Change in Vigil Honor Totem

At the 1931 Grand Lodge Meeting the delegates unanimously passed a motion to change the Third Degree (Vigil Honor) symbol from a triangle to an arrowhead with arrow superimposed on it, upon which was placed the totem of the local lodge. There is no evidence that the new Vigil Honor totem was ever used or produced and this action was reversed at the next Grand Lodge Meeting in 1933. Nine years later this design concept became the basis of the design of the Distinguished Service Award.

3, Awards, Insignia, OA, Scouting

Takodah Chapter of Owasippe

When Carroll A. Edson became a Field Executive in 1921 in Chicago Council it was only natural that he would bring Wimachtendienk with him. Chicago in 1921 had five geographic districts and a sixth “division” that was an overlay of the entire council. This division was the Douglas Division and it was for African American Scouts. No matter where in Chicago you lived, if you were Black then you were segregated into the Douglas Division. The Scouts of the Douglas Division also had their own camp, Camp Belnap. Camp Belnap ran the same camp program as the other camps within Owasippe Scout Reservation, except they did not have Order of the Arrow. This was for two reasons. Initially the Grand Lodge would not allow more than one lodge in a camp. But ultimately, the reason Belnap did not have OA was because of the Blood Rite (a ritual exchange of blood between participants) required in the Brotherhood Degree.

When E. Urner Goodman was placed in charge of Chicago in 1927 as Scout Executive he merged together the five Chicago Lodges and they formed the original five chapters of Owasippe. Shortly thereafter, the sixth chapter, Takodah Chapter was formed at Camp Belnap. The Arrowmen of Takodah Chapter are the oldest known African American Scouts in the Order of the Arrow. In 1932 three Takodah Chapter members, Emerson James, Horatio W. Isbell and Dr. William Benson became the first known African Americans to take the Brotherhood Degree.

In 1933 several members of Takodah Chapter including Emerson James and William Benson became the earliest verified African Americans to attend a Grand Lodge Meeting. In 1936 James presumptively became the first African American Vigil Honor member.

Takodah Chapter held social events as any other lodge and chapter of its era. In the 1930s their annual chaperoned dance was the big event. The dance program card from the 1935 Dance held at the renowned Savoy Ballroom is testament to the quality of the event. In the 1940s and 1950s Takodah held chapter fellowships. Eventually segregation ended in Chicago Council and the members of Takodah joined chapters based on their geographic location and not the color of their skin.

2, OA, Profile, Scouting

25th Lodge Formed

On November 27, 1926 Garrison Lodge forms the fifth and last of the original five Chicago Council lodges to form. Carroll A. Edson founded all five of them. Garrison Lodge’s formation marks a milestone in the growth of our Order as the twenty-fifth lodge to charter. Garrison Lodge would later join the other four Chicago lodges when E. Urner Goodman consolidated them together to form Owasippe Lodge.

2, OA, Scouting

Edson - Hudson Council Executive

In 1927 Carroll A. Edson was working as a Field Executive in Chicago. When Scout Executive George B. Stephenson left the council E. Urner Goodman was selected to be the new Scout Executive. Edson transferred out of Chicago when he was hired to be Scout Executive for Hudson Council, Jersey City, New Jersey where he founded Achtu Lodge.

3, Founders, OA, Scouting

Second Official Jeweler

In 1927, the Grand Lodge selected Hood and Company of Philadelphia as the second Official Jeweler of the Order. Hood and Company with Arrowman Jennings Hood proprietor replaced the National Jewelry Company. Hood and Company made the silver arrow pins worn by all members as well as the Brotherhood Honor / Second Degree and Vigil Honor / Third Degree totem pins for individual lodges. It was not required that a lodge use Hood and several lodges such as Moqua Lodge of Chicago and Zit-Kala-Sha Lodge of Louisville, Kentucky chose local jewelers. Hood would remain the official jeweler until 1945 when Jennings Hood went to work for J.E. Caldwell Company of Philadelphia and brought his high quality jeweler dies of the totems with him.

3, Insignia, OA, Scouting

First Ceremony Booklet

In 1921, the Grand Lodge distributed First Degree and Second Degree ceremonies in 8½" x 11" mimeographed booklets.

By 1927, it was decided that the First Degree (Ordeal) Ceremony should be printed in booklet form. The booklet was 5” x 7” and was 24 pages long. Folded vertically, it fit easily into a pocket, a tradition that lasted until 1998 when the booklet was replaced with a printed 8½” x 11” booklet. The booklet included the Pre-Ordeal Ceremony as well as the Ordeal Ceremony. The Legend in poetic form was introduced in this booklet as well.

The Second Degree (Brotherhood) Ceremony remained in mimeograph format until a first booklet was printed in 1936.

