[24192] in APO-L
Re: [APO-L] Use of old Rituals. (And changes)
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Finder, Randolph J Mr NGB-ARNG)
Fri Mar 5 15:15:21 2004
Date: Fri, 5 Mar 2004 15:11:39 -0500
Reply-To: "Finder, Randolph J Mr NGB-ARNG" <Randolph.Finder@ngb.army.mil>
From: "Finder, Randolph J Mr NGB-ARNG" <Randolph.Finder@ngb.army.mil>
To: APO-L@LISTSERV.IUPUI.EDU
> But I still don't ever see the need for a change in the
> ritual, because in lends to the argument that they didn't do it right
> the first time, and you must go back to get it right the next time it
> changes. Should not the ritual be a one time experience that we all
> go through once? If we all go through the same ritual, that just
> make us all closer brothers.
Lets see. Changes to the ritual(s) done for reasons unrelated to "simply
changing the ritual"...
Well, I pretty sure that the Ritual itself had changes at least in the
titles of the participants within the first 10 years of the fraternity.
Before the 1932 convention, the fraternity used the term Grand Master,
Deputy Grand Master, Scribe and Treasurer for the chapter officers. (With
Supreme in front for the equivalent areas of the national fraternity.)
Afterwards we used the terms such as President, Vice President and
secretary.
When the Coat of Arms changed to have 3 fluer-de-lis on one side rather than
3 torches on each side of the sword, that would have changed things.
I'm also quite sure that the explanation of the Pledge Pin has changed,
since prior to the 1950s, as a pledge pin we used a shield divided
vertically with gold on one side and blue on the other.
I'm pretty sure that the removal of the scouting requirement in 1967 made
changes.
I *think* there are some changes in the stage directions (and maybe the
ceremony) caused by women as brothers.
My strong personal feeling is that the 1925 ritual was also much more
Masonic in form. FRH became a Mason before he became a Sigma Alpha Epsilon
brother.
And *MOST* of these were made while FRH was alive. And all of these were
made while at least one of the founders were alive.
Randy
