Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1846-06-19
VOL. XX......No. 2.

of the signs you have this night Witnessed
| will now invest you with an apron sud COL
lar, the badges Of this Order. Previously,
however, to your taking your seat as mem.
Der Of this Lodge, il becomes my duty to adj
minister to you another soIem and binding
obligation. You will respond Il do 10 each
sentence as | read it.
you solemny promise and swear that you
will never divuIge the secre,s Of this order
to any person or persons, nor for any pur.
pose or pretext Whatever. except to one lie.
gally qualified 10 receive Them
To this respond u do
You solemnly promise and swear that you ,
will vote for an Odd Fellow who may be
candidate for any Office, in preference TO any
other man, without any regard to what pO. I
Ultra party he may be attached
i do
you solemnly promise and swear, that
shonld.yo ever be called upon TO testify IN
court against an Odd Fellow who may be
arraigned for any crime, or any purpose
whatever, that you will studiouslv conceal
any idence that may have IA tendency 10
criminaie him, and swear to any lie that may
be deemed calculated 10 clear him.
u do -.-
you solemnly promise and swear, that
Shouldn't be deemed advisable by this Order
at any time to substitute monarchial for a
republican form of government, in the United
States, or to change any set of measures or
officers. that YOU will give your vote and in.
fluence for that purpose, and studiously con.
ccal the matter from the public
Il do
you solemnly promise and swear, that
should it be required of you at any time to
take the life of an Odd Fellow who may have
divulged the secrets Of this Order, that you
will punc,ually perform the same TO the best
Of your ability
NO, wretches!' cried |. Have you not
already exIorled oa,hs aud blasphemies
enough from me, your miserable victim, with
ont requiring me to murder my follow crea-
-tures?' ...-..
Instantly twenty daggers were pointed at
my body, and was told ii was now to late
to decline, and that must take the oath or
die Deienceess, and surrounded by instru-
ments of death on all sides, there was no
possible chance of escape. Worlds would !
have given had never heard the name Of
Odd Fellows. Curses, which dare not
hcaped upon the head OF him, who, under the.
garb Of friendship, had brought me 10 that
awful place.
r %! thongM I, that had listened to tho
advice and en,reaies Of my friends that
warned me to beware of secret societies -
Now | am ruined forever! mus. either die
10 this accurscd den, unhpard of by the world
, OF consent to bear the mark of Cam, and be.
, come devil incarna,e 20 wretch that
, am, would that never had been born !
As these thoughts were lifting across my
mind, | was interrupted by the presiding Of
,, fccr, who remarked that five minutes only
would be given me to decide whether would
take the oath or die. Enraged at the treat.
ment which | had received, shuddering at
the thoughts of the awful oa,hs had aIready
taken, determined TO participate no farther
III their inquiries. Accordingly, replied
that they might inhict what fortunes they
pleased but as for me, would not consent
to shed the blood of fellow creature, when
dictated by them, or any man, or set of men
on earth.
Ii was finally agreed that should be
. thrown into the dungeon until next meeting
night, aud then if did not consent 10 take
the OATH | should be put 10 death.
A trap door in the middle of the floor was
nov taken up. A most horrid stencil arose
from the space below, winch seemed filled
with the blackness of darkness. I was now
taken by two persons dressed IN black gowns
and masks, and thrown headlong down among
: skulls, and loads. and kissing serpen,s.
was somewhat stunned by the fall, and
,woke, finding myself at The foot of the bed
from which had fallen during the horrible
DREAM