Chapter XXXVI
Order of Mutual Protection
The opening ode having been sung, the Chaplain shall say:
Chaplain: “We thank Thee, Our Heavenly Father, for the happiness we enjoy in our meetings, for the friendship which binds us together as members, and for the mutual protection which this Order affords. We entreat Thee to assist us to govern our hearts by the blessed law of charity, that we may become more perfect and worthy of our membership and of Thy love and protection.”
For initiation the ritual prescribes: “The Bible is to be placed on a stand in front of the Chaplain.”
The Chaplain directs the candidate: “Place your right hand on the Bible, pronounce your full name and repeat after me:”
“I,———, do solemnly promise to assist in carrying out the objects of this Order and bind and obligate myself to the faithful discharge, to the best of my ability, of the duties of a member, and that I shall never divulge or make known the business or private work of the lodge to anyone not entitled to receive it, for the keeping of which I pledge my sacred word of honor.”
