Friday, December 01, 2006

Order of the Arrow induction ceremony


BROTHERHOOD QUESTIONAIRE
The following questions will be used for the examination of candidates
for Brotherhood membership.

1. Q. What is the name of the
initial membership in the Order
of the Arrow?
A. Ordeal Membership
2. Q. Why is it so called?
A. Because it is preceded by a
fourfold Ordeal.
3. Q. What are the four parts of
this Ordeal and their respective
purposes?
A. A night of camping alone
under the heavens, to prove my
self-reliance; a day of arduous
toil, to indicate my willingness to
serve others; 24 hours of scant
food, to demonstrate my power of
self-denial; and a like period of
silence, to turn my thoughts
inward.
4. Q. How were you prepared
for the Ordeal?
A. I was led by Kichkinet to
the north end of camp, where the
significance of the Arrow was first
revealed as I tested the bow.
5. Q. When you had completed
the Ordeal, how were you dealt
with?
A. I was placed on the trail,
which leads to the circle of the
lodge.
6. Q. By whom were you first
stopped as you approached the
circle?
A. By Nutiket, the guard, who
asked if I had passed the Ordeal
without flinching?
7. Q. Who next barred your
further progress?
A. Meteu, who had inquired if
I had been given the admonition.
8. Q. Had you been given the
Admonition?
A. I had not, but Kichkinet,
my guide, had and gave it for me.
9. Q. Before whom did you then
at last arrive?
A. Before Allowat Sakima, the
chief of the fire, who asked if I
had been completely prepared to
receive the Obligation?
10 Q. What was Kichkinet's
reply to this inquiry?
A. Only in the binding of them
together.
11. Q. How did Kichkinet call the
attention of each of these
officers to your presence?
A. By three taps of the hand
upon the right shoulder.
12. Q. What did these three taps
signify?
A. The three parts of the
Scout Oath or Promise.
13. Q. How did each of the
officers respond to Kichkinet's
taps?
A. By one tap, followed by
two taps, on the right shoulder.
14. Q. What did these taps
represent?
A. The twelve points of the
Scout Law.
15. Q. How were you and your
companions bound together?
A. By a rope, which, until we
took the Obligation, represented
our tie to the Brotherhood.
16. Q. How was your preparation
for the Obligation completed?
A. Nutiket directed me to
hold my right hand in the Scout
sign and repeat the Obligation
after Allowat Sakima.
17. Q. In what did Meteu then
instruct you?
A. In the legend on which our
Order was founded.
18. Q. Who are the central
figures of that legend?
A. The aged Chieftain,
Chingachgook, and his son, Uncas,
who by their cheerful and self-
sacrificing service are said to have
saved the Delaware lodges from
annihilation.
19. Q. Repeat the Obligation.
A. I do hereby promise on my
honor as a Scout that I will always
and faithfully observe and
preserve the traditions of the
Order of the Arrow,
WIMACHTENDIENK,
WINGOLAUCHSIK, WITAHEMUI.
I will always regard the ties of
Brotherhood in the Order of the
Arrow as lasting, and will seek to
preserve a cheerful spirit even in
the midst of irksome tasks and
weighty responsibilities, and will
endeavor, so far as my power lies,
to unselfish in service and
devotion to the welfare of others.
20. Q. What did Allowat Sakima
then impart to you?
A. The symbol and handclasp
of the Order, the admonition and
the sign of Ordeal membership.
21. Q. What is the symbol of the
Order?
A. The arrow, whose
undeviating course when aimed
high is a token of leadership.
22. Q. How is it worn?
A. Pointing over the right
shoulder.
23. Q. Give me the handclasp of
our Order.
A. (Give it.)
24. Q. How must the admonition
always be given?
A. Whispered in the ear.
25. Q. What is the admonition?
A. (Give it.)
26. Q. What does it mean?
A. To love one another.
27. Q. What is the sign of our
Order?
A. (Give it.)
28. Q. What is the full name of
our Order?
A. Wimachtendienk,
Wingolauchsik, Witahemui.
29. Q. In what language is it
given?
A. In the language of the
Dela-ware Indians, the Lenni
Lenape.
30. Q. What is its meaning in
English?
A. The Brotherhood of
Cheerful Service.
31. Q. Give the words of (or sing)
the Song of the Order.
A. Firm bound in
Brotherhood, gather the clan,
That cheerful service brings to
fellowman.
Circle our council fire, weld
tightly every link,
That binds us in Brotherhood,
Wi-mach-ten-dienk.

No comments: