Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1855-05-17

necessary to form ana nave Secfet p0-
EfeR organizations, bound together by
terrible and penal oaths, for the pur-
pose of putting down fourteen kusa,'ed
professors Of the Catholic religion in
the midst of a Protestant population
numbering seven hundred and Jffy-l
sir thousand eight hundred and hir-
ty-six. The simple facts were so
/ glaring In themselves that further re-
mark upon this point was unnecessary.
Gov. johnson demanded to know
what was the religion of this know
nothing order? what religion did they
profess? what system of morals they
teach? were they believers in Jesus
Christ? do they acknowledge the doc
trine of the orthodox church? what
right have they to make war upon the
religion of others, when they profess
none themselves? The Devil, his
Satanic Majesty, the Prince of Dark
ness, who presides over the secret
conclave held in Pandemonium, makes
war upon all branches of Christ's
church. The know-nothings advocate
and defend none, but make W.T. upon
one of the churches, and thus far be-
come the allies of the Prince of Dark
ness
! A denomination like this, to set up
, as the guardian of the religion and
| morals of the country! A denomina-
, ton bound together by secret and
, TERRIBLE OATIIs, the first Of which, Oh
t the very initiation, fixes and requires
6 them to carry a lie in their mouths!!-.
4 They are solemnly sworn upon the
Holy Bible, before Almighty God,
e chat they will not divulge any CUES
ton proposed to them, whether they
: become members or not; that they
It will never under any circumstances
: mention the name of any person o.
); persons they see present, nor thai
> they know such an organization to b
l. in existence" If the question il
It asked of a member of this crdel
l. whether such an order is in existence
, or not, or whether he is a membel
it thereof, he is sworn not to divuige it
a, and lies if he omits to tell the omis
: sion, being an admission that it does
t, exist and that he is a member; and j
e he admits that it does exist and tina
It he is member he tells that which h
/ has sworn not to divulge. This is thu
e substance of the oath that the mem
% bers of this order take on their frs
% entrance into the secret midnight con
d clmes.
The applicant for admission is the1
l. asked the following questions:
IS 'Were you born within the limit:
is or jurisdiction of the United States?
M '"In religious belief are you RO
Of man Catholic? ~
1T ''Have you or have you not, beer
d reared under Protestant influence?
r "Are or were either of your par
g Ients Roman Catholics in religious be
S. lief?
/ us your wife a Roman Catholic?
al care you willing to use your influ
N ience and vote only for native borI
II American citizens for ali the Offices 0
l. honor or trust In the gift Of the PEG
n pie, to the exclusion of all foreigner
le and aliens, and of Roman Catholics i,
Ne particular, and without regard to party
n predileetion?"
IS This is the ordeal through whicl
rs the candidate has to pass. Hayinl
Y, now made himself slave by declaring
is under the solemn sanction of an cath
Of that he would use all his influence an,
$, vote as required without any regard t
it party predilection-the Candidate
N having advanced thus far, is prepare,
is to take the second oath, a partof which
d is as follows:
E. "You win in all things political o.
k social, so far as this order is concerned
5 comply with the will of the majority
g when expressed in a lawful manner
n though it may conflict with your Per
sonal preference"
e We perceive, as the members Of
n this Order advance in degrees, that
: they cease, in a corresponding proper
e tion, to be free men, and are Gem
PEELED to obey the commands of a
v majority. The oath then continues:
S 81 you furthermore promise and, de-
D clare that you will not vote nor give
4 your influence for any man, for any
. office in the gift of the people, unless
he be an American bonn citizen, in IA
vor Of Americans ruling America, nor
if he be a Roman Catholic, and that
you will not, under any circumstances,
expose the name Of any member Of
tins Order, nor repeal the existence of
i SUcH nm 0yao1,i zofio,, %