Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1854-04-20
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A society or association of secret political
character, under the name of Know Moth
ings, has recently sprung into existence in
New York The name is assumed to desip-
nate the secret character Of the body to the
uninsiated, to whom, Of course, every member
Of the fraternity is to be a : Know Nothing ,
in regard to the objects, the organization, and
the motives Of the assqpiation. ri oi,.:
The following statement in regard to the
formation of the association here, its princi-
pies and its intentions, together with its rules,
regulations, signs, passwords, &c., &c., Of
the order we have every reason to believe
entirely and minutely accurate.
lol The objects of the Know Nothings,' are
two-fold-part religious, part political; and
the end aimed at, the. disfranchisement Of
adopted citizens, and their exclusion from Of
fee, and perpetual war upon the Catholic re-
ligion. With these for cardinal principles,
the qualifications for membership and brother
hood are easily determined. Hslg a7a4
lst. The applicant for admission to wig
wan, must be native born citizen, of native
born parents, and not Of Catholic religion.
Cd. To renounce all previously entertained
political leanings, and cooperate exclusively
with the new order t IVY H1yvr
Sd. That he will not vote for any man for
Office who is not a native citizen of the United
States, or who may be disposed, if elected, to
place any foreigner or Catholic in any Office
Of enlolument r.trust. aassf.r w ssaa
The passwords and signs for admission
into the' wigwam' of the Know Nothings,
are as follows: The applicant raps at the outer
door an indefinite number OF times, asking at
the close, in low, whispering voice, What
meets here, to-day, Tor night, as the case may
be ~ The interrogated Immediately replies,
: / don't know to which the applicant for ad-
mission responds, 9 ] am one,' and forthwith
is admitted to second door, at which he gives
four distinct raps, when the door being opened
he whispers to its attendant, Thirteen, and
then advances into the body of the lodge.
If disposed to leave before the adjournment
Of the Lodge, the member leaving salutes the
President, then the Vice President, by first
placing his right hand on his heart, then let
ting it fall to his side, whispering to the guar
dian as he retirest thirteen srsa. t4f lr4
If member requires the assistance of a
brother when mixing promiscuously with the
public, he places the righs fore6ugor upon she
left eyebrow, as if in the act of scratching,
looking directly at the person whose attention
he desires to attract, when, if the person be a
member, he is bound to respond Immediately
by similar sign. If it be desired to know Of
stranger whether he is of the initiated, on
shaking hands with him the middle finger is
placed upon the lowest joint of his little fin
ger, next the wrist, with gentle pressure
when, if he is member, he will ask Where
did you get that = to which he will rejoin,
don't know : and the querest will end by re-
plying / don't know either.' aaE iesr -
Nothing concerning the association is to be
committed to writing, or published and the
most profound silence and secrecy are to be
observed by every Know Nothing outside I;
but every thing inside the Wigwam is impair
ted Unfortunately to members. ia 9d n1a.
As no records are kept, or publications
made by the Association, the plan notifying
members OF any emergency requiring their
speedy assembling is by scattering small
square pieces of white paper over the ban
quettes and public thoroughfares, and by nail
ing them to posts, doors, or other places acces-
sible to the public.
Every member, on admission, swears by
holding up his right hand, and pledges him.
self to do all in his power to put down foreign
influence, and particularly the Catholic reli-
gion, and in no case to vote for any person for
any Office who is not native American citi-
zen : and no one, with some exceptions, is e[
igible to membership, unless he and both his
parents are native born.-Neto Orleans True
Delta.