3, Ceremonies, OA, Scouting

Second Degree Questionnaire Required

The seventh annual session of the Grand Lodge opened at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, October 14, 1927, at Camp Ranachqua, New York. A large portion of the meeting minutes were concerned with ritual changes. It was noted back in 1923 that Brotherhood candidates needed more knowledge of the Order. Four years later a series of 31 questions was provided as a recommendation to increase knowledge of Arrowmen. The recommendation was approved. Below are the recommended original questions.

Examination For Advancement To The Second Degree of the Wimachtendienk, Wingolauchsik, Witahemui

1. What is the name of the First Degree of the Wimachtendienk? The Ordeal Degree

2. Why is it so called? Because it is preceded by a fourfold ordeal

3. What are the four parts of this Ordeal, and their respective purpose? 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 test my self-control.

4. How were you prepared for the Ordeal? I was led by Nutiket to the north end of the camp, where Meteu applied water from the lake to my bared left breast, in token of the cleansing of my heart from selfishness and evil.

5. When you had completed the Ordeal, how were you dealt with? I was taken by Nutiket up the hidden trail which leads to the mystic circle of the lodge.

6. By whom were you first stopped as you approached the circle? By Nacheneyit Sakima, the senior vice chief, who asked if I had passed the Ordeal without flinching?

7. Who next barred your further progress? Sakima, the chief, who demanded the password.

8. Had you the password? I had not, but Nutiket, my guide, had it, and gave it to me.

9. Before whom did you then at last arrive? Before Kittakima, the Chief of the Fire, who asked if I had been completely prepared to receive the Obligation?

10. What was Nutiket’s reply to this inquiry? Only in the binding of them together.

11. How had Nutiket called the attention of each of these officers to your presence? By three taps of the hand upon his left shoulder.

12. What did these three taps signify? The three parts of the Scout Oath.

13. How did each of the officers respond to Nutiket’s taps? By one tap on his left shoulder, followed by the two taps.

14. What did these taps represent? The 12 points of the Scout Law.

15. How were you and your companion bound together? By a rope, which, until we took the Obligation, represented our tie to the Brotherhood.

16. How was your preparation for the Obligation completed? Nutiket caused me to kneel before the altar, where Sakima directed me to hold my right hand in Scout sign and repeat the Obligation after Kittakima.

17. Repeat the Obligation. I, ___________________, do hereby promise on my honor as a Scout, that I will always and faithfully preserve unbroken the secret rites, mysteries, signs, and symbols of the Order of the Wimachtendienk, Wingolauchsik, Witahemui, which I have received or may be taught at any future time. I will attend, so far as I am able, all regular and special meetings of the Order, and will do what I can to promote interest in them. I will always regard the bonds of brotherhood in this Order as sacred and binding, and will seek to preserve a cheerful spirit even in the midst of irksome tasks, and will endeavor, so far as my power lies, to be unselfish in service and devotion to the welfare of others.

18. In what did Meteu then instruct you? In the legend upon which our Order is founded.

19. Who are the central figures of that legend? The aged chieftain, Chingachgook, and his son, Uncas, who, by their cheerful and self-sacrificing service, are said to have saved the Delaware tribes from annihilation by the Six Nations of the Iroquois.

20. What did Kittakima then impart to you? The symbol, grip, and a password of the Order, and the sign of the Ordeal Degree.

21. What is the symbol of the Order? The arrow, whose undeviating course when aimed high is a token of leadership.

22. How is it worn by members of the Ordeal Degree? Pointing over the right shoulder.

23. Give me the grip of our Order. (Gives it)

24. How must the password always be given? Whispered in the ear.

25. Give me the password. (Gives it)

26. What does it mean? To love one another

27. What is the sign of the Ordeal Degree? (Gives it)

28. What is the full name of our Order? Wimachtendienk, Wingolauchsik, Witahemui.

29. In what language is it given? In the language of the Delaware Indians, the Lenni-Lenape.

30. What is its meaning in English? The Brotherhood of Cheerful Service.

31. Give the words (or sing) the song of the Order. (Gives or sings it)

3, OA, Scouting

OA Obligation Timeline

It is not known when the first WWW Obligation was used. Because it is part of the First Degree/Honor ritual it is believed that it likely was used in some form as early as 1916. The first known version of the Obligation dates to 1921. It read:

I, (your name), do hereby promise on my honor as a Scout, that I will always and faithfully preserve unbroken the secret rites, mysteries, signs and symbols of the Order of the WIMACHTENDIENK WINGOLAUCHSIK, WITAHEMUI, which I have now received or may be taught at any future time. I will always regard the bonds of brotherhood in this Order as sacred and binding, and will seek to preserve a cheerful spirit even in the midst of irksome tasks and weighty responsibilities, and will endeavor, so far as in my power lies, to be unselfish in service and devotion to the welfare of others. I will attend, so far as I am able, all regular and special meetings of the Order and do what I can to promote interest in them.

