AOLceremony4

Arrow Of Light script - the Four Winds

credit: This was adapted for an indoor ceremony from the Pachachaug Lodge, Order of the Arrow. page, which was taken from the Algonquin Council Pow Wow Book by John Bemis.

credit: quotes paraphrased, BP RMS 1921

Items in parentheses are not to be read aloud.

preparation (while lights are on):

• Bridge in the center of the Hall
• one drummer in corner of Hall
• one candle lit, but separate from, the Arrow Of Light candles
• four principles (pref. Arrowmen) in kitchen.
  • Chief has coup stick
  • Medicine Man has blanket and an arrow
  • Guide has a bow and a lighter in his pocket in case the Spirit Candle goes out
  • Guard has a dream catcher
  • each should have a small flashlight and this Script
• Webelos II Den Leader(s) have script and are ready with awards.

BEGIN

Cubmaster: The Order Of The Arrow is the honor society of Boy Scout campers. Each member is elected from his troop to recognize his willingness to provide service to his troop, council, and community. Members of the Miwok Lodge are providing their service to us this evening to recognize the Webelos Scouts and their accomplishment. [Den Name] leaders, please prepare the candidates. (Pause until the Den Leaders gather the candidates and wait in a corner of the Hall, standing behind the Scouts. Den Leaders cue the Cubmaster.) Let the ceremony begin!

(Lights out!)

(Drum starts to beat, slow tempo.)

(Principles enter from the kitchen. Chief Akela enters the ceremony area, positions himself north and faces the audience with head bowed. Medicine Man enters the ceremony area carrying a blanket. He places the blanket on the bridge and positions himself east, facing the audience with his head bowed. Guide enters the ceremony area and positions himself west, facing the audience with his head bowed. Guard enters the ceremony area and positions himself south, facing the audience with his head bowed. When all are in position with their heads bowed the drum will continue to beat for a short time. The drum stops and all will raise their heads.)

Chief Akela: (raises the coup stick) I am the North Wind. People say I am cold, but to you I will always bring the warmest of winds because you have been true Cub and Webelos Scouts and have always lived up to the Law of the Pack.

Guard: (raises the dream catcher) I am the South Wind. I wish you good Scouting. Over hill and dale I have carried stories of you and your experiences. As Cub and Webelos Scouts, you have been happy, fair, and a credit to your Den and Pack.

Medicine Man: (raises the arrow) I am the East Wind. I wish you well. I have spread the story of your adventures and happiness in Cub Scouting and how you lived up to the Cub Scout Promise and were fair and helpful.

Guide: (raises the bow) I am the West Wind. I would like everyone present to know that these Webelos did not walk the Cub Scout Trail alone. Each had the wonderful help of his parents. Parents, continue to help your children to go and grow!

Guard: Chief Akela, there are some among us worthy of the highest award in Cub Scouting, the Arrow of Light.

Chief Akela: (tilts the coup stick towards Guard) My brother, seek them out that are worthy of this award and bring them before us.

Guard: It shall be done, Chief Akela.

(Drum beats slowly. Guard brings the Webelos Scouts, with the Den Leaders behind them, into the center at the north end of the Bridge. Akela raises his right hand in the Cub Scout sign. The drum stops.)

Chief Akela: Webelos Scouts, listen to the story of the arrow.

Teller 1: Once, long ago, when all the animals of the earth were equal, there was great unrest. The animals began to quarrel among themselves. The Bear quarreled with the Eagle, the Buffalo argued with the Indian. Finally, the wise old Grandmother called the animals to her teepee and she spoke to them, saying, "You have argued among yourselves about many things. Now I will ask one question. You will have one year to think about your answer. I will reward each of you according to the merit of your answer". The animals became excited because they each thought it would be easy to answer any question in a year's time. And besides, the old Grandmother was not only wise, she was also generous with her rewards. Was it not the old Grandmother that had given grass to the fields and fruit to the trees. "What is the question, Grandmother?," they asked, and she said, "You must answer me this. What is it your most important duty?" And with that they all left. The Eagle flew to the high mountain to think about the question. The Bear returned to the deep forest. The Buffalo to the grassy plains. The Indian returned to his campfire. They all began to think about their answer.

