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Cornerstone Conclave, "Treasure Island Tests", Working Together
The Order of the Arrow's first ceremony, the Ordeal, is based on the core principles of Brotherhood, Service, and Cheerfulness, as symbolized by ancient Lenni Lenape traditions found on Treasure Island where the Order was founded. While the details of the ceremony have evolved, the ordeal demonstrates these principles through symbolic actions that candidates perform.
The Three Tests/Principles:
• Brotherhood: This principle emphasizes unity, shared community, and the idea of working together.
• Service: This principle centers on the concept of dedicated, selfless service to others and to the Order.
• Cheerfulness: This principle highlights an attitude of joyful and willing service.
The Ordeal Experience:
The Ordeal is a period of testing for new candidates, emphasizing the core values of the Order:
• Silence: Candidates spend a period of time in silence.
• Service Work: They participate in a camp improvement project, a practical application of the service principle.
• Symbolic Acts: The ceremony involves symbolic actions that represent the three core principles.
• An example from the ceremony's early days involved candidates attempting to encircle a tree trunk with their arms.
• Then, a candidate would receive help to scale an adjacent elevation.
• Finally, the candidate would be given dry twigs and instructed to place them on the council fire. The ease with which they ignited symbolized the principle of cheerfulness.
Through these symbolic tasks and experiences, candidates come to understand and internalize the core tenets of the Order of the Arrow
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There have been 1 revisions. Last change was create on 06 Aug 2026 by Henry Birdsong
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Tsali (134A) S176