Editing Order of the Arrow (section)

==Influence of Freemasonry==
As evident in the [[history of the Order of the Arrow]], the organization started with a large influence of Freemasonry. In the 1930s, it underwent a replacement of the Masonic vocabulary to avoid offending religious groups, including the [[Catholic Church]] and some protestant denominations who have long-standing concerns with Freemasonry.<ref name="Obligation Timeline">{{Cite web |title=History - OA Obligation Timeline |url=https://oa-bsa.org/history/oa-obligation-timeline |access-date=March 14, 2024 |publisher=Order of the Arrow}}</ref> Since then, the OA has grown to be an important part of Scouting America throughout the 20th and 21st centuries. However, the debate about its relationship with Freemasonry is not over.

Those who put forward this idea believe that the Order of the Arrow is still today a Masonic organization and has not shed its Masonic nature. Several articles have been published since the 1990s expending on this idea. They point to the history of the OA and the current similarities that persist between Freemasonry and the present-day Order of the Arrow in its organization, secret ceremonies, and other rituals:
* ''Freemasonry, Scouting and the Order of the Arrow'' by S.M. Adkins<ref name="Adkins">{{Cite web |last=Adkins |first=S.M. |title=Freemasonry, Scouting and the Order of the Arrow |url=http://100megsfree4.com/stimso/oa1.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080315065620/http://www.100megsfree4.com/stimso/oa1.htm <!--Added by H3llBot--> |archive-date=March 15, 2008 |access-date=March 19, 2008}}</ref> with two follow-up articles titled ''Following Arrows''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Following Arrows by S. M. Adkins -  |url=http://phoenixmasonry.org/following_arrows.htm |access-date=March 14, 2024 |publisher=Phoenix Masonry}}</ref> and ''Yes, Virginia, it was called the 'Blood Rite'''.<ref>{{Cite web |title='Yes, Virginia, it was called the 'Blood Rite'  |url=http://www.phoenixmasonry.org/yes_virginia_it_was_called_the_blood_rite.htm |access-date=March 14, 2024 |publisher=Phoenix Masonry}}</ref>
* ''Freemasonry Has Infiltrated the Boy Scouts?'' by John Salza which provides a Catholic specific perspective<ref>{{Cite web |title=Order of the Arrow a Boyscouts Freemasonic ceremony Salza |url=http://catholicintl.com/articles/OrderoftheArrow-JohnSalza.pdf  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240105142018/https://isidore.co/misc/Res%20pro%20Deo/Other%20Documents/Order%20of%20the%20Arrow%2C%20a%20Boyscouts%20Freemasonic%20ceremony%20%28Salza%29.doc |archive-date=January 5, 2024 |access-date=March 14, 2024 |publisher=Catholic International}}</ref>
* ''The Order of the Arrow, Another Mason Ritual?'' by John R. Goodwin<ref name="Goodwin">{{Cite web |last=Goodwin |first=John R. |date=January 25, 1997 |title=The Order of the Arrow, Another Masonic Ritual? |url=http://www.vamason.org/ra1753/papers/1arrow.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080506123512/http://www.vamason.org/ra1753/papers/1arrow.htm |archive-date=May 6, 2008 |access-date=March 19, 2008 |website=Grand Chapter Royal Arch Masons of Virginia}}</ref>
* ''Scouting and Freemasons'' in Freemasons for Dummies by Christopher Hodapp<ref name="Hodapp">Freemasons for Dummies - Chapter 13: The Extended Masonic Family - page 249</ref>

===Acknowledgement of ties===
The Order of the Arrow has not addressed directly the question of its present ties to Freemasonry. But on its official website, the OA does not shy away from its past by using the old Masonic terminology similar in a historical context and acknowledging that this terminology may well have come from the Masonic fraternal system:<br />
"In 1921 Wimachtendienk, W.W. (a common way at the time of referring to what we know as the Order of the Arrow) was ready to have a national structure. Patterned similar to the Freemasons, it was decided that each lodge would become a member of the Grand Lodge."<ref name="Grand Lodge OA">{{Cite web |title=First Meeting of the Grand Lodge {{!}} Order of the Arrow, Boy Scouts of America |url=https://oa-bsa.org/history/first-meeting-grand-lodge |access-date=2024-02-29 |website=oa-bsa.org |language=en}}</ref>

"The usage of the term “Grand Lodge” appears to have come from the Masonic fraternal system that also calls their national organization the Grand Lodge."<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Grand Lodge |url=https://oa-bsa.org/history/grand-lodge |access-date=2024-03-22 |website=oa-bsa.org |language=en}}</ref>

It also acknowledges that it was required to change this terminology in the 1930s:<br />
"As part of the agreement made by the OA National Executive Committee with Scouting America to become an official part of the Boy Scout program the OA agreed to change certain terminology effective January 1, 1935 (although not disseminated to local lodges until April 23, 1935). Scouting America was concerned about heavy reliance on Masonic fraternal terms in the Order. So the term “lodge” which is what Masons call their local groupings was replaced with the word “tribe”. Instead of Unami Lodge and Owasippe Lodge, they became Unami Tribe and Owasippe Tribe. Likewise the Masons use of the term “Grand” to describe their highest governing body was changed to “National”. Thus the OA’s Grand Lodge would become known as the National Tribe and the Grand Chieftain would become known as the National Chieftain. Similarly, the term “Degree” became “Honor” and the term “Password” became “Admonition”. The term “Manitou” referring to a deity was completely eliminated from ceremonies, this being done to satisfy religious groups concerns."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Changes in Terminology |url=https://oa-bsa.org/history/changes-terminology |access-date=2024-03-22 |website=oa-bsa.org |language=en}}</ref>

===Addressing concerns from adults===
The OA also recognizes and respects the right of any parent, Scout leader and religious leader to have questions about the OA and its safeguarded ceremonies prior to a scout joining the organization. It provides a formal process to answer these questions with the lodge adviser or his designee. If questions remain after this meeting, the adults will be permitted to read the current ceremony text used in the Ordeal to make an informed decision. As scouts are minors, parents have the final say to allow or disallow their child to join the organization. Some exceptions can also be granted to allow parents to attend the ceremony itself under certain conditions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ask the Chairman - Ordeal Guests/Parents |url=https://oa-scouting.org/article/ask-chairman-ordeal-guestsparents |access-date=2024-11-08 |website=oa-bsa.org |language=en}}</ref>

{{See also|Papal ban of Freemasonry| Christian attitudes towards Freemasonry}}