The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1854-06-22
Exposs Of the Know Notlings

30 much MS GSGll SAl4 ~ Ilssrs@Fl m Us
secret organization, Of which everybody aP-
pears to = know nothing" that The follow
ing hit is peculiarly appropos
We received irom friend a few days
since, small pamphlet purpotting to be an
expose of the Know Nothinss, gvlns, as il
is said, their signs, grips, pass words, &c
Believing il may be interesting e many 81
our readers, We viii give synopsis Of the
des ems, rites and ceremonies, as presented
in the pamphlet. though by 80 doing NS
may incur the everlasting dlspleasuse q
the order.
The design (says the book is TO Amer
eanise foreigners-to give each farm from
the unappropfiated public laaas, and vote
in national, state, municipal and other ioea
elections, as soon as he arrives in tbe coan-
try, joins the society snd signs the cousti'
futon Roman Catholics are to receive
special fayors.
Their places Of meeting are thrse-oae
for each degree and all under grouHd--tAe
third apartment being below the Others.
The time al meeting, IN the frs, degree
at 10 o'clock al night, the second at II, and
the third al L. The underground rooms
are brilliantly lighted by each member
holding piece IF chalk in his mouth,
CANDIDATES kforeigners9 for the first de-
gree, are approached hY some one 81 The
Committee as soon Us they come on shore
and asked if they would Ike to lie among
the rulers Of this country Ii the ansRei
be in the affirmative, then they are ques-
TONED as to their religion, Ii found to tie
right, they are informed that as further
qualification, the great toe nal must be
scolloped and the hair cropped. preparatory
for admittaace into the first room. The
candidate il then furnished glth an alF-gan,
and informed OF the locality Of the place, 10
which he at once proceeds, and il admitted
Candidates fer the first degree are drawn
up in The form of hexagon. When / Is
certain that their great toe nails have been
scolioped, curtain rises in the midst Of a
cloud Of charcoal dust and the burning 80 a
bundle of straw, which, when the dust and
smoke clear away, reveals the officers vino
approach wth rapid step TO conduct the
ceremonies. These ccnzls. OIL priest in
robes vf rcd. Judge, Jury. and attorney
general. The priest then says, my children
you have arrived in good time, but before
yen can proceed, you must take en- cath
which must be kept sacred and inyiGlate
through ell tiEae 70 come. Upon assent
being gwen the oath is administered, ard
the attorney general then advances 10 the
jury box, saying, present these chips of
the Old block for your approval and instruc-
ton.
The grip is to take members by the left
hand. turn over the palm, and stretch il with
the middle finger.
The pass word for oil the orders Of the
= - ! 4 f. 800
Malay, and means good society.
Any person wishing the second degree
must consent 10 be blind folded, and il then
told to search for the entrance to the room
below, when he is Precipita.el distance
Of sixty feet. He Is then asked by some
one in whisper, what be is dong there,
when be replies II am going il blind"
Then the reply is made :" 60 it, lie Keeps
on going for three weeks, when his sight Is
extInguished and the bandage falls of. He
continues TO 60 il blind iii he reaches the
third degree room, when bis sight is restored
and he finds himself in the presence OF 20,
600 +" Know Nothings. more u less. ninety
feet under ground He then reads and signs
the rules and regulations Of the order.
Each member is required, after signing
the laws, 10 lay aside his chalk and sing the
following hymn
Sox sllSrsX0Xtg form eKisW.
que bexgipsupnus OK ham rsa5
Mar &c puIBpuln saUibExam OT#,
Lam ffo sum petfsanefum pope
Glib per sinneptHbbanelsmEoles
Freceelsan pofaatISier q RHapo(ter-
Squh--gum-~ DssGsn.-nab--tap.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Iap.
So-aBoB.hc.
Portsmouth ( Ia.) TRANSCRIPT.