The Order of the Arrow was founded during the summer of 1915 at Treasure Island, the Philadelphia Council Scout camp. A young man named E. Urner Goodman was selected to serve as camp director of Treasure Island for the summer. Another young man, Carroll A. Edson, was appointed assistant director in charge of commissary. Preparing for camp, Goodman read several books about camping. One book described a summer camp's society that was created to perpetuate the camp's ideals. Goodman and Edson agreed that they wanted to establish a similar society at their camp. Goodman wrote the original Ordeal ceremony and performed it on July 16, 1915.