Endless Questions Sends a Cease and Desist Letter Because His Stake President is a Secret Society Member...

[endlessQuestions]

Two types of scene presentations may be used—the fixed scene or the
movable scene. The movable scene consists of four brothers in hooded
robes carrying the coffin and skeleton slowly into the center of the semicircle of initiates where the coffin is placed on the floor within easy view
of all initiates. Each of the four coffin-bearers carries a candle

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Two of the brothers kneel at the foot and head of the coffin, respectively, in an attitude
of deep contemplation, their left elbows resting on the coffin while their
left hands support their foreheads

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The coffin should rest under a canopy of black cloth. In front of
the canopy should be hung curtains which divide in the center and which
can be drawn aside by two brothers, dressed in black gown and hood, who
stand at each side, holding back the curtains while the scene is exposed.
The fixed scene should be illuminated by two candles placed in the floor
stands so as to provide effective lighting. A soft spotlight is also very effective.

[endlessQuestions]

There we go. I was waiting for the word "Crusades" to show up...

p. 86

"The part of Constantine can make or break the entire ceremony. The
Constantine part expresses a Ritual thesis established by the Crusaders
that, when a man makes his vows to a credo of an organization and takes
an oath of life-long duration there must be in that ceremony a recognition
that death will ultimately come"

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As The White Cross appears it is a different man whom we see. This is a
convert, the man whose devotion to the Cross grew from a transcendent
moment which he now recalls.

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Oh, they have a patron saint:

I shall now call upon our ancient patron, the Emperor
Constantine, to give you further light

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CONSTANTINE: Hear the words of one who in his own day
was mighty. I, Constantine, the Emperor, address you, that I may
enlist your lifelong devotion to my cause. You have taken vows of
eternal friendship and manly honor. Let your friendship be enduring and your life beyond reproach.

Whose cause?

Not God's cause, that's whose cause.

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Constantine 1:1

Hey, Niemand, is that an Apocryphal book?

Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, before the
evil days come, and the years draw nigh when thou shalt say, I have
no pleasure in them; before the sun and the light and the moon and
the stars are darkened and man goeth to his everlasting home and
the mourners go about the streets; before the silver cord is loosed,
or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern, and the dust returneth to the earth as it was and the spirit returneth to God who gave it.

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No agency when you worship an Emporer:

You will fall upon your knees, close your eyes, and engage in
silent prayer to Almighty God.

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Sounds about right:

in answer to my
prayer The White Cross appeared unto me in the heavens and an
angel said: “Thou shalt make a representation of the sign thou hast
seen; of gold and precious stones shalt thou make it. It shall be
thine emblem and the emblem of thy followers henceforth and
forevermore.” Amen! Amen.

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What happen if you say "no"?

p. 89

– is it still your
desire to become a member of this Fraternity, knowing that your
obligations are of lifelong duration?

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Nice oath you've got there, fellas:

CONSUL: Friend(s), kneel upon your right knee; place your left
hand upon your left breast; raise your right hand; and repeat after me:

The Obligation
(To insure absolute accuracy, this obligation may be read).

I, (repeat your name), *
of my own free will, *
before the All-seeing Eye of Almighty God *
and in the presence of this Chapter, *
do sincerely promise and solemnly swear *
that I will keep inviolably secret *
everything connected with my Initiation *
and all that is contained in the Ritual *
and Ritualistic Statutes of this Fraternity; *
also each and every secret sign, *
symbol, password, and grip *
of the Fraternity *
which I have learned, *
or may hereafter learn. *
I will neither write *
nor otherwise record the secret mottoes *
or the description of the grips, of this Fraternity *
in any manner whatsoever. *
Nor will I, for any reason, *
copy any portion of the Ritual without legal permission *
as provided by the Constitution. *
I will cheerfully obey all of the laws of the Sigma Chi Fraternity, *
and of _________ Chapter, *
and of any chapter of which I may hereafter become a member. *
Furthermore, I will at all times, *
throughout life as well as in college, *
use my utmost endeavor in all honorable ways *
to promote the welfare and prosperity *
of this Fraternity and its individual members. *
And, above all, I will ever strive *
to interpret the ideals of this Fraternity *
in my own personal character and conduct. *
These promises I make for all time, *
to be equally binding while
in or out of this Fraternity, *
under the stigma of committing moral perjury, *
if at any time I violate this my solemn oath *
and binding obligation, *

so help me God. *
CONSUL: You will arise

[endlessQuestions]

It's just a big brother program, guys. Why are you so unreasonable?

p. 92

"it is customary for each big brother to allow the little brother initiate to wear his
badge"

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In reciting the famous badging line to each of the new brothers, the
Consul should use care in not varying the intonation of the sentence as he
proceeds from brother to brother.

As the Consul badges each brother he does not give the new brother
the fraternal grip. This is not possible, since the new brother has not as
yet been instructed in the matter of the grip. For emphasis, however, he
may place his right hand on the left shoulder of the initiate as he speaks
his words.

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The Presentation of the Badge

CONSUL: The great moment of your life has come. We are
about to place upon your breast The White Cross of Sigma Chi,
and you are about to learn the significance of our beautiful
emblem. To wear it worthily will require an exercise of all the good
qualities of your character and all the strength of your manhood. To
the world, it will identify you as a Sigma Chi. To your brothers,
it will have a deeper meaning, standing for the noble qualities of
your heart. When they see The White Cross upon your breast, they
will believe you to be true, brave, honest, and full of that brotherly love taught by the Christ of whom our badge reminds us.

