The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1859-12-28
WHOLE NO. l67.
From the GAINESVILLE Aurora
lnNS or MALTA


in New Orleans some three or four years
ago. There are two accounts given of its
origin. It is said by one account, to have
originated with the army Of walker the
Fillibuster," at the time that worthy was
preparing to take Cuba. Another account
says it originate during the ravages of the |
yellow fever, and was intended to divert the
minds of the frightened people, as we'll as
to supply fund for charitable purposes
such as burying the houseless dead, &c.
However it may have originated, it is not
the order that outsiders take 1t to be; as we
shall presently show.
One Of the brethren, who had been turn
I'd out of the important and secret office, the |
initials of which are &c. II. j. A." has |
taken offence at the order, and communica-
ted to us the whole proceedings-pass word,
grips, signs, &c.
When about to become a member of the |
|. o. s. NJ. independent Order Sons Malta)
the candidate or candidates presents HIM
self or themselves in an outer room, where
he meets a committee Of officers Of the
Lodge who come to him, out Of the lodge |
room, with drawn swords in their hands,
and 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 hesitates or falters is al
lowed to depart in peace; those who remain
pay $500 each. and the committee returns
to the lodge-room to report on the cases
and have them ballotted for.
The funds thus raised pay the rent of the
room, and the balance is expended in char
ities-there are no other dues, for reasons
which will appear hereafter.
a. H. IL ~ IL
elected, the grand conductor goes out to the
ante-room and escorts the candidates to the
inside entrance door, where he pounds on
the door with the hilt of his sword three
times-the inside sentinel raises little slide
in the door-peeps out; and the chief Off
Ger from the inside asks in a loud voice:
"What is the cause Of this hub bub ?"
The sentinel answers: "Strangers coming
into campr' To which the chiefs reply is:
LET 'em rip"
What sight breaks upon their vision
The room is nearly dark, and is only lighted
by lamp Of alcohol, which sits upon
coffin in the middle Of the room, and throws
its blue, Pickering light around upon the
scene. And such scene! The members,
dressed as our citizens have seen them upon
the streets, are ranged around the room,
thus; one lies upon his back like corpse,
and another kneels down upon his knee be-
side him in the attitude Of mourner. All
is still as tomb around the room, except
in the center where the coffin lies upon the
bier and the pale lamp flickers upon the
scene. Beside that coffin, which is covered
with pail or black cloth, marches an old
man who carries a musket and bayonet upon
his shoulder-an old man whose white locks
Of hair hang in weird and tangled masses
about his neck-with his left hand he
snatches unmeaningly at his hair, and then
mutters to himself as he turns upon his
heel with military precision and marches
back and forth, passing and re-passing the
black palled coffin and Pickering light. A,
either end of the coffin stands figure
draped in white from head to foot, with up
lifted hands and upturned eyes, mutterins
lips from which no sounds issue, and moth
ing of the face visible but the eyes and
. mouth. At one end of the room sits the
Chief-blazing in red and gold colors, bu
motionless-at the other end sits a skeleton
with gilded crown upon his head, with ont
, bony hand pointing upward, while with tn,
other he clasps to his fleshless ribs the fig
ure of an infant-at either side of the room
sits the Grand Chancellor and Recorder
. Each and ell as motionless as the coffin OF
G the skeleton.
Around the coffin the candidates marcl
in an oblong ring, passing farthest from tn
. coffin and nearest to the members and off
!, cers-thus leaving the old man room t.
|. pace to and fro, up and down the room.-
y The Grand Conductor marches with draw
= sword, at the head; the Sergeant Of tn
|, sappers and miners marches also with draw
, sword, at the tail of the line of candidate
for initiation. Three times around the lin
marches-twice in painful silence, through
}, which nothing is heard but the clanking Q
y sword scabbards as they strike, at each ster
= the legs Of the Conductor and Sergeant
;, during the third round an organ or mclo
u deon strikes up a low, wailing, tremulous
e wild, hollow tune, which is echoed back b.
: the members in low death song, while tn
q old man marches more rapidly and mutter
-, louder and louder, until, as the candidate
!" finish their last round, the G. G. Gas tn
: chief is callcd) says, in deep voice, "Peac,
. venerable father! Life is made up of sol
# row, and the world is ripening for sorro'
greater than thine! Peace! Peace T
. still, thou wounded heart" To which a
is the members respond-"Peace! Peace! /
r still |" Then the music stops, and the ol
ct man resumes his quiet march.
The candidates are now ranged arour
&c the G. r. who questions them as to the
IS motives and intentions. If their answe
le are satisfactory Gas they always are) IL
i. candidates are conducted to the chair
the skeleton where person, hidden behir
''i the grim figure, administers an obligatie
" to each which binds him from his Grad
as represented by theinfant y never to divul!
a what he may there see or learn. After a
hs oask aShkgsSns s he aRSaSaShs RSfdash
Us same scene of silence and sorrow, who Civ
"a Quoted out to the ante-room. And this en'
-, the first scene.
SCENE SECOND.
" After the candidates 60 out and the do
is closed, the members in an instant spril
to to their feet, light up the room, throw
,rt their gowns, put away the coffin, &C., al
- prepare ffor fun. III tic meantime the ca
- didates are being blindfolded so that tn
T. cannot sec in this condition they are CO
Quoted to the door again by the same pa
a. ties as before: the door is again rapp
;. upon, and, this time, the G. G. says in
~ loud voice:
"What is it makes the alarm -
To which the sentinel replies:
Friends Who will do us no harm =
il. To which the G. G. answers:
sc "Bid them Beware Beware!
he And welcome to enter herer'
to TO which all the members respond w,
is come to enter here Z
st The candidates are then led in, in sing
ly file, each holding to the coat-tail of Il
he other. In total blindness they are tn
n marched about the room several times VIII
n the room is lighted brilliantly. All is nc
10 silence and grins-except on the part
ed candidates, who are sternly commanded