Post by Wolf on Mar 6, 2008 16:37:51 GMT -5
The Gathering:
The Gathering is a tradition in the Company that has been carried on for years. Typically, it involves a bottle of Baileys, the Company and toasts given while the bottle is passed around. This section is in place to let all know the rules and procedures of the Gathering.
I) Rules:
1: In order to participate in a Gathering, you must be one of the following:
a) Brother
b) Petitioner
c) Outer Circle
d) Close and Recognized Company Friends.
2: Individuals from other units (who are not recognized friends), people who accompanied a member of the Company, Outer Circle not wearing their sash, petitioners not wearing their sash, and Brothers not wearing their rings are NOT allowed to participate in the Gathering. They may witness, but not actually take part.
3: Once a Gathering has started, the circle will not be broken. If you break the circle without permission, you will be banned from participating until it's been voted on to allow you in again.
4: If you break a circle with drama, you will be banned from participating in a circle ever again.
II) The actual Gathering
1: Gatherings will proceed as follows:
a. Personnel participating will form the circle; first Brothers (by order of Ring), then Petitioners (1st Petitioner, then by order of sash), Outer Circle and then friends of the Company.
b. Whoever starts the circle will explain the meaning of the Gathering. It will be explained that the circle is a sign of our unity, that the tradition has carried on and that if a single drop is spilled at the end of the Gathering, that the Company will have bad luck until the next Gathering.
c. The person will then grasp the bottle by the neck, turn it upside down at a 45 degree angle, spank the bottle, kiss the seal and then pass it on.
d. Each person will do the same to the bottle until it makes it all the way around.
e. Once the bottle makes it all the way around, the seal will be broken and the cap tossed away.
f. The first toast will consist of saluting those serving in the military, overseas and those who have lost their life in the defense of our country. A small amount of the bottle will be poured upon the ground.
g. After the first toast, the person starting the Gathering will give the first toast, take a sip from the bottle and pass it on.
h. A few bits of courtesy should be observed. Don't make your toast too long, don't drink all of the alcohol, everyone would like some.
i. The bottle will be passed all the way around in this manner. The last person will need to finish off the bottle completely. The bottle will be turned upside down with a hand held underneath it by the person who started the gathering. If a drop touches the hand, this signifies the company will have bad luck until the next Gathering.
j. If no drop falls, the bottle is tossed and the Gathering is dismissed by the person whom started the Gathering.
k. Some Gatherings (generally the smaller ones with larger bottles) can be modified in order to fit the alcoholic needs of the people there.
The Gathering is a tradition in the Company that has been carried on for years. Typically, it involves a bottle of Baileys, the Company and toasts given while the bottle is passed around. This section is in place to let all know the rules and procedures of the Gathering.
I) Rules:
1: In order to participate in a Gathering, you must be one of the following:
a) Brother
b) Petitioner
c) Outer Circle
d) Close and Recognized Company Friends.
2: Individuals from other units (who are not recognized friends), people who accompanied a member of the Company, Outer Circle not wearing their sash, petitioners not wearing their sash, and Brothers not wearing their rings are NOT allowed to participate in the Gathering. They may witness, but not actually take part.
3: Once a Gathering has started, the circle will not be broken. If you break the circle without permission, you will be banned from participating until it's been voted on to allow you in again.
4: If you break a circle with drama, you will be banned from participating in a circle ever again.
II) The actual Gathering
1: Gatherings will proceed as follows:
a. Personnel participating will form the circle; first Brothers (by order of Ring), then Petitioners (1st Petitioner, then by order of sash), Outer Circle and then friends of the Company.
b. Whoever starts the circle will explain the meaning of the Gathering. It will be explained that the circle is a sign of our unity, that the tradition has carried on and that if a single drop is spilled at the end of the Gathering, that the Company will have bad luck until the next Gathering.
c. The person will then grasp the bottle by the neck, turn it upside down at a 45 degree angle, spank the bottle, kiss the seal and then pass it on.
d. Each person will do the same to the bottle until it makes it all the way around.
e. Once the bottle makes it all the way around, the seal will be broken and the cap tossed away.
f. The first toast will consist of saluting those serving in the military, overseas and those who have lost their life in the defense of our country. A small amount of the bottle will be poured upon the ground.
g. After the first toast, the person starting the Gathering will give the first toast, take a sip from the bottle and pass it on.
h. A few bits of courtesy should be observed. Don't make your toast too long, don't drink all of the alcohol, everyone would like some.
i. The bottle will be passed all the way around in this manner. The last person will need to finish off the bottle completely. The bottle will be turned upside down with a hand held underneath it by the person who started the gathering. If a drop touches the hand, this signifies the company will have bad luck until the next Gathering.
j. If no drop falls, the bottle is tossed and the Gathering is dismissed by the person whom started the Gathering.
k. Some Gatherings (generally the smaller ones with larger bottles) can be modified in order to fit the alcoholic needs of the people there.