Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1854-08-25
good and true members oithls order.

and all other obligations which ] hav,
previously taken IN this Order shal
be kept through lie sacred and invio
late. ] also promise and swear .iha
whenever ! may hear the sign or SCI
-he signal OF distress given by an,
brother of this Order, | will hasten a
once to his immediate relief At tn,
peiilof my own life. ~
4 also promise and swear that
will ever contribute my means M | cal
spare without personal inconvenience
10 the Advancement OF our views and
to the extension Of American princi'
Plies through the medium OF tho Grand
Council al tho State of--------."p = "a
+ ~ also promise and swear ,hatal
will never prrmita spurious orr clandes'
| tine t,cmber OF this Order TO partici'
pate in any OF the benefits or the ad'
vantnges thercof. and that will new
encourage, countenance, uphold,re'
cogllize or support u spurious or clan
desune council Of this Order ~,
"To Nil these and those | do most
sincerely promise. declare and swear.
binding myself under no less Il upcnal,y
than that Of having my grave tram
pied on by foreigners. and TO have my
memory cursed ny my children and
children's children. as a traitvrto their
welfare. to my country and to my God.
- A
SO help mo God and witness and obli-
CATION. "sfIss s7<9asffH sts sla
Whether the above oathis true or
false. we will not pretend to say. 1t
will do TO create talk, anyhow, and IL
may help Catholics. and the pandercrs
to them. to hate the organization that
threatens TO Americanize America.
But. after all. nobody, will care
whether the fellowsswear little or big,
everybody knows to what intent the
organization exists. What we feel
most interest in. is how 10 know one of
them when we meet them. and how
TO get into their lodges. The follow
ing from the same paper will explain.
Let the credulous try IL: hasfgae
The first giip Of the Know Nothing
order Is Ms follows-ss near as il can
be described without having had any
practice in the cabalistic art:
In shaking hands you take the per.
son with whom you are shaking in the
usual mode. and press the end Of the
middle finger on The side Of he knuck-
le joint Of the little finger Of the per-
son with whom you arc In the shaking
hands. After you have given this
gentle Know Nothing squeeze. you
let yocr hand fall gently by your side,
when the person who gave the grip
says where did you get that" If
your companion is Know Nothing he
will reply, II don't know. do ynu?"
II he Is not a member Of the order he
will in all probability. when you ask
the question say. "get what?" You
will then turn i oil by referring to
some part Of his dress. and say. "lh.ll
breastpin. that coat" or some like mr.
ticle. selecting any item about him
which would be likely TO attract slien-
ton. y. Ii the person accosted had In
his mind any idea OF fbeeoming a Know
Nothing, AZ many have from mvre Gu
riosiIy, you will most likely be struck
with the peculiar shape OF his head.
and its appvndages, in which case We
presume the most appropriate reply
would be CHOSE long cars" The in.
siructions in this grip are given imme.
distely after the oath is taken in the
lodge. The oath. which We have not
yet given in full. but will do. After
the candidate is instructed in the grip,
the President gives him lhe pass. word,
by which he isenabled toenicra lodge.
which passwords is, Traitor beware
of No IS.
. On entering lodge you go TO the
outside door and make any number OF
raps you please. to draw the attention
OF the guardian. who. when he hears
the rapping, puts an ear to an apper-
ture in the door. and you ask in low
voice what meets here to'night?'--
The guardian answers. i don't know
you then give him the first word of
The pass. word, which is TRAITOR" "a
very proper reply. and may be con.
strued 10 mean In Pollock and Con-
RAIDS cases, rs in all others, Traitor
to your oath TO tn, constitutou--to
your country and to your duty to your
God." This word being correctly
given. you pass 10 the inner door. where
you give four distinct raps, and when
the guardian appears you give the bal
ance of the password. which is. "Be-
ware of No. 49, This being correct,
you are permitted to pass in Yougo
10 the center Of the room and address
the President Vice President, which
is done by placing your left hand upon
your right breast, and letting your
hand fall carelessly TO your side.