The "Order of the Engineer" is a fellowship of engineers who are trained in science and technology and dedicated to the practice, teaching ,administration of their profession, while also promoting public recognition and appreciation of the engineering profession.

Initiation into the Order includes commitment to the "Obligation", and acceptance of a stainless steel ring to be worn on the little finger of the working hand. Only those who have met the high standards of professional engineering training or experience are invited to accept the Obligation, which is voluntarily received for life. This commitment is not a trivial act but is, rather, like the wedding of the engineer with his profession. The ring is worn as a visual symbol to attest to the wearer's calling and symbolizes the unity of the profession in its goal of benefitting mankind. The stainless steel from which the ring is made depicts the strength of the profession. Membership in this organization is offered to all graduates of and seniors in ABET-accredited engineering programs. Inductees also pledge their commitment to a code of ethics that reads, in part: "As an engineer, I pledge to practice integrity and fair dealing, tolerance and respect, and to uphold the devotion to the standards and the dignity of my profession, conscious always that my skill carries with it the obligation to serve humanity by making the best use of my Earth's precious natural wealth."

HISTORY OF THE "ORDER OF THE ENGINEER - Link #59"

By Robert M Gagnon, P.E.

• The Order of the Engineer is an independent organization, established to foster pride and responsibility in our crucially important profession, where the lives of the public that we serve depend upon our decisions.




• The tradition of the Order of the Engineer dates back to 1926, but its roots are decended from antiquity.




• Canadian engineers instituted a ceremony in 1926 which included an oath written by the famous writer Rudyard Kipling.




• The Canadian ceremony featured an iron ring on the small finger of the working hand and was called "The Ritual of the Calling of an Engineer".




• US engineers studied this Canadian custom and wanted to emulate it.




• Canadian copyright prevented the use of the Calling of the Engineer outside of Canada. The Order of the Engineer was instituted and the first ceremony was held on June 4th, 1970 at (Cleveland State University Fenn College of Engineering, which became Link #1 of the Order of the Engineer.




• The National Board of Governors of the Order of the Engineer developed an oath of induction, the Obligation of the Engineer.




• The roots of the Obligation date back to an oath developed by Hippocrates, who lived from 460 to 377 BC.




• You may recognize that the Hippocratic oath is also the basis for medical ethical practice.




• Our challenge as engineers is no less compelling.




• In 1974, five members of the Maryland Societv of Professional Engineers, who had been previously inducted into the Order of the Engineer at their respective colleges, applied for permission to conduct an MSPE induction ceremony.




• Permission was granted by the National Board of Governors in 1974.




• The first MSPE ceremony was held to induct 10 members on April 27th, 1974 at Aberdeen Proving Ground during the MSPE state convention




• The ceremony was conducted by Horace Lehneis, P. E.­ MSPE President, Bruce Baty, P.E..­MSPE Past President, and John Handy, P.E.­ MSPE National Director.




• The second MSPE ceremony was held April 24th, 1976, at the Adult Education Center at the University of Maryland.




•  An Official Charter was requested for MSPE on March 28th, 1979, and was granted by the National Board of Governors on April 4th, 1979.




• The MSPE link was the 59th link in the nation.


Link #59 MSPE HISTORY OF THE ORDER's Ring Ceremonies
14th - September 23,2005 at the Miller Senate Office Bldg. NLE Certificates awarded.

13th- February 22, 2005 at the Engineers Club. MDSPE and ASCE Engineers Week Banquet. NLE Certificates awarded.

12th - April 30, 2004 at Miller Senate Office Bldg. MSPE
Annual Banquet.

11th- Nov. 21, 2003 at the Engineers Club, I believe it was at the Baltimore Chapter's Dinner for MathCounts Recognition?

10th - April 27, 2003 at Walter's Art Gallery, MSPE Annual Banquet.

9th - April ?, 2002 at the Chesapeake Foundation's Office (Green Bldg?), MSPE Annual Banquet.

8th - September 13, 2001 at an MSPE Chapter meeting in Easton, (initiated James W. Kerr)

7th - June 26, 2001 aboard the Black Eyed Susan
paddlewheel riverboat, MSPE Annual Banquet

6th - May 30, 1998 - Turf Valley Golf Resort, MSPE Annual Banquet

5th - May 3, 1997 at Ocean City, MD, Annual MSPE Banquet

4th - Dec 8th, 1979 in Woodlawn, MD

3rd - May 5th, 1979 in Ocean City, MD, MSPE Annual Banquet

The March 28, 1979 request for MSPE resulted in Link 59 being granted an Official Charter by the National Board of Governors on April 4, 1979
2nd - April 24, 1976 at the Adult Education Center at the University of Maryland

1st - April 27, 1974 at Aberdeen Proving Ground, MSPE Annual Convention


Prepared by Robert G. Sebastian,
PE 10.10.05



Order of the Engineer Web Site http://www.order-of-the-engineer.org/index.html
If you are interested in being installed in the next ceremony E-Mail mdspe@comcast.net

Link 59 Board of Governors
Bob Sebastian, P.E., Past President MDSPE & Chairman
Carl Walbeck, P.E., Past President MDSPE
Wally North, P.E., Past President MDSPE
Randy Petersen, P.E., Past President MDSPE

MDSPE P.O. Box 12150
Baltimore, MD 21281
Phone 410-675-8967 Fax 410-522-6947
E-Mail mdspe@comcast.net
Comments and suggestions about this web site E-Mail Tom Dixon, P.E. WEBMASTER Personal Web Page