Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1842-04-16
SHAKING OF HANDS.

In classical mythology the union OF two right
hands was symbol of the goddess Concotdia
but the custom Of joining hands in token Of
good faith and friendship is a social rite OF still
greater antiquity, and of which its almost uni.
versal diffusion, long continued, is strong col.
lateral evidence. There is an ancient example
Of this practice in 2 Kings X 15:-
"And when jehu was departed thence, he
lighted on. Jehonadab the son Rechab, coming
to meet him; and he sauted him and said 10
him, Is thine heart right, as my heart is with thy
heart? And Jehonadab answered. 1t is. If i'll
be, give.me thine hand. And he gave him his
hand"
Virgil often incidentally notices this token Of
amity:-
"Permit me, father, to join mig right hand
10 tb thine and Withdraw not myself from my
embrace so saying, he at the same time watered
his cheeks with flood Of tears. * f. book vi.
lines GOT, s, 81
Again.
"Nght, and this right hand OF thine, be wit.
ness for me thati was not for want Of duty, but
that | cannot bear a mothers tears.-E. TX.
2S8, 9, 90.
Again
"What becomes Of your solemnly plighted
faith, that fond regard you have always shown
for your people, and your right hand of promise,
so often given 10 your knsman Turnus.-E.
VII. 365, 6.
Again.
'lpse pater dertram Anchises, hand multa
I moratus.
Dat juveni, atque animum prgsenti pgnore
frmat. "-E. III. 6l0, II.
And again:-
"lncipe, siqua amino virtus, ct conSere der-
tran. TX al.
So, also, Ovid
''Jurata fdes ubi nunc, commissaque de1tera
dertrG.
Every where, indeed, it has tha same general
signifcancy, as the outward and visible sign o.
good will and esteem, and hence, among al
highly civilized nations it is the first courtesy
and the regular commencemencement OF init
macy among men. No secret association o
phlanthropists has omitted TO make some form
or other Of this representative act, criterion c
membership, and the Order Of Odd Fellows ha
retained it, not so much as check or a test i
. examination as d means whereby her sons ma
safely and unobtrusively declare their flialior
. whenever in Ike appropriate lormalities Of ct
. quette, they are introduced to strangers N |,
to whom we thus avow ourselves be Of the order
, he will probably return the salutaon in kline
. The G. o. the subordinate lodge is strongly e,
- pressive Of union; and, though peculiar, yet
e ,,oto 10 che ,
partof the uninitiated. Nor is it so unnatur;
" but that it may be, and is often actually reciprc
Gated or given by those who may have no susp
= cion that they hold us
II "Grasped in the holy hand OF mystery"
Il (Childe Harold, 1. 10Y
i We ought, therefore, to be ennently carefr
{ against committing ourselves to any one fro
~ whom we receive this characteristic greetin,
u without other and indubtable confirmation th
' unto him it is given TO know the mystery
{ that he may have fellowship with u.s." When
Il case Of this kind occurs, let the stranger
e tried by language less equivoca and ii
= abide the higher tests, tits then time enough
greet him as a brother.
u Then give me thy hand--here's an Odd FL
= lows grip,
n With heart in the grasp and truth on the lip
e The chain that now binds us shall ne'er part
twain,
While Charity, Friendship, and Truth sha
remain.
q Some OF our brethren need to be remind
. that the dialect OF the Order was not framed +
is common, nor even for frequent use in promise
e GUS assemblies, or before an inquisitive world.
"Be neither name nor emblem spread
By pryng stranger TO be read. - Giaour.)
> St.