Cross & Crescent

Bruce H. McIntosh (DePauw 1916), writing in the 1930 History Number of the Purple, Green, and Gold magazine, had this to say about the Cole Ritual:

“The first ritual of the Fraternity was an odd combination of features found in the degree work of Gamma Eta Gamma, legal fraternity, and the Grange or Patrons of Husbandry. This crude ritual did not long satisfy members of the growing Fraternity… with the result that it was virtually “junked” and the present ritual, less some minor alterations, substituted.”

Harsh words. So harsh that Cole, in his personal copy of the History Number, circled and strongly underlined the words “crude” and “junked.” Of course, Cole had no chance to defend himself at that time against such criticism. In 1930, he was on the outside looking in.

The actual date of the first Lambda Chi Alpha Ritual, while labeled 1909, was more likely 1912. John Clark Jordan, in The Confidential History of the Early Years of Lambda Chi Alpha, stated that “the evidence does not justify believing that a ritual, a constitution, a Grand High Zeta, … were in existence prior to November, 1911.” According to the January 30, 1912, Alpha Book of Minutes, a special committee was appointed “… to work out the ‘unwritten work’ of Lambda Chi Alpha”. I believe that the Cole Ritual was written between February 1912 and May 1912. The first mention of a written Ritual was in a letter from Warren A. Cole (Boston 1912) to Albert Cross (Pennsylvania 1913) that was dated May 27, 1912.

Just what influence did the Grange Ritual have on the Cole Ritual? While it is doubtful that Cole was a member of the Grange, at the time he wrote his Ritual, it is possible. The Grange does permit teenage boys and girls to join the organization. Member or not, Cole acquired a copy of the Manual of Subordinate Granges of the Patrons of Husbandry to use in his crafting of our first Ritual.

As to the influence of Gamma Eta Gamma on the Cole Ritual, little can be said at this time. A copy of its constitution was available to Cole and it probably influenced the content of the first edition of the Lambda Chi Alpha Constitution. No evidence can be found at this time to point to its being used in the creation our earliest Ritual.

I have in my possession a copy of the first Lambda Chi Alpha Ritual that was used to install Gamma Zeta in 1912. It is identified as our first Ritual and was typed by Cole. I also have in my possession a copy of the Grange Ritual as issued by the National Grange. I did a content analysis of the documents and a page by page comparison of both Rituals. There is no question in my mind that Warren A. Cole borrowed heavily from the Grange Ritual. My guess is that he did this because of the pressure of time on him to have a Ritual of some kind available to initiate new members during the initial surge of five new zetas in 1912.

It must be mentioned that the practice of “borrowing” elements from one fraternity’s ritual to create a new fraternity ritual is nothing new. The Grange Ritual itself leans on Freemasonry for its basic structure and form. The Freemasons, being the oldest fraternity on record, established certain landmarks, practices, procedures, and symbols that have influenced adult and collegiate fraternities that followed them. Including the present Ritual of Lambda Chi Alpha.

The Business Meeting

Let’s look at a variety of rituals to demonstrate the connection between the Grange and Lambda Chi Alpha Rituals. The first Ritual is for Opening a Meeting. Cole definitely cribbed this Ritual from the Grange:

Grange – “The hour of labor has arrived…”

Cole – “The hour of assembly has arrived…”

Grange – “Let each repair to his or her allotted station.”

Cole – “Let each repair to his assigned station.”

Both Rituals make reference to closing the “gates” and making them “fast.” While the Grange Ritual is marked with song, Lambda Chi Alpha’s opening is spiced with the Fraternity Cry:

L.C.A. L.C.A. : RAH, RAH, RAH;

Lambda Chi Alpha

This is followed by the Order of Business that roughly follows the Order of Business as conducted by the Grange. Cole’s Ritual uses a more detailed balloting procedure that is very much like that of Freemasonry. Using terms like “clear,” “white ball” and “black ball” that would be familiar to all Freemasons.

The Closing of a Meeting Ritual is very similar in the Cole and Grange Rituals:

Grange – “…are the labors of the day completed?”

Cole – “Brothers our work for the day has been completed…”

Grange – “As there is no more work for us to-day, the Steward will see that the implements are properly secured for the night.”

Cole – “…and as there are is no more for us to do this day, I command the E.P. (Eminent Proctor) to safely secure our implements for work in their proper places…”

Cole does not mention the nature of the “implements,” so this aspect of his Ritual remains a mystery.

