Theta Kappa Nu Ritual (Part I)
by Mike Raymond • October 2006 • 27 Comments •
Founder J. H. “Dad” Krenmyre
Original League and Covenant
Bill Deeks (Oregon State 1970) possesses the original League and Covenant of Theta Kappa Nu that established Oregon Alpha on March 17, 1930.
According to Deeks, this historic document was written in a small, black-leather bound book. The book was signed by 120 members of the Oregon Alpha chapter of Theta Kappa Nu.
The signatures include the names of men associated with two local groups, Ares and Psi Chi, as well as all initiated members up to the 1939 union of Theta Kappa Nu and Lambda Chi Alpha.
Here are the original words of The League and Covenant of Theta Kappa Nu:
In the name of God: Amen. We, whose names are signed hereto, together with all others who may become associated with us by signing these articles, being impelled by the spirit of brotherhood, do establish the OREGON ALPHA Chapter of Theta Kappa Nu Fraternity and agree to maintain it, hereby declaring that our basis of union and fundamental principles of the Theta Kappa Nu Fraternity are embodied in this, our solemn League and Covenant.
First - We, each of us, agree with every other to accept and regard every one who shall be admitted into Theta Kappa Nu Fraternity as a brother, to extend to each the obligations and privileges of friendship, to protect the characters of our brothers from slander, and to live within our fraternity and through our lives in the bonds of friendship and brotherhood.
Second - We, each with the other, bind ourselves to the pursuit of knowledge, agreeing to pursue our courses with diligence and to make the most of our opportunities, being aware that the studies of our college are preparations for our afterlives and we mutually covenant and league ourselves together to take fast hold of instruction letting it not go - holding it, for it is our life.
Third - We mutually league and covenant ourselves together to protect the Constitution of the United States of America and the laws thereon based - to live for our common country and to unswervingly follow our country’s flag in any time of peril and to this we pledge our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.
Fourth - We severally league and covenant ourselves together to build our fraternity on the teachings of the Holy Bible, seeking truth as revealed in the Scriptures and practicing morality for its own sake, always remembering that “Righteousness exalteth a nation but sin is a reproach to any people.”
To all of this and these we solemnly league and covenant ourselves together without equivocation, mental reservation, or secret evasion, declaring we are individually bound by the provisions of this solemn League and Covenant as long as we shall live and that none of the articles herein or the language in which it is expressed may be changed without the unanimous consent of all who have accepted it.
Theta Kappa Nu Founder and Grand Oracle J. H. “Dad” Krenmyre was a remarkable man who was born of humble origins in a log cabin.
Krenmyre eventually rose above his meager beginnings and successfully operated a construction firm, became a preacher, spoke on the Chautauqua circuit, and, as the faculty adviser to Sigma Tau Delta at Iowa Wesleyan, helped to form a union of small college locals that became Theta Kappa Nu Fraternity.
In 1937, Krenmyre wrote an article in the Theta News magazine that expressed his belief that a fraternity’s strength was in its ritual.
Krenmyre believed there were three components to a genuine fraternal experience that combined to make for a life changing event for the initiated members of any fraternity.
His article outlined the characteristics of such a fraternal experience as follows:
- the ideals of the fraternity should be at the heart of pledgeship;
- the ritual should be presented with care and an earnestness of spirit that conveys to the candidate that he is receiving a special gift from every member of the ritual team; and,
- the ritual is more than words, it is the spirit of the ritual that is the rallying cry that calls members together to do great things in creating better lives for all.
He called for each member “to teach the ritual, talk the ritual, live the ritual.”
All of what Krenmyre wrote in 1937 applies to Lambda Chi Alpha’s ritualistic experience today. A well crafted ritual has a timeless quality that continues to teach us about the great truths that we can live by long after the ritual’s creator has died.
A ritual that stresses high standards of ethical and moral behavior can transform the typical college man into a responsible adult in just a few short years.
Ritual can be a powerful force for good in a world much in need of ethical and moral men.
The Ritual Book
Krenmyre wrote in the introduction of the Ritual of Theta Kappa Nu Fraternity that the fraternity’s ritual was “planted upon the fundamental acceptance of Diety, and supported by the four cardinal pillars: brothernood, learning, patriotism, and morality.”
The 1928 ritual book illustrates the typical layout and floor plan of a Theta Kappa Nu Chapter Room. The chapter room was used for business meetings, as well as for all pledge and initiation activities.
