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First Philmont OA Trek

The Order went trekking beginning in 1985 as Scouting’s “honor camper society” took on the pinnacle of high adventure – Philmont Scout Ranch with the first of two OA Philmont Treks. Over a four day period as part of the National Planning Meeting held in Euless, Texas, in December 1984 the Section Chiefs selected five trek vice chiefs and laid the foundation for the first OA Trek to be held Aug. 11-20, 1985, with an anticipated 1,200 trekkers. Besides the selection of the Trek Vice-Chiefs, the theme was chosen – “Ponder That Which Is Our Purpose” and the patch was designed.

Some 1,182 Arrowmen took part in a series of four-day treks held in two sessions over a 10-day period of time. After a typical Philmont shakedown and orientation Arrowmen hit the trails. Along the trail OA staff members called “purpose developers” met the trekking Arrowmen and led informal discussions on selected subjects. Arrowmen also participated in an all-day rendezvous held at Cimarroncito, Miranda and twice at Beubien. Participants received both the special OA Trek arrowhead patch and the OA Philmont Trek patch during the closing campfires.

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Co-Founder Edson 1891-1986

On October 25, 1986, the Order of the Arrow was saddened to learn of the passing of the Co-founder Carroll A. Edson at the age of 94. E. Urner Goodman had preceded Edson in death making Edson the lone connection to the origin of Wimachtendienk.

Edson had enjoyed a long life. He was born December 29, 1891. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Dartmouth College in 1914 and a Masters Degree from Columbia University. Edson was hired in 1915 at the age of 23 by Philadelphia Council and co-founded the Order that summer at Treasure Island setting in motion a chain of events that would profoundly affect generations of Scouts. Edson’s professional Scouter career (1915-1931) included stops in Chicago as a Field Executive and Jersey City as Scout Executive.

Edson served his country as a Captain in the Army during World War I, continued to serve in the reserves and was called up to active duty in World War II rising to the rank of Colonel. From 1937 through his retirement in 1961 Edson served as the Social Security Administration manager for the Syracuse, New York office.

Carroll Edson was active in many charities and was active in his church.

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OA Endowment Fund

The National Order of the Arrow Endowment Fund was started at the end of 1978. The initial $15,000 placed in the Endowment came from the sale of plastic Vigil Honor membership cards. Sales of these Vigil Honor cards allowed the OA to purchase two Joseph Csatari paintings, Gift of a Lifetime and Visions of the Founder. Later, the cards provided the seed money to start the Endowment.The National Order of the Arrow Endowment Fund was created to preserve and perpetuate the history and traditions of the OA. To date, the interest, dividends and other earnings from this endowment has provided crucial funding to such programs as the OA Trail Crew, the OA Wilderness Voyage, the OA Ocean Adventure, the OA Museum and popular attractions at the Boy Scout National Jamborees, such as Scoutopia, Twelve Cubed, and The Mysterium Compass.

Arrowmen are encouraged to give to the Endowment fund. One method is by purchasing special endowment recognition pieces. Another is by becoming a National Order of the Arrow Legacy Fellowship recipient or becoming a member of The Goodman Society.

The Goodman Society has been specifically created to honor and perpetuate the memory of the Founder of the Order of the Arrow, E. Urner Goodman. Membership in the Goodman Society is available to all Arrowmen, former and current, who desire to be a part of a national fellowship to perpetuate the ideals and mission of the OA. Membership is extended to those who incorporate the National OA Endowment in their charitable bequests, charitable trusts, or life insurance/retirement plan designations.

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Goodman, Post Professional

In 1951, after 36 years as a professional Scouter and having reached age 60, Goodman retired from the BSA. Never one to stay idle, he immediately took up the leadership of the newly formed United Church Men of the National Council of Churches in Christ.As general director, he had the opportunity to form the national organization at both the executive and volunteer level, with the goal of increasing men’s religious activity in the local church, the community, and the individual. Specific goals included growth of men’s groups in local churches, financial support for church-affiliated colleges, support for missionary work, and fostering ethics in the workplace.

Goodman’s efforts proved successful, and within the first year half the states had organized United Church Men’s departments. After two-and-a-half years, he suffered another attack of tuberculosis, and he retired on September 1, 1954.

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Goodman Memorial Service

In the late winter of 1980, while visiting his children in New Jersey, Goodman caught a cold, which turned into pneumonia. He went to Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan, where he could have specialists treat him, but he remained in intensive care. He passed away on March 13.