Teller 2: Thirteen moons later, they returned to the old Grandmother's teepee. Grandmother spoke first to the Eagle and said, "Eagle, what is your most important duty?" The Eagle replied, "My most important duty is to fly higher than anyone else." Grandmother said, "For that answer, I will give you feathers which will help you fly higher than anyone else." And the Eagle was very pleased with his gift. Next, the Grandmother spoke to the Buffalo and said, "Buffalo, what is your most important duty?" The Buffalo replied, "My most important duty is to run further than anyone else." Grandmother said, "For that answer, I will give you thick hooves that will allow you to run further than anyone else." And the Buffalo was very pleased with his gift. The Bear replied, "My most important duty is to be stronger than anyone else." Grandmother said, "For that answer, I will give you sharp claws that will make you the strongest animal in the forest." And the Bear was also pleased with his gift. Finally, the Indian arose and said, "Grandmother, my most important duty is to help others." Grandmother said, "For that answer, I will give you this stick." And when he saw the stick, the Indian was disappointed, for he had thought long and hard about his most important duty. "Grandmother," he said, "why do you give me a stick? Did my answer displease you?" "Oh, no," she said, "your answer pleased me greatly. All the others felt their most important duty was to themselves and they were rewarded accordingly. But you have learned that the most important duty is to help others, and you have been rewarded." But Grandmother, what can I do with this stick?" "This is more than a stick," she replied. "This is an arrow. With the arrow you can shoot the strongest Bear, the fastest Buffalo, or the Eagle, no matter how high he soars. He who would serve others is the strongest of all." And then the Indian knew that this was the greatest gift of all and he was pleased.

(The drum slowly starts after the story of the arrow is finished. Guard walks to the side of the Arrow of Light board. The drum stops.)

Guard: These seven candles represent the rays in the Arrow of Light. As they are lit, you will hear how they stand for the seven great virtues of life.

(Akela, the Medicine Man, and the Guide will state the virtues; the Guard lighting a candle as each one is named.)

Chief Akela: The first virtue is Wisdom. Wisdom does not necessarily mean superior knowledge. It means putting the right use to the knowledge that one possesses.

Medicine Man: The second virtue is Courage. Courage is not the quality that enables men to meet danger without fear, it is being able to meet danger in spite of one's fears.

Guide: The third virtue is Self-control. Self-control isn't limited to the control of one's temper, but control of one's self in all things: Eating, playing, and even working and talking.

Chief Akela: The fourth virtue is Justice. Justice is the practice of dealing fairly with others without prejudice.

Medicine Man: The fifth virtue is Faith. Faith is the conviction that something unproved by physical evidence is true. One eight-year-old Cub Scout said faith was when you turned the light switch, you knew the light would go on.

Guide: The sixth virtue is Hope. Hope means to expect with confidence. Always hope for better things to come. A man without hope is of little good to himself or his community.

Chief Akela: The seventh virtue is Love. There are many kinds of love - love of family, love of home, love of fellow man, love of God, and love of country. All these loves are necessary for a full life.

Guard: You will find that if you live by the seven great virtues, you will become a happy man, and a happy man is a successful man.

(When the Guard has finished, drum beats slowly until he returns to his place at the south.)

Chief Akela: The Arrow of Light Badge is the only Cub Scout Award that can be worn on the Boy Scout uniform and as an adult. It serves as a link between our two programs and points the way toward the new adventures that you will have in Boy Scouts.

Medicine Man: "Scouting is a game in which elder brothers," like the Boy Scouts who are here with us tonight, "can give to their younger brothers a healthy environment and encourage them to undertake healthy activities, which will help them develop citizenship, character, and fitness. Its strongest appeal is through nature and woodcraft. It deals with the individual, not with the group. It raises intellectual as well as purely physical or purely moral qualities. Happy citizenship, developed through impulse from within rather than through impression from outside, and individual efficiency encouraged and then harnessed for the good of the community - that is our scheme. And that, I trust, is what you will be taught. I am hopeful that you will go out from here and learn from these others, in and through Scouting and by their personal examples of the Scouting principles."

Guide: You have found that there were many paths leading from your set course, but your parents walked by your side, and your den leader held your hand as they lead you along the correct path in Scouting until you learned how to choose the right path among all the wrong trails. Remember always that your parents will continue to help and assist you on your Scouting path.

Guard: Now that you have completed Cub Scouts, you are at the base of a great mountain, and you see before you just the beginning of the path up the Scouting trail. Soon you will cross this bridge into the wider world of Boy Scouting. With you will go your hopes and dreams, and, as always, your parents.

Chief Akela: I wish you well as you begin this journey: Look for us along the path that you will take. For we also, seek the Eagle. You have worked to this point where you are about to become Boy Scouts. But, listen now to the wisdom of the winds.

Medicine Man: I am the spirit of the East Wind. I represent the common law, your duty to God. Trustworthy, loyal, and helpful are the qualities which a man must possess to live by the laws and the rules of this land. See that we do not lose this great blessing of a lawful land.

Guide: I am the spirit of the West Wind. I represent the law of equity, your duty to others and to your country; friendly, courteous, and kind are the laws that breathe of conscience. They create the atmosphere that comes from within your heart. The desire for you always to be a friend to those of all ages, courteous to those who pass along your trail. Don't live with the harmful spirit of unfriendliness and selfishness.

