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 S756 
 
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RITUAL 
 
 OF THE 
 
 SOCIETY OF VETERANS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 REGULAR ARMY AND NAVY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 UNITED STATES. 
 
 ) 
 
 I With an Atpendix containinc; the Rules and Regulations 
 
 Governing Commands. 
 
 [Official Edition, as adopted by the Board of Trustees.] 
 
 published by the author, 
 
 ALEXANDER B. BUTTS, Commander in-Chief. 
 
 Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year i888, in the office of the 
 Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 
 
 P. F. McBREEN, Printer, 01 Beekman Street, New York. 
 

DIAGRAM OF COMMAND ROOM. 
 
 1st Sergt. 
 
 Captain. Com. Srgt. Qm. Skgt. 
 
 
 2d Srgt. 
 
 
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 2d Lt. 
 
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 3d Srgt. 
 
 
 1st Lt. 1st Cori'i.. 
 1 1 
 
 2d Corpl. 
 
 Copyright, i888, by 
 
 ALEXANDER B. 15UTTS, 
 
 Commander-in-Chief. 
 
OPENING CEREMONIES. 
 
 At the proper time, the Captain of the Command will give three raps 
 and then give the command. Attention ! 
 
 He will then direct the Guard to tak*e their places and the outer door to 
 be closed, the Third Sergeant on the inside and in charge, the First Cor- 
 poral on the inside and the Second Corporal on the outside of the door; 
 after this is done and the Command room properly guarded, the Third 
 Sergeant will stand at attention, salute, and say : 
 
 Captain, All's well ! 
 
 The Captain will acknowledge the salute, address the Second Ser- 
 geant, and say : 
 
 Second Sergeant, are the officers of this Command pres- 
 ent and in their proper stations ? 
 If they are, he will salute, and say : 
 Captain, they are. 
 If they are not, he will salute, and say : 
 Captain, they are, except {naming theni). 
 The Captain will fill the vacancies/;'!? tetn, and say : 
 
 The Second and Third Sergeants will take up our 
 countersign from all persons present and report to these 
 Head-quarters. 
 
 When satisfactory, the Captain will say : 
 
 The countersign is correct and duly received at these 
 Head-quarters. 
 
 He will then give the command : 
 
 Command, salute ! 
 
 Acknowledges the salute, and says : 
 
 Officers and comrades, once more we meet in Loyalty, 
 Integrity and Obedience. 
 
I now declare Command, No. — of the Society of 
 
 Veterans of the Regular Army and Navy of the United 
 States, duly opened and in order for business. 
 
 Gives one rap with the gavel and the Command will be seated. He 
 then says : 
 
 The first business in order will be the reading of 
 
 1. First Sergeant's report. 
 
 2. Quartermaster Sergeant's report of funds in hand, 
 
 which must be entered by the First Sergeant on 
 his minutes. 
 
 3. Reading of Orders. 
 
 4. Propositions and reference of applications for mem- 
 
 bership. 
 
 5. Reports of Committees on applications for member- 
 
 ship. 
 
 6. Election of new members. 
 
 7. Mustering in. 
 
 8. Reports of Committees. 
 
 9. Unfinished business. 
 
 10. New business. 
 
 1 1. Collection of dues. 
 
 12. Commissary Sergeant's report of receii)ts of the 
 
 evening, which must be entered by the First Ser- 
 geant in full and itemized on his minutes. 
 
 13. Closing ceremonies. 
 
 CLOSING CEREMONIES. 
 
 The Captain will say : 
 
 If there is no further business to come before this Com- 
 mand, I now declare Command, No. — , closed until 
 
 our next regular meeting, unless sooner convened by order. 
 
 No one shall be admitted during the opening, muster in or closing 
 ceremonies, nor while the First Sergeant is reading his report. 
 
MUSTER IN CEREMONIES. 
 
 When the order of business of " mustering in " is reached, the Captain 
 will say : 
 
 Second Sergeant {tuJio rises in his place, stands at attention, 
 and salutes), you will ascertain if there is a comrade in 
 waiting for muster, and report to these Head-quarters. 
 
 The Second Sergeant, after ascertaining whether there is a comrade in 
 waiting ornot, will advance to the centre of the room, stand at attention, 
 salute, and if there is a comrade in waiting, will say : 
 
 Captain, I find in waiting and ready for muster, comrade 
 
 The Captain will then turn to the First Sergeant, and say": 
 
 First Sergeant {ic/io rises in his place, stands at attention, 
 and salutes), has this comrade been regularly elected to 
 membership in this Command ? 
 
