232 Crossing the Line 



Mr. Henning Henningsen states that the sailors baptism is a form of the 

 world-wide custom of the initiation of youths into the company of grown 

 men. In my opinion these ceremonies are of purification and homage before 

 venturing into the unknown. As they are all similar in form one can, I think, 

 assume that they came into being for the same reason. 



The Crossing the Line ceremony is typical of them all and only minor de- 

 tails differ. 



After King Neptune and his Queen (Amphitrite) with their attendants 

 have come on board over tlie bows and the Captain of the ship has granted 

 them permission to hold their court the poHcemen of the court seek out and 

 bring by force those of the ship's company who have not Crossed the Line 

 before, in front of Neptune. Here the homage and pvirification ( shaving by 

 the barbers and 'ducking' by the bears) ceremonies are carried out. Then 

 a certificate is granted. A typical certificate is as follows : 



Proclamation 



Be it known on this day in Longitude the 



trustworthy and esteemed 



of 



His Britannic Majesty's Ship 



Whilst in search of divers conquests, scrap metal and stray mer- 

 maids, did pass into my Southern Domain and did pay due respects 

 to Queen Amphitrite and Myself. I therefore declare that in future 

 all whales, dolphins, porpoises, sharks, crayfish, jellyfish, flatfish, 

 and tinfish whom he may encounter, shall treat him in a manner be- 

 fitting that of one of my loyal subjects, also that he may be exempt 

 from further homage. 



Neptune 

 Maris Rex 



( The above is a copy of a World War Ï1 certificate and 'scrap metal' refers 

 to enemy ships, and 'tinfish' to torpedoes. ) 



It should be noted that not only the young go through this ceremony but 

 aU people, both yoimg and old who have not crossed the line before. Also 

 it should be noted that nowhere in the certificate is any mention made to 

 the effect that the recipient can now consider himself a true man or a fully 

 qualified sailor, etc. The certificate, apart from stating that the individual 

 has paid homage, is an order by Neptune to the inhabitants of his domain to 

 grant a safe passage. 



It is my opinion that aU these baptismal ceremonies of sailors are carried 

 out to obtain protection and to allay the fear of the unknown that lies beyond 

 a cape or headland, or before venturing into a far sea or ocean. They are 

 carried out symbohcaUy before the presiding god of the new unexplored 



