Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1859-12-05
Expose Of the Sons of Malta.

Expose of the Sons of Malta.
The members of the ancient order of the
Sons ofMaltn, in this city, will be interest
ed to know that real o. pretended dis
closure Of the mysteries of the wonderful
association, has been made in the Zanes-
vile -iurord, the editor of which is ma
tive o. this city. according to this expose.
it appears thai the order, which has been
increasing SO rapidly for year past and
which has extended its qualifications into
every city and town in the country, is Il
most ridiculous association. 1t seems that
one Of the brethren, who has been turned
out ofthe important and secret Office of G.
II. j. ~, o. the GAINESVILLE Lodge, has taken
offence at the institution. and communica-
ted to the editor of the -Iurora the whole
proceedings, pass words, grips, signs, Ge.
We make few extracts:
When about to become a member of she
l. y. 5. NJ. (lndepcmdcnt Order Sons Malt:,l
the candidate or candidates presents him
sell or themselves in an Outsr room, where
he meets Il committee of officers of the
lodge who come 10 him out Of the lodge
room, with drawn swords in their hands
with a kind of three barred sheet iron hats
on, which hide their faces; these officers
put test questions to each candidate; and
any candidate who hcSitntcs or fulicrs. is
allowed to depart in peace; those who re-
main pay five dollars each, and the COM
mittee returns 20 til" lodge-rOom 80 rcpt.ri
On the cases, and have thcm balctted for.
After tn" candidates are bnlloted forand
fiEsF sFaf afssFt4 4bara
the antc-roilu and escorts tic candidates
10 the inside entrance door, where IN
pounds on the door wi1l.;thc hilt CT his
sword three tiIncs-Ulc inside sentinel
raises Il little slide i'll tile Goor-p4cps out;
and the chief officer frop the inside asks in
II loud voice:
w hat is the cause of the huh-bub?''-
The sentinel answers: t.Strangers coming
into campl" 10 which the chic replies:
'Let en- rip"
Here the door is unbarrcd with u great
clankimg ofchtins and bolts. and the can
didatcs arc admitted 10 witness horrible
scene. The room is filled with cofIins upon
which blue, Iiiclicring light is thrown
casting deadly palor upon The faces of IL
Let Of live men who are lying abou: the
room upon their backs and apparently
bound 10 the floor with chains heavy
enough to hang an elephant
All is sill as a tomb around the room,
except in the centre, where 81 coffin lies
upon the bier, and the pale lamp hickcrs
upon the scene. Beside the coffin, which
is covered with a pail or black cloth, march
cS an old man wlo carries a muskct and
hayonet upon his Shouldcr-an old man
whose white locks of hair hang in weird
and tangled masses about his nccIt-with
his lett hand he snatches umncaningIy at
htS hair, and then muttcrs to himself as he
tl:rIS upon his heel with military precision
am" i.inrchcS back and forth, passing aud
! rrpassiEg the black pallcd coffin, and dick
eF'ng light. 1t either end Of shc coffin
stands Al figure draped in white from head
10 foot, with upliftcd hands and upturncd
; eyes. muttcring lips from which no sounds
l-Sne, and nothing of the face visible but
tue eyes and mouth. At one end of the
room sits the Chief-hlazing in red and
gold cUlors, but mOtiOnlesS-nt the other
end sits skeleton with giIdcd crown
upon his head; with one bony hand point
in1 upward, while with the other he clasps
to his iieshless ribs the figure of an infant
at either side o. the room sits the Grand
us MouOnlcSS as the coffin or the skeleton.
After marching several times around
the room, the candidate, or candidates, as
the case may be, 0n organ or ,nclodeon
strikes up low, wailing, tremulous.
Wild hollow tune, which is echoed back hy
the members in a low death song, Willie
the old man marches more rapidly and
rt"ttcrs Louder aud louder, until as the
candidates faish the last round the G. C,
i's the chief is coIled) says in a deep voice,
'Peacc, venerable father? Life is madc
up of sorrow, and the world is ripening for
sorrow greater than thincI Peace! Peace!
Ee still thou wouaded heart /" ITO which
all th2 members respond :-"Pcace! Peace!
Be stiilH;-then tue music stops and the
old man resumes his quiet march. The
candidates ere then questioned by a person
concealed behind skeleton, after which
they go out into the ante room, and in
few minutes are lead in again
Single file, each holding to the coot-tail
OF the otller. In total blindness. they are
thus ;aarched about the room several fines
wlI;a the r"cm is lighted brilliantIy-
-th@n all Is silence ana grins-cxccDt on
't'e ParE Of the candidates, who are sternIy
commanded to indulge in "No Leyity. ~
Ihc;' ar2 brought to the chair of the Grand
commander, where they are asked all MN
n"r OF questions, touching their fitnc;3 10
eear arms, to SWIM, to march. rs to the
cOhni''on ct tncir health, their teeth, &c.
&c,-;'s TO their moral character
HLN0nv, p