On July 16, 1915, the Order of the Arrow was founded at Treasure Island Scout Reservation by E. Urner Goodman and Carroll Edson, the camp directors at that time. 110 years later, the OA still continues to be a positive brotherhood within Scouting and the world, bringing hundreds of thousands of Scouts and Scouters together with shared ideas and principles. But how did we get here? What changes have occurred over these years? Let’s find out!
One of the most remarkable things about the OA is its strong connection to the past. Sure, many things have changed over time, but the core ideas have always been present from the start. The first two Scouts inducted similarly to you and I – they were elected by their troops and inducted via a ceremony that resembles a modern-day callout ceremony. The structure of the overnight Ordeal began to take place as early as 1916, and although there were no elangomats, the challenges of sleeping alone, service, and scant food were present.
Originally, the three honor levels were called the Pledge (equivalent to Ordeal), First Degree (Brotherhood), and the Second Degree (Vigil). Eventually in 1920 they changed it to first, second, and third degree, mimicking the honor levels we have today. It wasn’t until 1935 the term “degree” was changed to “honor”.
The OA grew rapidly, and in 1921 Goodman oversaw the formation of the Grand Lodge, now called the National OA Committee. On Oct. 8 and 9 of that year, the Grand Lodge had its first Grand Lodge Meeting. Eight lodges attended, and there they drafted a constitution and conducted officer elections. The Grand Lodge Meetings were early precursors to the National Order of the Arrow Conference (NOAC).
In 1922 the still young Boy Scouts of America (now Scouting America) adopted the Order of the Arrow as an official experiment, along with two other fraternal organizations. This was a pivotal step in the OA becoming the Scouting honor society, and set the stage for future talks between the OA and BSA. However, the OA still remained an autonomous organization, and this would remain true until 1935, when the OA formally became an official Scouting program.
The Obligation has been revised many times over the years. The first known form dates back to 1921, although it was almost certainly in use before then. While it has a number of differences, many of the words used in the original Obligation are still repeated to this day. The current version we use was defined in 1999, where Arrowmen were no longer required to state their name, an element that had been present since 1941.
The Order of the Arrow has changed much since its founding 110 years ago. Despite this, many of the core ideas and practices established have continued to this present day. Although this article was written to give an overview of major changes and developments, it is greatly simplified and in no way comprehensive. For those who wish to learn more, check out the OA’s history page! It has a wealth of interesting information and is the source of this article.