Comments on: “Youth today aren’t ‘Joiners’,” the man told me… http://voices.crossandcrescent.com/art-hebbeler/2007/11/04/youth-today-arent-joiners-the-man-told-me/ a Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity publication Fri, 25 Jul 2008 02:58:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: Sharmer http://voices.crossandcrescent.com/art-hebbeler/2007/11/04/youth-today-arent-joiners-the-man-told-me/#comment-9167 Sharmer Fri, 02 May 2008 15:36:24 +0000 http://voices.crossandcrescent.com/art-hebbeler/2007/11/04/youth-today-arent-joiners-the-man-told-me/#comment-9167 <p>And, without saying too much here, they have even been exposed to some of the same symbolism as they will find in Lambda Chi (just as Lambda Chi men have seen some Masonic symbolism) .</p> <p>To a lesser extent, we have also been exposed to symbolism present in the Loyal Order of Moose (older editions, not the present) Ritual as well. I see two issues here: one, fraternal organizations (non-collegiate) do not hold the same importance to people and communities as they once did - they are seen as anachronistic, or, in other instances, as just the local "drinking hole"...an anathema to their true purposes.</p> <p>I have been involved in the Moose Ritual program for over a decade (and have several International Team and Individual Ritual Competition championships under my belt), however, this is to be my last year. The Loyal Order of Moose, in order to "increase membership", is actually making their enrollment ceremony (read: RITUAL) OPTIONAL for new members. They can simply sign a declaration instead of going through the ceremony.</p> <p>This change infuriates me - though I understand their reasons for the change (very few lodges even have ritual staffs anymore, those that don't have been enrolling members for years on paper only, it can be somewhat costly, but the biggest reason is a lack of getting people to participate). This was leadership at the highest level simply dropping the ball, giving up, and, in my opinion, making a decision to END the Moose being a FRATERNAL organization. Without a ritual, where is the bond? The brotherhood? It simply ceases to exist.</p> <p>The constitution of the Moose use to state that a lodge was required to have a ritual staff, otherwise they would be penalized. This was probably the most ignored rule- - so they did away with it. Which is cowardice and lack of leadership and example.</p> <p>Sorry for the rant, but, needed to get that off my chest.</p> <p>For what it's worth, the LXA ritual still remains the greatest ritual of all (and I have been privy to many other orgs Rituals) - none is as elaborate, detailed, and personally moving - I think all of us can remember a very personal moment or two in our own initiation experiences that will stay with us forever to cherish the true meaning of LXA.</p> <p>Shawn Harmer Sigma Omega 162</p> And, without saying too much here, they have even been exposed to some of the same symbolism as they will find in Lambda Chi (just as Lambda Chi men have seen some Masonic symbolism) .

To a lesser extent, we have also been exposed to symbolism present in the Loyal Order of Moose (older editions, not the present) Ritual as well. I see two issues here: one, fraternal organizations (non-collegiate) do not hold the same importance to people and communities as they once did - they are seen as anachronistic, or, in other instances, as just the local “drinking hole”…an anathema to their true purposes.

I have been involved in the Moose Ritual program for over a decade (and have several International Team and Individual Ritual Competition championships under my belt), however, this is to be my last year. The Loyal Order of Moose, in order to “increase membership”, is actually making their enrollment ceremony (read: RITUAL) OPTIONAL for new members. They can simply sign a declaration instead of going through the ceremony.

This change infuriates me - though I understand their reasons for the change (very few lodges even have ritual staffs anymore, those that don’t have been enrolling members for years on paper only, it can be somewhat costly, but the biggest reason is a lack of getting people to participate). This was leadership at the highest level simply dropping the ball, giving up, and, in my opinion, making a decision to END the Moose being a FRATERNAL organization. Without a ritual, where is the bond? The brotherhood? It simply ceases to exist.

The constitution of the Moose use to state that a lodge was required to have a ritual staff, otherwise they would be penalized. This was probably the most ignored rule- - so they did away with it. Which is cowardice and lack of leadership and example.

Sorry for the rant, but, needed to get that off my chest.

For what it’s worth, the LXA ritual still remains the greatest ritual of all (and I have been privy to many other orgs Rituals) - none is as elaborate, detailed, and personally moving - I think all of us can remember a very personal moment or two in our own initiation experiences that will stay with us forever to cherish the true meaning of LXA.

Shawn Harmer
Sigma Omega 162

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