White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1859-03-17

lated the vow of an Odd Fellow" The
groans grew louder, and finally died away
into low murmur. Another peal Of
thunder jarrei the building to its very
foundation. and Suddenly the darkness
vanished and light was restored. The
smoke from the altar ceased to ascend.
Behind it stood three figures clothed in
the scarlet robes, with wells drawn over
their faces, and with mitres on their heads.
The two other ones leaned upon spears
which they held in their hands. The in
ner one held in his right hand a book
from which he 4ead the following =
Stranger, at your own solicitation and
request, you have been elected member
of this Order. and have been so far mi
tiated into its mysteries. The scenes
through which yOu have passed. are full
Of instruction, and aie designed to make
a deep and lasting impression upon your
mind. The pale visage which you first
saw upon entering, should remind you
that you were mortal, and must soon quit
the busy scenes OF life. to Join the pale
nations of the dead. AS you were strip
ped of your clothing. blindfolded and
haltered. and in this condition led about
at our will, bnt was finally clothed and
restored to light at your request, so you
should remember that when brother is
stripped of his property, oppressed by
his creditors, and prosecuted by his foes,
and calls upon you for assistance, it is
your duty to clothe his nakedness, feed his
hungry wife and children, and to aid him
even to half of your property. Your
being required to ride our goat, should
teach you to ride fearlessly across the
stormy sea Of life, TO endure with fortitude
the troubles and difficulties with which
you may be called to encounter in your
pilgrimage through the world. The other
scenes through which you have passed
are all designed to impress upon your
mind the various duties of life, and what
yOu may expect SHOULD you dare to di-
vulge the secrets of this Order. 1t now
remains for me to instruct You in the pass
word, grip and sign.
"The pass word Of the present quarter
is Fun" the explanation is ''DeriHry;;"
which will admit you into any Lodge of
Odd Fellows in the universe"
The grip is given. by hooking the
little fingers together
The couDtersign is given by partly
closing the hand and placing the end OF
the thumb against the tip of the nose"
Gas you advance into the higher de.
grees of this Order You will receive the
other passwords and signs. and find fur
Their explanations of the scenes which you
have this night witnessed. / will now
invest you with an apron and collar. the
badges of this Order. Previous, hewev-
er. to your taking your seat as a member
Of this Lodge, it becomes my duty to
administer to you another solemn and
binding obligation. You will respond,
al d." to each sentence as read it."
lyon solemnly promise and swear.
that you will never livul sc the secrets of
this order to any person or persons. nor
for any pretext or purpose whatever, ex-
cept to one legally qualified to receive
them"
"To this l responded II do"
"You solemnly promise and swear that
you will vote for an Odd Fellow who
may be candidate for any Office, in pre-
ference to any other man, without regard
to what political party he may be attach
ed"
lido"
" You solemnly promise and swear,
that should you ever be called upon to
testify in court against an Odd Fellow
who may be arraigned for any crime or
any purpose whatever, that You will stu
diously conceal any evidence that may
have tendency to criminate him, and
swear to any lie that may be deemed cal
culated to clear him." els
"I do"
"You solemnly- promise and swear,
that should it be deemed advisable by
this Order any time to substitute a mo-
narchical for a republican form of Gov
eminent in the United States, or to change
any set of measures or officers, that you
will give your vote and influence for that
purpose, and studiously conceal the mat
ter from the public"
"I do"
"You solemnly promise and swear, that
should it be required of you at any time
to take the life of an Odd Fellow who
may have divulged the secrets of this
Order, that you will punctually perform
the same to the best Of your ability"
mo wretches !" cried /. "Have you
not already extorted oaths and blasphe-
mics enough from me. your miserable
victim, without requiring me to murder
nv fellow creatures "
| Instantly twenty daggers were pointed
at my body. and ! was told it was now
too late to decline, and that | must take
the oath or de- Defenceless, and sur
rounded by the instruments Of death on
all sides, there was no possible chance Of
escape. Worlds would / have given had
/ never hear heard of the name Of Odd
i Felloacs. Curses, which l dared not
I sdeak, filled my mouth. and sought to be
heaped upon the head of him who. under
the garb of friendship. had brought me to
that awful place. 80 J" thought ], ''that
IL had listened to the advice Of friends.
that warned me to beware Of secret socie-
/ ties Now l am ruined forever 1
must either die in this accused den, nm
, heard Of BY the world. or consent to bear
the mark Of Cain. and become devil
iucarnate o! wretch that | am, would