well the admonitions of our Senior Vice-President, Junior Vice-President and our Patriotic Instructor.
Guard well the honor of our Tent. Be always ready and willing to assist in anything that may be for the welfare of the Tent or its members. May every action of your life be a proof that you fully appreciate the noble heritage that is yours, and so live that you will be an honor to ‘THE FLAG OUR FATHERS SAVED.’
President:
Guide, you will place the new Sisters in position for greetings.
Guide and new members wheel and face the Senior Vice-President, with the Guide on the right of the new members; transferred members, brothers and guests at the left of the new members, in the order given. Color Bearers No. 1 and No. 4 step forward and about face. No. 1 at the left of the receiving line; No.4 at the right of the Guide. No. 2 and No. 3 separate until No. 2 is opposite No. 1 and No. 3 is opposite No. 4.
Three Raps.
All sisters, except the President and Musician, fall in line as the line passes them, led by the Treasurer, via the stations of the Chaplain, Senior Vice-President and Junior Vice-President to the receiving line, the Guide follows the line of march to seat the new members and others. Color Bearers No. 2 and No. 3 close ranks. No. 1 and No. 4 step forward in line with No. 2 and No. 3 and turn facing the President in closed ranks. All sisters remain standing until Guide reaches her station. President salutes Color Bearers, who right face and proceed to their stations in single file.
One Rap.

 
 
Closing Exercises
 
No part of these exercises except the closing ode and closing hymn may be omitted.
President:
We will now sing the Closing Ode.
Three Raps.

 
 
Closing Ode
 
The Daughters, the Daughters forever
Our glorious nation’s defense,
May the wreaths we have twined never wither,
Nor the fame of our Fathers grow dim.
May the Daughters united ne’er sever,
But we to our country prove true,
The Sons and the Daughters forever,
Three cheers for The Red, White and Blue,
Three cheers for The Red, White and Blue,
Three cheers for The Red, White and Blue,
The Sons and the Daughters forever,
Three cheers for the Red, White and Blue.
President:
Sisters, our duties for this occasion are performed. As we go hence to mingle with the busy world, let us not forget to practice in our daily lives the sacred objects inculcated by the work of this Order. Officers and Sisters, what is the most sacred duty of a daughter of a Union veteran of the Civil War?
Sisters:
Loyalty to God, country and flag.
If there are officers’ badges to be picked up, the President will instruct the Guide to do so at this time.
President:
We will now sing the closing hymn.
Faith of our fathers! Living still
In spite of dungeon, fire and sword;
O how our hearts beat high with joy
Whene’er we hear that glorious word!
Faith of our fathers, holy faith!
We will be true to thee till death.
Our fathers, chained in prisons dark,
Were still in heart and conscience Cree;
How sweet would be their children’s Pate,
If they, like them, could die for thee!
Faith of our fathers, holy faith!
We will be true to thee till death.
President:
Chaplain, you will close the Bible.
When the Chaplain has closed the Bible, she may carry it to her station. The Color Bearers may furl the flags.
President:
And now, by the power vested in me, I declare this Tent duly closed until our next meeting.
One Rap.


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