Juliette (Daisy) Low’s Candle Ceremony
Attributed to Lori Roach of Totem Council and adapted by Harriett MacVeigh, GSCB

Long ago, a special ceremony was formed when Juliette Low wanted her original troop members to carry a special spark with them as their Scouting group broke up. Whatever their reasons for leaving, Juliette knew that no other group would ever be quite the same. As the girls stood in a circle holding candles (that they had made), Juliette knew what spark she wanted to pass on. Her ceremony went like this: She lit her candle and said, "With this candle, I give you each something very special to pass on. As I light the candle on my right, I ask each of you to light the candle to your right and pass it on. I want you to carry this thought with you wherever you go. This is the ETERNAL FLAME for Girl Scouts. Each of you, after having a lit candle before you, will repeat the Girl Scout Promise with me, then pause and recall a few of the things we have done together as a group. I will hold my candle up, and as I do so, you will all raise yours and we will blow them out together. Before we separate from our circle, I want to ask you to keep this candle as a very special candle. It is not to be used for any purpose except passing on the ETERNAL FLAME. You may use it in other Girl Scout ceremonies, such as camps, encampments, campfires, bridging, or court of awards ceremonies. I am glad we were able to start a special tradition based on our ETERNAL FLAME."

As Juliette Low instructed us, We will conclude our meeting tonight with our own ETERNAL FLAME ceremony. Remember to be especially careful with the handling of the candles that we will use in our ceremony tonight. Please light them only when you are instructed to do so and please keep them away from clothing, long hair, or other flammable material.

At this time, please take the song sheets from your packets, place them in front of you, and you will have the words ready to sing at the correct moment in the ceremony. PAUSE

Once a spark is ignited, only three things are needed to achieve a roaring flame. The first is Tinder - those tiny offerings that give life to the embers. The second is Kindling - the larger, continuous "food" to keep the blaze alive, and the third is Fuel - the large, substantial contributions that supplement and feed the growing fire. Our Council has the spark - an idea to help our properties grow and develop in ways that will welcome Scouts, while enhancing and protecting the environment. Our Membership has the three kinds of nourishment in the form of service, donations, and on-going support to keep the flame of the love of Scouting eternally glowing and growing for our Scouting family. Following Juliette’s lead I will ask a Board Member or Senior Girl Scout at each table to take the green candle and - at my signal-light it from the center candle that represents the fire that burns in the hearts of Girl Scouts everywhere. These centerpieces were lit tonight with candles that can be traced back to Juliette Low. At each seat, Scouts in attendance tonight should find, on their table, a candle and a holder made from a block of wood- but not just any block of wood! The four sides of the cubes represent the Council’s four Camps; Sandy Pines, Camp Todd, Country Center, and Grove Point. These blocks have been lovingly cut from the wood of retired platform tents at our camps by our own Ranger Earl Knight.. On each side of the cube you will find the symbol of a source of light and on the bottom is a picture of the tent platforms from which our candle holders have been recycled.. At this time, holders of the green candles, should light them from the center flame. Holders of the green candles should now move around the table to let the holder of each small candle light theirs, letting that flame represent the spark that each of us can use to keep the ETERNAL FLAME of Girl Scouts burning ever brighter.... a legacy for all future Girl Scouts. As we continue to light our candles from the green candle, we will all sing together, "This little light of mine."

Finally, when all candles are lit, let us stand and hold up the Girl Scout Sign with your right hand (three fingers, symbolizing not just the three parts of the promise, but also the three things needed to achieve a roaring flame), while holding the glowing candle in your left, and together, join in saying the Girl Scout Promise followed by singing the songs found in your packets, Each Campfire Lights Anew and Pass It On.

(When the song is ended,) "At this time, please extinguish your candles. As we leave tonight, let each of us carry a small, beginning flame in our hearts, to light, in turn, others’ hearts and minds with the sparks from which all great fires begin."

"Please remain standing for the retiring of the flags and the singing of Taps."

"Color guards, advance."

(When they are in place,) call "Color guards, honor your flags."

"Color guards, Retire the flags."( The flag of our country is lifted first, followed by the reverse order of the posting- WA. CBGSC, DE, MD, VA.)

"Color guards, dismissed." (The flag of our country leaves first, followed by the World Assoc., then the Council flag, then the Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia flags.)

(When the flags are out of sight,) " Please join hands with those at your table and let us conclude our ceremony this evening with the singing of Taps."


SONGS

GRACE:
Sung to the tune of Let Me Call You Sweetheart
(Adapted by H. MacVeigh)

Help us build a future
For our Girl Scouts, true.
Help us start the embers
That will blaze anew.
We can spark the Promise
With our faith and love.
Guide us with the wisdom
From your constant love.
________________________________________________________

This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine. (Repeat three times.)
Let it shine, let it shine, all the time.
Everywhere I go...I’m gonna let it shine. (Repeat three times)
Let it shine, let it shine, all the time.
All around the world...I’m gonna let it shine. (Repeat three times)
Let it shine, let it shine, all the time.
__________________________________

Rise Up, Oh Flame

Rise up, oh flame, by thy light glowing.
Show to us beauty, vision and joy.

(Repeat three times.)
_______________________________

Each Campfire Lights Anew

Each campfire lights anew
The flame of friendship true.
The joy we’ve had in knowing you
Will last our whole life through.
And as the embers die away
We wish that we might ever stay.
But since we can not have our way,
We’ll come again another day.
___________________________________________

Pass It On Our Version (Adapted by H. MacVeigh)

It only takes a spark It only takes a spark
To get a fire going. To get a camp-fire growing.
And soon all those around And soon, all of our sites
Will warm up in it’s glowing. Will fill to over- flowing.
That’s how it is with Scouting That’s how it is with sharing
Once you’ve experienced it. Once you’ve experienced it.
We spread our love to everyone We share our wealth through caring.
We want to pass it on. We want to light the way.