Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1854-04-13

in our immediate viciGity-are the sub.
ject Of 10 little comment and speculation.
What will they do nextY is the anx-
ius enquiry Of many an ambitious poll.
tictnn, who recognizes no oil er organi.
zation than that Of one oi the old po-
li,icnl parties. One thing is pretty
certain. that il the Know Nothinga' $50
called, perhops they are known Eve
rythings-like iucus non iucendo) ex-
tend and perfect their organization, they
will IN time reduce the other parties 10
something resemble! ! skeletons. And
there are indications enough that the
organization is excluding, and rapidly,
in different sections Of the country. The
reader therefore, may like TO know
something oil this new and secre, organ
iza,ion. and to crafty his desire in this
regard, we copy the following IRON the
New Orleans Delta oi q late date
Boston Chronicle.
The objecu Of tho 'Know Nothings,'
are rwoIold-par, religious, part politi-
cal and The ends aimed at, the dis
franchisemen, oi adopted citizens, and
perpetual war upon the Catholic rei
gion. With these cardinal principles,
the qualifications for meT bership and
brotherhood are easily determined.
lst. The applicant Tor admiss to
'wigwam' mus, he native born ciu.
zen. of naive horI parents, and no, Of
the Catholic religion.
2d. To renounce all previously en-
tertGined political leanings, and co.ope-
rate exclusively with the new order.
Sd. To hold neither political, civir
nor religious intercourse with any per-
son who is a Catholic but, on the
contrary, 10 use all available means to
abolish the political nnd religious priv
ileges he may at present enjoy.
4,h. That he will not vote Tor any
man Tor Office who is not native ci''
Zen Of the United States, or who may
he disposed, il elected, 10 place any
foreigner or Catholic in any office oi
cmoument or trust-ihs latter not be-
ing, in the opinion of the Know Moth
inys.' 'credi le witness in any case
save where the oath is administered by
his priest.
The pass words and signs for ad-
mission into the 'wigwam OF the Know
nothings' are IA follows: The appli-
cant raps at the outer door an indefinite
number Of times, asking sl the close, in
a low. whispering voice, what meets
here to-dny' (or nigh, as the case may
be) The 'in;rrroga'ed Immediately
replies 4 don't know To which the
applicant for admission responds, Il ain
one, and forthwith is admitted 10 a Sc.
cond door, AT which he gives four dis
tincl raps. when the door heing opened,
he whisper. to his attendant. Thirteen
and then advances into the body OF
the door being opened, he whispers to
the a attendant, Thirteen and then ad
vanccs into The body Of the lodge.
II disposed to leave before the ad-
j.urnncHt Of the lodge, the member
leaving sulu,cs the Pr sidrD:, then the
Wee President, by fret placing his right
hand Oh his heart then letting It fall to
his side, whispering TO the Guardian as
he retires thirteen
III member requires the nfsistance
Of brother when mixing promiscuous
ly with the public, he places tho right
iore6ngcr upon the left eye brow, as
il in the act Of scratching, looking di-
rcct.y at The person whose attention he
desires TO attract. when, If the person
be member, he "a bound 10 respond
immediately by Il similar sign. II 1t be
desired to know Of the stranger whether
he is Of the inilirled, on shaking hands
with hi the middle finger Is placed on
the lowest joint of his finger, mex, the
wrist, with a gentle pressure when il
he be u member, he will ask Where
did you get that 7 10 which he will
rej,ln, u don't know ) and the querist
will end by replying, Il don't know
either
Nothing concerning the association
is TO be committed to writing or pub
lished, and the mos; profound silence
and secrecy are to be observed by eve
cry Know Nothing outslde |; but eve-
thing inside the Wigwarm is impaired
in !iscriminalely to me.ubcrs.
Every member, on admission, swears
by holding up his right hand, and plcdg-
es himself 10 do all in his power to put
down foreign influence, and particular
ly tie Catholic religion, and in no case
TO vote Tor any person for any office who
Is not a native American citizen ! and
no one With some exceptions, is eligible
10 membership, unless he and both OF
his parents are native born.
There are three degrees TO he taken
by members ;between each, intervals OF
three weeks must occur.
AZ no records are kept, or publica-
,ions made by the Associ ciation, the plan
Of notifying members OF any emergency
requiring their speedy assembling is
by scattering small square pieces Of
white paper on the Lauqueties and pub
Al.