Honored Traditions of ESA
Pledge Lesson Number 1
The basics of ESA are very simple to learn and speak to the heart of ESA and its traditions. It is fitting that your lessons begin with how we start and finish each meeting. These rituals speak to the core values of our membership.
The Pledge Master will contact your Chapter President at the end of your 6 month lesson period to determine if you have learned the opening & closing ritual. Or the Chapter President and/or pledge sponsor can contact the pledge master to let her know that this task has been accomplished. This will signal the successful completion of lesson 1. The pledge can ask that the President/Sponsor do this at any time they are ready to signal the completion of this lesson. In the mean time you will proceed with the next lessons and finish them in your own time frame.
As a new member of ESA - you will be going through a 6 months pledge period where you will learn about ESA before you become a full-fledged member of ESA. This pledge period begins with you receiving half of your pin. It is a small lamp pin which is symbolic of "learning."
You will receive the remainder of your pin combination after your pledge period at what we call the "Jewell Pin Ceremony". After receiving that you are no longer classified as a pledge. Since you have signed up for the Pledge lessons, At the end of this period you will receive a "certificate of completion" and be ready to receive your Jewel Pin.
As a new member of ESA, It is important to develop a connection with what we do - how we operate - and what are the basic values of ESA. We hope that you will find it informative as well as useful to learn about ESA.
These lessons are kept short so you don't have a lot of information to absorb all at one time. There will be times when you will need to read from your "IDEALS" book and report back with an answer. You can access the "Ideals" booklet at this location or the ESA website.
Pledge lesson #1 has to do with the opening and closing rituals of ESA. We begin and end each of our meetings with these verses. These relate the important ideals of your chapter and organization.
They speak of kindness for each other and our goals of loyalty, continuous education for our self-improvement and service. Our members have said them enough that we know them by heart and we'd like for you to be able to do that as well. It gets easier as you go along and if you need to read it out of the book at meetings we don't mind that either until you can recite them from memory.
There are several versions of the opening and closing rituals but these are the main two that are used. We can even make up our own opening and closing rituals. It is recommended that you check with your chapter to see which opening and closing they use and learn that ritual to memorize. These are the rituals that are currently used at state functions. Slowly, but surely, we are moving toward making our ceremonies and rituals more inclusive of men and more nonspecific in gender. ESA is also working toward taking out the word "sorority" in reference to ESA, but each chapter is encourage to reflect what they are the most comfortable with so it will take time to make these changes. Begin now to learn these short verses. Hopefully by the end of your pledge training you will be able to repeat these from memory.
The Pledge Master will contact your Chapter President at the end of your 6 month lesson period to determine if you have learned the opening & closing ritual. Or the Chapter President and/or pledge sponsor can contact the pledge master to let her know that this task has been accomplished. This will signal the successful completion of lesson 1. The pledge can ask that the President/Sponsor do this at any time they are ready to signal the completion of this lesson. In the mean time you will proceed with the next lessons and finish them in your own time frame.
As a new member of ESA - you will be going through a 6 months pledge period where you will learn about ESA before you become a full-fledged member of ESA. This pledge period begins with you receiving half of your pin. It is a small lamp pin which is symbolic of "learning."
You will receive the remainder of your pin combination after your pledge period at what we call the "Jewell Pin Ceremony". After receiving that you are no longer classified as a pledge. Since you have signed up for the Pledge lessons, At the end of this period you will receive a "certificate of completion" and be ready to receive your Jewel Pin.
As a new member of ESA, It is important to develop a connection with what we do - how we operate - and what are the basic values of ESA. We hope that you will find it informative as well as useful to learn about ESA.
These lessons are kept short so you don't have a lot of information to absorb all at one time. There will be times when you will need to read from your "IDEALS" book and report back with an answer. You can access the "Ideals" booklet at this location or the ESA website.
Pledge lesson #1 has to do with the opening and closing rituals of ESA. We begin and end each of our meetings with these verses. These relate the important ideals of your chapter and organization.
They speak of kindness for each other and our goals of loyalty, continuous education for our self-improvement and service. Our members have said them enough that we know them by heart and we'd like for you to be able to do that as well. It gets easier as you go along and if you need to read it out of the book at meetings we don't mind that either until you can recite them from memory.
There are several versions of the opening and closing rituals but these are the main two that are used. We can even make up our own opening and closing rituals. It is recommended that you check with your chapter to see which opening and closing they use and learn that ritual to memorize. These are the rituals that are currently used at state functions. Slowly, but surely, we are moving toward making our ceremonies and rituals more inclusive of men and more nonspecific in gender. ESA is also working toward taking out the word "sorority" in reference to ESA, but each chapter is encourage to reflect what they are the most comfortable with so it will take time to make these changes. Begin now to learn these short verses. Hopefully by the end of your pledge training you will be able to repeat these from memory.
To begin each ritual the group stands - forms a circle - clasps hands
and repeats the rituals together.
and repeats the rituals together.
Opening Ritual
Members of Epsilon Sigma Alpha, we meet again to pledge ourselves anew to the vows of our ritual, which we accepted in the golden glow of a candle lighted room. Let us be ever mindful of the responsibilities we pledge to our membership, keep faith with ourselves and our members, be tolerant and sincere and ever worthy to wear the badge that symbolizes virtue, honor, truthfulness, friendliness and loveliness.
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Closing Ritual
Eternal Father, master of all good works, guide and direct us that we may remain steadfast in our hearts and faithful to our pledge. May we be reminded that graciousness poise and friendliness are our goals; and as we go our separate ways to ever hold aloft the ray from the lamp of learning that those who follow may be guided by its light.
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As a result of the inclusion of men into our organization the ceremonies like the opening and closing ritual have been rewritten to be more inclusive. Please note these changes in Lesson One. The organization's pins and merchandise are also starting to reflect these changes as well. In 2010 they began to present different non-gender specific opening and closing rituals at the IC Convention. These are featured below:
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OPENING RITUAL:
Members of Epsilon Sigma Alpha, we meet again to pledge ourselves anew to the vows of our ritual, which we accepted in the golden glow of a candle lighted room. Let us be ever mindful of the responsibilities we pledge to our organization, keep faith with ourselves and our members; be tolerant and sincere, and every worthy to wear the badge that symbolizes virtue, honor, truthfulness and friendliness. |
CLOSING RITUAL: Here as we close, may we guide and direct each other so that we remain steadfast in our hearts and faithful to our pledge. May we be reminded of our goals, and as we go our separate ways, may we hold aloft the ray from the lamp of learning that those who follow in our footsteps may be guided by its light.
OR Another version CLOSING RITUAL: Eternal Father, master of all good works, guide and direct us that we may remain steadfast in our hearts and faithful to our pledge. May we be reminded that graciousness, poise, and friendliness are our goals: and as we go our separate ways, to ever hold aloft the ray from the lamp of learning that those who follow in our footsteps may be guided by its light. |