The 1931 ritual contains a slightly different version of the Obligation. The most significant change was the term “as sacred and binding” to “as binding”. This was to satisfy religious groups that objected to the concept of sacred rituals for their congregants. It was also done as preparation for achieving the goal of becoming an official BSA program.

Other changes were the Arrowman no longer states his name, the name Order of the Arrow is stated before the actual name, WWW, which was changed to only have the first word in the name stated and the last two words just the letter “W” presumably to be spoken, but not written. There was also a minor change where “the bonds of brotherhood in this order” becomes “the bonds of brotherhood in the Order of the Arrow”. The 1931 Obligation was said as follows:

I, do hereby promise on my honor as a Scout, that I will always and faithfully preserve unbroken the secret rites, mysteries, signs and symbols of the Order of the Arrow, WIMACHTENDIENK, W. ______, W. ______, which I have now received or may be taught at any future time. I will always regard the bonds of brotherhood in the Order of the Arrow as binding and will seek to preserve a cheerful spirit even in the midst of irksome tasks and weighty responsibilities, and will endeavor, so far as in my power lies, to be unselfish in service and devotion to the welfare of others. I will attend, so far as I am able, all regular and special meetings of the Order and do what I can to promote interest in them.

The 1935 revision of the Obligation was very minor. The word “secret” was removed before the word “rites”. This change was again to satisfy religious groups that objected to secret rituals. This change was part of the Order of the Arrow’s agreement with the BSA in order to become an official BSA program. Among other requirements the OA agreed to re-write rituals such that they would satisfy religious organizations. The 1935 version was:

I, do hereby promise on my honor as a Scout, that I will always and faithfully preserve unbroken the rites, mysteries, signs and symbols of the Order of the Arrow, WIMACHTENDIENK, W. ______, W. ______, which I have now received or may be taught at any future time. I will always regard the bonds of brotherhood in the Order of the Arrow as binding and will seek to preserve a cheerful spirit even in the midst of irksome tasks and weighty responsibilities, and will endeavor, so far as in my power lies, to be unselfish in service and devotion to the welfare of others. I will attend, so far as I am able, all regular and special meetings of the Order and do what I can to promote interest in them.

The change made for the 1941 Obligation was extremely minor. Once again the Arrowman would state his name as he spoke the Obligation. The 1941 version was spoken as follows:

I, (your name), do hereby promise on my honor as a Scout, that I will always and faithfully preserve unbroken the rites, mysteries, signs and symbols of the Order of the Arrow, WIMACHTENDIENK, W. ______, W. ______, which I have now received or may be taught at any future time. I will always regard the bonds of brotherhood in the Order of the Arrow as binding and will seek to preserve a cheerful spirit even in the midst of irksome tasks and weighty responsibilities, and will endeavor, so far as in my power lies, to be unselfish in service and devotion to the welfare of others. I will attend, so far as I am able, all regular and special meetings of the Order and do what I can to promote interest in them.

The 1948 version of the Obligation had the most significant changes of any revision. This was because in 1948 the OA became fully integrated into the BSA and all rituals including Obligations were reviewed. The phrase “faithfully preserve unbroken the rites, mysteries, signs and symbols” was changed to “faithfully observe and preserve the traditions”. “Bonds of brotherhood” was changed to “ties of brotherhood”. Finally, the entire last sentence regarding meetings and promotion was removed. The 1948 version strongly resembles today’s Obligation. It was spoken as follows:

I, (your name), 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, W. ______, W. ______, which I have now received or may be taught at any future time. 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 in my power lies, to be unselfish in service and devotion to the welfare of others.

The 1951 Obligation was altered to once again say “Wimachtendienk, Wingolauchsik, Witahemui”:

I, (your name), 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 which I have now received or may be taught at any future time. 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 in my power lies, to be unselfish in service and devotion to the welfare of others.

The 1962 Obligation changed the phrase “which I have now received or may be taught at any future time” to “which I have now received”. The Obligation was now stated:

I, (your name), 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 which I have now received. 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 in my power lies, to be unselfish in service and devotion to the welfare of others.

The 1986 version again tinkered with the phrase after the three W’s and completely removed the words “which I have now received”:

I, (your name), 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 in my power lies, to be unselfish in service and devotion to the welfare of others.

The final change came in 1999. The Obligation had required the Obligor to state his name since 1941. This always created an awkward moment when said in groups. The Obligor's name was removed. This is the current way to say the Order's Obligation:

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 in my power lies, to be unselfish in service and devotion to the welfare of others.

