The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1854-09-16
From the Richmond Wig.

| been put in possession Of an abstract oI the
oaths and principles of the mysterious grow
| ing order of Know Nothings, Tine EXa'nin-
| er expresses the greatest confidence in the
| sincerity and Seracity Of IFS correspondent,
| and says it has good reason TO believe that
| the picture he gives Of this new aud strange
association, is faithful and accurate.
| The writer informs us that their associa-
tons are known among themselves by the
name of Know Nothing Council as for in
stance ETHAN Allen Council. No. "a, of
| the Supreme Order Of &c y and that the
| term Know Nothing is merely for out siders
! lie tells Us, also, that they adopt as few
written forinn,r in their Councils as posi-
bic; but they USE pamphlet containing
! their short constitution and bylaws, their
method of procedure in initiating members
the duty of officers, instructions TO the ini-
| tiated candidates OF the lst, ID and 3d de-
grces in short, all their principles and OBJ
| jects Their oaths, il is supposed arc the
same throughout the United States.
| There IS also said to be Grand Council
| for each State Subordinate Councils may
be instituted in any locality in a State, by "a
| charter from thcgrand Council, preceded by a
petition for the same from thirteen citizens,
who are initiated by n travelling agent
! They pay $l2, receive a charter and seal,
andgo to work. II is further asserted that
/ they aim at all the power, and not merely at
the balance Of power as has been generally
supposed
For the instruction Of the reader upon an
interesting and much ycXcd question, and
one that bids fair to exert some influence in
the political affairs oi the country. we sur.
render u large potion OF space to the
revelation made Ly the Examiners CORES.
pondent, which we sutjoin:
| ABSTRACT Of the Dsths and Principles Of the
Mysterious Order Of the Know Moth
ings--lhe candidate is first proposed by
a member Of the Order, 10 the Council, with.
out his knowledge. Three negative votes
black ball him. If selected, he is secretly
requested to present himself in the ante
room Of the Council, when an officer APP
pears from within and administers 10 him
the follow oath:
L. do solomnly sweat upon this sa-
cred volume or eros before Almighty God
and these witnesses. that will not divulgo
any question proposed to me hcrcI whether
become n member Of this order OF not :.
and that ! will nevuI under any circum.
pcrsonl | may see present. during any oI
tho meetings. or that know such an order
to DC in cxistcncci and that | shall true
answer raakc to every question asked of mc, 3,
so help nc God.'
Which being seriously taken by tn can
diiato, tic officer proceeds TO PROFOUND
the following intcrrogatiOus, before report
ing To- the Council his fitness for initiation
az. What is your namcF .. What j,
your age: 3. Where is your residence
!. In your religious belief are you a Roman
Catholic; b. Whore were you born; 9
Where were your parents born; Z. NaCr.
were your grand parents born: z. Dlu
Other Of your ancestors ever take a pu.t II
the American Ecyoutiony Q. Arcylu VIII
ing 10 use all the influence you possess u
favor Of native born American citizens, io'
all Offices Of honor, trust or profit in The
gift Of the people; and 90 You promise e
vote for thcm 10 the exclusion Of aliens I'LL
foreigners, and Roman Catholics in partic
uar, for all local, State or Government Of
fees: 10. p" no invited You to be prcscn
on this occasion!
Ii the candidates answers are satisfactory
to these questions, le ]. taken INTO the Coun
ell by two officers, led up TO the prcsaGl
of the Council who administers thg iol!Uwiu.
| oath in the lst Degree;
IL voluntarily and freely DO sol
EMMY promise and swear, loforc Almicht,
God and those witnesses around nlc Assem-
blch, that viii not under any circumIan
ccs whatever, divugc or make known q
any person or persons, either directly or H.
directly, or To any human being other thai
those shall know to be- good and true men
hers Of this Order, the name, secrets or myS
terics, tr o. ects Of III I'm" or cause or al
low tie same to be done 10y others, if within
my power to prevent the same. binding
ysclf under the no less penalty than that o
being oXcommuniCatod from the Order, Gu'
having my name posted ami CTcu.atc'
throughout the different Council, Of the Or
der as traitor and perjurlr to both my 60,
and country, and as u being unworthy t,
be employed, entrusted, countenanccd, %
| supported in any business transaction what
cNei, and as n person totally unworthy o
The confidence OF all good men, and one II
whom the finger OF ScOrn shall ever be point
ed. furthermore promise, that if shoUl,
hereafter be expelled from, or yolun'arii,
leave this Order, will consider the obliga
ton as binding out Of il as in it, III .
which foregoing ! voluntarily and irCcl!
subscribed to, so help me iod!'
Tho candidate is then led to an Office
called the Judge Advocate, who hmTaugue
him after this manner. CIhcrc arc general,
half dozen or more Initiated togyther)
MY brothers: The Order which has now
received you as Members, may with all pre-
t pri,ty be considered Secret order, so SC
cret in fact, that if you were placed before
legal tribunal andthcrc sworn TO tell the trutI
the whole truth, and nothing but the tru,h
you could not for your lives reveal the nam,
of that band oC brothers, AN ng whom YOU
name now stands enrolled and Further thai
this, wien YOU retire from this meeting, 70,
will return TO your families and friends n
ignorant ns when you came, rs far as ia,
name OF this Order is concerned.
ain common with ourselves you know
Nothing" and let it be your stern rls0lv,
through ifc, to "Know Nothing that vii
at all conflict with the high aad c%altcd dU
ties You owe 60 your God, your country anC
yourselves, SO far as regards the prcscrya
ton of American liberty, whirh can alone b,
i secured TO ourselves and our children 10y th,
entire and absolute exclusion OF foreign in
llucncc in those matters which 0ppertaiu {,
our government policy
After the delivery of this patriotic address
the candidate is referred TO the Instructor
who teaches him the signs and grips, and ii
what manner to obtain entrance into tn,
Council. lie is then Master Of the lst De
gree, ard signs his name TO the register, |
lc behaves woll two weeks and i, is con
coded that he will do to become full blood
ed Know Nothing--abs,ain from all hlal
outside the Council, his friends propose bin
for the 2nd Degree. Alcr election to tha
Degree, he aud oihCrs are brought III anC
take the following oath:
d, do socmnly promise and sweH,
before Almighty God and these WITNESSES
that will not under any circumstances, di
( yulgc rmakc known the name oftllis Ordc>
or is objects, to any person orpcrsons'n tn,
world, unless to those whom may know I,
lplop,r IN tlis Order in GOOD and rCuunl