Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1854-04-13
The "Know- Noihings.T


signs, passwords, etc, of this new or
der which has suddenly risen 10 be
"a power in the State, says that
their objects are two-fold part re.
ligious, and part political; and The
ends aimed at, the disfrancliscmen'
Of adopted citizens, their utter ex
elusion from Office, and perpetual wal
pom the Roman Catholicreligion =
HE following are said to be tlie quail
lications for membership:
lst. The applicant for adm ission. u
4 "wigwam,p must be nat i've born
citizen, of native born pare ts, and
not of the Catholic religion
ID. To I'd nounce all preyip usly en-.
tertained political leanings, and, CO.
operate exc usively with the new or
der
Sd. To hold neither political, civil
or religious intercourse W III any
person who is a Catholic; but, on the
contrary, 10 use all availa bic means
to abolish the political and religious
privileges he may at present enjoy
18th. That he will not vote for any
man for Office who is not d native
citizen of the United States, or who
may be disposed, if elected, to place
any foreigner or Catholic in any Of
flee of condemnation trust The lat
ter not being. il the opinion Of
s-Know- Nd things, il credible witness
in any case, save where The oath is
administers by the priest
The "pa IS words and esigns' for
admission into the "wigw0m Of
81 Know Nothings,' are as iollows: : :
The applicant raps at the outer door
an indefinite number of times, ask
ing at the close, in a low Whispering
voice, "What meets here, to-day Cor
night, as the case may be)?'' The
interrogateA Immediately replies, 81
don't know !" to which the applicant
for admissi on responds, Il am one,
and lorthwi th is admitted TO = second
door, at hich he gives four distinct
raps, when the door being opened, he
to his attendant, Thirteen,
md then advances into tie body Of
The Lodge.
If disposed to leave before the adj
ournmeDt of the Lodge, the member
salutes the President, then
,he Vice President, by first placing
lis right hand on his heart, then let
ing it fall to his side, whispering to
he guardian as heretires, ''thirteen
If a member requires the assist
nee Of a brother when mixing prof.
niscuoqsly with Il ie public, he places
he light fore finger upon the left |
Iye-lrow, as if in The act of scratch
ng, looking directly at the person
whose attention he desires to attract. |
vhen, if the person be a member, he
5 bound to respond immediately by
similar sign. If it be desired TO
NOW a stranger, whether he is of
he initiated, on shaking hands with
i'm the middle finger is placed upon
be lowest joint Of his little finger,
ext the wrist, with a gentle pres
nre, when if he be nj embt.r, lie will
SIX, where did YOU get that to
fhich he will re.idin, u doh'I know"
nd the querist will end by replying
! don't know either
Nothing concerning the association
J to be committed to writing, or pub
shed; and the most profound silence
nd secrecy are to be observed by ev-
ry know Nothing" outside; but
inside the Wigwam is i'm :
arted indiscrminately to members. /
Every member onadmission, svears y
y holding up his right hand, pledg- {
g himself TO do all in his power to 1
u. down foreign influences, and par a
cularly the Cat holic religion, and /
no case to vote for any pcrso n forfv
~ office who is not a ''native Amer c
an CITIZEN and no one, with some S
is eligible TO membership, i
Mess he and both of his parents \
e native born. t
In the discussion between the Rus !
=, o,J pr;t IL h poro,,, an fhol Turlz