The orientation of the room to the north was so important that it was always situated at the Archon station no matter what the actual compass direction might be.
Those knowledgeable about Freemasonry will note some similarities with the Theta Kappa Nu chapter room plan and the layout of a Blue Lodge. This might be the result of the fact that Krenmyre was an active Iowa Mason.
The ritual book contains a wealth of information that includes the opening and closing ceremony for meetings, the installation ceremonies, the Initiatory or Pledge Degree, First Degree or Degree of Learning, Second Degree or Degree of Patriotism, the Third Degree or Degree of Morality or Virtue, a Cornerstone Laying Ceremony, and a simple Funeral Service.
Preserving the Ritual
The greatest union in the history of the North American college fraternity movement took place in 1939 when Theta Kappa Nu merged with Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity.
One of the most significant decisions was to preserve the essence of the ritual heritage of Theta Kappa Nu in the newly combined brotherhood.
Krenmyre, Winslow S. Anderson (Rollins), Otho R. McAtee (Drury), and Donald F. Lybarger (Gettysburg) were the founders of the Theta Kappa Nu Fraternity and were responsible for its creation 82 years ago on October 11, 1924.
With little doubt, Krenmyre’s greatest accomplishment was the creation of the Ritual of Theta Kappa Nu Fraternity. Simply stated in a 1929 issue of the Theta News, he was credited with the authorship of the ritual in these words, “The ritual is the work of his mind.”
The method to implement this decision was to condense the pledge degree and the three initiation degrees of Theta Kappa Nu into what we now call our Associate Member Ceremony, a ceremony every member of Lambda Chi Alpha has experienced since the union of 1939.
Integrated into Lambda Chi
Previous historians and ritual students, such as Charles S. Peyser (Sewanee 1964) and S. George Dirghalli (Florida 1949), have noted contributions to Lambda Chi Alpha’s ritual that were derived from the Ritual of Theta Kappa Nu.
The most significant of these contributions were:
- The Associate Member Ceremony that details the four cardinal pillars
- The entrance knocks for each degree
- The use of the open motto “Vir Quisque Vir” on the Coat of Arms
- The use of the Theta Kappa Nu badge as the background for the associate member pin
- The white Tudor rose
- The description of the “lion rampant holding a white rose”
- The optional practice of adding alter cloths in each degree’s color
Some of the contributions, such as the Associate Member Ceremony, represented fundamental changes to the nature of our Fraternity. Other contributions, such as the entrance knocks to the ritual chamber, made little difference to the substance of the Mason Ritual as we know it today.
William H. Pulley Says:
October 2nd, 2006 at 3:50 pmA most informative article. The material filled in a lot of blanks. Good for an old member to have the additional knowledge about our early beginnings. Thanks for the publication.
Craig Hahn Says:
October 2nd, 2006 at 3:59 pmWhile this is certainly an interesting article, why are we publishing ritual details on an open web site??!! True, there are limited details included in this article, but nonetheless you discuss and allude to things that I (and I’m sure many other brothers) considered secret and not for discussion outside of Lambda Chi.
Aside from my brothers, I’ve never discussed even one facet of our ritual with anyone who isn’t a Lambda Chi…and I can promise that I never will as long as I live. Sorry to see that the compilers of the Cross & Crescent don’t seem to value that same ideal.
Just because you can publish something via the Web, doesn’t mean you should. I’m disappointed and concerned about what you’ll cover in future articles in this series (since this was just Part 1)
Yours in ZAX,
Craig Hahn
GN 747
Brad Nelsen Says:
October 2nd, 2006 at 4:06 pmI agree with Craig being that this is only part 1 of the article i am concerned that the other parts will contain more information of ritual. i dont know why anything was presented in this article so if you are planning on writing future parts to this article i urge that you make better judgment as to what you put in the article.
In Zax,
Brad Nelsen
^^ 948
James W. Keady Says:
October 2nd, 2006 at 4:12 pmAmen to Brother Hahn’s post. I hope the editorial staff at the Cross and Crescent will take his comments to heart and will be much more reserved in what they publish publicly about the ritual.
