The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1854-10-14
22S
Something for the People.
AYTrue and Veritable Account of the Organiza-
ton, Forms, Ceremonies &c, of the Order of
KnOw-NOthiNgS. ..'.

L. Jefferson Lapel, Esq, one OF the Ma
tional officers of the American Order or Sc
cret Society of Know Nothings, called upon
us, yesterday, on special business. He says
that the members of the Order throughout
the Union, have felt themselves deeply ag
grieved by some pretended exposures of their
association, put forth to the world through
the partizan press, and at late meeting of
she National Organization of the Society,
held in a Western city, the subject was
brought forward and discussed. While the
members were aware, that strict secresy, in
relation to everything connected with the
Order is desirable, yet, as the objects of the
Association are purely patriotic, it was the
unanimous opinion of the members of the
National Camp that no harm could result
from voluntary publication of the forms
and ceremonies Of the Order. The High
Adjutant was then instructed to furnish US
with copy of the ritual and to give us per
mission to copy such portions as we deem
OF interest to the people. They have certain
secrets which they cannot, of course, give
20 the world, such as passwords, signs, &c.
These we would not publish if we could.
ORGANIZATION OF THE KNOW NoTHINGs.
The organization of this mysterious order,
which has spread with the rapidity of light
ming throughout the Union, partakes of
military character The ordinary bodies
are called regiments; the State bodies, com
posed of delegates from each regiment in
The State, battalions; and the national body,
composed of representatives from the battal-
Ions, is called the Grand Camp. The men,
oers OF the regiment are regularly divided
into messes," and each mess has peculiar
duty to perform. The officers of a regiment
are nearly those of the United States service,
and in the other bodies they are of higher
grade, the highest officer being called Ma
jor General. The object of the Order, as set
forth in the ritual, is the restoration of O.
pure administration Of the government; and
70 this end it aims to accomplish the follow
ing:
lst. To discard politicians of every char
acter, and to fill all offices with men of tried
integrity, who are to be selected, and if pos
sible, elected, without their own knowledge,
and who will therefore enter upon their
public duties, without being embarrassed by
obligations.
ID. To put none but Americans in office,
as men born and reared upon the soil have
undoubtedly the interests of the country
more at heart, than those who have sought
1t merely as an asylum from oppression.
Sd. To oppose all influences tending to
change in the least, the time-honored insti-
.utiops of our country, and to sustain at all
risks, universal system of public free
schools, religious federation, and a thorough
enforcement of all laws.
4th. To have our government, and all its
officers thoroughly republican, particularly
those holding positions abroad.
5th. Economy among ofice-holders, but
hbarality in establishing and sustaining
public institutions.
The above, according to the ritual, are the
sole objects of Know Nothingism. One ap-
parent inconsistency ought to be explained.
1t processes to uphold religious toleration,
while it proscribes Roman Catholics from
membership. In one Of the " charges this
is overcome by the assertion, that the church
has officially prescribed all secret associa-
tions, not entirely composed of Catholics,
and that no member Of that church could
honestly become a Know-Nothing And
further that the governors of that church,
supported by large portion of the member
ship, have assailed and endeavored to over
throw some of our bulwarks of liberty"
and that, therefore, all who hold to the
church must be looked upon with suspicion.
HOW MEMBERS ARE PROPOSED
Members are not allowed to ask persons
20 join the Order, but proceed in this wise
Knowing that a neighbor or an acquaintance
is an merriam in senli ment he nronoeac h;