Deutsche Orden der Harugari
Ritual of the First Degree
The Secretary and the Guide retire to the ante-room. The former reads the
list of applicants, and the latter examines them as to the pass word and signs,
of the subordinate lodges, conducts them to the inner door, and gives the sign
of admission.
n.d.
Inner Guard: Who knocks?
Guide: A brother with … brothers, who wish to be initiated into
the secrets of the first degree.
I.G. reports the same to the U.B.
U.B.: Allow them to enter.
On arriving in the lodge room the Guide places himself in front of the chair
of the U.B. and says:
Guide: Brother U.B., I hereby present to you … brother who wish
to be initiated in the secrets of the first degree.
U.B.: Who guarantees that the brothers are worthy of being
initiated into such secrets?
Guide: A brother who has examined the recommendations of their
respective lodges, and can himself recommend them.
U.B.: If this be so, then, brothers, prepare yourselves, place
your right hands over your hearts, raise your left hands, and repeat after me.
The O.B. gives two raps, the sign to rise.
I, …, in the presence of the assembled brothers, do promise and vow, that I
will keep locked within my bosom as a holy secret, the secrets, signs and pass
words which shall to-day be entrusted to me, that as long as I live I will never
communicate or betray to any one not a brother of the first degree of the
Deutschen Orden der Harugari any part thereof. Furthermore I promise to obey the
regulations of the Grand Lodge and of the officers of our order. Should I fail
to keep this, my promise, may severe punishment and ignomity befall me.
The O. B. gives one rap.
U.B.: The vow which you have just taken entitles you to be
informed of all of the secrets and signs of this degree.
Brother Guide, conduct the brothers to the chair of the Ex B. who will
acquaint them with the principles which govern the action of the brothers of the
first degree.
Ex B.: Brothers, our order is founded on Friendship, Love, and
Humanity. Friendship makes of us true brothers, Love teaches us to relieve a
needy brother with joy, and Humanity teaches us to see in the unfortunate and
the suffering in general an object for the exercise of sympathy and practical
care, for it imposes on us the duties of helping the unfortunate and of sharing
his burden in order to lighten it and to give to his anxious mind the much
needed peace. But in doing so we must ever be led by Truth. Truth is a noble
attribute and the foundation of every virtue. If we are devoted to truth, deceit
and hypocrisy will disappear, and candor and sincerity will characterize us, and
everything will unite to promote a brother's welfare and to cause us to rejoice
in his good fortune. Hereto, dear brothers, we need the following four cardinal
virtues, Moderation, Resolution. Wisdom, and Justice.
By moderation we understand the proper control of our desires and passions,
that the body and the soul may not be conquered by the temptation of vice. This
virtue should be practiced by every brother of our order.
He will be taught thereby to avoid excesses, and dissolute and vicious
habits, by which he might be beguiled into betraying to one not initiated some
or all of the precious secrets which he promised to keep secret, which betrayal
would bring down upon him the contempt and the detestation of all the brothers
of the order.
Resolution is that noble and steadfast character of the mind which enables us
to endure hardships, pain and danger. It is equally removed from foolhardiness
and cowardice, and joined with moderation should be sacred to every brother as a
support against inconstancy and timidity, as well as against every unlawful
attempt which may be made forcibly or otherwise to learn the precious secrets so
solemnly entrusted to him.
Wisdom teaches us to regulate our life and our action according to the
dictates or reason, and is that attribute of the mind which enables us to judge
of these things which our present and future welfare demand, with deliberation
and understanding.
This virtue should belong to every brother in order that he may regulate his
conduct within and without the lodge according thereto. It should be especially
observed in all strange and mixed gatherings, that not a sign, grip or pass word
be imprudently given, whereby the secrets of our order might be betrayed.
Justice we possess if we allow everyone without distinction to obtain that
which belongs to him. This virtue is enjoined us by natural and human laws, and
is the tie and the prop of human society.
Since Justice characterizes to a great degree the good man, it should be the
constant effort of every brother, even in the most insignificant affairs never
to be untrue to it.
Brother Guide, kindly conduct the brothers to our brother O.B.
Guide: Brother O.B., I present to you the brothers who have taken
the oath and have learned of the principles of the first degree, that you may
further instruct them.
O.B.: It is now my duty to ask you if you are willing to take
these principles you have just heard as rules of conduct?
Candidates: Yes.
O.B.: Since you have answered the question affirmatively, it is
now my duty to instruct you in all the secrets of this degree.
O.B.: Brothers, we have in this degree a sign of admission, a pass
word, a sign of salutation.
The O.B. explains the sign.
The color of this degree is yellow, that of gold, one of the noble metals.
The symbol of this degree is the beehive.
It symbolizes industry and commends the practice of this virtue to all
creatures, the high and the low, the rich and the poor. It teaches us that we,
as being endowed with discernment and reason, should be also active and
industrious, and never to be idle or happy so long as a brother languishes in
misery if it be in our power to prevent.
If we behold man in his infancy we find him more helpless and needy than the
beast; in the first years of his life he is unable to support, defend or protect
himself. Man could have been created to be independent of all other creatures,
but, since dependence is the strongest social band, he was created to be
mutually dependent, that thereby he might have a better opportunity to fulfill the duties of mutual love and friendship. Man, the noblest creature on earth,
was created for social and active life, and he who so far degrades himself that
he does not perform his share for the good of the great whole is n drone, a
useless member of human society and unworthy of our protection as a member of
this order.
Finally, my brothers, be faithful and prove by your future conduct that you
were worthy of being entrusted with the secrets just imparted you.
Please be seated.
The O. B. with the usual sign hereupon declares the lodge closed in the first
degree, and permits the brothers who wish to receive the second degree to
retire.