 The First Sergeant will answer in accordance with the facts, and if he 
 answers, " Captain, he has," the Captain will turn to the Commissary 
 Sergeant and say : 
 
 Commissary Sergeant {who rises ifi his place, stands at 
 attention, and salutes), have you received the required initia- 
 tion fee of this comrade ? 
 
 The Commissary Sergeant will answer in accordance with the facts, 
 and if he answers, "Captain, I have," the Captain will say : 
 
 Second Sergeant {who has remained standing in the centre 
 of the room), you will j^resent comrade to these Head- 
 quarters for muster. 
 
 The Second Sergeant salutes and then accompanied by the comrade for 
 muster, again advances to the centre of the room, facing the Captain, 
 salutes and says : 
 
 Captain, by your direction, I present to you comrade 
 
 who has been found worthy of admission to our ranks and 
 now awaits your orders. 
 
 The Captain will then say : 
 
 Comrade it is with pleasure that I welcome you into 
 
 this Command. Your recommendations have convinced us 
 
8 
 
 that you merit the honor we confer and are worthy the re- 
 si)onsible trust with which we are about to invest you . The 
 objects for which we are associated together, are to unite in 
 social fellowship and fraternal intercourse all persons of 
 good moral character, who have served in and who have been 
 honorably discharged from the Regular Service of the 
 United States, to provide for the support and maintenance 
 of its members, during illness, to assist them in distress and 
 to secure their proper, orderly and decent interment in 
 case of death, and to provide for such of their widows and 
 orplians as sliall be in needy and destitute circumstances, 
 to perpetuate the memory of the glorious and patriotic 
 deeds of the Army and Navy of the United States and to 
 inculcate and cherish a feeling of Loyalty, Integrity and 
 Obedience to the princij'jles of the Constitution and the 
 laws of our Country. 
 
 If you are willing to join us in this pleasing work, you 
 will raise your right hand, and say : 
 
 " I {^pronounce your tiame in full, and repeat after me 
 the following obligation), in tlie presence of Almighty 
 God, and these comrades assembled, do solemnly promise 
 that I will support the Constitution of the United States 
 and bear true allegiance to the National Government ; 
 that I will maintain and defend the sovereignty of the 
 United States, paramount to any and all allegiance, 
 sovereignty or fealty I may owe to any state, county 
 or country whatsoever ; and that I will at all times obey the 
 legal officers, and the Constitution, laws, rules, regulations 
 and orders governing the Society of Veterans of the Regular 
 Army and Navy of the United States and the By-Laws of 
 any Command of which I may be a member. 
 
 " I further j)romise that I will at all times, and to the best 
 of my ability, observe and carry out the business and objects 
 of said Society ; and this obligation I voluntarily assume 
 and promise to fulfill, upon my honor as a man and a 
 comrade." 
 
It is well, we cheerfully accept the pledge you make us. 
 We share with you in this covenant and do now receive you 
 into this command. 
 
 Comrade , we hail with true pleasure your coming 
 
 among us. The great work in which we are engaged is 
 sufificient for us all and we shall rejoice to find you ex- 
 celling in your zeal that of the most devoted members of 
 our Society. 
 
 The responsibilities of our Society rest lightly upon the 
 faithful, and we trust that you will bear them with that 
 meekness and grace, which is found only with the good and 
 true. Our motto is Loyalty, Integrity and Obedience. 
 
 Loyalty to our God, our country, and our country's 
 
 banner. 
 With Integrity, act towards a comrade and in no other 
 
 manner. 
 While Obedience to the laws of our own making is a 
 
 pleasure. 
 The L. I. O. are symbols meant to be a treasure. 
 
 The Second Sergeant will now invest you with our grip 
 and countersign. 
 
 After this is done, the Captain will say : 
 
 Our salute is the ordinary soldier's salute now used in 
 active service, and is given in this manner : 
 
 Raise the right hand smartly, pointing in the same direc- 
 tion as the right foot, the palm of the hand down, the 
 thumb close to the forefinger, the arm extended and hori- 
 zontal. (2.) Bring the right hand around till the point of 
 the thumb and side of the forefinger touch the lower edge 
 of the ca;) or visor, at the same time turn the head a little 
 to the left, look toward the person to be saluted, and retain 
 this position till the salute is acknowledged. (3.) Bring 
 back the hand and arm to the position of the first motion, 
 at the same time cast the eyes to the front. (4.) Drop the 
 arm quickly by the side. — Uptons Tactics. 
 
