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Traditions are prized jewels of a fraternal
organization. They give every member sources of common reference and
understanding. At their best, they remind us about the meaning and value of
brotherhood and inspire us to live up to our high ideals.
Tau Beta Phi
begin with our most important tradition, our ritual. Our ritual is not one
ceremony, but a series of ceremonies appropriate to various stages and times
in our membership. Every ceremony has in common a central theme. That theme is
to communicate our ideals and more fully illuminate their meaning. The ritual
then calls upon each brother to commit to our ideals. This commitment is
accepted with the understanding that through the ideals we will grow in
brotherhood and character. The ideals of Tau Beta Phi do not call upon a
brother to abandon his religious convictions and duties or his obligations of
citizenship. Rather, these essential elements of honorable character are
encouraged and supported in a spirit of brotherhood.
Our insignia
are outward signs of our ideals and the obligations accepted upon initiation.
They are fully explained only in the ritual. They belong to the whole
brotherhood, not to any single individual.
Many people feel they can judge another person
by his or her handshake. A good, vigorous handshake can be the difference
between a successful first impression and an unsuccessful one. Tau Beta Phi
members have a distinctive traditional hand shake.
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