He planned his own funeral to include lots of music. It took place at Penney Farms on March 29. National Chief Jeffrie A. Herrmann and National Executive Secretary William F. Downs eulogized the founder. Downs spoke of his leadership as a member of the professional staff of the BSA, and said he was both a gentleman and a gentle man. Taking his cue from the Order’s ceremonies, he ended with the words, 

May the virtues which he represented glow the brighter in our hearts and consciences.

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Goodman

Infinity, dear brothers, extends not only outward to the reaches of that clear blue sky… but also inward, to the heart of each human being. E. Urner Goodman 1975 NOAC closing address.

Goodman lived in an era of great change – from horse and buggy days to men on the moon. He also lived a life of great change. He knew much joy – a good childhood with friends and family, a successful career, a loving wife, three wonderful children and the lifelong inspiration of his faith. He also knew much tragedy – the death of his mother and aunt when he was a little boy, months of quarantine for diphtheria, tuberculosis as a young man, and the death of his son George in World War II.

Like the hero of Baden-Powell’s favorite play, Peter Pan, Goodman was one of the many men who sought to put off growing up by engaging in a life’s work consumed with the things of boyhood – outdoor fun among good friends, acting chivalrous by helping others, giving everyone a chance to play, being loud and silly. Thus was the Scouter rewarded in his work with youth.

He had mastered the art of leadership, and had success after success professionally and with the Order of the Arrow, because he gave away to others the opportunity to be in charge, to exercise authority, to be creative, to take responsibility.

He was loved by all because of his self-effacing manner and his desire to do what was best for others, putting his own needs last. Always a peacemaker among Scouters, George’s death convinced him that world brotherhood was a worthy goal.

As he said at the end of his career with BSA:

I had indeed found my life mission… . Those 36 years of professional service, 16 years as Executive in Philadelphia and Chicago, and 20 years as national program director, brought rich rewards, far beyond any salary considerations. They represented the work, above all others, that I wanted to do.

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Founder's Award Established

Introduced at the 1981 National Order of the Arrow Conference (NOAC), the Founder's Award was created to honor and recognize those Arrowmen who have given outstanding service to their lodge. The award is reserved for Arrowmen who demonstrate that they memorialize in their everyday lives the spirit of achievement as exemplified by the Founder E. Urner Goodman and Co-Founder Carroll A. Edson. Lodges are permitted to award up to four Founder’s Awards annually, based on their total membership.

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Elangomat Program Tested

On an unusually cold Friday night, December 12th 1969, deep in the heart of the Central Florida Council’s camp La-No-Che, Eddie Simmons of Tipisa Lodge became the Order of the Arrow’s first “Elangomat” (friend). Eddie ate scant food, kept the pledge of silence, slept alone, engaged in cheerful-service work projects, and provided a powerful example of what it means to be both a “brother” and example “Arrowman” to younger Scouts.

Eddie’s advisor, Bill Hartman, had been an early subscriber to the publications of the Scouting Service Exchange and had begun publishing, under the name CIA (Ceremonial Improvement Association) various pamphlets titled Ordeal Procedures, Brotherhood Procedures and Counseling W.W.W. and Spirit of the Arrow booklets five through nine (designed to support new OA members between their Ordeal and Brotherhood ceremonies).

In November 1973, Bill and another member of the CIA, Mark Doherty, agreed to cease publishing, end the CIA, and become members of the Ceremonial Advisory Group.

Many of the principles that were identified as critical to how Elangomats interact with candidates were developed into a revision of the Ten Induction Principles (formerly 11 Cardinal Principles as presented at the 1971 NOAC), in preparation for the Inductions Enrichment Program at the 1975 NOAC.

Also at about this same time Occoneechee Lodge began conducting Elangomat Ordeals. Following the 1975 NOAC, many participants in the IEP training became Elangomats in their home lodges and/or trained others to conduct Elangomat Ordeals, some with success and most meeting resistance for making the new member’s ordeal experience “too easy”.

At the 1981 NOAC, the Ordeal Ceremony pamphlet was replaced by the Manual for the Ordeal – for the first time spelling out in detail the proper procedures for conducting the Order of the Arrow Ordeal.

While Elangomat Ordeals were not “required” the Ten Induction Principles were emphasized, the liability involved in condoning any form of hazing made clear, and the word “Elangomat” was, for the first time, added to the pronunciation guide on the back of all ceremony pamphlets.

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NOAC - 50th Anniversary

For the fifth time the OA returned to its most familiar setting for Conferences, Indiana University, for the NOAC celebration of the 50^th Anniversary of the Order of the Arrow. A record 4,237 delegates representing every state in the nation attended the Conference. There were greater than 1,000 Arrowmen more in attendance than any previous Conference. The fitting theme for the conference was chosen from the Ordeal Honor ceremony, “Mindful of our high tradition.”

