The Phi Delta Chi Ritual
Promoting the Ritual
The Phi Delta Chi Fraternity is a celebration of diversity in many regards. Large Chapters, small Chapters and
medium ones in between can be found to the north, south, east and west. Most Chapters have had women
documented in their registry books. Chapters with strong foundations and rich, continuous histories exist amidst
those who enjoy recent rebirths. There are a plethora of characteristics that describe our collegiate Chapters—each
with its own personality and operational style.
However, the “Official Ritual of the Fraternity”, virtually alone, provides the common bond that unites all Phi Delta Chi
Brothers.
Revisions to the Ritual have been purposeful to date. A task force commissioned by the 58th Grand Council
conducted the last extensive review and revision. The task force’s final product completes the full assimilation of
women; welcomes Brothers of like purpose without regard to belief, and prepares the Fraternity for the arrival of the
21st century.
Chapter Standard E describes what is expected of the collegiate Chapter with regard to the Ritual. Each Brother
should understand what the Ritual is and why it is positioned as a centerpiece of fraternal life. This section of the
Fraternal Operations manual will describe the Ritual without divulging any secrets of the Fraternity. Utmost care
must always be used where the Ritual is concerned to protect our time-honored rites and mysteries.
When performing any aspect of the Ritual, those in attendance should display exquisite behavior. The use of
tobacco, intoxicating beverages, or drugs is strictly prohibited. Brothers should conduct themselves in an orderly,
quiet, and professional manner at all times during any part of the Ritual.
Prospective Brothers: Initial Pledge of Brotherhood and Fidelity
The utmost care is used to identify individuals to uphold and promote the fraternal ideals of professionalism and
Brotherhood. Academically sound collegiate citizens, of strong moral and ethical fiber are sought to compose the
collegiate Chapter and in turn, the Fraternity will rest heavily on a mutual fit between individual and Fraternity.
Following an initiation extension and subsequent acceptance by an individual, the Chapter will host a ceremony to
officially introduce the Fraternity to the individual. The text offered to prospective Brothers is done so as evidence of
the serious nature of the life-long obligation these individuals invite when seeking admission into the Phi Delta Chi
Fraternity.
Initiation
Overview:
Instillation of the ideals and goals of Phi Delta Chi begins with the initiation ceremony. A dignified, well-planned
initiation ceremony leaves a good and lasting view of our common bond. The initiation ceremony is the oldest part of
the Ritual, and has undergone little variation since that time. The initiation rite the prospective Brothers will be going
through is almost identical to the ceremony the Founding Fathers went through.
The Ritual was written with a lot of care and meaning – everything has a purpose and a lesson to be learned. The
official Ritual work must be presented as printed in the Official Ritual Handbook and at no time may items be added
or detracted from its current form. The ceremony is conducted with the utmost professionalism and fraternalism.
Activities and behaviors inconsistent with the fraternal Ritual, policies and procedures or the regulations and policies
of the host educational institution will not be tolerated by the Executive Council.
Candidates will be protected from harm at all times. Blindfolds are utilized in the Ritual ceremony for the sole
purpose of sharpening an individual’s sense of hearing to promote better comprehension of the serious nature of his
or her responsibilities and obligations to the Fraternity. Initiates must give consent to using a blindfold. When a
blindfold is used, care must be extended to that no prospective Brother is at risk for injury (e.g., tripping or bumping
into objects).
Privacy:
Phi Delta Chi is a secret organization and proceedings are executed in utmost secrecy. The location selected for the
initiation ceremony must minimize the opportunity for “outsiders” to view what is going on. The Ritual initiation has
been conducted in virtually the same manner for over 100 years. It is the foundation of the fraternal bond and
expectation shared with each individual seeking admission—past, present, and future.
Space:
Assure there is adequate space for the initiation ceremony. There needs to be areas that are separated so the
different events of initiation can take place without affecting each other. Much of the “mystique” of the Official Ritual
Initiation can be lost if prospective Brothers can hear what is going on in another area before they have the
opportunity to experience the lesson his or herself.
It is helpful to have a location with numerous rooms in close proximity. Often student lounges, dispensing labs and
classrooms are utilized on the college campus.