Peace in ZAX,
Jim Keady
Phi Lambda 237, St. Joseph’s University (PA)
Jason Pearce Says:
October 2nd, 2006 at 5:12 pmBrothers,
We hear your concerns. Parts 1 and 2 of Mike Raymond’s story “Theta Kappa Nu Ritual” cover the history of the Ritual of Theta Kappa Nu Fraternity, which is no longer a secret publication due to its merger with Lambda Chi Alpha in 1939.
These two stories will not reveal the secret mottos, oaths, or teachings that are taught in the Ritual of Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity.
Most of Lambda Chi Alpha’s rituals are open ceremonies. Some of our open rituals adopted once-secret Theta Kappa Nu teachings. The Associate Member ceremony, for example, is an open ritual that has incorporated lessons from Theta Kappa Nu.
Many years ago, Lambda Chi Alpha created an open manual called Ritual: What and Why (PDF 3.6MB) to help explain some of our open teachings and their history. An exoteric publication, Ritual: What and Why is readily available for all Associate Members to learn more about rituals in general.
We hope you will enjoy learning more about Theta Kappa Nu’s teachings in part 2 of this series.
Sincerely,
Jason Pearce, Editor
Tom Earp, LX Z 1 Says:
October 2nd, 2006 at 5:15 pmBrother Raymond, thank you for another informative article.
In reading some of the above posts, I disagree with them as there is nothing having to do with the Ritual as LXA uses today except for one point.
The mottos used are open to the public, and the New Associate Ritual can be done one of two ways, either closed or open.
Our history needs to be told so that we and all of the New Young Members have an opportunity to see where our roots are.
I look forward to the next two months of the Cross and Crescent and your insuing articles.
Tom Earp
LX Z 1
Pitssburg, Ks.
John Stosky Theta-Sigma 1238 Says:
October 2nd, 2006 at 5:37 pmAlthough there is nothing mentioned that is strictly secret, it still seems like there is too much allusion to things that are in our ritual. Even the small parts should be considered sacred. Any part of Theta Kappa Nu’s ritual that is in our initiation ritual should be kept out of this publication or it shouldn’t be mentioned with regards to what of it is in our ritual.
Robert Wolffe Delta Lambda 352 Says:
October 2nd, 2006 at 7:08 pmI agree with brother Stosky. It seems that that the author is being reckless and even the smallest detail should be kept within our bond and not shared . I sincerely hope that the staff takes better care of the knowledge they have been entrusted with in the future.
Craig Burnette SS10 Says:
October 2nd, 2006 at 9:02 pmBrothers,
Having been away from active chapter life for quite a few years, I still remember that our ritual was something special, a personal experience and mysterious. Eventhough the AM ceremony is taken from Theta Kappa Nu and is an “open” celebration for new members, I believe strongly that publishing any aspects of our initiation ritual(however seemingly minor) takes away that which we hold dear. Teaching AM’s the history of Lambda Chi should be left to the brothers at the chapter level. I would like to see more discretion used by all contributors when bringing these type of articles to the public.
Yours in ZAX
Wayne Schletter, TU651 Says:
October 2nd, 2006 at 9:41 pmAnother voice of concern from Polytechnic University, an original Theta Kappa Nu chapter. Jason, you are correct that much of the LXA ritual, meaning and symbolism of today originated from the TKN ritual. Your opinion may be correct that the information is ‘open’ - however that doesn’t mean it should be broadcast on a public website. I’m sure you are aware that information, especially arcane fraternity information, can easily be misinterpreted and taken out of context by other parties. Whereas Brothers may enjoy and appreciate it because of their deeper understanding, outsiders could easily be misled the same information. I would say that at a minimum you should place aticles like this in a ‘members only’ area, or password protect it, so that Brothers may enjoy it but others are restricted.
So far the vast majority of brothers commenting have voiced concern about the content above; I don’t think the C&C staff should ignore that concern, however well-meaning your intentions may be.
In ZAX
Wayne
Scott Powell Says:
October 2nd, 2006 at 10:25 pmBrothers-
Although I disagree with the majority of the posters that this article contains privileged information, the greater disservice is posting your concerns publicly on an open thread. I hope that if you are ever have the displeasure of being in the presence of a brother that is speaking too openly about what we hold so dear, that you talk with them in PRIVATE and not in a public setting as decorum would dictate.