Ritual for Opening a Zeta

It is interesting to note that Cole used the Grange’s Installation of Officers as the framework for this Ritual. This simple ceremony was used to install a new zeta of the Fraternity, in this case Gamma. Here is a direct comparison that demonstrates Cole’s liberal use of the Grange Ritual:

Grange – “Almighty Father, Maker and Ruler of the universe, and giver of every good and perfect gift, we beseech Thee to be with us on this occasion. Bless those who shall now be installed officers of the Grange, and endow them with prudence and wisdom.”

Cole – “Almighty Father, maker of heaven and earth we beseech Thee to be with us on this occasion, bless those who are now to be affiliated with us and take into our midst and endow them with prudence and wisdom.”

Taking into account some changes in sentence structure and punctuation, both passages have essentially the same meaning.

The opening prayer is followed by a set of instructions to the installing officer. These instructions included a series of questions to the new zeta’s officers. The degree team was instructed to give up their positions upon the installation of the chosen officers of the new zeta. It was also noted that the “petitioning body must have been through the initiation ceremony before the opening of the Zeta.”

The installing officer, M.W.S.E.A.(Most Worshipful Supreme Eminent Archon), next asks each of the new zeta’s officers a series of questions. Most of the questions are addressed to the M.V.S.E.C. (Most Venerable Supreme Eminent Consul). The questions are concerned with the definition of a zeta; the division of the zeta into three jurisdictions; the duties of the officers of the zeta; and the duties of the E.A. (Eminent Archon), E.C. (Eminient Consul), and E.Ch. (Eminent Chancellor).

The first mention of the Delta appears at this time in the Cole Ritual. Though its meaning and significance has evolved over time, it represents one of the more creative and original elements of the Cole Ritual. It joins the concept of a zeta as one of our two oldest symbols. In this Ritual the Delta is closely associated with the three chief officers of a zeta at that time. It also adds a much needed symbolic element to his Ritual.

Here are a couple of examples of Cole’s use of the wording of the Grange Ritual:

Grange – “And now I declare the officers of this Grange duly installed. May your labors be pleasant, and your duties faithfully performed, to the satisfaction of all working under you. Be cheerful and united. ‘Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity. It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard – even Aaron’s beard – that went down to the skirts of his garment…’”

Cole – “I now declare these officers duly installed and the________Zeta of Lambda Chi Alpha duly organized. May your labors be pleasant and your duties faithfully performed, to the satisfaction of all brothers working with you. Behold it is like the precious ointment, and good and pleasant for brothers to dwell together in a unity.”

Grange – “…His love, that our every good word and work may be blessed with abundant harvests of joy and peace.”

Cole – “May we remember that amid all that is bright and beautiful in nature, there is love and sunshine, and may we all be blessed with abundant harvests of joy and peace.”

In a roundabout way, the Bible verse concerning the “precious ointment” came to this Ritual by way of the Freemasons, through the Grange, to Lambda Chi Alpha. It is a perfect example of the influence of Freemasonry on other fraternal bodies.

At this point in the Cole Ritual For Opening a Zeta he lists the following information about Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity.

MOTTO

The Fraternity Motto is Delta Phi.

COLORS

Royal Purple background, and olive green background, combined with gold lettering.

The Cry and Greek letters for Lambda Chi Alpha are presented to the new zeta members.

After a few words about proper badge etiquette, he lists the following information:

Frat flower, dark blue violet, faith.

Frat. tree, olive, peace.

Frat fruit, wild grape, charity.

Frat. vegetable, potato, benevolence.

This section of the Opening a Zeta Ritual is original and unique to our Fraternity. None of this is mentioned in the Grange Ritual.

Yes, this is the source of the potato as a Fraternity symbol. The Fraternity potato has been problematic since its introduction. So much so, that Jack Mason could not find a place for it in our current Ritual. Where Cole got the notion that a potato symbolizes benevolence is unknown. There are references to the potato as a magical, healing, or reproductive symbol. As far as can be determined, it has no relationship to benevolence. A more likely interpretation would be abundance. This is because it is widely cultivated, not too difficult to grow, and many people depend on the potato for a significant part of their diet.

This article will conclude next month with a comparative analysis of the Cole and Grange Initiation Rituals. Was the earliest known Lambda Chi Alpha Initiation Ritual influenced by the Grange Ritual? Stay tuned for the answer in next month’s Cross & Crescent magazine.