The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1854-09-12
Fro the Richmond Wing.
THE KNOW N0THINGs---THEIR SECRETS OUT

and principles of tho mysterious and growing
order of Know Nothings The Examiner ex-
presses the greatest confidence in the sincerity
and veraciiy of its correspondent, and says it
has great reason to believe that tho picture he
gives of this new and strange association, is
faithful and accurate.
The writer informs us that their associations
are known among themselves by the name of
Know Nothing Council; as, for instance, "E
Order of TO-" and that the term Know Moth
ing is merely for outsiders. He tells us, also,
that they adopt as few written formula in
their Councils as possible; but they use a
pamphlet containing their short constitution
and bylaws, their method Of procedure in
| initiating members. the duty of officers, in
structions to the initiated candidates TO the lst,
I'd and 3D. degrees: in short, oil their princ-
Piles and objects. Their oatbs, it is supposed,
are the same throughout the United States.
There is also said to be Grand Council for
each State. Subordinate Councils may be in
stituted in any locality in State, by charter
from the Grand Council, preceded by a pc
| tition for the same from thirteen citizens, who
are initiated by travelling agent. They pay
Sl2. receive charter and seal, and go to work.
1t is further asserted that they aim at all the
poper, and not merely at the balance Of po,eer,
us has been generally supposed
| For the instruction of the reader upon an
interesting and much vexed question, and one
| that bids fair to exert some influence in the
| political affairs of the country. We surrender a
| large portion of our space to the revelation
made by the Examiners correspondent, which
we subjon:
ABSTRACT OF THE OATHs AND PRINCIPLES OF
| THE MYSTERIOUS ORDER OF THE KNOW NoTH-
INGs.-The candidate is first proposed by a
member of tho Order, to tho Council. without
his knowledge. Three negative votes black-baH
him. If elected, he is secretly requested to
present himself in the ante room of the Coun-
Gil. when an officer appears from within and
administers 10 him the following oath:
"I-,H do solemnly swearN upon this So cred
| volume Tor cross. before Almighty God and
these witnesses,B that will not divulge any
question proposed to me here,U whether be-
come member of this order or not;N and that
| will noverl under any circumstances whatev-
| er,l mention The name Of any personII / may see
presentn during any Of The meetingsN or that
knoio suci an Order TO be in eristence,n and that
| will truo answer make to every question
asked Of neil SO help mo God"
Which being seriously taken by the candi-
date, the officer proceeds TO PROFOUND the fol-
lowing interrogations, before reporting to the
Council his fitness for limitations:
.
age? 3. Where is your residence? A. In
your religious belief are you Roman Catho-
lie? s. Where were you born? 6. Where
wero your parents born? Z. Where were your
grand parents bornl 8. Did either of your
ancestors ever take part in the American
Revolution! O. Are you willing to use all the
influence you possess in favor of native born
American citizens, for all offices of honor, trust
or profit in the gift Of the people; and do you
promise to voto for them to the exclusion of
aliens and foreigners, and Roman Catholics in
particular, for all local. State or Government
Offices: 10. Who invited you TO be present
on this occason1
If the candidates answers arc satisfactory,
to these questions, he is taken into the Coun-
Gil, by two officers, led up to tho President of
tho Council, who administers the following
oath in the lst Degree:
81, ,-voluntarily and freely do solemn
y promise and swear, before Almighty God
and these witnesses around me assembled, that
will not, under any circumstances whatever,
divulge or make known TO any person or per-
sons, either directly or indirectly, or to any
human being other than those I shall know to
bo good and true members of this Order, the
name, secrets or mysteries, or objects of the
same, or cause or allow the same to be done by
othors, if within my power to prevent tho same
that of being excommunicated from the Order,
and having my name posted and circulated
throughout the different Councils of the Or
der as a traitor and perjurer TO both my God
and country, and as being unworthy to be
employed, entrusted countonanced, or sup
ported i'm any business transaction whatever,
and as n person totally unworthy of the conf
dence of all good men, and one at whom the
finger of scorn shall ever be pointed.
furthermore promise, that if ! should ever here
after be expelled from, or voluntarily leave this
Order, will consider this obligation as bind
ing out of it as in IL. All of which foregoing
voluntarily and freely subscribed to, SO help
me Godr'
The candidate is then led to an officer called
tho Judge AdUocate, who harangucs him after
this manner. (rhere are generally halfa doz
en- or more initiated together.)
"My Brothers: The Order which has now
received you as Members, may with oil propri-
city bc considered Secret in fact, that if you
were placed before legal tribunal and there
sworn to tell the truth, tho whole truth, and
nothing but tho truth, you could not for your
lives reveal the name of that band of brothers
among whom your name now stands enrolled:
and further than this. when you retire from
this meeting, you will return to your families
and friends as ignorant as when you came, as
far y the name of this Order is concerned.
"In common with ourselves you "Know
N'othing." and let il be your stern resolve thro
life 10 "Know Nothing that will at all conflict
with tho high and exalted duties you owe to
your God. your country and yourselves, so far
as regards tho preservation of American ibcr-
ty, which alone can be secured TO ourscl,e es
and our children by the entire and absolute
exclusion of foreign influence in those matters
which appertain to our government policy"
After tho delivery of this patriotic address,
tile candidate is referred to the Instructor, who
teaches him the signs add grips, and in wha,
manDor TO obtain entrance into the Council
He is then Master of the lst Degree. and signs
his namc to the register. If no behdres ,ceiI
two weeks, and it is conceded that he will do
to become full booded Know Nothing-ab-
stain from all blab outside the Council. his
friends propose him for the I'd Degree. After
election to that Degree, he and others are bro't
in and tako tho following oath:
81, do solemnly promise and swoar
before Almighty God, and these witnesses,
that will not under any circumstances. di-
vulgc or make known the name Of this Ordcr