Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1856-09-29

out any hesitation or mental reservation whatever
You also promise and swear (or a6irm) that this,
and all other obligations which you have previous
ly taken IN this order shall ever be kept sacred
and inviolate. To ell this you pledge your lives,
your fortunes, and your sacred honor, 20 help
you God, and keep you sseadfast
Each one shall answer / DOR
The foregoing was the " obligation" and the
whole obligation, Of the Third, or, as it was
usually and appropriately termed, the Union
Degree" IP THIS BE TREASON, MAKE TEE MOST
OF RIP
Having taken this obligation, and having
been instructed in the forms, &C., the Presi-
dent gave the following " charge" to-wit:
BaorHERs: 1t is with great pleasure that I
congratulate yox upon your advancement TO the
third degree Of our Order. The responsibilities
you have now assumed are more serious and
weighty than those which preceded, and are COM
mitted to such only have been tried and found
worthy. Our obligations are intended a. solemn
avowals Of our duty to the land that gave birth;
to the memories of our fathers, and to the happi-
ness and welfare of our children. Consecrating to
your country spirit unselfsh, and fidelity like
that which distinguished the patriots of the Revo-
luton you have pledged your aid in cementing the
bonds Of Union which we trust will endure for
ever. Your department since your initiation has
attested your devotion to the principles we desire
to establish, and has inspired confidence IN your
patriotism, of which we can give no higher proof
than your reception here.
"The dangers which threaten Amsriaon liberty
arise from foes without, and from enemiag within.
The first degree pointed out the source and nature
of our most imminent peril, and indicated the first
measure of safety. The second degree defined
the next means by which, in coming time, such
assaults may he rendered harmless The third
degree, which you have just received, not only
reiterates the lessons Of the other two but it Is
intended to avow and provide for more remote
but no less terrible danger from domestic enemies
to our free institutions"
sour object is briefly this To perfect an organ
ization, modelled after that of the Constitution of
the United States, and co-extensive with the Con-
federacy; its objects and principles in all matters
Of national concern, to be uniform and identical,
whilst in all local matters, the component parts
shall remain independent and sovereign within
their respective limits"
The great result TO be attained---the only one
which can secure perfect guarantee IS to our
future-is UNION; permanent, enduring, fraternai
UNION! Allow me then to impress upon your
minds and memories the touching sentiments OF
the Father of his Country, in his farewell address
THE UNITY OF government which constitutes You
one people, says Washington, is Justly dear to
you, for it is the main pillar in the edi6ce of your
real independence the support of your tranquility
at home, of your peace abroad, Of your safety,
your prosperity, even that liberty you so justly
prize"
"s It is Of infinite moment that you sh0sad'
properly estimate the immense value of your Ma
tional Union to your collective and individual hap
piness. You should cherish a cordial, habitual,
and immovable attachment to it; accust0ming
yourselves to think and speak of it as the paladi-
um of your political safety and prosperity watch
ing for its preservation with jealous anxiety, dis
countenancing whatever may suggest eve1 ! sus-'
picion that It can in any event be abandoned, and
Indignantly frOwning upon the fret dawning of
every attempt to ALLEVIATE any portion of our coun-
try from the rest, or to enfeeble the sacred ties
which now bind together the various parts"
"Let these words of paternal advice and warn
ing, from the greatest man that ever lived, sink
deep into your heart! Cherish them, and teach
your children to reverence them, as you cherish
and reverence the memory of Washington himself.
The Union of these States is the great conservator
of liberty, so dear to the American heart With
out it, our greatness as nation would disappear,
and our boasted selfgovernment prove q signal
failure. The very name of Liberty, and the hopes
Of struggling freedom throughout the world, must
perish in the wreck of this Union Devote your
selves them to its maintenance, as our fathers did
to the cause of independence; consecrating to its
support as you have sworn to do, your lives, your
| fortunes, anu your bdCTcu uOuOTb!
" Brothers. Recalling to your minds the solemn
obligations which you have severally taken in this
and the preceding degrees, now pronounce you
entitled to all the privileges of membership in this
organization, and take pleasure in informing you
that you are now members of the Order of The
STAR-BPANGLED BANNER"
WASHINGTON CIrY, Sept. 26th, 1866.
We hereby certify that the above obligation"
of the third or "Union degree" and the above
"charge" by the President Of the Council are both
truly copied from the ritual of the said third de-
gree, as adopted by the National Council and as
hitherto recognised in the Chief Council of the
District Of Columbia.
JOSEPH H. BRADLEY,
President Chief Council.
THos. E. LLOYD, Sec'y pro tenn.
And now may we ask our uninitiated read
ers question What do you think Of the
aims, objects, motives, and purposes, of that
"secret, mysterious, oath-bound organizo-
tion," against which partisan politicians have
hurled their impotent anathemas9 Had for
eign foe, with bristling bayonets- with rafting
musketry- and with laundering cannon, assail-
ed American liberties, where do you think this
party would have been foundf Had Northern
fanaticism, armed with "Sharpe's rifles" and
enforcing "higher-law doctrines" essayed to
trample upon the rights Of any portion of our
countrymen, where would they have been
found
Had Southern fire-eaters, raised the bloody
flag of notification or disunion, and sought to
scatter into fragments this glorious UNIoN,
which our fathers reared, where do you think
these midnight assassins," would have been
found? No matter on what hand the contest