Order of Bees for Boys and Girls
Initiation Ritual


1922


Opening Ceremonies

Hive called to order by three raps of gavel. All stand.
Queen Bee:
Sister Senior Bee, are you satisfied that there are no thieves or drones in the hive?
Senior Bee:
I am.
Queen Bee:
Then let us be clothed in our sashes.
Bees all put on sashes after which all are seated by one rap of the gavel.
Queen B.:
Sister Senior Bee, are you a Bee?
Senior B.:
I am a Bee.
Queen B.:
What makes you a Bee?
Senior B.:
My inheritance.
Queen B.:
What is your inheritance?
Senior B.:
That of being the son or daughter of a Master Mason or coming well recommended by one.
Queen B.:
Where were you made a Bee?
Senior B.:
In a regular and constituted hive of Bees.
Queen B.:
How many constitute a hive of Bees?
Senior B.:
Eleven or Thirteen.
Queen B.:
Thirteen and who are they?
Senior B.:
Queen Bee, Senior Bee, Junior Bee, Chaplin Bee, Record Bee, Bread Bee, four Pillar Bees, two Portal Bees, and one Guard Bee.
Queen B.:
Sister Guard Bee, your place and duty there.
Guard B.:
Without the hive, so as to give warning of the approach of drones and thieves.
Queen B.:
Sister Portal Bee’s, your place and duty in the hive.
Portal B’s, answered by right Portal B.:
Without the entrance of the hive that all who approach may be inspected before entering the sanctuary of the King or Queen, to receive or deposit the fruits of their labor.
Queen B.:
Sister Pillar Bee’s, your place and duty in the hive?
Pillar B’s, answered by first right Pillar B.:
At four corners of the hive, to act as a support for the hive, that it may be elevated above the lower things, and conduct candidates.
Queen B.:
Sister Bread Bee, your place and duty in the hive.
Bread or Treasurer B.:
At the right corner of the hive to receive the bread of the hive and give out by orders of the Queen Bee and all Bees consenting.
Queen B.:
Sister record Bee, your place and duty in the hive.
Record B.:
At the left corner of the hive to record the entrance of the Bees into the hive, receive the bread and deposit it within the cell of the Bread Bee.
Queen B.:
Sister Chaplin Bee, your place and duty in the hive?
Chaplin B.:
At the head of the comb and in front of the Queen Bee, to contribute to the spiritual and moral welfare of the Bees, that the sweets of the hive may be pure and clean.
Queen B.:
Sister Junior Bee, your place and duty in the hive?
Junior B.:
On the left of the throne to consul with the Queen Bee and Senior Bee in the management of the hive and seeing to the filling of the comb.
Queen B.:
Sister Senior Bee, your place and duty in the hive?
Senior B.:
On the right of the throne to consul with the Queen Bee and Junior Bee and in their absence or repose to manage the hive and distribute the sweets of the comb.
Queen B.:
Sister Senior Bee, the Queen Bee’s place and her duty in the hive?
Senior B.:
In the center of the throne, there to govern and manage the hive, uplift its dignity, cement the comb to the hive and to see to it that the sweets of the comb are properly protected and distributed.
Queen B.:
Sister Senior Bee, I now declare this hive of Bees to be assembled. Brother Chaplin Bee, attend to your duties.
Queen Bee gives three raps, causing all Bees to stand while Chaplin Bee leads in prayer, closing with amen by all Bees.
Queen B.:
Sister Bees, we will now sing our opening song. All join in singing.
Queen B.:
Sister Record Bee, you will now call the roll of officers.
Roll of officers being called, hive proceeds to transact such business as may legally come before it. At its completion the following question is then asked prepratory to initiation.
 

