National Council: - Initiation Ceremony

Ritual

For Lodges of the International Organization of Good Templars
Used with permission of the National Council of IOGT-USA
(***Not currently used - for historical significance only.***)
Edited for the Internet by Brent B.

Initiation Ceremony

[Before the initiation, the candidates must have signed the application for membership and, by ballot (or whatever method is indicated in the Grand Lodge By-laws) have been duly elected to membership in the Lodge.]

C.T. The Past Chief Templar and the Financial Secretary will retire to the anteroom and prepare the candidates for initiation.

[These Officers retire to the ante-room, and, addressing the candidates, the P.C.T. says:]

P.C.T.P.C.T. By the contents of the application form which you have signed, you have shown your willingness of consent to the commitment of total abstinence from the use of all alcoholic beverages. There is nothing in this commitment inconsistent with your duties arising in your daily life, but it is an earnest plea for your faithfulness, and a severe test of your character. Therefore, it is an important step you take when you enter the Organisation of Good Templars.

[The above reading by the P.C.T. may be omitted if the lodge so desires.]

[The F.S. will receive the initiatory fee from the candidates whereupon the P.C.T. and the F.S. re-enter the Lodge and report.]

P.C.T. Chief Templar, the following candidates are now ready for initiation. (Read the names of the candidates.)

•

C.T. Brothers and Sisters, we are now about to receive friends who have been elected to membership in this Lodge. I ask for your undivided attention dur-ing the ceremony so that our friends will understand the importance of the step they are taking. Let us try to make the initiation ceremony solemn and impressive. We will sing our Welcome Song No........

• • •

[The Marshalls enter with the candidates, all walking in single file with the Marshall first and the Deputy Marshall last. The candidates are brought to a place in front of the C.T. where they can see both the P.C.T. and the Chaplain without turning.]

•

M. Chief Templar, I am pleased to introduce these candidates (or candidate) who wish to become members of our organization.

C.T. My friends, we bid you a cordial welcome. We are happy that you have decided to join us. Our purposes are founded upon brotherly love, which sees in every human being a brother or sister for whose welfare we are responsible. Before asking for your personal commitment, there are facts about our organization we want you to hear.

Ch. My friends, it is my purpose to inform you of the moral and ethical principles by which all Good Templars are guided. Through universal brotherhood we hope to find the good in every person and perpetuate these virtues. All members of this organization will have faith in you and your word, and only you can prove that this faith is well founded.

Being a total abstainer requires a personal commitment, and, while each one of us may have his own reasons for not drinking, we share a mutual feeling that there is no necessity for it. Your personal exam-pie will not only give many who now drink in moderation cause to stop and think, but it will also give our cause support by adding strength through membership. Be firm, yet be kind. Our outlook is positive and our cause does not need defending, it only needs to be lauded.

C.T. In many organizations each candidate is required to give something of value as a test of his sincerity to the organization and his brothers and sisters. In keeping with this, we ask that you give us your faithful word as a token of such value in submitting your commitment. Will you now place your right hand over your heart and assent to the following (C.T. places his right hand over his heart while reading the commitment.)

• • •

RECOGNIZING MY RESPONSIBILITY TOWARDS MYSELF AND MY FELLOWMEN, I SOLEMNLY PROMISE TO LIVE A LIFE OF TOTAL ABSTINENCE FROM INTOXICATING BEVERAGES AND TO PROMOTE PUBLIC ACCEPTANCE OF THIS PRINCIPLE. I FURTHERMORE PROMISE THAT I WILL ALSO, TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, UPHOLD THE PRINCIPLES OF THE INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF GOOD TEMPLARS, CONCERNING THE BROTHERHOOD OF MAN AND PEACE AND COOPERATION AMONG NATIONS.

Do you thus promise? If so, answer "I do."

Candidates I do.

C.T. Brothers and Sisters (other than candidates) you will now form a circle around our new member(s). (The C.T. steps inside the circle and faces the new members.)

