Trail to Brotherhood

As an Ordeal member, your focus should be on providing leadership to your home unit. After 6 months as an Ordeal member, you have the opportunity to take the next step in your membership journey and become a Brotherhood member. As a Brotherhood member, your focus should shift to now serve the lodge as well, and providing leadership on the chapter or lodge level.

Becoming a Brotherhood member publicly shows your commitment to the Order of the Arrow and its ideals. The Brotherhood Trail – your journey towards Brotherhood membership – highlights the lessons and traditions learned during the Ordeal and provides you with in depth information about continuing your involvement on the lodge and chapter level. Tschipey Achtu offers opportunities for completing the Brotherhood Trail and sealing the bonds of Brotherhood at any of our four lodge weekends, as well as at Massawepie Scout Camp during the summer.

To sign-up and seal the bond, head over to the Lodge Calendar page. Please note: your lodge dues must be paid for you to become a Brotherhood member of the Order of the Arrow.

We look forward to seeing you at one of our upcoming opportunities to seal your membership. If you have any questions, feel free to contact the Brotherhood Committee at lodge.admin@senecawaterways.org. 

1. Memorize the signs of OA Membership: 

a. Obligation 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. 

b. OA Song "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; Wimachtendienk." 

c. Admonition Never said above a whisper. If you need your memory refreshed, check with a lodge officer or your brotherhood mentor 

d. Sign of Ordeal Membership Drawing an arrow from a quiver over the left shoulder with your right arm. 

e. OA Handclasp Done with the left hand, lower two fingers interlocked. 

2. Advance in your understanding of the Ordeal: 

a. The four principal character of the Ordeal Ceremony: i. Kichkinet (Guide) -represents helpfulness & friendliness. ii. Nutiket (Guard) -represents cheerfulness. iii. Meteu (Medicine Man) -represents brotherhood & reminds us to love one another. iv. Allowat Sakima (Mighty Chief) -.represents service. 

b. The four tests of the Ordeal: i. Night Alone - to teach you self-reliance and to show that you are set apart from your fellow Scouts for something higher. ii. 24 Hours of Silence - to tum your thoughts inward to the things of the spirit. iii. Scant Food - to teach you the virtues of self-denial. d) Arduous Toil for a Day - to indicate your willingness to serve others all through your life. iv. The Arrow (as used in the Ordeal) It is a symbol of leadership. Worn pointed high over the right shoulder as an outward symbol indicating that he/she possesses the qualities of leadership that the Arrow represents. 

c. The True Name of the Order of the Arrow Wimachtendienk", Wingolauchsik, Witahemui", which means "The Brotherhood of Cheerful Service. 

3. Serve Your Unit 

a. Retain your registration in Scouting during a period of at least 6 months, strive to fulfill your obligation by continuing and expanding your service to your own Troop, Crew, or Post. 

4. Plan for Service in your Lodge 

a. Retain your registration in Tschipey Achtu Lodge and keep your dues paid. Be aware that acceptance of Brotherhood Membership involves a pledge of service to the Lodge. Develop a concrete idea of how you plan to fulfill this pledge. 

5. Review Your Progress 

a. When you earnestly feel that you have met the four challenges above, write and send a letter to our Lodge Chief, at lodge.chief@senecawaterways.org. 

In this letter please include: 

• Explain what you think the obligation means. • Describe how you have been fulfilling this Obligation in your unit and in your daily life, and how you have used your understanding of the Ordeal to aid in this service. • Describe your specific plans for continuing this service in the future. • Tell what the Order of the Arrow means to you, and why you are seeking Brotherhood Membership. A Brotherhood mentor should interview the candidate and affirm his knowledge of the Order and the Brotherhood membership requirements prior to attending the Brotherhood Saturday or at the event. The candidate will need to attend an Ordeal weekend or other pre-arranged event to complete the Brotherhood Ceremony.