, 1855-08-03
From the Oregon Statesman.
The Signs, Grips, Passwords, and Secrets Of tht
KnOMnOthingS.


bers Of the Statesman, ooroborates and e tases tn,
correctness Of the srposs.
Their rituals and oaths in Oregon, have
nothing to say about Catholicism, and only
prescribe foreigners Their ostensible OBJ
ject here is to prevent foreigners from hold
ing Office or voting, and they are sworn Ia
vote for none but native-born citizens, but
such may be catholics. 1t is also said among
them that they are to put down parties, and
party leaders, and elect the best men" to
office, claiming to have no more sympathy
with one party than another. They expect
to control and carry the next election in
this Territory. All their members are
sworn to vote for no men but those agreed
upon in the wigwam.
The'grand wigwam is composed Of dele.
gates from oil the wigwams; and for Oregon
is established in Portland. 1t has power
to grant authority 10 establish the small
wigwams.
The order has three degrees, and the
members cannot gain admittancc to the
wigwam unless they are members Of the de-
gree in which it is working. The manner
OF gaining admittance to the wigwam is as
follows; Two distinct raps are given at the
outer door by the member wishing to go in,
lie then saying, "What meets here to-
night 7" The sentinel replies, al don't
know" The other adds, 81 am one" and
is admitted to the onte-room. lie then
gives four raps at the inner door. The SEN
iinel opens slide, ond places his ear to it..
The degree in which the order is working
is then asked, and if the applicant for ad-
mission is member Of that degree, he whis-
pers the password in the ear Of the senti-
mel, and is admitted.
The password in the first degree is
" Thirteen'-the original thirteen States.
In the I'd degree ieis Thirty-one." When
this is given to the candidate for admission
to this degree in the Salem wigwam, he is
told that it was selected in the States, at
timeNwhen it was thought Oregon would
soon be admitted, and there would then be
" "thirty-two" States Of the Union. In the
3D. degree the password is Seventy-nne"
the senty-ninth anniversary of American
independence. The pass word is increased
one after every 4th Of July, keeping pace
with the anniversary of independence. AZ
ter the next 4th it will be Eighty"
The grip Of the first degree consists in a
pressure Of the fore finger of the right hand
upon the joint next 10 the hand Of the little
finger. When this is given by one not
known to be kuownothing, the othe asks,
in a low tone, "Wherc did you get that ?"
II the other be a kuownothing, he replies,
"I don't know" If a mistake is made,
and the question, "Where did you get
that ?" asked Of one who has given the grip
by accident, Of course the latter is unable
tounderstand, and likely wilt ask, "What?"
The knownothing is instructed (at tho time
Of his initiation) to, in such case, turn it
the best way he can, aud say his watch
chain, ,Ivest or coat, and thus avod suspicion.
The sign in this degree is, very carelessly
taking hold Of the right coat lapel with
the right hand. The response is made by
shutting all the fingers Of his right hand but
the little one, and carelessly scratching the
left eyebrow with that. .It" .,.
In the I'd degree the grip is given by the
pressure Of the middle finger, instead Of the
first npon the joint of the little one. The
reply is, What'sthis p and the answer,
Grip of this degree" Then follows the
question, How will you impart it to me?'
Answer, BY syllabling it with yon." The
6rst says, Syllable and begin" and the
second says, dom, y the first adding " free
-" freedom" This is hardly ever given
out Of the wigwam. The sign is, placing
both hands to the lappels of the coat.
In the Sd degree the grip is made by
each placing the forefDger on the pulse Of
the other in shaking hands, The sign is, to
folds the arms across the breast, with the
hands out. The response is by carelessly
placing the little finger of the right hand
in the ear, and scratching the same.
An ordinary meeting is signifed by O
small square piece of white paper, with a
small square (and two perpendicular and
one horizontal lines crossing Unmarked up
on one corner, and the place Of meeting
spelled backwards, written in the centre
and the time Of meeting directly under it
For instance, if meeting was to be called
at Rector's hall tomorrow evening, at s
o'clock, Rector's hall would be spelled back
wards, and directly under it would be the
following al. 3. s." The signifyine
the first month of the year, the the third
day of the same, aud the s, s O'clock in the
evening. If the meeting was to be in the
morning, instead Of in the evening, there
would be dash after the s, thus s.
The call means come if convenient. If tht
meeting is an urgent one, four little stars
are made on one corner Of the paper de
scribed. That means come if possible
, These papers are to be folded in triangular
form, put in an envelope and sealed, ant
left only with known member, or his wifi
: if he has one. A small square piece of blacl
paper folded in triangular form antfslrop
ped in the street, signifies difficulty some
where, and member seeing such paper i!
not to seem to notice it, but is to go in
: stdNtly in search of brother knownothing
: When he finds one, he is to ask. "Hav,
l you seen the little joker ?" If he know