“ Fosgreen ith: Paseo: the! pend! % lb green with a’ Scroll on thé pendant } L, green with a Quill on the pendant. % 4, purple with a Key on the pendant } 3, purple with a Torch on the pendant. % ¥ purple with a Sword on the pendant. Members should wear suits during the initia- tion ceremonies.INITIATION. 5—EIST DEGREE ALTAR ARRANGEMENT Altar-cloth Bible-opened:to. Matthew 13:3 Bowl of sand The Tist should make certain that the prompter. is ready. & 3 has a-list of fs. Officers veake=positions:in:shack-ofsaltar ina i defrrto:right as Gl, Bb, out Members are seated: facing the altar. Doors © should be guarded to insure’ privacy. * ‘fs are-ted by members, siagle file, wo the door’ of the initiation room whiere ‘they can indis— tinctly hear the opening portions of the cere- mony. ROLL CALL } L—Brothers assigned to administer the first degree of V > } will now answer to roll call. (Brothers answer by the Latinx “ADSUM.”) € Brother Archon Brother Basileus Brother Grammatist : Brother Tamias i Brother Epistate Brother Phylast Brother Presbyter‘Brothers, if there ‘be:-anyiamong os lnvesceenat to tellere ciabione é against them. (Pause.) Look well that our ceremonies are conducted with ‘proper de- corum. Brother Phylast, allow the Aspirants to be brought before our assembly. } ¢ returns to door, which be opens. & ¢—By command of our Brother Archon, I bid you enter. i } D enters with Aspirants. 2 ¢ closes door and returns to bis re position, .Ifttherextsemore-thanzone Syallisbut thas one-chosen:to participate forsthevotbers-are:,. positioned where they maybave a good viewsofrtherproceedings, Blindfolds.are-re- smovedvfrom-all: but the participating 1. ® Defter-passing- oncexaround the & -withethe~Aspirant, balts-at Strength vertex Ofsds, thenpasses along Faith side of Sand ‘Aspirin Balt before dlter)i — ~ “Ask, -and it shall be given you; Seek, and ye shall, find; Knock, and it shall be opened unto you. “For everyone that asketh, receiveth; And he that seeketh, findeth; * And to him that knocketh, it shall be opened.” b 3 unbinds wrists of Aspirants end blaces the right hand of the leading candi- date on the open Bible with the palm down, Right bands of remaining 1s are raised,structed: ta Biel Lace dee i and make the obligation sign of the first degree while taking the oath.) c 2 of. FIRST DEGREE OATH Of my own free will, /I (state your full name),/ do promise and swear, nae before God / and before the brothers ( -| of V > >, / that I will for the rest of my life/ abide by these solemn pledges:/ wl will always give the principles / of *> / my ont and sincere went! / and |, / throughout’ my: whole life, / a ein! adhere / to the ideals / for which the Fraternity stands, =oth So help-me God! b ®D raises Aspirants, b p—Brothers, this seeker after wisdom comes before us naked, entering our council chamber as when he first entered the world; symbolizing his utter ignorance, and needy state of soul. Thus he recognizes the need for further evolution, ‘development and enlightenment which he is privileged to teceive within our company. Brother Epi- state, let him be clothed in suitable raiment for his journey in search of wisdom which he is about to undertake. ian cian :cantina bemnd ihen seheraiiien, ves Bless our circle and the Aspirants who stand in our midst to be tried. We'ask Thee to give them courage, to endow them with pru- ¢(~ dence and wisdom, that they may be true and faithful Brothers of V > > all the rest of their lives. Amen. Brothers resume seats. byter for instructions.fore ae tomded qud Wooded 2 DileadesA spieannecumerclockuoteaonds completelyearound-thev'se, completing at it ircumscribedO, .and-‘halts. be- CHARGE? TO: ASPIRANTS ition: youygood:Aspirants, chat order; andvall ke privileges: of Sie Hea sternity-which are known.to the:outet world. But‘you-do not know thé deep devotion expected -of ‘those ‘within. the Bond; where- for, ‘bethink you, good Aspirants, whether you