Background, OA, Profile, Scouting

Goodman - First Director of Program

Goodman’s tenure as Scout Executive in Chicago ended, on April 1, 1931, E Urner Goodman became the first BSA Director of Program. Chief Scout Executive James E. West’s appointment followed Goodman's four year’s as Scout Executive in the nations largest council not directly overseen by the national office.

Program Director was an extremely high executive, one of the four division director positions (business, operations and personnel being the others) that reported directly to the Chief Scout. As Director of Program, Goodman was responsible for the establishment of the BSA’s Cub Scout and Explorer programs. He also oversaw the writing of the first Scout Field Guide.

Goodman retired in 1951 after 20 years as Director and 35+ years as a professional Scouter. At the time of his retirement, the Order was active in two thirds of all councils and virtually all other non-OA fraternal camp societies had been replaced by OA or were in great decline.

1, Founders, Goodman, OA, Scouting

Goodman - As Director of Program

By 1925 the BSA had outgrown its national and regional structure; each of more than 20 departments reported directly to Chief Scout Executive West. The national office reorganized in 1931, in four departments – Program, Operations, Personnel and Business.

Goodman was now one of the most experienced Scout leaders in the country. He was both a Scoutmaster from the early days and a very successful Scout Executive. West chose Goodman to head the Program Division, in which Goodman would have leadership of professional and volunteer training, relationships with Scouting’s supporting and partnering organizations, all publications except Boys’ Life, public relations and publicity, research and development, and the Boy Scout reading program.

Goodman took his talents of dealing with people and effective public speaking to a national audience. He traveled the country, meeting with national BSA officers and supporters, and advising Scout Executives.

The new director of Program knew that, to be effective, he must have a first-rate team, and he had West agree that he could choose his own staff. A staff he could trust and whose judgment he trusted carried out Goodman’s careful organization and detailed planning of events and projects.

Goodman served in this position for 20 years, until his retirement in 1951. During this time Scouting developed the Cub Scout program for younger boys and reached out to older Scouts with an expanded Sea Scouting program as well as the experimental Rover program and the development of Exploring and Air Exploring. During this time BSA helped Scouts live through the Great Depression, had the first national jamboree, acquired and developed Schiff Scout Reservation and Philturn Rocky Mountain Scout Camp (later known as Philmont Scout Ranch), adapted Wood Badge to American Scouting, produced three editions of the Boy Scout Handbook, two editions of the Handbook for Scoutmasters and the first Scout Field Book, and supported the troops and home front during World War II.

1, Founders, Goodman, OA, Profile, Scouting

Ceremonies Principal Characters Change

Dateline: ---- Grand Lodge Bulletin, January 1, 1931.

Important! Attached to this bulletin is a very important list, which should receive consideration not only of the Supreme Chief of the Fire, but other members of the local lodge who may be interested. This is a sheet headed ‘Suggested Terminology for ORDER OF THE ARROW Officers.’ Please give this your earnest attention and write this office your opinion on it. The advantage of this list lies in the fact that all Indian names used are genuine, being taken from the LENNI-LENAPE dictionary. The term “Olomypees” and “Pow-Wow” are dropped because neither are Indian terms and are not found in the Delaware language.

The changes in “Suggested Terminology for Order of the Arrow Officers” were approved at the 1931 Grand Lodge Meeting and changed the Native American names for Grand Lodge and local lodge officers.

The “suggested terminology” name changes also impacted the ritual ceremonies. Principal characters had their names and lines changed. The Ordeal and Brotherhood ceremonies, which had previously featured as many as six principals, and the Vigil Honor ceremony, which previously had only one principal, were all standardized with four ceremonialists.

Allowat Sakima – Chief of the Fire
Meteu – Medicine Man
Nutiket – Guard
Kichkinet – Guide

The actual ceremonial content did not significantly change, however with the change in number of ceremonialists required a redistribution of lines and responsibilities.

The principal character changes have continued to the present time for Ordeal and Brotherhood ceremonies. The Vigil Honor ceremony returned to one significant principal when the ceremony was rewritten in 1940 (so that a lodge with only one Third Degree member could still conduct a Vigil Honor Ceremony.

3, Ceremonies, OA, Scouting

Grand Lodge Bulletin First Published

The member lodges of the Grand Lodge needed a way to communicate with each other. It was decided that a newsletter would be sent to members of the Grand Council and local lodge chiefs. The lodge chief was typically a professional Scouter although not in his professional capacity and was most often the Scout Executive. Grand Scribe William Stumpp first sent out the newsletter called the Grand Lodge Bulletin in 1924. In 1934 the name changed to the National Bulletin, the name it is published under to this day.

There are no known examples of most Grand Lodge Bulletins published prior to 1931. Copies of these bulletins are sought by the OA archives.

2, OA, Scouting