 
Initiation
 
Queen B.:
Sister Guard Bee, are there any candidates in waiting?
Guard B.:
There is.
Queen B.:
Sister record Bee, you will ascertain how many and collect the necessary bread for the cells.
Sister Record Bee reports number and bread collected
Queen B.:
Sister Pillar Bees, you will proceed to the ante room and prepare the candidates for initiation.
After candidates are hoodwinked, first Pillar Bee alarms door of lodge which is answered by first Portal Bee within.
Portal B.:
Who comes here to disturb the sanctuary of our Queen?
First Pillar B.:
Bees who seek the sweets of our comb.
Portal B.:
You will await until the Queen Bee is informed of our mission.
Queen B.:
Sister Portal Bee, who dares to alarm the door of my sanctuary?
Portal B.:
A humble Bee seeking the sweets of our comb.
Queen B.:
You will admit them through the portals of the hive for inspection.
Portal B. proceeding to door:
You will enter through the portals of the hive for inspection.
Candidates are conducted three times around the room and kneel around the altar, each candidate holding a small bible in their hands in which form they make upon themselves the obligation of a Bee.
Queen B.:
Candidates, you are now about to take upon yourselves the obligation of the Order of Bees; are you willing to take them?
Candidates:
I am.
Queen B.:
You will repeat your name and say after me. I, …, in the presence of God and these Bees here assembled do solemnly promise to be a good and loyal member of this hive of Bees and be active in doing whatsoever is required of me to do so.
I do further promise to obey and abide by the constitution and general laws of the Order of Bees and all rules and by-laws of the hive to which I belong as far as I am able to do so and the same does not interfere with the duty I owe to my home and parents.
I further promise to help all worthy distressed Bees in needing my aid and contribute to the support of the hive and its lawful undertakings.
I further promise not to cheat, rob or injure another brother or sister Bee, knowingly, nor allow the same to be done if I can help it.
All this I most cheerfully promise to perform and abide by so help me God and keep me steadfast. Amen!
Queen B.:
Candidates, what is it you most desire.
Candidates:
Some of the sweets of the comb.
Queen B.:
Sister Pillar Bees, you will conduct the candidate without the hive and prepare them for entrance into the hive through the door of the hive that they may receive that which they desire, some of the sweets of the comb.
Candidates are conducted to ante-room, hoodwinked and returned one by one, being led once around the room to a square box or door representing the entrance to the hive through which they are caused to crawl, the entrance by the two Portal Bees.
Pillar B.:
Candidate, you are now conducted to the entrance of the hive through which you must pass in order to receive the sweets of the comb.
After passing through candidate is conducted to side of room and seated until all have entered, when a line or semi-circle is formed in front of the Queen Bee on the throne.
Queen B.:
As a reward for your perseverance you are now given some of the sweets of the comb which is pure honey and bread which is to teach you that as you partake of this substance of the comb so must you ever deposit something of a substantial nature into the hive that the Queen Bee may have pleasure and the hive profit thereby.
Queen B.:
You will now receive your work sash which, when worn will designate you as being an active Bee, and entitled to all rights and benefits of the hive.
Queen B.:
You will now be conducted before the altar where you will receive the signs and the pass word.
Queen B.:
The salutation sign is made by placing the elbows beside the body and bringing the hands together and lowering; this sign is given on entering or leaving the hive.
Queen B.:
The recognition sign is made by describing a circle with the right hand in front of you and making a buzzing sound thus: Buz-z-z-z-z-z.
The work accompanying it is given thus:
Queen B.:
In.
Candidate:
Me.
Queen B.:
Let.
Candidate:
In ― Me ― Let.
Queen B.:
This is the password given at the door and means: Let Me Into the Hive.
Queen B.:
This ends the initiation. You will take your seats without the comb.
 
 
 
Closing Ceremonies
 
Queen B.:
Sister Record Bee, is there any further business to come before the hive?
Record B.:
There is not.
Queen B.:
Then we will proceed to close. Gives three raps with gavel; all stand.
Queen B.:
Sister Guard Bee, what are your duties?
Guard B.:
To guard the hive from intrusion of drones and thieves.
Queen B.:
You will faithfully attend to those duties.
Queen B.:
Sister Senior Bee, we are about to close this hive of Bees; what are you required to do?
Senior B.:
To see that the comb is properly filled and that each Bee has received the sweets of her labor if any be required.
Queen B.:
Have you done that?
Senior B.:
I have.
Queen B.:
Sister Bread Bee, what amount of bread has been collected in the cell? Treasurer announces receipts of meeting.
Queen B.:
Sister Bees, we will sing our closing ode. All join in singing.
Queen B.:
Sister Chaplin Bee, you will lead the hive in the mispath or parting word. All repeat the Chaplin.
Queen B. raps the gavel and declares the hive closed.
Queen B.:
First Portal Bee, close the altar.
Sister second Portal Bee, inform the Guard Bee the entrance to the hive is closed.


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