The circle around us is an example of the perpetual friendship in this organization. The union of hands signifies the union of hearts in achieving our goals. May I present each of you with this emblem of our mutual understanding. Use it proudly for it also symbolizes the worldwide fellowship. (This may be a pin, flag, etc. or may be omitted if no presentation is made.) I now proclaim you member(s) of .............. Lodge #........ of the International Organization of Good Templars and invite you to take your place in the circle. (When all are in one circle, the C.T. says) Now as we all stand united, having pledged our faith together, behold how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity. I now declare a recess to afford all an opportunity to extend a hand of brotherhood and welcome to our new Brothers and Sisters.

[After the recess, the Marshalls will see that the new members are escorted to seats.]

•

C.T. Past Chief Templar, will you introduce our Lodge Superintendents to the new member (s). Each officer will please stand when introduced.

P.C.T. My friends, this lodge functions so that all persons may have an opportunity to express themselves.

Within each Lodge there is a Juvenile office. The function of this office is to bring youngsters together for the purpose of acquainting them with one another and to plant the seeds of personal total abstinence from intoxicating beverages. I would like to introduce ............................, our present Juvenile Superintendent.

The next step in the development of Good Templary is entrusted to the care of the Youth Office. The two-fold purpose of this office is to teach youth the value of healthful living which includes facts regarding the effects of the personal use of alcoholic beverages and also to teach them the value of being a good citizen........................ is our present Youth Superintendent.

Our Legislative Superintendent is ......................... This office is concerned with legislation promoting the welfare of all persons.

Our Educational Superintendent is......................... He is concerned with gathering all information, scien-tific and otherwise, but more specifically about intoxicating beverages, and to make this information available as common knowledge.

Brother (Sister) ..........................heads our Public Relations office. This is the center where information designed to promote the public acceptance of our ideals and principles is developed.

These officers, in addition to the Executive Officers of this Lodge, will give you an opportunity to fully express yourself which I sincerely hope you will do.

C.T. The Lodge Deputy will instruct you in Lodge protocol.

L.D. (You shall instruct them how to address the chair and other fundamentals pertinent to our lodge work. Also give them a copy of the Constitution and By-Laws).

[For re-admission, restoration or transfer, the lodge may decide what part of the initiatory ceremony they wish to use.]

[Opening Ceremony] [Top of Page] [Closing Ceremony]


