The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1854-06-22
Exncsa cf the Know Ne,l!ngs

SO much mas lpctl SalL IN fsS@F1 ~ It's
secret organization, OF which every body ap-
pears to know nothing that the follow
ing hit is peculiarly apProPos
We received from friend few days
since, small pamphlet purPoEtlng z be an
expose Of the Know Nothings, giving, as il
is said, their signs, grips, pass words, 81,
Believing it may be interesting 10 many OF
our readers. we Will give synopsis vi the
des ems, rites and ceremonies, as presented
in the pamphlet. though by 50 doing -
may incur the everlasting disPseasufe oi
the order.
The design (says tie boek,l Is 10 Amer
canise fore gners-to give each farm from
the unappropfiaied public lands, and vote
in national, state municipal and other LEGAL
elections, as soon IS he arrives in tpe coaa-
try. joins the society and signs the eensti-
tuition Roman Catholics are 70 receive
sPeeis! favoTs
Their places Of meeting are ihree-oae
for each degree-and al under ground--tAe
third apartment being below the others.
The time 81 meeting, in the first degree
q, 10 o'clock at night, the second a !, and
the third Ut II The underground rooms
are brilliantly lighted By each member
holding piece ii chalk ii his mouth.
Candidates <foreigners1 for the first -
gree. are approached ny some one ot the
Committee as soon IS they GENE or shore
and asked If they would Ike t. lie among
the rulers Of this country. II the answer
be in the affirmative, then ihey are ques-
toned as 10 their religion. Ii found 10 BE-
right, they are informed that a. q further
qualification. the great tee nalt must be
scollopei and the hair cropped, preparatory
for admit,anee into the first room. The
candidate is then furnished ..th an air-gans
and informed Of the locality Of the place. 70
which he at oace proceeds, and il admitted.
Candidates for the frs; degree are drawn
up in the form Of hexagon. When il Il
certain that their great toe nails have been
scolioped, curtain rises in the midst Of 4
cloud Of charcoal dus. and the burning IF a
bundle Of straw, which, when the dust and
smoke clear away, reveals the officers, who
approach with rapid step 10 conduct the
ceremonies. These consist Of priest IN
robes vf red, 4 Judge, JURY, aud attorney
general. Tie priest then says, iny children
YOU have arrived IN good time, but before
you can proceed. you must take an oath
which must be kept sacred and inFiclate
through all time to come. UpJn assent
being given the oath is administered, ard
the attorney general then advances To the
jury box. saying, present these chips Of
the old block for yolr approval and iastrlc-
ton.
The grip is 10 take members by tie left
hand. turn over the palm, and streteh il with
the middle finger.
The pass word for oil the orders d the
first degree, i : cody derived fram the
Malay, and means good society.
Any person wishing the second degree
must consent 10 be blind folded, and i then
told to search for the entrance ta the room
below, when he il precipitatea distance
Of sixty feet He is then asked by some
one IN whisper. what he i dong there,
when he replies IL am going it blind. "
Then the reply il made go II. He keeps
on going for three weeks, when his sight is
extlnguished and the bandagr falls of. lie
continues 10 60 it blind ill he reaches the
third degree room, when his sight IL restored
and he finds himself in the presence ef 70,
600 Know Nothings,' more or 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 slixrsxo1tg fam exj3u,
Cue b5Zuipsupfus OK raiH
Mar &c puinpUrn Squib0Xam afg,
Lam MO sam petisAneiam pope
Glib per siHns-,f nlbaaelaIuwat=r.
FriceeelsaBpaniat4si0rlnu@ poster.
squb-gom-besoin-Hsb-