 Cape
Cod & Islands Council
Lodge #393
ABAKE-MI-SA-NA-KI
What is the Order of the
Arrow?
The Order of the Arrow is the honor
campers society of the Boy Scouts of America. It was
founded in 1915 at the Treasure Island Scout Camp of
the Philadelphia Council of the BSA. The founders of
the Order of the Arrow, E. Urner Goodman and and Carroll
A. Edson, were serving as directors of the camp, and
as they developed the summer camp program, they wanted
a way to recognize those Scouts and Scouters in camp
who, in living the Scout Oath and Law, brought the
principles of brotherhood , cheerfulness , and service
to the camp lifestyle.
Each chartered council
of the Boy Scouts of America (the organizational level
that serves a geographic area of local units in communities)
can charter an Order of the Arrow lodge. The lodge
is the basic unit of OA program; each lodge is assigned
a numerical designation, and lodges develop a name
and totem based on local traditions. The OA provides
a medium of service to camping and opportunities for
youth leadership to experienced Scouts in Boy Scouting.
Known as "Arrowmen," OA
members have service obligations to both their local
unit and the council camping program. Membership in
the OA does not replace an Arrowman's membership or
responsibility to their local troop; in fact, members
are encouraged to give even greater service to their
units. Besides assisting the camping program, councils
will call upon the OA lodge for all manner of special
services, as the young men in the lodge represent the
best among Scouting's youth.
As the symbol of the
Order, the arrow is a logical choice. Its point keen,
its course steady, pointed onward and upwards, it represents
the life the member strives for in the giving of cheerful
service.
The Purpose of the Order
of the Arrow
To recognize those campers -- Scouts
and Scouters -- who best exemplify the Scout Oath and
Law in their daily lives, and by such recognition,
cause other campers to conduct themselves in such a
manner as to warrant recognition.
To develop and maintain
camping traditions and spirit.
To promote Scout camping,
which reaches its greatest effectiveness as part of
the unit's camping program, both year-round and and
in the summer camp, as directed by the camping committee
of the council.
To crystallize the
Scout habit of helpfulness into a life purpose of leadership
in cheerful service to others.
Membership in the Order
of the Arrow
Membership in the Order of the Arrow
is open to youth Scouts and adult Scouters who are
registered members of the Boy Scouts of America.
Youth are elected by
their peers (fellow Scouts) in their troop in an election
conducted by a trained election representative or team
from the Lodge. Scouts are asked to select those Scouts
who are good campers, and who show the Order's ideals
of Brotherhood, Cheerfulness, and Service. Any Scout
who
- holds the rank of First Class Scout
- who has 15 days/nights of camping (including one
long-term camp of 6 days / 5 nights)
- and who is approved by his Scoutmaster
can be a candidate
for an election; and any candidate who receives a majority
vote of the Scouts voting is elected (A Scout can vote
for more than one person.) Additionally, each troop
can nominate an adult Scouter to become a member of
the OA as an adviser to youth leaders.
Once elected, a youth
or adult candidate undergoes an induction process called
the Ordeal.
The Ordeal
Starting with an inspiring
ceremony, the candidate is presented with four challenges
to help him understand the obligations of a member
of the Order to show brotherhood, cheerfulness, and
service. Once the four tests are completed, the member
takes an obligation of service, and becomes an Ordeal
member of the Order. Note that nothing in the Ordeal
is considered hazing; the "tests" are exercises intended
to promote self-discovery and inspiration, and all
ceremonies are reviewed regularly by Scouting and religious
leaders. The experience of the Ordeal is to challenge
one's self to understand an obligation of life-long
cheerful service.
About a year after
the Ordeal, Ordeal members who have developed an ideal
of cheerful service to others can "seal" their OA membership
through the Brotherhood Ceremony.
The Brotherhood
This second ceremony
is a rededication to the original principles of the
Ordeal, and carries an additional obligation to cheerful
service.
Brotherhood members
who devote years of service to the lodge, to the camp,
to the council, or some other part of Scouting may
be awarded the Vigil Honor, the lodge's highest award
for exceptional service.
The Vigil Honor
Vigil members carry an even
greater obligation to service, for the honor is bestowed
not for what one has done, but for what one is expected
to do. Vigil Honor members understand that they are examples
of leadership in cheerful service to others.
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