Delaware State reporter., 1854-08-18

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Others"
Abstract Of the oaths and principles of
the mysterious Ordor Of Know Nothings:
he candidate is first proposed, by mem
Der of the Order, to the Council, without
his knowledge. Three negative votes black
balls him. If elected, he is secretly re-
que5ed to present himself in the ante-room
Of the Council, when an officer appears from
within and administers to him the following
oath:
81 --, do solemnly swear, upon this
sacred volume, or cross, before Almighty
God and these witnesses, that will not di-
yulge any question proposed to me here,
whether l become member of this Order
or not, and that | will never under any cir
cunstances whatever, mention the name of
any person l may see present during any of
the meetings, or that / know such an Order
to b. in existence, and that | will true an
swcr make to every question asked Of me,
so help me God"
Which being seriously taken by the can
didate, the officer proceeds to PROFOUND the
following interogations, before reporting to
+. the Council his fitness for initiation:
81. What is your name? 2. What is
courage? 3. Where is your residence? 4.
In your religious belief are you a Roman
Catholic? 5. Where were you born? 6.
Where were your partents born? Z. Where
were your grand parents born? 8. Did
: either Of your ancestors take a part in the
American revolution? s. 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 i'll the gift
Of the people; and do you promise to vote
for hem to the exclusion Of all aliens and
foreigners, and Roman Catholics in particu-
lar, for all local, State, or government Off
ces' 10. Who invited you to be present
on this occasion 2"
If the candidate S answers are satisfactory
to these questions, he iss taken into the
Council by two officers, led up to the Prcsi-
dent of the Council, who administers the
: following oath in the first degree;
, II, -, voluntarily and freely do
a solemnly promise and swear, before Almighty
! God and these witnesses around me assem-
. blel, that ! will not, under any circumstan-
| ces whatever, divulge or make known to any
. person or persons, either directly or indi-
o rectly, or to any human being other than
/ those / shall know to be good and true
q members of this Order, the name, secrets
= mysteries, or objects Of the same, or cause Oh
i allow the same to be done by others, if within
i my power to prevent the same. Binding my
!. self under the no less penalty than that o.
being excommunicated from the Order, anC
having my name posted and circulated
, thgoughont the different Councils of tn,
q Usrf.lr nc n 81 maj
:. :: God and country, and as being unworth,
4 to be employed, entrusted, countenanced, o
i Supported in any business transaction what
i ever, and as person totally unworthy Of thu
confidence of all good men; and one a
y whom the finger of scorn shall ever bC
:, pointed. furthermore promise that if
: should hereafter be expelled from, or volun
4 tarily leave this Order, | will consider thi
+ obligation as binding out of it as in it. Al
r Of which foregoing L voluntarily and freely
= subscribe to, 50 help me God y
d The candidate is then led to an office
A. called the Judge Advocate, who harrangue
G. him after this manner. There is general,
t, half dozen or more initiated together)
il "My Brothers-The Order which has nov
p received you as members, may with all pro
I'd priety be considered a secret organization
}; 1t is so secret in fact, that if you wer
to placed before legal tribunal, and ther
OF sworn to tell the truth, the whole TRUTH an,
IS nothing but the truth, you could not for you
lives reveal the name Of that band of broth
e. ers among whom your name now stands en-
in rolled and further than this, when yo
he retire from this meeting, you will return
or your families and friends as ignorant as whe
re YOU came, as far as the name Of this Ordc
ay is concerned.
10 "In common with ourselves you Kno'
at Nothing" and let it be your stern resolv
&C. through life, to Know Nothing" that wi
nc at all conflict with the high and exalted dl
er- ties YOU owe to your God, your country an
mt yourselves, so far as regards the preseryatc
'a- of American liberty, which can alone be $
are cur ID to ourselves and our children by Il
ch entire and absolute exclusion of all forcie
'ln influence in those matters which apperta
ui .i to our government policy
'nl After the delivery Of this patriotic a
E dress, the candidate is referred to the
u ~, strllctor, who teaches him the signs al
'i"v grips. and in what manner to obtain entran
uo intd the Council lie is then Master of Il
-. ~ LIST Degree, and signs his name to the reg
~; -, ter. If he behaves well two weeks and
is conceded that he will do to become fl
i oI blodded Know Nothing, abstains from ;
iia' =: blabb outside the Council, his friends pr
~ ~ pose him for the I'd Degree. After electit
hS' to that Degree, he and others are brous
"i .oie in and take the following oath:
| ' al -, do solemnly promise al
,,st s swear before Almighty God, and these W
,tb nesses, that | will not, under any circu
nth nth stances, divulge or make known the nan
tho tho of this Order, or its objects, to any pers'
ska I or persons in the world, unless to tho
md whom may know to belong to this Ordt
IF in good and regular standing
EN-, "And | furthermore promise and swe
$50 that will neither write, print, paint, CT
re- carve, engrave, emboss, stamp, stain,