areable to bear all the hardships which you may encounter, for you should not seek the companionship of the Brotherhood that you may enjoy renown of place, power of wealth, or ease of body. Rather you should seek to develop yourself in the teachings of V > >, to be loyal to the ideals of the Fraternity in thought, word and deed, and at all times to render unto it such service as you may be able, Good Aspirants, I caution you to deliberate upon this im- portant act. R ll waits for 30 seconds,‘you! tt Brotherhood? If s0,:you‘willseachtanswer, “T da” » I steps a disad sd pickesepgpata of corn, holding it between upraised fingers. [This seed is withered and ugly, yet it contains that undefinable something which we call life. Men have examined every atom of such a seed and have been unable to tell us what life is. This bit of substance contains the potential ability to nourish itself, to regenerate lost or injured bets, and tm propagate dts’ species.But this essence of life cannot be liberated ualess favorable conditions surround it Given good ground, light and water, the seed grows to beauty and usefulness. Take this seed, which Brother Epistate will assist you to plant.GoddsAsplestansis Hida pteisasicane didaves we have done so believing’ you to be good: ground in-which:to: sow our pre- cepts: May you so cultivate them that they will multiply and produce a rich harvest of good deeds. INVESTITURE % —Brother Presbyter, you will now invest the Aspirant with the emblem of this de-ancient proverb Chale; h- lay-pah ‘Tah /Kab-lab’), ;meaning/‘Naught without labor.” May you always-cherish the virtue of Faith; persevering inthe: ideal of our open motto, which will spur you on to ever increasing usefulness. SUMMARY 2 f--You have now completed the first part of your symbolic quest for wisdom in the mys- teries of V > +, You have traversed one side of the’ Eternal #. This side (points to it) represents the spicitual vicwe of Faith; and its opposite vertex (points) represents the physical virme of Passion. You arec now advancedito:a second: stage;-which is nd thatvofza@Neophyte. } b—This is the2obligation sign »of: the: first . degree ~( 2) }Sbalds peered Rnuckles bent and sthumb-exterded). Male it ei ie as ditenies it @ > aed Ao 2 sioics 0k his eee 4 ary. Of! the: symbolic: lesson. -It is, “L have Glatenlwhe teed" Repeat dc-afeen me, ; and fix.it in-your mind. (% } end Neo- phytes repeat together: “I have planted she seed") ‘This is the lesson sign of this de- gree. (With thumb, forefinger and middle finger joined, % > makes motion of plant- ing a seed; then, with flat- of band the motion of patting the earth three times, followed by three circular motions smooth ing the earth.) Make it with me and re- C member it. (% } and Neopbytes make les- son sign togtber.) The pass sentence and lesson sign are to remind you of the sym- bolic lesson. You are now fully instructed initiates of CG this degree. } ® blindfolds Neophytes and leads them out,Geeck Jamp: should beplaced conveniendy within reachvand:outiof sight. with the anchor pendant, to be-placed about the neck of the initiate aftér-the’ lamp scene. : CEREMONY The Bist should make certaiw that the prompter is ready and that all Neopbytes are ready and waiting, blindfolded. A guard should be placed at the door to insure privacy. % $—Brothers, let us continue the initiation © of the candidates who await further teach- ing in the mysteries of ¥ > >.answers.summons-at door, which be Ligh phytes from ei earch sof further wisdomiia the/mysteries:of V > 3. b- ¢-By~order of “our Brother: Archon, I bid you enter. 