In ZAX,
Scott
Zeta Psi 751
Russell Lala Says:
October 3rd, 2006 at 1:30 amRead ritual what and why and it will blow you away compared to this article. Allusions are nothing unless you know they are allusions. Our ritual is not jeopardized in any way via this article. But speculation can be drawn from Ritual What and Why which is an eye opener to even the oldest of brothers.
I think no boundaries were crossed here.
In ZAX,
Russell Lala
BN530
Daryll K. Yarger Says:
October 3rd, 2006 at 8:35 ami would have to agree with brother russell, ritual what and why is treuly more of an eye opener then what this article has said. i found this to be a well written article that did not cross any boundaries. and i also feel it is helping us perserve our history so that we as a “brotherhood” can pass it on to our new brothers weather at the local or national level.
In ZAX
Daryll K. Yarger
Phi Phi 355
Jon Wood Says:
October 3rd, 2006 at 2:42 pmBrother Powell, while I agree that discretion is the better part of valor, I am also concerned about the contents of this article and this thread is designed to be a forum for discussion. I think that any brother, member, or even potential who comes across this article and the subsequent thread will recognize the posts for what they are, constructive criticism, not brother-bashing.
In ZAX,
Jon Wood
EY1392
Andrew Silk Says:
October 3rd, 2006 at 5:07 pmMy only request is that in lieu of the amount of concern, expressed or otherwise, the staff of C&C thoughtfully and prayerfully consider the content of their future publications.
In ZAX,
Andrew Silk
EY 1406
Dan Anthony Says:
October 3rd, 2006 at 6:40 pmIt is a pleasure to read another Mike Raymond article, despite some disagreement that has arisen regarding whether the article revealed too much, or was just right.
In any event, I appreciate Mike’s work and encourage him to continue in his efforts as a historian of our Great Fraternity. Mike inspired me as High Pi at Miami-OH while I was an undergrad. In fact, I have been serving as High Pi at Wake Forsest (Theta Tau - Zeta) for the past ten years.
Way to go Mike!
Dan Anthony
ZUZ 796
High Pi, Theta Tau
Kevin Says:
October 4th, 2006 at 4:32 pmI can only read this article and be filled with joy.
If we want to have a living, breathing, alive fraternity we must… “teach the ritual, talk the ritual, (and) live the ritual.”
Dear brothers we must never feel we walk blindly merely fallowing steps described in a dusty book locked away in the back of a closet somewhere. It is disheartening that some feel we must keep our light hidden under a basket.
All of what Krenmyre wrote in 1937 applies … today. A well crafted ritual has a timeless quality that continues to teach us about the great truths that we can live by…
A ritual that stresses high standards of ethical and moral behavior can transform the typical college man into a responsible adult in just a few short years.
Ritual can be a powerful force for good in a world much in need of ethical and moral men.
I agree one hundred percent. Lets listen to what we read as brothers and not feel that we are elitist holding something unattainable by others. Never forget that at one time we ALL were considered ‘others.’
I am a Lambda Chi brother and proud of it.
Former Kappa,
East Tennessee State University,
IO 598
Tom Earp, LX Z 1 Says:
October 4th, 2006 at 6:44 pmThere is very little in this article that reveals any secrets.
It is a History of TKN and the Merging into LXA.
Granted, it does make references to certain things of LXA and the Ritual of TKN it is nothing that is earth shattering.
The problem today seems to be the learning of Our History of LXA and what makes it as big as it is today. Just how many know the History of LXA and LXA? Just how many know the History of the Merger between the two?
The Merger in 1939 of TKN with LXA is still the largest of any Greek Letter organization.
There were many Parts of Ritual of TKN that were ajoined into and with LXA.
One has to only look at the Creast of LXA, New Associate Pin, the New Membership Ritual which can be an open Ritual.
Most of these are open as some of our Mottos are and should be proud of them.
I am sorry, but the naysayers really do not know unless you study and have no real concept of the overall picture.
What is the old saying?
Study Neophypt and learn before you spake.
Sammy Vitris Says:
October 8th, 2006 at 3:44 amDon’t be scared nothing has been even remotely reveled 95% of that information comes from the open ritual of Lambda Chi Alpha or just plain sight information that anyone can either figure out for themselves. The other information about the degree’s and stuff is initation riutal stuff, but thats written right there in the Constitution and isn’t a secret.
