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Ritual
Excellence is for Everyone!
"Dad"
Thomas R. Labagh, Executive Officer
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Ritual (the set of formal ceremonies through which
we conduct our business and receive new members) is the one aspect
of DeMolay that makes us truly different from any
other youth organization. It is that part of our Order which ties
us most closely to
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It is the method by which our young members test their public speaking
skills, develop confidence, and learn the lessons of our seven cardinal
virtues, and ultimately, view themselves as heirs to the heroic legacy
of Jacques DeMolay. Sometimes, though, local Chapter ritual isn't
all it's cracked up to be. If you ask why, you might hear a lot of
excuses. But ultimately, any Chapter that sets its mind to it is capable
of EXCELLENCE in Ritual. Below are some of the "excuses"
you'll sometimes hear for poor ritual performance, along with some
suggestions that might help you and your Chapter overcome that road
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"We don't
have enough members to do the ritual."
- Ask another
Chapter, or State Officers, or a Deputy Executive Officer for
help.
- Improvise,
to get as much of the work done by the members as possible. Nobody
likes to see the Ritual work read from a book, but if that is
necessary to cover other parts, make sure that it is at least
read properly.
- Obligate
your candidates, and take them to another Chapter to see the full
degrees. (But make sure the "Obligating" ceremony is
done with the same dignity as the degrees should be done.)
"We don't
have any candidates, so we can't do degrees."
- There is
still the need to confer the degrees, as it is one of the promises
a Master Councilor makes in public, and is required if he is to
receive a PMC Jewel or Pin from the Chapter.
- Continued
practice on the degrees will keep you prepared to handle new members
when the time comes.
- This is
still the way we teach public speaking skills-don't cheat your
members of this great skill-building experience!
- "There's
nobody in our Chapter who can teach us how to do the ritual."
- Look around
- there are members, State Officers, Advisors, Parents, even Mom's
are now acting as Ritual Advisors and instructors. If you can
read the instructions, you can teach the Ritual.
- Even better-attend
a Ritual Judge's Training Seminar and become a Certified Degree
Judge. Whether you ever serve as a judge or not, you will be better
trained to understand and teach Ritual in your Chapter after taking
this course.
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Some
Chapters don't do Ritual because they feel they can't do it
well enough. Chances are, they're comparing to a standard
of PERFECTION, instead of EXCELLENCE.
What's
the difference? Simple: Perfection demands that everything
be done absolutely right, every time, by every person. Not
too realistic. Excellence, on the other hand, means performing
at your best for your current level of
development, with the resources you have,
and in the time available.
If
you're a brand new DeMolay who's never seen an opening ceremony,
and you get a call 24 hours in advance to be Chaplain in your
home Chapter, you probably won't do as well as the guy who
has been the TOC Chaplain Champion for the last three years
running. On the other hand, you can be just as EXCELLENT
as him, if you apply yourself to doing the best you can with
your experience and limited time. Maybe that means practicing
reading the part aloud until you are satisfied that it sounds
smooth and natural, and deciding to commit the part to memory
as soon as possible so you can be ready for next time!
No
Chapter does the Ritual perfectly. But anyone-THAT MEANS
YOU!- can perform ritual with excellence.
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"Our members
just don't WANT to do ritual."
- Find out:
Is this really the case, or is it just one or two vocal members
or Advisors who are saying this?
- Motivate
them-trade off a ritual rehearsal for an activity they want to
do.
- Offer special
refreshments for those who perform their parts from memory.
- Make being
a member of the ritual "team" as important as the basketball
or volleyball or softball "team."
- Give members
the chance to find out if they really do like to perform …
they (and you) might be surprised!
Watch for the difference as you begin to pursue
excellence in ritual-few people want to be part of a shoddy show,
but many will be motivated to participate when your Chapter ritual
is excellent.
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