7 » % D enters with Neophytes. ’ ¢ closes door and returns to bis regular position. CIRCUMAMBULATION 2 ®, after removing blindfolds of non- participating (s, leads participating Neo- phyte counterclockwise twice around €:, passing slong an imaginary circurascribed circle, finally halting at strength vertex. He then passes along faith side and halts at iG purity vertex; passes along hope side and a halts at passion vertex; and then circles to \ @ position before altar, facing >» }. ry“Measwhile % 1 saysibissparsstuitcejcin- cluding at: -precisely the ‘sarse:timecas the ‘incareambulation: need tony. 1b cb—-Brother“Basilens} itis your privilege to supervise the. instructionvof thissdegres, '2 causes Neophytetowxtendshis bands waist high toward altar) *D takes: swords from. altar and gives them to Neophyte, belping him to cross the blades on bis palms, which be holds several inches above open Bible. If two or more candidates are initiated simultaneously, only the leading candidate should be required to hold the swords, The others remain standing. % B—Good Neophyte, you are now holding the two swords of V > >>. One of them repre- sents the attribute of physical strength. The other represents the virtue of moral courage. We look to you to maintain with these swords and the emblems of chivalry, which you have seen represented on our blazoned arms, your fidelity to those things’ which we hold sacred, following in the truc spirit % ~ 8¢ 353 of ¥ 2, that your battle sigtteeihe ae forght-withshonor-to yourselfeand-to-fhe 4° 4° Brotherhood ¥¥s questions. iy B—Good Neophytes, do you still earnestly desire that we receive you into close com- eo radeship, granting you the benefits and privileges of our order? If so, you will each answer, “I do.” Neopbytes—I do. (PB So be it With your right haad resting on the Holy Scriptures and crossed swords, do -you, in the presence of God above, and in ct the sight of all the brothers, reaffirm your : acceptance of the Pledge Obligations of Vv > %, without reservation or evasion? If so, you will each answer, “I do.” . Neophytes—I do.” officers. / p—You will:then placeyour sight: ‘the-Holy Bible -in the manner-ww of this: dees (Remaining As reste to kneel, extend: their-right bands, and Of :my-own free will, / x full name) -/ do promise-and swear, / -. before: God:./: and: before:the brothers _ of Vk +, / that I will fr the rest of my life / abide by these solemn pledges: /- I will never join any local general fraternity / at this institution, / or any_ other national general fraternity, / at any institution. / I will abide by the laws and traditions / of V * >, / and the rulings / of its Cc I will strive with the utmost diligénee / for the upbuilding of ‘the Fraternity, / within this 5 / and at other ins tions. / I agree to be ever ‘Actithis.and:other: anstitutions, sonalities,,/ idcalsiandiattainmentsy/zare such-as:-would:makesthem/-desivable bond: members sof our. f whosexper- To which I pledge:mysoathiand:faith,/ in accordance with'/-the:@hristiantieach- ings.of this B /-andcas acgentlemans / Neophytes. _ EXPLANATION OF MOTTO" ~ 2 —Now that you have declared your fidelity to V %, you are worthy to leara the meaning of our first secret motto. You have heard Brother Epistate allude to the symbols inscribed upon the doorway of our cham: ber. These are the Greek letters & and | and ase the initials of the words “Dedokamen Pistin” (Day-do-kah’-men pis-teen’), Trans- lated, they mean, “. 7 This motto is secret. It’s significance will be explained to you as you progress furcher int our teachings, . 2 D raises () 2 B—Brother Epistate, you will now prepare e the Neophytes to receive the second sym-.: bolic lesson in. V 2 }. fAMS Mite fons except the Greek ome are: eee intoithe. chambér, let me caution -you to © you make use of it, that you Loe! (8 B bands lamp to draws to his station.) : 2 D (Pauses 15 seconds, advances to Neophyte’s side, a1 ispers.) Henceforth, I am aot permitt ‘be your guide. You, yourself, must choose your path. (% 9 returns. to bis station.) » L—(Panses 15 seconds.) Bring your light to me, Neophyte, (2 | pauses until Neophyte staris toward him, If Neophyte does “pot move,» | repeats'command until be d ... that you may Attain the reward of fa] (Neophyte moves toward’ \.)