If you wish to obtain admission to a command, while in 
 session, you will present yourself at the outer door and give 
 the Second Corporal our countersign, he will then report 
 your presence to the First Corporal, and when satisfactory, 
 the door will be opened and you will be admitted. 
 
 Upon entering or retiring from a command room, while 
 in session, you will advance to the centre of the room, face 
 the Captain, stand at attention and salute, wait until your 
 salute is acknowledged, then take your seat or retire, as the 
 case rnay require. 
 
 If you wish to address the Command, while in session, 
 you will rise, stand at attention, and salute, at the same 
 time say, " Captain," then wait until recognized ; when 
 recognized, the Captain will acknowledge your salute, give 
 one rap of the gavel and call you by name ; you will then 
 be entitled to the floor and at liberty to speak. 
 
 Our sign of recognition is given in this manner: When 
 meeting a comrade in the street, or elsewhere, you will 
 salute ; if recognized, the comrade will acknowledge your 
 salute by a firm clasp of the right hand, at the same time 
 he will say, "comrade." 
 
 The gavel is used thus : Two raps call up the officers ; 
 three raps call up the Command ; one rap seats them or 
 calls to order. 
 
 The Second Sergeant will now conduct you to the First 
 Sergeant's desk, where you will sign the By-Laws of this 
 Command ; after which you will be re-conducted lo these 
 Head-quarters. 
 
 Upon the comrade being again presented, he will be conducted to a 
 position close to and immediately in front of the Head-quarters, instead 
 of the centre of the room as before, the Second Sergeant will then salute, 
 and say : 
 
 Captain, I again present to you comrade , who has 
 
 signed the By-Laws of this Command and now awaits your 
 orders. 
 
The Captain will give the command, About, Face ! (the Second 
 Sergeant and comrade about face) then the Captain calls up the entire 
 Command by three raps of the gavel, and says : 
 
 Officers and members of Command, No. — , of the 
 
 Society of Veterans of the Regular Army and Navy of the 
 
 United States, I present to you comrade , who is now 
 
 a member of this Command. You will join with me in 
 giving; him a soldier's welcome. 
 The Captain will give the command : 
 Command, Right, Face ; Forward, March I 
 The Second Sergeant will leave his position at the side of the new 
 comrade, take the floor and act as Master of Ceremonies, the officers and 
 members close up, with 13 inches from belly to back, form a circle, the 
 First Lieutenant leading and the Second Lieutenant last, march around 
 the room in front of the new comrade, singing something familiar, as a 
 greeting, and as they reach the comrade, give him a hearty and cordial 
 shake of the hand. After the last one shall have passed the new com- 
 rade, the Captain gives the comm.and : 
 Command, Halt ; Left, Face ! 
 
 The Second Sergeant will then see that the comrades are properly 
 aligned in a circle, facing inwards, leaving a space on each side of the 
 new comrade for the Captain and the Second Sergeant to enter. The 
 Second Sergeant then takes a position in the circle on the right of the 
 new comrade. The Captain then enters the circle on the left of the new 
 comrade, thus completing the circle, all join hands, and the Captain, 
 or some one designated for that purpose, makes the following prayer : 
 
 Source of all wisdom, truth and love, grant to us that in 
 the reception of this comrade, we may add strength to our 
 strength and grace to our grace. Oh, may the golden 
 chain thus lengthened become the brighter for this link and 
 be strengthened for the great work we do. Enlarge our 
 powers to benefit mankind and honor Thee, our God. 
 And when one by one each link shall fall away in death, may 
 the parting be temporary and the meeting eternal, in the 
 world where death comes not, may we realize the full hap- 
 piness of loving and serving Thee forever. Amen. 
 
After the prayer, something familiar may be sung ; " Nearer my God, 
 to Thee," would be appropriate ; at the conclusion, the Captain will re- 
 sume his station, seat the Command by giving one rap of the gavel and 
 proceed with the next order of business. 
 
 Should there be more than one comrade in waiting for muster, all 
 will be mustered together, using the plural instead of the singular. 
 
 INSTALLATION OF THE OFFICERS OF 
 A COMMAND. 
 
