Grand United Order of Odd Fellows
Ritual of the Juvenile Society
Convening
1908
PRESIDENT, *: Worthy vice, it is my desire that this Juvenile
Society, No. …, of the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows, be now convened.
VICE PRESIDENT, **: Worthy officers and juveniles, it is our
president's desire, that this society be now convened for the transaction of all
business that may come properly before us. All who are not entitled to remain in
this meeting will please retire. Pause.
Officers of the society, please take your stations and give our president your
assistance in conducting the business of the society. All please regale.
Guardian, please close the door, and allow no one to enter who is not entitled
to the privileges of the society, nor to depart without the consent of the
worthy president. Worthy supervisors, would you kindly inform me if all present
are entitled to the hospitality of the juvenile society?
The supervisors will look about the room and answer according to the facts—"yes"
or "no."
When all is satisfactory, the vice president arises in her stand, and
addressing the president, says: Worthy president, this society is now
prepared to convene.
PRESIDENT, ***, all stand: Worthy vice, officers, and juveniles.
By the authority vested in me, I declare this society convened. Let us bow in
prayer with one of our worthy supervisors.
All bow. Prayer. At the close all respond: Amen.
The president gives one rap—all are seated.
PRESIDENT: Worthy secretary, I would thank you to call the
officers' roll and read the minutes of the last meeting of this society.
The secretary calls the roll and reads the minutes.
PRESIDENT: If there be no objections or corrections, the minutes
will stand approved.
PRESIDENT: Worthy sick visitor, have you any report to make
respecting the sick, disabled, or deceased juveniles?
The sick visitor and associates report. (Pause.)
PRESIDENT: The worthy recorder will please call the juvenile roll,
and collect the dues, fines, and taxes.
PRESIDENT: Worthy recorder, have you any communications or bills
upon your desk? If so, we will consider them.
PRESIDENT: Are there any applications for membership? Let them be
read and referred to the worthy supervisors.
PRESIDENT: We will now have the reports of all committees.
PRESIDENT: Let us vote for the applicants for membership, if our
worthy supervisors have any to recommend.
PRESIDENT: Is there any new business?
Admission Ceremony
Let the Juvenile enter the room accompanied by the worthy supervisor, and
take position in the center, facing the worthy president, and salute both the
worthy president and vice president.
The supervisor will then advance to the president with the Juvenile, and
introduce her or him by name, relation, age, and residence, thus:
Worthy president, this is Mary Smith, daughter of Sister
Anna Smith. She is nine years old, and resides at 524 Cherry Street. She has
been elected a member of this society, and I now present her to you for
introduction to the juveniles.
PRESIDENT: Worthy Juvenile, I welcome you into our society, and
trust you will be a useful member.
Worthy supervisor, please introduce the new Juvenile to all the members of
this society.
The secretary will enroll the new member and furnish him with a badge and a
copy of the Rules and Regulations.
No other ceremony should be permitted; especially hood-winking and
obligating. Neither are signs nor tokens and gifts to be given to children.
The admission must be plain, simple, and devoid of any rough or frightful
practices.
Dismission
When all business has been completed, the president will give two raps, and
say: Worthy vice president, it is my desire that this Juvenile
Society, No. …, of the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows, be dismissed.
VICE PRESIDENT, **: Worthy officers and juveniles, it is our
president's desire that this society be dismissed. Worthy supervisors, please
instruct us in our juvenile duties, and give us your encouragement and advice.
One of the supervisors will rise and say: My little ones, remember
the words of the Holy Bible: Honor thy father and mother; that thy days may be
long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. Enter not into the paths
of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil.
The cardinal principles of the juvenile department are:
1. He who would teach, must first learn.
2. He who would govern, must learn to be governed.
3. Learn to obey your parents, for some day you may regret having disobeyed,
when it is too late.
4. Let your aim be always upward and let your conduct be too lofty to stoop
to commit an unworthy act, or cause the blush of shame to your parents.
Before we close, let me impress upon your minds the importance of cultivating
a kind, loving, and gentle disposition. Be obedient to your parents, respectful
to your elders, kind to your playmates, and true to the juvenile societies of
the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows.
VICE PRESIDENT, **: Worthy president, the juveniles await your
pleasure to be dismissed.
PRESIDENT, ***: Let us sing.
All juveniles, except officers, rise and join hands in a circle. Sing
"Saviour more than life to me" (or any other appropriate song).
PRESIDENT: Most worthy supervisor, please give us the benediction.
While the benediction is being pronounced the juveniles will all bow with
hands crossed over heart. At the conclusion of the benediction all respond:
For the Redeemer 's sake, Amen. Drop hands. Raise the
head.
PRESIDENT: By the authority in me vested, I declare Juvenile
Society No. …, of the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows dismissed. *.
All respond: Dismissed.