History of the Order of the Arrow

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History of The Order of the Arrow

In the summer of 1915, the Directors of Treasure Island, the Philadelphia Council Camp, finding it desirable to have some definite system of recognition of those Scouts who stood out in their exemplification of the Scout Oath and Law, organized the Wimachtendienk, W. W., later known as the Order of the Arrow. Its first meetings and ceremonies were used for activity purposes. Here, they created a council ring, where all honors, including promotions in Scout rank, were awarded. As the highest camp honor, one Scout previously chosen by each troop, or provisional troop, at the end of its stay in camp was inducted into these beginnings of the Order. After the public ceremonials, those candidates who had previously undergone the Ordeal, were with proper ceremony admitted to the Order.

From that time forward, the Order has been centered in the camp program, not only at this, its original home, but in hundreds of councils now operating lodges. Progress was slow in the beginning with respect to the development of additional lodges. The plan of organizing and utilizing the Scouts of finest spirit in the camp proved so helpful from many aspects, that lodges were formed in several other councils.

The First World War temporarily interfered with the extension of the Order, but by 1921 the experimental period had produced sufficient experiences for establishment of the general basic policies, and the permanent organization of the Order on a national basis was undertaken.

The first National Convention convened in Philadelphia on October 7, 1921, and a National Lodge composed of all of the constituent local lodges, represented by four delegates from each, was formed. It took over the affairs of the Order, adopted a constitution and a statement of policies, and appointed committees to develop further details.

Following this initial convention, a steady progressive growth in lodges and membership was noted. Successive National Lodge meetings were held annually, later, biannualy. In November of 1929, at the National Lodge meeting, some discussion was held pointing to the adoption of the Order by the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America, as a component part of its program. At the session of the National meeting held at Owasippe Scout Reservation in 1933, this proposal was made and ratified by the delegates present.

On June 2, 1934, at the National Council meeting of the Boy Scouts of America in Buffalo, New York, the Order of the Arrow was approved by the National Council.

In May 1948, the National Executive Board of the Boy Scouts of America, on recommendation of its Committee on Camping and Special Events, approved the complete integration of the Order of the Arrow in the program of the movement. This action, resulted in the dissolution of the National Lodge of the Order, and brought its national supervision directly within the regular administrative channels of the Boy Scouts of America. Thus, the National Executive Committee of the Order of the Arrow became the National Committee of the Order of the Arrow, a sub-committee of the National Committee on Camping and Special Events. Authority was given at this time for the employment of a staff member, in the National Service of Camping and Special Events at the Home Office, to handle administrative duties under the Director of Service.