 The officers of the Command having been duly elected, and the 
 proper time having arrived, an officer of not lower than the rank of 
 Captain will proceed to the duty of installing the officers elected into 
 their respective stations. The installing officer will appoint a Sergeant 
 to assist him, and say : 
 
 Oflficers and Comrades : I am now prepared to install 
 into their respective stations the officers of this Command. 
 Sergeant, you will present the officers elect to these Head- 
 quarters for installation. 
 
 The officers are arranged by the Sergeant in a line in front of and 
 facing the Headquarters, -the Captain on the right, the First Lieutenant 
 ne.xt, and so on according to rank. The Sergeant will then address the 
 installing officer by his official title, and say : 
 
 The officers elect of this Command are in order before 
 you and await your orders. 
 
 The installing officer will then say : 
 
 Comrades, you liave been elected to fill the different 
 offices of this command for the ensuing year, but before 
 entering upon the discharge of your duties, it will be 
 necessary for you to take an obligation for their faithful 
 performance. If you are willing to take such an obligation, 
 you will raise your right hand, say I, repeat your name in 
 full and say : do solemnly pledge my honor as a man and a 
 comrade, in the presence of Almighty God and of this 
 Command, that I will, to the best of my ability, faithfully 
 and impartially perform all the duties incumbent on the 
 office to which I have been selected, that I will conform to 
 
13 
 
 the charter, laws, rules, regulations and orders of the 
 National Head-quarters and of my superior officers, and in 
 every way within my power, assist in carrying out the objects 
 and business, and in extending the usefulness of the Society 
 of Veterans of the Regular Army and Navy of the United 
 States. 
 
 Drop hands to the side and the installing officer will say : 
 
 Sergeant, you will conduct the Captain to these Head- 
 quarters, and the other officers to their different stations. 
 
 The Captain having been conducted to Head quarters and placed at 
 the right of the installing officer, and the other officers to their stations, 
 the installing officer will call up the Command, by giving three raps with 
 the gavel, face the Captain, and say : 
 
 Captain, I now present you with this gavel, emblem of 
 your authority, and as no one should disobey it, I confidently 
 hope. that you will never use it in an arbitrary or dictatorial 
 manner, remembering that we should charitably temper 
 justice with equity. 
 
 The officers' salute is : First motion. Raise the right hand 
 till the tips of the fingers touch the visor opposite the right 
 eye, the thumb closed, the fingers and hand extended in 
 prolongation of the forearm, the elbow down. Second 
 motion. Lower the hand briskly and to the right till the 
 point of the fingers are at the height of the shoulder and in 
 front of it, the elbow advancing slightly, the hand and fin- 
 gers still extended in prolongation of the forearm. Third 
 motion. Drop the hand by tlie side. — Uptons Tactics. 
 
 The installing officer and the Captain will then face the command, 
 and the installing officer will give the command, " Command, Sah'TE," 
 then pass the gavel to the Captain. The installing officer will then say : 
 
 By the power in me vested, I proclaim the officers of this 
 Command regularly elected and installed for the ensuing 
 year. 
 
 The Captain w'lVt then pass to his station, acknowledge the salute, 
 and with one rap of the gavel seat the command. 
 
14 
 
 RULES AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING 
 COMMANDS. 
 
 1 . — A Command may be formed by the Commander-in-Chief, with 
 the approval of the Board of Trustees, on the written application of 
 not less than five persons eligible to membership in the Society of 
 Veterans, upon the payment of five dollars. 
 
 Command charters may be surrendered voluntarily when less than five 
 members desire the continuance of the Command. 
 
 The first Sergeant and the (^uartermaster's-Sergeant of each Com- 
 mand shall, through the Captain, make a quarterly return on the first 
 days of January, April, July and October, on blanks furnished by the 
 Board of Trustees. The First Sergeant's return shall be made to the 
 Adjutant-General, and the Quartermaster's-Sergeant's return shall be 
 made to the Quartermaster-General. 
 
 Commands shall be' assessed a per capita tax not exceeding tifty cents 
 per annum on each and every member in good standing therein. Such 
 tax shall be forwarded to the (^uartermaster-Cieneral in quarterly install- 
 ments, with the quarterly return, on the first days of-January, April, 
 July and October. 
 
 2. — In case of surrender or forfeiture of a Charter, the property of the 
 Command, including books of record and papers, shall be immediately 
 turned over to the Quartermaster-General and become subject to the dis- 
 position of the Board of Trustees. 
 
