The Brotherhood Honor

Brotherhood questioning takes place at the Fall Reunion and the Spring Conclave. At that time, be sure to have your Brotherhood fee as well as your Statement of Rededication with you.

Below, you will find some questions and answers for the Brotherhood Honor:

1. Q. What is the name of the initial membership in the Order of the Arrow?
A. Ordeal membership.
2. Q. Why is it so called?
A. Because it is preceded by a fourfold Ordeal.
3. Q. What are the four parts of this Ordeal and their respective purposes?
A. A night of camping alone under the heavens to prove my self-reliance; a day of
arduous toil to indicate my willingness to serve others; 24 hours of scant food to
demonstrate my power of self-denial; and a like period of silence to turn my
thoughts inward.
4. Q. How were you prepared for the Ordeal?
A. I was led by Kichkinet to the north end of the camp where the significance of the
Arrow was first revealed as I tested the bow.
5. Q. When you had completed the Ordeal, how were you dealt with?
A. I was placed on the trail which leads to the circle of the lodge.
6. Q. By whom were you first stopped as you approached the circle?
A. By Nutiket, the guard, who asked if I had passed the Ordeal without
flinching.
7. Q. Who next barred your further progress?
A. Meteu, who inquired if I had been given the admonition.
8. Q. Had you been given the admonition?
A. I had not, but Kichkinet, my guide had and gave it for me.
9. Q. Before whom did you then at last arrive?
A. Before Allowat Sakima, the chief of the Fire, who asked if I had been completely
prepared to receive the Obligation.
10. Q. What was Kichkinet’s reply to this inquiry?
A. Only in the binding of them together.
11. Q. How did Kichkinet call the attention of each of these officers to
your presense?
A. By three taps of the hand upon the right shoulder.
12. Q. What did these three taps signify?
A. The three parts of the Scout Oath of Promise.
13. Q. How did each of the officers respond to Kichkinet’s taps?
A. By one tap, followed by two taps, on the right shoulder.
14. Q. What did these taps represent?
A. The 12 points of the Scout Law.
15. Q. How were you and your companions bound together?
A. By a rope, which until we took the Obligation, represented our tie to the
Brotherhood.
16. Q. How was your preparation for the Obligation completed?
A. Nutiket directed me to hold my right hand at the Scout sign and repeat the
Obligation after Allowat Sakima.
17. Q. Repeat the Obligation.
A. I _____________________, do hereby promise on my honor as a Scout, that I will
always and faithfully observe and preserve the traditions of the Order of the Arrow,
Wimachtendienk, Wingolauchsik, Witahemui, I will always regard the ties of
brotherhood in the Order of the Arrow as lasting, and will seek to preserve a
cheerful spirit even in the midst of irksome tasks and weighty responsibilities, and
will endeavor, so far as in my power lies, to be unselfish in service and devotion to
the welfare of others.
18. Q. In what did Meteu then instruct you?
A. In the legend upon which our Order is founded.
19. Q. Who are the central figures of that legend?
A. The aged chieftain, Chingachgook, and his son, Uncas, who by their cheerful and
self-sacrificing service are said to have saved the Delaware lodges from annihilation.
20. Q. What did Allowat Sakima then impart to you?
A. The symbol and handclasp of the Order, the admonition, and the sign of Ordeal
membership.
21. Q. What is the symbol of the Order?
A. The arrow, whose undeviating course when aimed high is a token of leadership.
22. Q. How is it worn?
A. Pointing over the right shoulder.
23. Q. Give me the handclasp of our Order.
A. (Give it.)
24. Q. How must the admonition always be given?
A. Whispered in the ear.
25. Q. What is the admonition?
A. (Give it.)
26. Q. What does it mean?
A. To love one another.
27. Q. What is the sign of the Ordeal?
A. (Give it.)
28. Q. What is the full name of our Order?
A. Wimachtendienk, Wingolauchsik, Witahemui
29. Q. In what language is it given?
A. In the language of the Delaware Indians, the Lenni Lenape.
30. Q. Give the words of (or sing) the song of the Order. link
A. Firm bound in brotherhood, gather the clan,
That cheerful service brings to fellow man.
Circle our council fire, weld tightly every link,
That binds us in brotherhood, Wi-mach-ten-dienk