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       *     THE "ORDER OF THE ARROW" - SCOUTING'S HONOR SOCIETY     *

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       *                 by Jim Howes [76264,2124]                   *

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 The Order of the Arrow is a recognized official program activity of the

 Boy  Scouts of America, having its origin in the mind of young E. Urner

 Goodman in 1915.  Then age 25, he had been a Scoutmaster for only a few

 years and  had reluctantly agreed to serve that summer as camp director

 at Philadelphia's scout camp on idyllic Treasure Island in the Delaware

 River.  While newspaper headlines reported a war in Europe and the loss

 of the Cunard liner  "Lusitania" to a German U-boat's torpedoes  within

 sight of the Irish coast,  the new scouting movement was  enjoying hal-

 cyon days in America, as membership grew rapidly across the nation.  



 Although he would eventually attain a doctorate in education and become

 National Program Director of the BSA, Urner's thoughts in 1915 were fo-

 cused on development of methods to teach boys that skill proficiency in 

 Scoutcraft was not enough,  rather the principles embodied in the Scout

 Oath and Law should become realities in the lives of Scouts. As a means

 of accomplishing this without preaching and within a boy's interest and

 understanding,  peer recognition and the appeal of Indian lore would be

 utilized. Hence, he devised a program where troops would choose, at the

 conclusion  of camp, those boys from among their number best exemplify-

 ing these traits, who would be honored as members of an Indian "lodge".

 Those elected would be acknowledged as having displayed, in the eyes of

 their fellow scouts, a spirit of unselfish service and brotherhood.



 Combining ideas from "The Last of the Mohicans" with the Delaware Indi-

 ans who had inhabited Treasure Island,  he developed dramatic induction

 ceremonies for the "Order of the Arrow", as the fledgling honor society

 was dubbed. Even today, these rites make a lasting impression on scouts

 who have been elected to the "Order of the Arrow". 



 By 1921, the idea had spread to a score of scout councils in the north-

 east and the first national meeting of the Order of the Arrow was held.

 Initially viewed with suspicion by many scouters as a secret society if

 not an affront to the egalitarian ideals of scouting,  support was slow

 in coming from national headquarters. For many years, the "OA" was con-

 sidered to be an "experimental" program only. Not until 1948 was E. Ur-

 ner Goodman's innovation fully integrated into the Scouting program. 



 Having observed its Diamond Anniversary in 1990, it is evident that the

 Order of the Arrow has made a significant contribution to Scouting,  as

 we know it today in the United States. The OA's motto,  "Brotherhood of

 Cheerful Service", is more than just an empty slogan for many Arrowmen,

 who constitute a valuable council resource for camp promotion, improve-

 ment projects, and summer camp staffing. The OA, at its best, continues

 to be a teaching tool for Scouting ideals. 



 Many believe that the OA helps in retaining  older boys in Scouting who

 otherwise tend to lose interest upon reaching high school age. Notably,

 OA guidelines place great importance on preserving  Lodge leadership in

 the hands of its boy members, headed by a Chief, Vice Chief(s),  and an

 Executive Committee, all of whom must be under age 21. These youth plan

 and implement Lodge activities, service projects, publications,  annual

 budgets, and conduct troop elections upon the Scoutmaster's request. A-

 dults are crucial to the OA program's success as advisors.



 To be eligible for election to the Order of the Arrow, a Scout must:



           *  Be at least First Class rank; 

         

           *  Have at least 15 nights of camping, including a 6-day

              long-term camp;



           *  Participate in the "Ordeal" and induction ceremony.

    

      (Somewhat modified requirements apply to Explorers and adults).



                                                                       

 To alleviate lingering concerns in some quarters  regarding the ceremo-

 nial aspects of the Order of the Arrow, the BSA has officially stated:



     "The induction is not a hazing or an initiation ceremony.  The

      Order is not a secret Scout organization,  and its ceremonies

      are open to any parent,  Scout leader,  or  religious leader.

      There is an element of mystery in the ceremonies for the sake

      of its effect on the candidates.  For this reason, ceremonies

      are not put on in public. The ceremonies...are not objection-

      able to any religious group."



 Following 10 months as an "Ordeal" member, the Arrowman may participate

 in the "Brotherhood" ceremony,  which signifies the sealing of his mem-

 bership and an additional emphasis on OA ideals and purposes.



 After an additional 2 years have elapsed, exceptional OA leaders may be

 recognized by conferring of the "Vigil Honor". Generally speaking, only

 2% of the Lodge's membership may be selected each year for this highest

 of Lodge honors. A special ceremony, devised by Dr. Goodman in 1915 and

 closely based on ancient Indian traditions, culminates this experience. 

                                                                      

 All Order of the Arrow members are reminded that their primary duty al-

 ways remains to their own troop,  which elected them in the first place

 as a result of their cheerful service to their fellow unit members.  OA

 Lodge activities are intended to _supplement_, and not _replace_, troop

 activities. Probably the single most often-heard complaint directed to-

 wards the OA program is that of Arrowmen who have forgotten this cardi-

 nal principle.



 OA Lodges meet with other lodges in their sections each year and attend

 national conventions held at a major university every two years. Dr. E.

 Urner Goodman attended his last  National Order of the Arrow Conference  

 at Colorado State Univ. in 1979 where he was hailed by the 4,000 Arrow-

 men present with a thunderous standing ovation. As he spoke movingly of

 his vision in developing the Order of the Arrow as a "Thing of the Spi-

 rit" that day 64 distant years ago on the misty shores of the Delaware,

 those of us gathered in the shadows of the snow-capped Rockies realized

 that though a frail, elderly man stood before us,  yet the spirit borne

 within was truly one of eternal youth,  for as long as men value broth-

 erhood and strive to love one another.

 

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                                                            7/11/91