 3. — Every application for membership to a Command must be made 
 upon the form of application blanks furnished by the Board of Trustees. 
 
 4. — Stated meetings of each Command must be at least monthly. 
 Special meetings may be convened by order of the Captain or at the 
 written request of five members in good standing. At all meetings five 
 members in good standing shall constitute a quorum for the transaction 
 of business. 
 
 S. — Officers of a Command shall be a Captain, First and Second Lieu- 
 tenants, (Quartermaster and Commissary-Sergeants, First, Second and 
 Third Sergeants, and First and Second Corporals, to be elected by a 
 majority vote at the first regular meeting in December of each year, 
 under the order of new business, except the First Sergeant, who shall be 
 appointed by the Captain on the evening of his installation. 
 
'5 
 
 6. — The officers shall be installed at the same or next regular meeting 
 following their election, under the order of new business, and shall hold 
 office until their successors are elected and installed. All vacancies in 
 office shall be filled at the next regular meeting succeeding such vacancy, 
 but such election shall be only for the unexpired term. 
 
 7. — The Captain shall preside at all meetings and appoint all standing 
 committees. He shall not vote upon any question, except in case of a 
 tie vote, when his vote shall decide the question without debate; he shall 
 also be entitled to vote on the election of officers. 
 
 8. — During the absence of the Captain, the First Lieutenant shall take 
 command, and during the absence of Captain and First Lieutenant the 
 Second Lieutenant shall take command. If neither of them are present, 
 the Command shall elect a Captain pro tempore. 
 
 9. — The First Sergeant shall be the Recording Secretary, and shall 
 keep a correct roll of the Command, make a record of all receipts and 
 disbursements, and of all business transacted at meetings and perform 
 such other duties as appertain to his office and as the Captain may direct. 
 If the First Sergeant shall be unable to attend any meeting, he shall 
 send such books and papers as may be necessary for the transaction of 
 business to the Command meeting, and the Commissary-Sergeant shall 
 act in his place during his absence. 
 
 1 O. — The Commissary-Sergeant shall be the Financial Secretary, 
 keep an account with each comrade, and shall be present with his books 
 at all regular meetings; he shall receive all monies and pay the same to 
 the Quartermaster's-Sergeant, and take his receipt therefor; notify all 
 members in arrears, and he shall perform the duties of the First Sergeant 
 during his absence. 
 
 1 1 . — The Quartermaster's-Sergeant shall be the Treasurer and the 
 custodian of all monies and property belonging to the Command; pay all 
 bills duly audited and authorized; keep a correct account of the same and 
 submit such accounts for inspection and examination whenever required 
 to do so by the Captain or the Command. He shall not pay out any 
 money except upon a draft signed by the Captain and First Sergeant, 
 and approved by a vote of two-thirds of the members present entitled to 
 vote at any regular meeting. He shall give a bond in such an amount 
 as the Command may require. 
 
 12. — The Second Sergeant shall prepare and conduct all Canilidates 
 for muster. Contluct visiting comrades and with the Third Sergeant 
 take the countersign at the opening of the Command meeting. 
 
i6 
 
 1 3. — The Third Sergeant shall act as the Sergeant of the Guard at 
 the door, report the names of persons applying for admission to, and 
 admit no one without orders from, Head-quarters, and with the Second 
 Sergeant take the countersign at the opening of the meeting. 
 
 14. — The First Corpora] shall guard the door on the inside and re- 
 port to the Third Sergeant all persons applying for admission, and 
 await his orders before admitting them. 
 
 1 5. — The Second Corporal shall guard the door on the outside and 
 receive all persons applying for admission and report the same to the 
 First Corporal. 
 
 1 6. — Commands may adopt By-Laws for their government not in- 
 consistent with these Rules and Regulations, Charter of the Society 
 and Orders from competent authority, and may alter or amend the same, 
 provided, however, that all Command By-Laws and Amendments must 
 be first approved by the Commander-in-Chief before taking effect. 
 
 By Command of 
 
 [official.] ALEXANDER B. BUTTS, 
 
 Com iitaiidtr-iii-C /lief. 
 
 A. J. Far.mek, 
 
 Adjutant- General. 
 
 Dated — 
 Headquarters Society of Veterans of the Regular 
 Army and Navy of the United States, New 
 York Citv, September i8, i888. 
 
LIBRftRY OF CONGRESS 
 
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