Chief Scout Executive Joseph A. Brunton who had 25 years earlier similarly opened the 25^th Anniversary Meeting as National Chief now opened the 50^th Anniversary Meeting with the keynote address. At the 25^th Anniversary Meeting there were a fraction of the lodges and attendees as the 50^th Anniversary Meeting. Now as head of the entire BSA he again stood before the assembly of those who bear the Obligation. With great pride and enthusiasm Brunton challenged all Arrowmen to reach their full potential in spirit, mind, faith and body.

Like past NOACs, there were dance competitions, athletic contests, patch trading, fellowship and the presentation of the Distinguished Service Awards (DSA). Training was again one of the primary activities of the conference. The closing session ended with Goodman in his usual role of giving the final challenge to the Arrowmen. Goodman’s challenge was simple.

Arrowmen must carry the Order through its next fifty years.

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First OA Pow Wow at National Jamboree

The highlight for Arrowmen at the 1964 National Jamboree was the first Jamboree Order of the Arrow Pow Wow. 15,000 Arrowmen gathered together at the Valley Forge arena to hear featured speakers Founder E. Urner Goodman and former National Chief and current Chief Scout Executive Joseph Brunton, Jr. The event was described at the time as the largest ever gathering of Arrowmen and likely remains the largest such assembly to this day.

Goodman spoke to the audience first. He discussed camping, brotherhood, leadership and service. Goodman stated that the Order was in its fiftieth year of service and that he had great confidence and great hope that the Order would be well served for the next fifty years in the hands of the attendees.

Chief Scout Executive Joe Brunton spoke next. He noted the presence of the very same Chief’s bonnet that he had been first to adorn as National OA Chief in 1938. He reminded each Arrowman that they were a significant part of the OA program and then challenged them to remain humbly committed to serving others.

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50th Anniversary Dedication

On the weekend of June 11-13, 1965 Unami Lodge hosted an Area 3A conference at Treasure Island. Part of the area conference program was the dedication of a plaque commemorating the 50^th Anniversary of the Order. Four hundred Arrowmen were on hand along with the Founders, E. Urner Goodman and Carroll A. Edson,  the Order’s first chief George Chapman and the Order's first Guide and Guardian of the Trail, Harry Yoder. The Plaque reads:

‘Mindful of Our High Tradition’ On July 16, 1915 the first ceremony of the Order of the Arrow, W.W.W., was held at this place. In celebration of the 50^th anniversary of the founding of the Order and in honor of 764,947 Scouts, Explorers, and Scouters who became members of the Order of the Arrow during the past 50 years we place this marker.

 

Dedicated this 12^th Day of June 1965

 

E. Urner Goodman and Carroll A. Edson

Founders of the Order of the Arrow

 

L. George Feil Chairman, National Committee

Joseph A. Brunton, Jr., Chief Scout Executive

Thomas J. Watson, Jr., President, National Council

W.W.W.

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50th Anniversary of BSA

1960 marked the 50^th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America. The fiftieth birthday of Scouting was an opportunity for all Scouts to join hands and show the nation and the world what Scouting had done, was doing and will do in the future. A number of key activities and events took place during the Golden Anniversary year to commemorate this significant milestone.

A golden anniversary commemorative postage stamp was issued to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the Boy Scouts of America and this would be the only time that Norman Rockwell would do a painting specifically for a Boy Scout handbook cover. A special tribute to Scouting in Washington D.C. was held and in June, 1960 the new Johnston Historical Museum located in New Brunswick, New Jersey was dedicated. Scouts participated in the third nationwide Get-Out-the-Vote campaign, but the big event and recognition of this key milestone was the Fifth National Scout Jamboree that was held near Pikes Peak Mountain and Colorado Springs, Colorado where 53,378 Scouts and leaders attended.

During this anniversary year, those that could not attend the National Jamboree (the rest of the 5 million members of the Boy Scouts of America) participated in a number of local activities across the country to celebrate Scouting’s Golden Jubilee. Cub Scout jubilees and Explorer jubilee field day events were held. Boy Scouts and their leaders were active in showcasing Scouting by holding gigantic jubilee camporees, not in the back woods as was traditionally done, but in scores of public places such as downtown parks and town squares.

As stated by Chief Scout Executive (and 1922 Grand Lodge Chief), Arthur A. Schuck, “We are prepared. We are a youthful movement – fifty years young! We have grown strong through helping others, The best years are ahead.”

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