October 29, 1946

After much research and thought, the following history of the Order of the Arrow, Lodge Number 185 is submitted and to the best of my knowledge is correct. As to the number of ceremonies held the first year and activities engaged in by these original members, I am not too sure. I have talked to several of the charter members and the memories of these are faint. However, Earnest Pittman and any other person there that summer may prove of help.

The Order of the Arrow was first introduced into the Blue Ridge Council, Boy Scouts of America, at Camp Old Indian in the summer of 1940. At this time a large number of the staff, as well as 10% of the campers were issued invitations. As one, possibly the only, initiation of the summer was held at the last [week] of camp, many of the new initiates came back to Old Indian for their ceremony. A group from an unknown camp in North Carolina came down and carried on the ceremony. Among the new members were [Earnest] Pittman, the camp director; Earle Rice, waterfront director; ?? [Snoddy], the camp doctor; Milton Sullivan, handicraft director, John McArthur, who has since been killed in action, and numerous campers that, at present, I am unable to identify.

This group worked on the cleanup of what is now known as the Order of the Arrow Lodge. The dipping ceremony took place on the creek near where the present medical shack is located. The candle lighting was held on the hill above the lake and was almost in a direct line between the old and new council rings.

There was no initiation the first week of camp in 1941, but the second week found the Order going strong. The staff selected from the campers present, without regard of rank, number of years at camp, or previous scout experience, twenty percent of the scouts they considered as honor campers. This list was presented to the scouts at supper and they voted on 50% of the names presented. A tapping out ceremony was carried out in the campfire circle after the regular campfire program. This method was used all except the third camp week when, due to the fact that all the scouts in camp went into Greenville to help in an aluminum drive, the new members were awakened about midnight and the ceremony started from there.

The officers as well as can be remembered were Earle Rice, Chief; Dr. [Snoddy], medicine man; Milton (Blubber) Sullivan, Guide; and John McArthur, Guard. These officers may not have held office all summer, but they served for several weeks it is definitely known.

There were several projects worked on by the Order that year. One was the beginning of the clearing of ground for the proposed chapel, which was located in about the same spot that the Order used for its candle ceremonies the year before. The new men also worked on the campfire circle and did some work toward the new Order of the Arrow ring.

This new ring, which was located on the ground where the chapel now stands, was started in December of 1940, when the Order held its first out of [summer] camp meeting. The meeting was well attended and the new ring was started, as well as more improvements made on the Lodge, including the rustic sign that stood at the entrance until recently.

In the spring of 1942, April 12 to be exact, there was held the second meeting of the Order out of [summer] camp. This was attended by about 25 members and at this time the members got their first look at [Horace] Williamson. At this meeting four men were elected to attend the national conference. They were E. Graham, Greenville, J. Orders, Greenville; Bill Wright, Anderson; and G. Fant [George Fant], Anderson; Dr. Lovejoy was selected as the adult leader to attend this meeting. The meeting was called off shortly afterwards and nothing was done towards any future attendance. The guest speaker for the meeting was Mr. Riley ???, of Greenville. The meeting was presided over by George Fant, with Bill Wright serving as the Guard and Bill Sloan as the Secretary. (Note: the records were turned in to the Greenville office.)

Officers for the 1942 camp season were elected at the pre camp staff meeting and were as follows: Will Rice, Chief; Bobby Linsey, Medicine Man; James Orders, Guide; and Milton Sullivan, Guard. These officers changed slightly during the summer but not to any great extent. At the end of the fifth period, these officers, for quest done and for work done in the organization, became the first boys in the Blue Ridge Council to take on the Obligations of the Second Order. The ceremony was carried out by Horace S. Williamson, in the circle by the lake. The last night of camp, George Fant received his Second Order by the above named. There were no particular projects carried out during the year by the new members. The work being done was of a clean-up and repair nature.

The ceremonies were made more impressive by the trip by canoe to the circle. The annual meeting for 1943 was held the week preceding camp. At this time, the new officers were elected. They were Jim Glenn, Chief; E. Graham, Medicine Man; Bill Wright, Guide; George Fant, Guard. About half way through the summer Jim Glenn left camp and George Fant became Chief, Bill Wright, Guard, and Max Rice took over as Guide. The new circle, located in the present location, was begun and used for the first time. The tapping ceremony was used this year.

There was no annual meeting until the week preceding camp in 194? [Illegible, either 1944 of 1945]. At that time those present went to the camp operated by the Spartanburg District and started the Order of the Arrow in that camp. Officers for the year were elected as follows: George Fant, Chief; Forest Fowler, Medicine Man; Max Rice, Guide; and Bill Kennedy, Guard. Shortly after camp opened Lake Aull took over the position occupied by Max Rice when he was promoted to the position vacated by Forest Fowler. There were no particular projects carried out this year.

In 1940 the campers were elected by the staff and 50% of those got in by popular vote of the entire camp. In 1941, the same method was used. In 1942, the same method was used, but at the annual meeting it was decided that in order to be eligible for the nominations by the staff that a scout must be at least first class and a second year camper. This was changed shortly after camp opened to a nomination, by all members in good standing, of all scouts eligible, not to exceed 20% of the boys in camp at that time. This list was to be presented to the campers who could elect up to 10% of the entire camp population. In 1943, the method was changed so that the eligible scouts were elected entirely by the troop or group they were living with. That is, the groups made the nominations and the list was presented to the entire camp as before. In 1944, this was changed so that the troop nominated and elected to the Order the eligible members it saw fit to.

In 1940, 41 and 42, a tapping out ceremony was used. In 1943 this was changed and the scouts to become members were awakened after going to bed and the ceremony started from there. However, in 1944 the tapping ceremony was reinstated and believed to be the most effective.

There have been several places used for the dipping ceremony, including the creek near the present medical building, the creek on the way to the old wilderness camp, and the in-flowing creek to the lake. Of these, the one on the way to the old wilderness camp more nearly approaches the ideal on, as called for in the ritual. There were no seconds [Second Order] awarded in 1943 but Bill Kennedy, Luke Aull, and Max Rice received their Brotherhood in 1944 from Williamson the 1st week of camp.

In 1942, the record book mysteriously disappeared and the records for the preceding years were lost. Bobby Linsley, camp secretary was keeping the records and had the book until just before time to leave camp for the summer. No trace of the book has ever been found. In 1943 a similar thing happened when George Fant was keeping the records but the book was found the following summer in the handicraft lodge attic. Jim Glenn kept the records in 1941 and Bill Kennedy in 1944.

During the first four years of operation, there were four camp directors taken into the Order. Pittman [Earnest Pittman], Uncle Charlie, Roy Green, and Pappy Nelon. During this time, numerous Scoutmasters and scouts, as well as staff members, became members of the National Brotherhood of honor campers.

Author Unknown