In ZAX,
Sammy Vitris
Lambda-Kappa
123
Lawrence Says:
October 9th, 2006 at 9:34 pmBrothers, I just attended our open Associate member ceremony this evening. We had some of our associate members parents there as well as Staff from Miami University. It brought back good memories and was attended again my no less than 10 non LXA members. I Know Brother Dr. Ramond and his passion and dedication to Lambda Chi Alpha I know he would never intentional divulge any secrets; he’s been active in our chapter for 40 some years.
It was a great article and I can’t wait for part 2.
In ZAX
Lawrence C. G. Gallegos 1
ZY-1085
Kevin Joiner Says:
October 11th, 2006 at 1:11 pmI wonder if Bill Deeks has had Oregon-Alpha’s
L&C since 1939…Kentucky-Alpha’s was at HQ until
1988 when it was sent to Kappa-Omega. I found it
a few years ago in “safe keeping” at the chapter
house, but it was being knocked around and
falling apart, so I took it home for “safer
keeping.” I posted images online if anyone
wants to see:
http://einstein.georgetowncollege.edu/koz/league/league.html
Trey McGovern Says:
October 20th, 2006 at 1:22 amWell at first I was a little shocked at some of the things that seemed to be “revealed” or “alluded” to in the article above, but then before I decided to leave a blind comment, I thought that I should do a little research and read “Ritual What and Why” especially considering I have been looking for a copy anyway. Well upon reading “Ritual What and Why” I have decided that Mike did an excellent job on his article and that everyone should take it upon themselves to learn about our history as much as they can. There are plenty of “seasoned” brothers who are perfectly willing to help us of the younger classes. Many of them are just waiting for the opportunity to be asked because many of them feel that it is their duty to pass on the things that they have learned about our illustrious history, that would otherwise be forgotten. As for us younger guys, we have come to far as a Fraternity to just sit by idly while our history is slowly slipping into the dusty pages of the history books, we should take it as our responsibilty to learn as much about Lambda Chi Alpha as possible because with the knowledge of our forefathers we will be able to become an even greater Fraternity than what we already are.
“If I have seen a little further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants” ~Robert Hooke~
So I think that we should take the information that is easily accesible in our brotherly “Giants” and make Lambda Chi Alpha an even greater fraternity that what it already is.
In ZAX
Trey Mcgovern c/o 2009
Pi-Iota 47
Trey McGovern Says:
October 20th, 2006 at 1:25 amOops wrong scientist in my previous statement…..Im sorry Sir Isaac Newton…..my fault
In ZAX
Trey McGovern
PI-47
Dawson Hull Says:
October 20th, 2006 at 10:37 pmA very informative article. I am curious as to why George A. Neely (from Alabama-Alpha of Theta Kappa Nu, and Theta-Alpha at Howard, now Samford) is not mentioned in this article. It was my understanding before reading this article that he is credited with authorship of Theta Kappa Nu’s Ritual, instead of Krenmyre. Neely wrote the ritual for Phi Kappa Nu, one of the eleven local fraternities that comprised Theta Kappa Nu. Many of the ideals and symbols of Phi Kappa Nu, including the four cardinal pillars and the badge, carried over into the new fraternity. True, Krenmyre was heavily involved in the editing process for Theta Kappa Nu’s ritual, but Neely deserves at least partial credit for its creation.
In ZAX,
Dawson Hull
Theta-Alpha 1012
JOE Says:
November 7th, 2006 at 5:26 amThe ritual what and why concerns me..thatshould be open to iniated brothers only as brothers we should contact headquarters the ritual what and why just take a look for yourself
in zax
Clayton Smith Says:
May 3rd, 2007 at 10:42 pmwhy would someone just come out and tell everyone some of our ritual. it doesnt matter if we got it from theta kappa nu or not, it is now apart of Lambda Chi Alpha ritual. so use a little common sense and not put the “contributions of theta kappa nu ritual” on an open website. i hold the ritual of Lambda Chi Alpha very dear to my heart and i dont want any aspect of it told to the public, even the small parts that the “brilliant mind” decided to add on this website. it is something for the brotherhood and brotherhood only!!!
IN ZAX
Clayton
Alpha Phi 1403
UWWLCA.com » Blog Archive » Fraternal Rituals Says:
July 2nd, 2007 at 9:15 am[...] to Brother Jason Pearce and The Cross & Crescent Articles on Theta Kappa Nu’s Ritual (Part 1 and Part 2) for providing the link to this open [...]