Washington telegraph., 1854-10-25
THE BLUE DEGREE.

THE BLUE DEGREE
We promised yesterday to give the FIN
ishing touch of the new order, which is no
more nor less than the ceremonies o. the
Blue Degree We take it verbatim from
the ritual, commencing after the lodge is
opened in the degree, and after the Orderly
Sergeant has been very poetically ordered
to see if any candidates are in waiting:
The Orderly Sergeant must examine the
candidates thoroughly, in the work of the
White and Red degrees If he should he
remiss. be must be reported to the Colonel
of the Regiment and await further orders
Should the candidate answer all questions
satisfactorily. the o. s. will conduct him to
the Blue Entrance, and give thirteen raps
upon the door, when the Blue Sentinel will
appear. duly armed and say
Scntinci-Wbat means this clamor at
the entrance of the Sacred Temple of Pat
riotism knowest thou not, sir, that no
intruders are permitted here :!
Orderiy am--True, Brother Sen
tinel, but do YOU not behold here (pointing
to his insignia of ofice,) the talisman Of
the Guard of the True Blue?
Sentiael-Parden, comrade-thou cans't
enter
The Orderly Sergeant enters, when the
Sentinel attempts to slam the door in the
face of the candidate
Orderly Sergeanf-A friend, have
with me- tried soldier of the Red, who
evinces desire to enlist with u.s. demand
that he be admitted.
Seattnei-No one enters here without
the countersign.
Cydcrzy Sergeant-(To the Colonel.)-
Pardon, sir but a friend of mine, a pat
riot bold and true has been stopped at the
very entrance way. This, to me seems
strange, for It looks to my integrity. and am
not too old member of the Guard of the
True Blue, to have my word doubted
Colonet-ln protecting your honor you
are right, but Sergeant you forget, that with
out law and order. anarchy will prevail
We have cur laws and under those laws,
you have entrance here, but none vino are
not members So with our country. The
sons OF the soil. alone, have natural right,
to the blessings of our government, but for
eigners can enjoy them under certain rules
and regulations. y foreigner cannot justly
usurp the right of Columbia's sons, and
neither car thy friend enter here without
the qualifications laid down in our laws.
Orderly Sergedat-B But he is a soldier
Of the Red, and to ne has vouchsafed his in
tegrity.
Coloneg-Indeed. Then convey to the
Sentinel my order to admit him.
The Sentinel viii then admit the candi-
date, and the Orderly Sergeant will conduct
him round the room, while the brethren
sing song Y. The song is not in the book.
At the conclusion of the song the candidate
must be conducted to the center of the room
when the Adjutant attired in the American
(continentaD dress will advance toward him
and say =
oh, happy, happy once were my people.
Freed from foreign tyranny, united IN spir-
it, patriotic in feeling they wisely governed
themselves, and Columbia was bright star
on the face of the earth. My mountain
/ tops, sublime in their heigbth, and grand IN
their proportions, and my vallies, unsurpass-
ed in fertility and beauty, reyerberated with
tie merry shouts Of freemen. Oh twas
cheering to see free people united in love
/ so iovous and happv, Uurestrained br des-