	Ritual For Lodges of the International Organization of Good Templars Used with permission of the National Council of IOGT-USA (*Not currently used - for historical significance only.*) Edited for the Internet by Brent B. Initiation Ceremony [Before the initiation, the candidates must have signed the application for membership and, by ballot (or whatever method is indicated in the Grand Lodge By-laws) have been duly elected to membership in the Lodge.] C.T. The Past Chief Templar and the Financial Secretary will retire to the anteroom and prepare the candidates for initiation. [These Officers retire to the ante-room, and, addressing the candidates, the P.C.T. says:] P.C.T.P.C.T. By the contents of the application form which you have signed, you have shown your willingness of consent to the commitment of total abstinence from the use of all alcoholic beverages. There is nothing in this commitment inconsistent with your duties arising in your daily life, but it is an earnest plea for your faithfulness, and a severe test of your character. Therefore, it is an important step you take when you enter the Organisation of Good Templars. [The above reading by the P.C.T. may be omitted if the lodge so desires.] [The F.S. will receive the initiatory fee from the candidates whereupon the P.C.T. and the F.S. re-enter the Lodge and report.] P.C.T. Chief Templar, the following candidates are now ready for initiation. (Read the names of the candidates.) • C.T. Brothers and Sisters, we are now about to receive friends who have been elected to membership in this Lodge. I ask for your undivided attention dur-ing the ceremony so that our friends will understand the importance of the step they are taking. Let us try to make the initiation ceremony solemn and impressive. We will sing our Welcome Song No........ • • • [The Marshalls enter with the candidates, all walking in single file with the Marshall first and the Deputy Marshall last. The candidates are brought to a place in front of the C.T. where they can see both the P.C.T. and the Chaplain without turning.] • M. Chief Templar, I am pleased to introduce these candidates (or candidate) who wish to become members of our organization. C.T. My friends, we bid you a cordial welcome. We are happy that you have decided to join us. Our purposes are founded upon brotherly love, which sees in every human being a brother or sister for whose welfare we are responsible. Before asking for your personal commitment, there are facts about our organization we want you to hear. Ch. My friends, it is my purpose to inform you of the moral and ethical principles by which all Good Templars are guided. Through universal brotherhood we hope to find the good in every person and perpetuate these virtues. All members of this organization will have faith in you and your word, and only you can prove that this faith is well founded. Being a total abstainer requires a personal commitment, and, while each one of us may have his own reasons for not drinking, we share a mutual feeling that there is no necessity for it. Your personal exam-pie will not only give many who now drink in moderation cause to stop and think, but it will also give our cause support by adding strength through membership. Be firm, yet be kind. Our outlook is positive and our cause does not need defending, it only needs to be lauded. C.T. In many organizations each candidate is required to give something of value as a test of his sincerity to the organization and his brothers and sisters. In keeping with this, we ask that you give us your faithful word as a token of such value in submitting your commitment. Will you now place your right hand over your heart and assent to the following (C.T. places his right hand over his heart while reading the commitment.) • • • RECOGNIZING MY RESPONSIBILITY TOWARDS MYSELF AND MY FELLOWMEN, I SOLEMNLY PROMISE TO LIVE A LIFE OF TOTAL ABSTINENCE FROM INTOXICATING BEVERAGES AND TO PROMOTE PUBLIC ACCEPTANCE OF THIS PRINCIPLE. I FURTHERMORE PROMISE THAT I WILL ALSO, TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, UPHOLD THE PRINCIPLES OF THE INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF GOOD TEMPLARS, CONCERNING THE BROTHERHOOD OF MAN AND PEACE AND COOPERATION AMONG NATIONS. Do you thus promise? If so, answer "I do." Candidates I do. C.T. Brothers and Sisters (other than candidates) you will now form a circle around our new member(s). (The C.T. steps inside the circle and faces the new members.) The circle around us is an example of the perpetual friendship in this organization. The union of hands signifies the union of hearts in achieving our goals. May I present each of you with this emblem of our mutual understanding. Use it proudly for it also symbolizes the worldwide fellowship. (This may be a pin, flag, etc. or may be omitted if no presentation is made.) I now proclaim you member(s) of .............. Lodge #........ of the International Organization of Good Templars and invite you to take your place in the circle. (When all are in one circle, the C.T. says) Now as we all stand united, having pledged our faith together, behold how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity. I now declare a recess to afford all an opportunity to extend a hand of brotherhood and welcome to our new Brothers and Sisters. [After the recess, the Marshalls will see that the new members are escorted to seats.] • C.T. Past Chief Templar, will you introduce our Lodge Superintendents to the new member (s). Each officer will please stand when introduced. P.C.T. My friends, this lodge functions so that all persons may have an opportunity to express themselves. Within each Lodge there is a Juvenile office. The function of this office is to bring youngsters together for the purpose of acquainting them with one another and to plant the seeds of personal total abstinence from intoxicating beverages. I would like to introduce ............................, our present Juvenile Superintendent. The next step in the development of Good Templary is entrusted to the care of the Youth Office. The two-fold purpose of this office is to teach youth the value of healthful living which includes facts regarding the effects of the personal use of alcoholic beverages and also to teach them the value of being a good citizen........................ is our present Youth Superintendent. Our Legislative Superintendent is ......................... This office is concerned with legislation promoting the welfare of all persons. Our Educational Superintendent is......................... He is concerned with gathering all information, scien-tific and otherwise, but more specifically about intoxicating beverages, and to make this information available as common knowledge. Brother (Sister) ..........................heads our Public Relations office. This is the center where information designed to promote the public acceptance of our ideals and principles is developed. These officers, in addition to the Executive Officers of this Lodge, will give you an opportunity to fully express yourself which I sincerely hope you will do. C.T. The Lodge Deputy will instruct you in Lodge protocol. L.D. (You shall instruct them how to address the chair and other fundamentals pertinent to our lodge work. Also give them a copy of the Constitution and By-Laws). [For re-admission, restoration or transfer, the lodge may decide what part of the initiatory ceremony they wish to use.] [Opening Ceremony] [Top of Page] [Closing Ceremony]