The Ritual Calling of an Engineer

[blkmage]

The Calling of an Engineer/L’Engagement de l’ingénieur

The Ritual of the Calling of an Engineer has a history dating back to 1922, when seven past-presidents of the Engineering Institute of Canada attended a meeting in Montreal with other engineers. One of the speakers was civil engineer Professor Haultain of the University of Toronto. He felt that an organization was needed to bind all members of the engineering profession in Canada more closely together. He also felt that an obligation or statement of ethics to which a young graduate in engineering could subscribe should be developed. The seven past-presidents of the Engineering Institute of Canada were very receptive to this idea.

Haultain wrote to Rudyard Kipling, who had made reference to the work of engineers in some of his poems and writings. He asked Kipling for his assistance in developing a suitably dignified obligation and ceremony for its undertaking. Kipling was very enthusiastic in his response and shortly produced both an obligation and a ceremony formally entitled "The Ritual of the Calling of an Engineer."

The object of the Ritual can be stated as follows: The Ritual of the Calling of an Engineer has been instituted with the simple end of directing the newly qualified engineer toward a consciousness of the profession and its social significance and indicating to the more experienced engineer their responsibilities in welcoming and supporting the newer engineers when they are ready to enter the profession.

The Ritual is administered by a body called The Corporation of the Seven Wardens Inc./Société des Sept Gardiens inc. The seven past-presidents of the Engineering Institute of Canada in 1922 were the original seven Wardens. The Corporation is responsible for administering and maintaining the Ritual and in order to do so creates Camps in various locations in Canada. The Ritual is not connected with any university or any engineering organization; the Corporation is an entirely independent body. The Ritual has been copyrighted in Canada and in the United States.

The Iron Ring has been registered and may be worn on the little finger of the working hand by any engineer who has been obligated at an authorized ceremony of the Ritual of the Calling of the Engineer. The ring symbolizes the pride which engineers have in their profession, while simultaneously reminding them of their humility. The ring serves as a reminder to the engineer and others of the engineer's obligation to live by a high standard of professional conduct. It is not a symbol of qualification as an engineer - this is determined by the provincial and territorial licensing bodies.

[SIZE="1"](ORIGINAL TEXT BY CAMP NO. 1, TORONTO) 91.07[/SIZE]


Il faut retourner en 1922 pour retracer l'historique des Rites d'Engagement de l'Ingénieur au moment où sept Présidents-sortants de l'Institut canadien des Ingénieurs sont réunis à Montréal avec d'autres ingénieurs. Dans son allocution, le Professeur Haultain, ingénieur civil à l'Université de Toronto, exprime le besoin d'une organisation qui créerait un esprit de corps entre les ingénieurs canadiens. Il souhaite de plus le développement d'un engagement ou d'un énoncé solennel auquel souscrirait le jeune gradué en ingénierie.

L'accueil chaleureux des sept Présidents-sortants de l'Institut incite Haultain à écrire à Rudyard Kipling dont les poèmes et écrits font à l'occasion référence au travail de l'ingénieur. Il sollicite son aide pour rédiger un engagement solennel et une cérémonie appropriée à la prise de l'engagement. La réponse de Kipling est spontanée et contenait le texte d'engagement et les détails de la Cérémonie d'Engagement de l'Ingénieur.

Le rituel d'Engagement de l'Ingénieur vise simplement et uniquement à sensibiliser le nouvel ingénieur à sa profession et aux valeurs qui l'entourent tout en indiquant à l'ingénieur pratiquant ses responsabilités d'accueil et de support à ses nouveaux collègues prêts à travailler à ses côtés.

La Société des Sept Gardiens inc./The Corporation of the Seven Wardens Inc. est le dépositaire et l'administrateur des Rites d'Engagement de l'Ingénieur. Les sept Présidents-sortants de l'Institut canadien des Ingénieurs en 1922 en furent les premiers sept Gardiens. Des sections ont été créées dans diverses municipalités du Canada pour faciliter la gestion des Rites qui est la responsabilité de la Société. Entièrement autonome, elle n'a aucun lien avec les universités, sociétés techniques et associations provinciales canadiennes d'ingénieurs. Des droits d'auteur protègent le Rituel tant au Canada qu'aux états-Unis.

L'anneau de fer martelé est protégé en vertu de la loi sur les marques déposées et est porté au petit doigt de la main droite ou gauche par tout ingénieur qui a prononcé l'Engagement au cours d'une cérémonie officielle d'une des Sections. L'anneau est un symbole de la fierté de l'ingénieur envers sa profession et un rappel de l'engagement solennel qu'il a prononcé humblement et volontairement et qui l'oblige à un comportement professionnel suivant des normes très élevées. L'anneau ne confère ni n'indique le droit de pratique du génie. Cette prérogative est du ressort exclusif des associations provinciales d'ingénieurs.

[SIZE="1"](TEXT ORIGINALE SECTION NO. 1, TORONTO. TRADUCTION SOCIÉTÉ DES SEPT GARDIENS INC.) 92.11[/SIZE]

[Atria35]

That's ... rather awesome.

[Technomancer]

Are you being ringed this year? It's an important ceremony for any engineer, although it's a bit of a pity they've opened it up a little.

Reminds me I need to have mine replaced.

Anyways for those interested the text of the calling is below, since this part is public I'll put it up. The ceremony itself, while not precisely secret is by custom not shared.

I, ________ in the presence of these my betters and my equals in my Calling, bind myself upon my Honour and Cold Iron, that, to the best of my knowledge and power. I will not henceforward suffer or pass, or be privy to the passing of, Bad Workmanship or Faulty Material in aught that concerns my works before mankind as an Engineer, or in my dealings with my own Soul before my Maker.

My time I will not refuse; my Thought I will not grudge; my Care I will not deny towards the honour, use, stability and perfection of any works to which I may be called to set my hand.

My fair wages for that work I will openly take. My Reputation in my Calling I will honourably guard; but I will in no way go about to compass or wrest judgement or gratification from any one with whom I may deal. And further, I will early and warily strive my uttermost against professional jealousy or the belittling of my working-colleagues in any field of their labour.

For my assured failures and derelictions, I ask pardon beforehand of my betters and my equals in my Calling here assembled; praying that in the hour of my temptations, weakness and weariness, the memory of this my Obligation and of the company before whom it was entered into, may return to me to aid, comfort and restrain.

Upon Honour and Cold Iron, God helping me, by these things I purpose to abide.

[blkmage]

Unfortunately, I'm not actually in engineering (anymore), but I would have gotten ringed today if I were. Everyone around me is getting their rings, though, and I do think it's a pretty awesome tradition.

[Lynna]

Canadian awesomeness strikes again!! XD
Thanks for posting this! I didn't know this, and I find it facinating!!