~Camp Saint Andrews - YMCA Raggers~

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YMCA Ragger Program

The Story of The Rag

It was many years ago when a young disabled boy sat on the sidelines at a YMCA camp. He cheered his friends on, always wearing a smile and shared all he had to give, his Christian ideals and happy way of looking at everything, with everyone. On the last night of camp, a bandanna was tied around his neck as a humble symbol from the campers to recognize his Christ-like way of living. From this small beginning comes the tradition of a little "rag" of cloth, today called the Rag. The Rag represents the desire of its wearer to follow the examples Christ set for us all. What does the Rag signify? The Rag is an outward symbol of an inner challenge you wish to accept. It is a piece of cloth to remind us of the challenge we accept at camp and continue to carry out while we are away from camp. The Rag is a personal and voluntary way of challenging yourself to improve your way of life. Your promise of improvement is between you and God. The responsibility to live up to this challenge is yours. God will see your success in fulfilling this desire to live a better life; your family, friends, and anyone you meet should see it, too.

The History of The Rag

It started off as a simple blue bandana, a blue kerchief that would signify excellence for health habits, promptness, cheerfulness, morals, trustworthiness, industry and helpfulness.
In the Summer of 1914, 25 of those blue bandanas were presented to boys (at first only boys received it) at a YMCA summer camp near what is now Camp Loma Mar, a branch of the Alameda County, California YMCA, in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains. It was here, about sixty miles south of San Francisco, that the tradition began. In the same year, two outstanding boys received Red Rags as advanced recognition. They were all called out at a campfire and bandanas tied around their necks.
Thomas Caldwell, then a 38-year-old boys’ secretary for the Oakland YMCA, used the kerchiefs for the first time and called them "rags." This was to signify that in themselves the kerchiefs or bandanas had no value, rather they were a symbol of the qualities a boy had demonstrated. The first Blue Rags were presented to boys living up to certain standards in camp. He conceived the idea of giving a blue bandana as an award for character attributes such as good health, morals, helpfulness, cheerfulness, promptness and dependability. All campers could be recognized socially for constructive attitudes and cooperation - This idea contrasted with the San Francisco 'Y' policy of presenting an athletic award for achievement in certain specified athletic activities.
In 1915, the story of King Arthur and his Knights suggested a ceremony of "Knighting" the boys with Rags, and Tom Caldwell was called the "King" of Raggers. Ray Ogden, Associate Boys, Secretary of the Oakland YMCA, suggested "I would be true" as the Raggers' Creed and it was adopted. The ceremony was given on a mountain peak near camp.
In 1916, D. F. Ewings and C. F. Martin wrote a Red Rag ceremony.
In 1918, Ralph Cole, State Secretary, visited the Oakland 'Y' camp, recognized the values in the system and suggested the plan to other camp and thus, is regarded as the man who took the idea across state lines. There were five young men planning to go into YMCA work including Louis Meillette, Bob Hutchinson, and Roland Ure. Tom Caldwell wrote a White Rag ceremony for them, and its future use was generally restricted to those going into Christian work. Later, at a special ceremony in November 1924 in Los Angeles, Louis Meillette presented Tom Caldwell with a White Rag as "King of Raggers".
In 1932, the Los Angeles YMCA under Homer Gould, suggested a new method of telling the boys his selection for membership. Up to that time, boys were called out at campfire and given a list of requirements to learn for a ceremony the following day or so. The new idea was to have all the Raggers called together by the Director and the list read to them, then volunteers were to look up the individuals chosen and bring them to the ceremonial spot without having to learn any material.
The Gold Rag was conceived as a step for 15-year olds and over, and the idea was to encourage study of concern for the economic and social order, to emphasize the inclusive gospel of all races and creeds, and economic groups. The World Service Program of the YMCA was tied in with this ceremony.
The Purple Rag was conceived as a new step for 18-year olds and over. It was an advancement and challenge to the good life for those men who were not going into full time Christian service.
Sheldon Swenson, Conley Davis and others proposed that the Rag should be a challenge available to every camper who sincerely accepted it. Acceptance required sharing with a Counselor the meaning associated with a specific color Rag and how it tied into the candidate's personal needs.
The Rag has had a long and eventful life and it has changed in many ways, but it as still an instrument to aid in the building of Christian character at YMCA summer camps. The real test of the Rag is in how its members conduct themselves in the year round program of the YMCA, and in their home, school, church and community.
It is estimated that since 1914 several hundred thousand youngsters in YMCA camps have been led blindfolded to a predetermined spot to have triangular kerchiefs tied around their necks in a simple ceremony. And it is at Raggers' Point, a permanent fixture at YMCA camps around the world, that youngsters still receive the rag today. Usually built of rocks at remote and private view sites, they are rarely destroyed. One somewhat unusual site was a ceremony in Austria just a few yards from the Hungarian border. A group of touring high school students accepted the rag with communist armed guards viewing the ceremony through a barbed wire barricade.
The design of the rag blends four well-known shapes - the traditional YMCA triangle; the square - to signify the four-square life; the circle - a circle of friendship; and the cross - the symbol of Christianity.

The Meaning of The Rag

We refer to our rags as rags because that is exactly what they are --- worthless pieces of cloth. You couldn't sell your rag; it isn't worth much money. Your rag has only the meaning YOU give it. The Rag program is open to people of all religious faiths.


The Rag is Not...	The Rag is...
A decoration An award for achievement A reward A "pat " on the back Measuring myself by others "I AM FIRST" Self-centered I am good, or being good Knowing about God, talking about God Sight (seeing things as they are) A status symbol	A symbol A challenge for growth A responsibility A "push" forward Measuring myself by God "I AM THIRD" God-centered I want to be better Knowing God, talking to God Vision (seeing things as they ought to be) A personal calling to humility


THE RAGGERS' CREED I would be true, for there are those who trust me, I would be pure, for there are those who care, I would be strong, for there is much to suffer, I would be brave, for there is much to dare. I would be friend to all, the foe, the friendless, I would be giving and forget the gift, I would be humble, for I know my weakness, I would look up and laugh, and love and lift.


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