APPENDIX K

THE RITUAL OF THE CLAN-NA-GAEL

RITUAL

ADOPTED, 1916

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INDEX

Balloting for Candidates

Closing of D. Meeting

Diagram, showing Officers' Positions

Initiation

Installation of D. Officers

Installation of D.O.

Instructions for Officers

Obligation for Retiring or Resigned Members

Obligation for Delegate and Alternate

Obligation for Members of D.A.

Obligation of Delegate at Convention

Obligation of New Member

Opening of D. Meeting.

Order of Business

Procedure at Officers' Meetings

Reception of Transferred Member

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INSTRUCTIONS FOR OFFICERS

THE efficiency of a Camp and the utility of the ceremonies of initiation
depend largely on the impressiveness with which the officers render
their separate parts of the workings. Officers should therefore commit
to memory their share of the Ritual and study to deliver it effectively.
Members holding the offices of S.G., J.G., and P.G. should be good
readers and be able to impress candidates with the fact that they
understand what they are teaching and feel the importance of the
sentiments they convey.

Wherever possible, Camps or Districts should select an initiation
team composed of members specially trained in the work, and where
this is done it would be well to set apart special meetings for the
purpose of initiating a large number of candidates. Candidates are
always impressed by large meetings, and, in order to make the attendance
good at such meetings, other special attractions should be provided.

Camps may elaborate the ceremony of initiation and the opening
and closing of the Camp with appropriate vocal and instrumental
music, where there is available musical talent, but the music should
in all such cases be Irish, and of the best quality. The ceremony of
initiation

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should be made a source of continual instruction and interest. The
object of the ceremony is as much to impress the old members,
refreshing their minds with their obligations and the principles of the
Order, as it is to instruct the candidates, who may fail, owing to
nervousness or temporary confusion, to fully comprehend all that is
conveyed to them. In observing and taking part in subsequent
initiations they will gradually acquire that perfect knowledge of the
workings of the Organization which every member should have.

The Warden is the assistant of the S.G., enforcing order and
discipline in the Camp.

All members entering or leaving a Camp while in session will salute
the S.G., or in case the S.G. should be occupied, the J.G. It is the

duty of the Warden to see that no infraction of this rule be permitted, but in reproving, or admonishing, brothers who err in this respect care should be taken that no offensive language be used or the meeting disturbed by loud or unnecessary talk.

3.

4.

KEY TO FOREGOING DIAGRAM.

1. S.G.-Green and Yellow Badge, White Pendants.

2. J.G.-Green and White Badge, Yellow Pendants.

P.G.-Blue Badge, Yellow, Green and White Pendants.
Treasurer Green Badge, Yellow and White Pendants.

5.

Rec. Sec.

II.

Sentinel

12.

Centre Table-Draped' with Green, White and Orange Flag.

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ORDER OF BUSINESS

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8. Propositions for Membership.

9. Reports of Committees and Officers.

10.

II.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

Reading National and District Orders and Communciations.
Collection of Dues always in order.

Unfinished Business.

New Business.

Good of the Order.

Receipts of the Meeting.

Roll Call.

17. Closing.

S.G. (One rap)—“ Warden, Examine those present."

(The Warden gives the S.G. the Pass, then takes it from the Recording Secretary and proceeds to the right of the S.G. on his circuit of examination. As the Warden approaches a member, the member will rise, extend his right hand to the Warden and whisper the Pass in the Warden's ear. Those found without the Pass will be requested to retire to the anteroom. When the Camp has been examined and all inside found correct the Warden will proceed to the centre table, and report.)

Warden-" S.G., All present are members of the V.C."

S.G. (Two raps)—" This Camp of the V.C. will come to order. J.G., What are the duties of your position?"

44

J.G. To assist you in the duties of your office, take charge of the Camp in your absence, and carefully observe that no unworthy person is admitted to our meetings and that those entering or retiring shall do so in a proper manner.'

S.G." Sentinel, What are your duties?"

Sentinel-" To carefully guard the approaches to this Camp, to allow none but properly qualified members of the Order to enter, and to warn this Camp against any intrusion."