Guard: I am the spirit of the South Wind. I represent the civil law, your duty to others and to self. Obedient, cheerful, and thrifty are the characteristics of civility. A life of cheerful obedience is necessary for the development of a true citizen. Obedience is something everyone has to learn - to take orders and carry them out cheerfully. Real thrift means earning, spending wisely, and saving, and to share with those less fortunate.

Chief Akela: I am the spirit of the North Wind, the most powerful of all. I represent the divine law. Brave, clean, reverent. To be brave is to be unselfish. To be clean in body and soul is to be pure at heart. Cast from your being any evil spirit that tries to weaken or destroy the divine law, living a life of reverence. Be brave and clean.

(Drum starts beating slowly.)

(All four principles approach from their sides of the Hall. Guard walks over to the Arrow of Light and blows out the seven rays candles. Medicine Man folds the blanket. The drum stops. Each principle steps forward and addresses the Webelos Scouts. After each speaks the phrase, he "disappears" through the Troop into the kitchen.)

Medicine Man: Remember the common law. Trustworthy. Loyal. Helpful.

Guide: Remember the law of equity. Friendly. Courteous. Kind.

Guard: Remember the civil law. Obedient. Cheerful. Thrifty.

Chief Akela: Remember the divine law, the most powerful of all. Brave. Clean. Reverent.

(The Spirit Candle remains lit, the principles have all left, ending their portion of the ceremony.)

Teller 1: We now call upon the Great Spirit of all for His blessing upon these young Scouts. May these Scouts always strive to attain the noblest and highest ideals in life. Be their strength and guide. Cause them to follow a straight trail and to never be a reason for other Scouts to waiver from the path. Protect them for many moons to come.

(Blow out the Spirit Candle. Lights come on.)

Den Leader 1: [names of those receiving the Arrow Of Light], come forward, with your parents.

(Den) Leader 2: Before this honor is conferred upon you, I must see your devotion to the high ideals of Scouting. Therefore, I ask you and the Boy Scouts to all now raise your right hand to the Scout sign and repeat with me the Scout Oath.

(Arrow-Of-Light recipients and Boy Scouts raise right hand in the sign of the Boy Scout and recite the Scout Oath.)

Leader 1: Having met all of its challenges, it is our duty and privilege to award to you the highest Cub Scout honor: the Arrow of Light. (Give to each of the Cubs receiving the Arrow the card with the parents pin attached thereto.) On your card there is a parent's pin. Please pin that on one of your parents. (addressing parents) Because of the support and guidance you have given, I give the Arrow of Light to you to present. (Gives the Arrow of Light patches to the parents.)

(Omit if not done or change if different. Previous ones are listed here.) It is tradition for the Den Leader to present a token of rememberance of this occasion.

• This has the adult leader's knot pasted to it. The Arrow Of Light is carried throughout your life; may the skills you learned guide you therethrough. As a boy, you will wear the Arrow on your uniform. As a man, it is worn in the form of a square knot above your right pocket. May this knot be on your uniform when you guide your sons through Scouting.
• This photo was taken east of Gilroy on the winter solstice. It has the sun setting over Mt. Madonna, where we hold our annual Pack campout. Gilroy is in the foreground, where our Pack is based. The Arrow Of Light is superimposed thereon. On the back I have written a note to each of you.

(presents token)

(If not all Cubs are crossing into Boy Scouts, at this point have them all take their seats.)

Leader 3: Will those Cub Scouts who are crossing into Boy Scouts come forward. (Have them form a line approaching the bridge.)

Leader 2: This ceremony marks an end of a journey. But as this journey ends, another is just beginning. Here at the summit of Cub Scouting you have found the start of a new trail. This trail is a pathway that leads to the realm of our brothers in the sky, the Eagles.

Leader 3: But the trail will also be long and difficult. As you journey, you must keep the spirit of Akela strong within each of you. It will give you strength and guidance as you move onward.

(The Scout troop takes position on the other side of the bridge.)

Den Leader 1: The time has come for you to begin on this new trail, to join the clan of the eagles: The Scout Troop. Each of you are about to cross the bridge.

Leader 3: As the night is a bridge between each day, let this be a bridge for each of you to the fellowship of Scouting. Your Troop Guide will address you. (Troop Guide addresses the group.)

(Boy Scouts remove the Cub Scout neckerchiefs, blue shoulder tabs, and caps and place them into bags.)

Leader 2: The Cub Scout articles are put away, but never forgotten.

(One at a time, the names are called by a Boy Scout to cross the bridge. Boy Scouts present them with their cap, handbook, green shoulder tabs, and neckerchief. All Boy Scouts shake hands using the ceremonial Scout Handshake.)

Leader 2: I will close by reminding you to keep Akela's spirit alive. Let it ignite a spark within each of you that will fan into a fire as you grow. We challenge all the Cub Scouts present to continue on your trail and strive to reach the summit, the Arrow of Light. May the Great Master of all Scouts be with you until we meet again.