Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1856-03-20
3. (printed p Are YOU Roman Cath


olic?
Each answers 81 am not"
4. Do you pledge yourself, on your
honor as man, that you viii support the
Platform of principles just read TO You, and
not reveal the secrets, passwords, or signs
of recognition of this Organization?
Each answers, 81 do"
Marshal introduces Candidate1
In the center of the room stands table
covered with an American flag, and on it
lies Bible, open, as emblems of civil and
religious liberty.
Candidates arrange themselves in SEM
icircle, facing the table.
President advances to the opposite side
of the table and says,
Will You place your right hand upon the
Bible?
Candidates do so.
PREs1pENr.-You and each of YOU, with
your right hand resting on the word of
Truth and the Flag of your Country, of
your own free will and accord, do solemnlv
pledge your sacred honor as man, that
YOU will never make known the secrets of
this Order to any person except within the
body of legally constituted League of the
Order; and not even then, unless you are
we'll assured that he is in good standing,
and legally entitled to your confidence.
You furthermore promise, that you will
use all lawful and honorable means to pro-
mote the interests of this Order, and secure
the triumph of the principles of our Ma
tional Platform; that you will conform to the
laws and edicts of the National League of
Free Men of the United States" to the
Constitution, Rules, and usages of the
State League of Indiana, and of this, or any
other local League of which YOU may be-
come a member, that YOU will not divulge
the name Of any member of the Order,
your own excepted, unless permitted so to
do by the person himself or compelled by
due process of law. Candidate repeats. J
/ Faithfully to perform | solemnly pledge my
honor as man.
PREsIDENT.-Iou will now be conducted
to the Secretary's table, where you will en-
roll your name, together with your birth
place, age, and present residence. Enrolls
his name.
Marshal conducts the candidate to the
Instructor and SAYS: Mr. 4. b. (and asso-
ciates if more than one having been duly
obligated and enrolled as ''Freemen" come
to YOU for instruction.
! INsTRU cToR.-Gentlemen we congratu-
late YOU on your entrance into our Order.
1t is no common or trifling political occur
renee that has given rise to this organiza-
ton. The Alarming aggressions of Slavery,
Political Popery, and Intcmperance have
aroused the wise and good all over the
land, and have banded them i'll the League
of "Freemen' to resist these aggressiOns.
TIL private matters which you are TO keep
secret. are not only the obligations and Ger
emonies of the Order. but include every
thing said or done in the League, unless
secresy be removed by special act of the
League itself.
The Pass Word is (No. / "Frcedom
for all Men" Our sign of recognition for
the street is the placing of the (No p
fore fingcr) of the No. 81 fright hand
upon the (No. ~ fright side Of the No.
/ 81 Nose.
The response 70 the sign is made with
the (No. g LEFT hand in corresponding
position) The brother who gave the sign
will then say No 7 "Have You any
news?" The other will reply (No. 8 "A!l
right"
Make any noise you choose at the outer
door to attract the attention of the O. s.
Give to him the No. 81 First part of the
p. W.-"Freedom;" then advance to
the inn ,r door, and give No. 1o) three
raps.
Tie l. S. will present himself, and to
him you will give No. H. (thc remainder
of the r. W. also your name, with the
name and location of the League to which
you belong, thus: (For all men,
The r. p. w. Meaning the travelling
pass word, is (No. l2) ("Back Bone, to
be used, you will remember, only when
travelling out of the State, but the signals
at the door are uniformly tie same
Marshal conducts candidate to tie Presi-
dem)
PRESIDENT YOU have heard
and approved our platform of principles
YOU have sought admission into our Order
you have answered our question salts
f,ctorly, and have taken an obligation of
SecreSy and hdellty; you nave been male
acquainted with the Signs and Pass Words
of the Order, and it now only remains to
explain to you more fully the aims and OBJ
lects of the league of "Frec Men" 1t is
the duty and interest of every ''Son Of
Freedom" to battle for the emancipation of
man from the tyranny of Ignorance, In
temperance, and Slavery. No country can
be happy or free, where the civil authority
is controlled by tie ecclesiastic, or where
one class owns another, and subsists on
the fruits of its coevced and unrequittcd
toll.
Religion is the allegiance which man owes
to his Maker; Patriotism, that which he
owes to his country.
A union of Church and State corrupts
the purity of the one. and destroys the lib
critics of the other. The purity and inteS-
rity of both require mutual, though har-
monious independence
You have observed that this Order plants
itself upon the principles of the immortal
Declaration of independence, which pro
claims these truths to be sclf-evident: that
call men are created equal, and endowed
with certain nalienabe rights, among