Your quest for The White Cross was a symbolic mission, that
you were caused to undertake for your own good. You did not find
what you sought.You may never find it. A Sigma Chi wears upon
his breast a badge which is a representation of The White Cross,
but The White Cross itself is an ideal. Your search for it is emblematic of your course in college and your career throughout life,
which ought to be so conducted that you will always be finding
what is noblest and best. In your Interview others put severe questions to you. Henceforth you will have to be the judge of your own faithfulness in seeking what is worthy. The Cross is the emblem of
sacrifice. Let it remind you that no achievement is accomplished
without both sacrifice and service; and that only as The Cross conquers in your heart can you attain the ideals for which it stands.

(Until this time the badges which are to be presented have been kept
from view. The Pro Consul now produces them, arranged upon a suitable
tray, and bears them to the Consul. The Consul shall take the badges
singly from the tray, placing one upon the left breast of each initiate and
saying to each:)

CONSUL: My Brother, may you wear this Cross through life
without soiling the purity of its whiteness or dimming the luster of
its gold.

(The Consul returns to his station).

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CONSUL: (or may be delivered by another chapter member) Observe
now this representation of The Cross you wear, and give heed to
the meaning of its emblems. The Badge of this Fraternity is the
Sigma Chi Cross of gold, indicating true worth. The arms of white
enamel are emblematic of the purity of our motives and the high
sense of honor which should characterize all our actions. The black
enamel surrounding the letters in the center of the Badge reminds
us of the secrecy which guards the mottoes for which the letters
stand. Upon the upper arm are crossed keys, emblematic of our
duty to unlock the secrets of learning and of the access of each to
his brother's heart. Upon the right arm is an eagle's head, emblematic of our lofty aspirations. Upon the left arm is a scroll, typifying our literary character. Upon the lower arm are clasped hands,
denoting friendship; and seven stars, indicating the perpetuity of
our union and the equality and brotherhood of our chapters.
The chains connecting the right and left arms with the top of The
Cross teach us that we are bound by a double obligation; for the
duties which we owe to the Chapter and to the Fraternity at large
are equally imperative. As the absence of one chain destroys the
symmetry of the Badge, so the neglect of either obligation will mar
your character as a Sigma Chi.

[endlessQuestions]

It reminds us of our enlightenment???

p. 95

"CONSUL: (or may be delivered by another chapter member) A r o u n d
the circumference of the Grand Seal is the name of our Fraternity.
The numerals 1855 represent the year of our origin. The seven stars
indicate the perpetuity of our union. They also remind us of the
Seven Founders of our Fraternity, and of the seven virtues which we
teach in their names. The seven-branched candlestick in Holy Wr i t
exemplifies perpetual illumination. In Sigma Chi it reminds us of
our enlightenment, and that our obligations are of lifelong duration."

[endlessQuestions]

Sound familiar?

PRO CONSUL: I will now request two of our brothers to exemplify the whole challenge, while I explain it further.

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PRO CONSUL: This is the sign of salutation. (He indicates its for -
mation). Its meaning is Sigma Chi.
(The Second Brother gives the sign of recognition).

PRO CONSUL: This is the sign of recognition. (He indicates its
formation). Its meaning is the same, Sigma Chi. These signs are
used only in fraternal salutation and never where there is danger of
detection

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Oh, look, a Lamb's Book of Life!

CONSUL: Brothers, for by that endearing name we are now
privileged to address you, having assumed your obligations and
responsibilities, you now have the honor of recording your name
upon the roll of the initiates of ______________ Chapter

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Humble folk, these Sigma Chi:

THE CHARGE
The Charge is one of the greatest pieces of Ritualistic literature ever written

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It's ETERNAL...

In no part of the Investiture is there a more vibrant and dynamic line
than, “Bidding you Godspeed, my brother, I greet you forever in the sacred
bonds of Sigma Chi.” That line admits of no temporal quality in Sigma
Chi . The brothers are greeted forever...

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"Our brothers, who are found in all parts of the world–North,
South, East, and West–and on whose breasts glitters in its purity,
the emblem or our Fraternity, will always receive you with welcome hands and warm hearts, and stand ever ready to assist you in time of need. Henceforth you are bound to us by the most sacred
ties of friendship and love. In weal or in woe, in sickness or health,
in poverty or wealth, through youth, manhood, and old age, you are
indissolubly linked to us by that firm chain, the links of which can
only be broken by the angel of death. Your joys, your sorrows, your
afflictions, have all become ours. When the dark clouds of adversity gather around you and your heart is sore, your faith weak, and your courage well-nigh gone, forget not that there are strong arms
around you, true hearts upon which to rest, and tender sympathies
from which to draw consolation for the past, comfort for the present, and hope for the future."

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"Remember, too, that the bond is reciprocal. To you we have committed the care of our reputation, and our honor is in your keeping. The stain of dishonor will blacken not your character alone, but will also rest upon us."

EQ: Indeed.

[Reluctant Watchman]

I think you got lost in the weeds.