The daily union., 1854-12-20


pies of that order party have certain been
brought before Congress we have deemed it duty to re-
call the attention of the reader the startling deveoO
meuts contained in that abstract BY repubishng the SANE
The utter falsity of the assertion frequently and IN.
blushngly put forth by very large number of the know
nothing organs that the order waged agans, men
for their religious belief win be perceived by glance at
the oath which is taken by candidates for the second de
gree:
Absra of The oats and principles Of the mysterious o,ds Of
knosc-nothin9s.
The candidate is first proposed by member of the orde
to the council without his knowledge. Three negative voe
him. If elected he secretly requested to present
himself the of the council, when an officer a
pears from within and administers to him the following
oath
Cor cross before Almighty God and these witnesses that
will not dvuge question proposed to me here whether
become member of this order or not and that will
never, under any circumstances whatever mention "a,
Of any person may see preSe, dmsng any Of de
that knon Of sach order to DC ~ eTtsteace
that will answer make to every question asked
ofme, so help me God!'
Which being seriously taken by the candidate, the officer
proceeds PROFOUND the following nerrogations before
porting to the council his fitness for initiation
L. What is your name 2. What is your ageg 8. Where
your residenceg A. In your religious belief are you
Roman Catholic? s. Where were you bornf O. Where
we're your parents T. Did either of your ancestors
take part the American revolution 8. Are you willing
all the influence you possess in favor OF natvebon
the gift of the people and do you promise for them
to the exclusion all aliens and foreigners and Roman Cath
ocs particular for all local. State, or government Offices
.. Who invited you to be present on TINS occasion!
If the candidates answers satisfactory to these ques
ons he the council by two officers, led up
the president of the council, who administers the following
oath in the first degree:
s.I - voluntarily and freely do soeInnly promise and
swear Almighty God and these witnesses around
assembled, that will not, under any circumstances what
ever vuge make known to any person or either
directly Indirectly to any human being other than
those shall know be good and true members OF this order
the name secrets mysteries or objects Of the same Or csn
to prevent the same binding myself under no ess penalty
that of being from the ords and hav
ing my posted and circulated throughout the different
councils the order traitor and perurer to both
God country and being unworthy to be employed in
trusted counenanced supported in any business tansae
on whateye and as person totally unworthy Of the conf
dence of all good men, and one ut whom ne nnge 2! co1
hereafter be expelled from or voluntarily leave this orde
will consider this obligation binding out OF it as In it, ali
of which foregoing voluntarily and freely subscribe TO-
help me God!'
The candidate then led officer called the judge ad
yocate who harangues him after this (Thcre
generally half dozen more initiated together.)
"MY BROTHERS The order which has received you
as members may with all propricy be considered secret
ganizaton Its secret in fact that YOU were placed
whole TRUTH nothing but the truth you could not fr
your lives the of tina. band Of brothers
whom your name now stands enrolled and further than h
when You retire from this meeting you will return your
families and friends as ignorant when you came far
In Common with ourselves, You ssnoo otng and et
your resolve through life to know nothing that will
all conflict with the high and exalted duties you oweo
YOUR God your country and yourselves Tar regards
of American liberty which can alone DC secured
to ourselves children by the entire and absolute
of all foreign influence in those matters which appc
tain to government policy.
After the delivery of this patriotic address, the candidates
referred the instructor who teaches him the signs and
gps and in what to obtain entrance into the coun
Ernf Sin
to the register. he behaves en two weeks and is con
ceded that he will do become full booded kpow-noh
ng-abstans from all blab outside the counchs friends
propose him for the second degree After eection to that
degree he and others brought in, and take the following
| oath:
mighty God these witnesses that will not under
circumstances dvuge make known the name Of this or
der its objects to any person or persons IN the u
less to those whom may know to belong to this order
good and regular standing. - .
write print, paint cut carve engrave cmboss stamp SIAM
mark any secrets of this order anything movable
part thereof the name Of the order its operations tho
OF officers the of its members, or is place
Of a ar Il ats Sne aIs NO.
will permit the same to be done il within my poVa
| to prevent the same.
conform the will of the majority of the members Of &
order in the selection of candidates to fill every Office
honor profit trust within the gift Of the people provided
such candidates shall have been born Of American parents
on soil and shall have been educated in American
institutions and that will all the influence may pos
elect all such candidates whom may know to be o
posed all foreign influence, Popery Jesuitism and Cat
icsm, without any hesitation my part whatever And
furthermore promise and that viii sricty conform
and abide by the oath have taken, and that VII
strict obedience pay the constitutions laws, rules, ritual
edcts of the honorable grand council OF this order
the State of --, and to the bylaws Of - conncl 10
-, which belong or to those OF any other grand
subordinate council from which may hereafter hail binding
my self under the less penalties than attached or pc
long those who violate the oath OF the first degree OF th
order All the foregoing voluntarily and freely subc@
to of my own free will and accord, so help me GodV
This candidate also led off the Judge adrocatc, and after
ward the INSTRUCTORS but their speeches and lectures arc
not inserted here, for want Of space.
Obligation Third Degree.
", ---, kneeing before God my Maker, ny
left hand upraised toward Heaven, my right hand graspn
the iag of my native land, of free will and accord
do soemny and sincerely promise, declare, and swear ha.
will communicate any of the Of this degree
any person persons in the world except within the body
OF gayorganzed council of this order, to known
brother of this degree and unto them until am wei
assured that they Just and upright brethren who are
ga entitled to receive the also promise and swear
that will due obedience pay to the constitution, laws anu
and to the laws which govern council No. far as w
to my knowledge.
81 also promise and that whenever may vote
any election that shall all cases, be gven naive
born American citizens only and that viii ever seek the
political advancement of those who good and uW
members of this order -
81 also promise and that this and all other obh
tions which have previously taken in this order shall
kept through life sacred and nvionte also promise any
swear that whenever hear the sign the sigma
of distress given by any brother of this order, will has
at to his immediate relief at the peril OF my OWE
life.
90 also promise and that will contribute d.
means in such ash spare without personal noon
venence the our views the exten
,Xrtva 1,,,.. f