The Yazoo Democrat., 1854-09-06


TIL all. at last, were gone.
This is the hour wheaFancy wrcaths
Her spells round joys that could not last
This is the hour when memory brealhes
A sigh TO pleasures past.
Abstract Of the oaths and principles Of
the Mysterious Order of the Know Moth
ings.
The candidate is FIRST proposed by mem
Der of the Order, to the Council, without his
knowledge. Three negative votes Jlact5alzs
him. If elected, he is secretly requested 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 swearB upon
e this sacred volume Tor cross. before Al
mighty God and these Witnesses that |
will not divulge any question proposed to
me hereH whether | become member ssof
g this Order or not II and that will neverH
"under any circumstances whatever, mention
e the name Of any personH I may see prese1atB
g during any Of the meetings or that z k7aoag
such an Order to be isa erlstence, and that
+" | will true answer make to every ques-
g ton asked Of me, SO help me God"
Which being seriously taken by the eandi-
date, the officer proceeds to PROFOUND the
following interrogations, before reporting to
the Council his fitness for initiation:
4 al. What is your namea 2. What is
e your age2 3. Where is your residence
/ !" 4. In your religious belief are you a Ro-
. man Catholic? 5. Where were you born
F" G. Where We're your parents borna q
" Where were your grand parents born9 8
! !" Did either of your ancestors ever take a
. part in the American Revolution 8. Are
= You willing to use all the influence you
possess in favor. OF native oorn American
/ q citizens, for all offices Of honor, trust OF
profit in the gift Of the people, and do you
= promise to vote for them to the exclusion
q Of all aliens and foreigners and Roman
/" Catholics in particular, for all local, State
I. or Government Offices? 10. Who invited
you TO be present on this occasion2'
! Il the candidates answers are satisfactory
to these questions, he is tallen. into the Coun
ell by two officers, led up to tl President Q
the Council, who administers The following
Ioath in the 1st Degree:
i 81, -, voluntarily and freely 60 sol
enlnly promise and swear, before Almighty
God and these witnesses around me assem-
bled, that | will not, under any circumstan
ces whatever, divulge or make known to any
} persons, either directly Indirectly, or t
Iany human being other than those [ shal
know to be rood and true members of thi
Order, the name, secrets, mysteries, or OBJ
iects OF the same, or canse or allow the same
, to be done by others. if within my power Il
prevent the same. Binding myself unde
! the no less penalty than that OF being ex
communicated from the Order, and having
my name posted and circulated Throughout
{ 1.-THE different Councils Of the Order, as trai
tor and peFiufer to both my God and coun
try and as a b5iDg unworthy to be employed
Ientrusted. countenaneed, or supported in an,
business transaction whatever, and as q per
son totally unworthy of the confidence OF al
! good men, and one at whom the finger o
{ scorn shall ever be pointed. ! Furthermore
Fl promise that if I should hereafter be expelled
rom, or voluntarily leave this Order, | vii
! consider this obligation as binding out of j
as in it. All of whicn foregoing voluutari
ly and freely subscribe to, 50 help me God /!
The candidate is then led to an officer call
ed the Judge Adgocots, who harangues hin
after this manner. (There is generally half
a-dozen or more initiated together)
Ny Brothers The Order which has nov
received you as members, may with all pro
priety be considered Secret in fact, that !
YOU were placed before legal tribunal, ans
there sworn to tell the truth, the whole truth
} and nothing but the truth, you could not fo
your lives reveal the name Of that band 3
, brothers, among whom your names newsstand
l enrolled and further than this, when yol
retire from this meeting, you viii return Il
> your families and friends as ignorant as whel
you came, so far as the name of this Order j
concerned.
In common with ourselves, you Kaos
lVos.hiqag," and let it be your stern resolv,
through life. to g Know Nothing" that vii
at all conflict with the high and exalted du
ties you owe to your God yonr country am
: yourselves, so far as regards the preservation
7 Of American liberty, whicllscan alone be g
lcured to ourselves and our children By til
and absolute exclusion Of foreign influence i
those matters which appertain to our. govern
! rnent policy
After the delivery Of this patriotic address
I4rs. u = raSfnaa.nd ~ five T9efY7ctog