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S.G." Officers and brothers, We meet to perform a sacred duty. The cause of Ireland has been entrusted to our keeping, and we are here to protect and advance its interests. To rid Ireland of English rule, establish an Irish Republic and to elevate our race to its proper position is a task within our power if we are true to ourselves and to the glorious example set for us. By force alone can we win, as by force alone, under God's providence, our race has been preserved. As soldiers of freedom we know that order, discipline and obedience to lawful authority must guide our efforts and govern our conduct. May God direct our work and may the spirit of Tone, Emmet, Pearse and all the Irish martyrs animate us, so that this Camp may be made a tower of strength to our cause and a credit to our race.'

All raise their right hands and respond-" We solemnly renew our pledges."

(One rap)

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BALLOTING FOR CANDIDATES

Under this head the S.G. will call on the Recording Secretary to report the names of all candidates who are to be balloted for at the meeting, giving the date of proposition in each case, so as to make sure that the necessary time has elapsed since the proposition, and to state whether the investigating committee has reported favorably or otherwise. No ballot is to be taken unless the investigating committee has reported, and if the committee or any of its members has failed to report, the places of the delinquents will be filled by the S.G. Each candidate will be balloted for separately. When the Secretary has read the list of candidates the S.G. will order the tellers to take their places, one sitting at each side of the ballot box and facing the S.G. Then the S.G. will say in the case of each candidate : S.G." The name ..........is before you for election or rejection. The committee having reported favourably, the ballot is now open. Those in favour of his election will cast a white ball; those opposed a black ball. The brothers will now vote."

of..........

Each member will announce his number before voting. When the balloting appears to be over the S.G. will say:

S.G." Have all voted who wish? If so, I declare the ballot closed. Tellers, take the ballot box to the J.G. for examination.”

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One of the tellers takes the ballot box to the J.G., who, after examining it, will report that he finds no adverse votes, or that he finds one, two, or three black balls, as the case may be. One of the tellers will then carry the ballot box to the S.G., who, after examining it, will say, if no black balls have been cast:

S.G." No black balls having been cast, I declare......

duly elected a member of this Camp and Brotherhood. The brother who proposed him will see that he is presented for initiation.”

If three black balls have been cast, the S.G. will announce :

S.G." Three black balls having been cast, I declare .........rejected for membership in this Camp and Brotherhood. No rejected candidate can be proposed again within six months after his rejection. If he should be proposed in any other Camp the Constitution provides that no ballot shall be taken until that Camp has been notified of his rejection in this Camp. Brothers will be careful not to mention the fact of this rejection to the man himself, or to anyone not a member of the V.C."

If one or two black balls are cast against a candidate, the S.G. will announce the number of black balls cast and say:

S.G." The Constitution orders that in this case the member (or members) casting the black

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ball shall privately state to the S.G. the cause of objection to the candidate and that the S.G. shall state those objections at the next. meeting without disclosing the name of the objector. At the next meeting of this Camp another ballot will be taken, after my statement of the objections to the candidate, and if less than three black balls are cast the candidate will be declared elected."

When the balloting is finished the S.G. will say:

S.G." There being no other candidate to be balloted for, the tellers will resume their ordinary places."

Perfect silence should prevail during initiation. Nothing else should occupy the attention of the meeting.

The Warden will see that the Camp is not disturbed during the ceremony, and that every Member shall avoid any needless movement or word. At such a time a whisper may disturb a candidate or an officer, and mar the impressiveness of the ceremony. Each member should endeavour to make the ceremony what it is designed to be-solemn and impressive. S.G." Conductor, proceed to the anteroom and ascertain if there are any candidates in waiting."

When the Conductor reports the names, addresses, etc., of the candidates, the S.G. asks: S.G." Recording Secretary, have these candidates been duly elected?"

The Recording Secretary reports, giving date of election in each case.

S.G." Conductor, proceed to the anteroom and interrogate the candidates."

The Conductor then retires and asks the candidates the following questions in their proper order:

Conductor-" State your name, age, birthplace and occupation." Conductor-" Do you believe in Ireland's right to be a separate and independent nation?

Conductor-" As Ireland's independence can only be achieved by physical force, are you will

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"

ing to work for the winning of Ireland's independence by that means? Conductor-" Understanding, as you do, that the object of this Organization is the freedom of Ireland and the elevation of the Irish race, are you willing to bind yourself by a solemn obligation to aid in carrying out that object and to obey the laws of this Order?

Conductor-" Are you now, or have you ever been, a member of an organization, having for its object the freedom of Ireland ? "'