Supplies:
The official Ritual Handbook contains a list of items required. The National Officer, regional team members and
neighboring Chapters (depends on proximity and availability of later two) will take care of details in the case of a
chapter chartering initiation. The Chapter will assist in gathering the material for the first initiation held on its own.
Time:
The length of time required for the official initiation ceremony depends upon the number of prospective Brothers
eligible for initiation and the efficiency of the Brothers hosting initiation (i.e., how well prepared and organized the
group is). The initiation should be covered in one, continuous sitting and not over a period of days.
Attire:
The Phi Delta Chi Executive Council has adopted the standard that all the Official Initiation Ritual shall be conducted
in professional dress.
Review of Initiation Comments and Ceremony:
All Brothers responsible for participating in the event to assure that everyone is adequately prepared and no area is
left unchecked should review the initiation ceremony text. The Worthy Chief Council is responsible to remind all
Brothers of their responsibilities with respect to the current Phi Delta Chi risk management policies. Hazing is
forbidden.
The activities surrounding the initiation period place the Fraternity before the eyes of the public. With that in mind,
the activities should be of such nature so as to assure that no discredit or reproach could be reflected upon our
Fraternity or the pharmacy profession. Once the ceremony is opened, all present must conduct themselves
seriously. The “Initiation Comments” section of the Official Ritual Handbook” describes appropriate behavior in
further detail.
Reception:
Plan whatever best fits the chapter’s needs in honoring the prospective Brothers’ efforts to become part of the Phi
Delta Chi Fraternity. Initiation is the first step in establishing a robust legacy of pharmacy leader development at the
local Chapter and collegiate institution and should be celebrated.
Formal Meetings
Conducting Formal Meetings with regularity keeps the Ritual at the forefront of chapter activity and serves to keep
Brothers ever mindful of the elegance and longevity of the fraternal core elements. It is recommended that Formal
Meetings be held at least once a month. Brothers should attend the meeting in formal, professional attire. Officers
must commit their parts to memory in the Opening and Closing of the Chapter. All Brothers should be familiar with
group responses in the Ritual.
The room should be properly arranged and prepared and Brothers should be seated appropriately, following the
assurance her or she are indeed eligible to witness the event.
Graduation Ceremony
The Graduation Ceremony can serve as a formal acknowledgement of a “delta phase” collegiate Brother’s transition
to alumni status, along the “fraternal continuum”.
At this time, the collegiate Chapter may issue a “Brothers for Life Contract” (see Appendix). The “delta phase”
Brothers should be provided with alumni membership information and be encouraged to pay their lifetime dues either
in full or in payments. This will assure that these Brothers do not have a lapse in membership during the transition
from student to new practitioner (alumnus) status.
The ceremony outlined on page 24 of the Official Ritual Book may take place during the final chapter meeting of an
academic session or at a special senior banquet or similar event. Non-Brothers may view the ceremony.
Memorial
As we recognize Brothers in life, we must do so in death. The collegiate Chapter should report the death of any
Brother to the National Office. The passing of all known Brothers is acknowledged at the Grand Council immediately
following their death. The death announcement also appears in The Communicator. Additional details may be found
on page 82 of the Official Ritual Book.
Regalia
Each Chapter is required to procure official fraternal wardrobe, or Regalia, for use during Formal Meetings and the
Official Initiation Ritual. The description of these items can be located in the Official Ritual handbook. The
symbolism reflects the variety of officers and the various color shades and styles indicate different eras of the
Fraternity.
Regalia should be stored in a safe place, secure from damage or access by non-members. The Official Initiation
Ritual may not be photographed, photocopied, audiotaped, videotaped, or recorded by any other means without the
express permission of the Executive Council. Furthermore, the Ritual must not be displayed in any form before nonmembers.
Chapter Registry Book
Collegiate Brothers are assigned a registry number upon initiation into the Fraternity. This number is the unique
identifier number for the individual. The information is tracked in an official registry book. The date of initiation,
registry number, and the individual’s signature is recorded in this book, provided by the National Office. If a
collegiate Brother transfers to another college or school of pharmacy, he or she is eligible for a registry number from
the Chapter he or she is transferring to. The collegiate Brothers’ original registry number should be retained in the
original chapter’s registry book.